[8.7/10] So many great moments in this one, let’s break them down.
Let’s start with fan favorite Ron. I love his glee at being a part of the budget cut task force and his zany ideas for saving money (like selling the zoo animals). It’s very in character for him and his utter joy at that is amusing. But that just makes it more meaningful when Ben moves to fire Leslie, and Ron not only offers an impassioned defense of her and the work she does, but offers to have himself be fired in her place because he recognizes her value. It’s a big moment (one that, if I remember correctly, never comes up with Leslie from either Ben or Ron) that cements their mutual, aisle-crossing admiration for one another.
That’s a natural lead-in to Leslie’s efforts to put on the Freddy Spaghetti concert (hello Brian McCann! from Conan!) despite the government shutdown. It’s always heartening to see Leslie go to the mattresses for what she believes in and marshal the rest of the Parks Dept. forces in that effort. Putting on that concert on Lot 48 with the whole gang is the sort of big project that shows what Leslie can do even in the face of strong opposition, and stalwart Ben melting a little bit and paying to get Freddy Spaghetti to come is a nice way to soften him and show that he’s not made of stone despite his principled objections to what Leslie’s doing. It’s a nice character moment for both Leslie and Ben.
There’s also some pretty solid developments on the romance front. I like that Andy finds April and just straight up tells her that he likes her and wants to go out with her, and April’s reaction is great -- both heartened but insecure. (And their high five after admitting their shared affections is nice.) It’s understandable that as much as April likes Andy, she would feel worried about him not being over Ann.
That obviously doesn’t help when Ann kisses him. I like the swerve of that, where Ann explains that she’s fragile after a rebound which makes you think she’s going to hook up with Chris, but instead retreats to an injured Andy once more. The episode mines it for both sentiment and comedy, with Andy doing the right thing by backing away and telling April about it at the first opportunity. (Andy and April’s first kiss is a big moment too, with again, the actors’ performance and reaction to the moment really selling the sweetness of it.) It’s a little convenient as a roadblock, but it works. And Andy telling the next nurse who comes in not to try to kiss him is a great comic button to put on the whole thing.
Last, but certainly not least, we get the exit of Mark. I have to admit, I expected to loathe Mark’s every appearance revisiting this season, but on rewatch, he steadily grew on me to the point where I was actually a bit sad to see him go. He was never as vital a part of the show as he could be, but he has a great if limited arc here -- someone who’s jaded and cynical about government who comes to believe that change and progress can be made, even if it’s not by him. Mark taking a buyout and going to work for the private sector is very in character as to the former, but him giving Leslie plans for a park on Lot 48 and telling her that he wouldn’t bet against her speak to the latter. It’s a tidy but well done final coda for the character.
Overall, “Freddy Spaghetti” is a lovely little instance of Parks and Rec closing the book on one chapter of the show and beginning another. It seals and reinforces the things we’ve come to know about Leslie, Ron, and the rest of the gang, while giving Mark a satisfying farewell and cementing the new roles for Ben and Chris. Season 2 is, for me at least, the part of the series where Parks and Rec became the show I knew and loved, and this finale is, in many ways, the culmination of the show hitting its stride. A great end and a great new beginning for a great series.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-07-28T18:56:19Z
[8.7/10] So many great moments in this one, let’s break them down.
Let’s start with fan favorite Ron. I love his glee at being a part of the budget cut task force and his zany ideas for saving money (like selling the zoo animals). It’s very in character for him and his utter joy at that is amusing. But that just makes it more meaningful when Ben moves to fire Leslie, and Ron not only offers an impassioned defense of her and the work she does, but offers to have himself be fired in her place because he recognizes her value. It’s a big moment (one that, if I remember correctly, never comes up with Leslie from either Ben or Ron) that cements their mutual, aisle-crossing admiration for one another.
That’s a natural lead-in to Leslie’s efforts to put on the Freddy Spaghetti concert (hello Brian McCann! from Conan!) despite the government shutdown. It’s always heartening to see Leslie go to the mattresses for what she believes in and marshal the rest of the Parks Dept. forces in that effort. Putting on that concert on Lot 48 with the whole gang is the sort of big project that shows what Leslie can do even in the face of strong opposition, and stalwart Ben melting a little bit and paying to get Freddy Spaghetti to come is a nice way to soften him and show that he’s not made of stone despite his principled objections to what Leslie’s doing. It’s a nice character moment for both Leslie and Ben.
There’s also some pretty solid developments on the romance front. I like that Andy finds April and just straight up tells her that he likes her and wants to go out with her, and April’s reaction is great -- both heartened but insecure. (And their high five after admitting their shared affections is nice.) It’s understandable that as much as April likes Andy, she would feel worried about him not being over Ann.
That obviously doesn’t help when Ann kisses him. I like the swerve of that, where Ann explains that she’s fragile after a rebound which makes you think she’s going to hook up with Chris, but instead retreats to an injured Andy once more. The episode mines it for both sentiment and comedy, with Andy doing the right thing by backing away and telling April about it at the first opportunity. (Andy and April’s first kiss is a big moment too, with again, the actors’ performance and reaction to the moment really selling the sweetness of it.) It’s a little convenient as a roadblock, but it works. And Andy telling the next nurse who comes in not to try to kiss him is a great comic button to put on the whole thing.
Last, but certainly not least, we get the exit of Mark. I have to admit, I expected to loathe Mark’s every appearance revisiting this season, but on rewatch, he steadily grew on me to the point where I was actually a bit sad to see him go. He was never as vital a part of the show as he could be, but he has a great if limited arc here -- someone who’s jaded and cynical about government who comes to believe that change and progress can be made, even if it’s not by him. Mark taking a buyout and going to work for the private sector is very in character as to the former, but him giving Leslie plans for a park on Lot 48 and telling her that he wouldn’t bet against her speak to the latter. It’s a tidy but well done final coda for the character.
Overall, “Freddy Spaghetti” is a lovely little instance of Parks and Rec closing the book on one chapter of the show and beginning another. It seals and reinforces the things we’ve come to know about Leslie, Ron, and the rest of the gang, while giving Mark a satisfying farewell and cementing the new roles for Ben and Chris. Season 2 is, for me at least, the part of the series where Parks and Rec became the show I knew and loved, and this finale is, in many ways, the culmination of the show hitting its stride. A great end and a great new beginning for a great series.