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Parks & Recreation - Season 3 (1 Viewer)

joshEH

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Okay, I'll admit that I literally said "Awww!" at the end of last night's episode.

"Sad floor." Alta Vista. The show is on fire.

I almost don't see a point in posting here anymore; the show is on a roll, filled with laughter and with heart, and firing on all cylinders in both departments.

If I have to complain about something, it's that I feel like they're sidelining the Ann/Chris storyline, but I know that it's going to keep on receiving a little bit of attention and probably reach a really satisfying payoff, so I'm more inclined to keep my fucking mouth shut on that score, and just focus on how much I smiled at the episode.

Does anyone else feel that Poehler seems to be a supporting character on her own show this season? Does anyone mind? I don't, actually, despite really liking her character. I think they shot these first six episodes while Poehler was pregnant, which explains why she seems a little dialed-back. Still, either way, if it's something that she's pushing for herself, my admiration for just her shot up immensely.
 

joshEH

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Nick Offerman picks his favorite "Cats Who Look Like Ron Swanson."

So awesome.

What a great episode, last night. Dark in places, yet with certain moments of levity. Ron's photo album of his steaks was just glorious. As was his freakout over Chris grilling mushrooms, and his sadness over the fate of the leftover steaks in that shut-down restaurant.

Yet, Ron asking for ALL the eggs and bacon that diner had completely destroyed me. It was also a great callback to the poster of bacon-and-eggs that hangs on Ron's office wall.

At the moment, April and Andy's courtship is one of the cutest things ever. I hope they treat that part of the show with a little extra care. It could easily teeter into something obnoxious.
 

Adam Lenhardt

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I will say that April and Andy's little game of acquiring the most free stuff was far more reflective of my experience as a twentysomething than what I usually see on television. The vast majority of twentysomethings are either broke nearly all of the time, or working so many hours they don't have the time to enjoy the money they're making.
 

joshEH

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I can't decide which part of the episode I liked best -- making "Ann the Straight-Woman" be the messed-up kook in her relationship, April coming further out of her shell, or Ben realizing that while he'd assumed he was on The Office, this is actually Parks & Rec.


Actually, it has to be Ron posing in front of the poster of the old-timey boxer. Him cackling over his first Mulligan's photo ruined me for a good five minutes. ("Look at me. I'm just a kid!")

And while it totally takes me out of the reality of the show, it's always hilarious when they just let Amy Poehler riff on some absurd topic for take after take. "Skywriting isn't always positive" almost killed me.


As fun as the character can be, this would be a pretty great send-off for Lowe. But seeing as how he's in the opening credits, they must have worked out some way to bring him back to Pawnee on a more permanent basis. He's not my number-one favorite on the show, but he's definitely up there in the top three or four.
 

Citizen87645

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My eyes are burning after seeing Nick Offerman doing full frontal in Deadwood.
 

Derek Miner

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So much goodness in tonight's episode.

Two things made me laugh particularly loud: The animated video re-creating the meeting of the Indian tribe leader with Leslie, and the callback with Matchbox 20 on the marquee at the casino.

I think they're trying a bit too hard to milk Adam Scott's bemused looks and confusion, but it's so good when it works - like the credit tag sequence with him still not getting the "mini horse." I felt kinda bad for Paul Schneider when he left the show, but let's face it, Adam Scott > Paul Schneider.
 

Adam Lenhardt

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Originally Posted by Derek Miner
I think they're trying a bit too hard to milk Adam Scott's bemused looks and confusion, but it's so good when it works - like the credit tag sequence with him still not getting the "mini horse." I felt kinda bad for Paul Schneider when he left the show, but let's face it, Adam Scott > Paul Schneider.
Definitely. At the end of last season and the beginning of this season, Scott's character here wasn't working, since it was basically Henry Pollard as a failed mayor instead of a failed actor. In the last few episodes, they've really made Ben his own character. I like that he's like a Jim Halpert that looks on all of the insanity around him with bemusement instead of amusement.

Other highlights: Loved Ron Swanson's troubleshooting season on the Ferris Wheel. His ambivalence/outright hostility toward government aside, he's a pretty great boss. And I love watching Aubrey Plaza as April. There are a lot of bad actresses out there that play monotone as merely monotone. She conveys the whole spectrum of emotions with April in a subtle and reeled in way; they escape and are then quickly reeled back in. The longer she spends with Andy, though, the less reeling in you see. That's good character development.

And finally, Leslie got a much deserved win.
 

TravisR

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That was probably my favorite episode of the year. I liked that Ron was as excited as everyone else about Lil Sebastian and his refusal to hold hands with everyone was funny.

To paraphrase a line from the episode, I awesome sauce this show.
 

Derek Miner

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Originally Posted by Adam Lenhardt
Definitely. At the end of last season and the beginning of this season, Scott's character here wasn't working, since it was basically Henry Pollard as a failed mayor instead of a failed actor. In the last few episodes, they've really made Ben his own character. I like that he's like a Jim Halpert that looks on all of the insanity around him with bemusement instead of amusement.
I never thought the character didn't work completely - I really love how the mayor backstory complemented what the show does with Leslie as the enthusiastic crusader. Someone felt the need to have the writers shoehorn it in to every episode, though, which got old fast. In a way, the show gets to have its cake and eat it too, because its heart is firmly planted in a redemptive, rise above the irony territory, while putting Scott in as the jaded outsider gives plenty of opportunity for exasperation and some snark.

Perhaps my reaction to the character is related to the fact I never watched Party Down (yes, I know I should). However, this does point out that Adam Scott, while not a bad actor, does have a range that is best suited to his talents - and whether its due to a great self-awareness or luck, he has exploited this perfectly.
 

joshEH

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According to the PaleyFest panel, Bill Murray is reportedly very close to signing onto the show as the Mayor of Pawnee (whom we've never seen) -- reportedly, Poehler played a key role in getting him interested in the recurring part.

"The atrocities are in blue."


GodDAMN, this is a great fricking show. I knew this was going to be a great episode the second I heard John Redcorn's voice. I love the way the show's running joke about Pawnee's offensive history was worked into the story. Like Community, the show's doing a great job fleshing out its world. I think it's doing the best job balancing its characters, also; not that it's a contest.


The totally-bullshit curse-removal ceremony destroyed me, as did the TV interview with the animated sequence. "Yes, that's exactly how it happened!" Fantastic. (What was a Jersey Shore dude doing in Pawnee?)
 

Brent M

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Originally Posted by TravisR
The best part of Tom's tent was the return of... D.J. Roomba!
Loved that too. Glad to see D.J. Roomba survived Jerry almost killing it last season.
 

ChadMcCallum

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Why had I not heard of Nick Offerman before this show started? The man is amazing!

"What the fuck is a German muffin?"
 

Brent M

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Originally Posted by ChadMcCallum
Why had I not heard of Nick Offerman before this show started? The man is amazing!
I'm guilty of the same offense. Had no clue who he was before P&R, but now he's become one of my all-time favorite TV characters.
 

TravisR

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I very vaguely knew who Nick Offerman was from guest spots on shows that I like (he was a redneck in the second season of 24, a cowboy that shows his weiner on Deadwood, a wacky cousin on Gilmore Girls) but since he was a supporting player, I'm surprised as anyone to see how good he is in a big role.
 

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