Parks and Recreation 2009

So, let me just start off by saying that I have tried numerous times to watch this series. Each and every time I would restart it, I found myself disappointed with the quality of the first few episodes. Actually, you could almost say that the experience of watching the first season is... Well... A grinding, difficult few hours of TV to get through. Yet it somehow finds a way to persuade you into the next season.

With respect to this, I am proud to say that my last attempt to watch this series was grand. I felt glorious with myself after making it through the first few episodes, and oh man did it pay off!

Where do I begin? Greg Daniels and Michael Schur did as great of a job as I have ever seen with developing the characters throughout this series. After each reoccurring actor sets their role in stone and cements their character's personality, you can see why this show, on average, rates higher the further you watch it. The show is centered around ten different individuals, all with completely different personalities (yes, including Chris Pratt's character, a thirty-something year old kid). This brings to light a lot of issues and drama that the cast must work through in each and every episode.

The writers went for a punch punch punch type of humor. A little laugh every couple of minutes, and I think that's what makes this such an entertaining show. Just after I felt myself recovering from an extremely funny line thrown at Terry/Jerry/Garry/Larry (they're all the same character, if you can believe it), Andy (played by Chris Pratt) says something out of this world dumb and just makes me lose it again.

All in all, I am most certainly going to find myself re-watching this in the future as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a good-hearted but often hysterical situation comedy that it took me entirely too long to watch. I’m not sure exactly why but I guess I was at least slightly aware that it was a little bit wholesome and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t into wholesome in, like, 2011. Anyway…

I heard so much about this show’s “disastrous” first season that I must say I was expecting something entirely different when I watched it. It’s nowhere near as bad as I was led to believe, though it obviously different in tone that what came later.

I was pleasantly surprised about how funny this show is, some times. (Much of the time.) There are some moments in the show that had me cackling uncontrollably. Many of those moments that had me laughing the hardest featured a certain someone:

One of the strength’s of the show is the ridiculous supporting cast, who sometimes get the B or C story in an episode and are too ridiculous for a successful narrative show, but who add extra levity, especially when the show gets a little more serious or corny. (And this show can get a little corny.)

There are some real clunkers, probably an episode or two a season. But it took us long enough to watch it that I don’t remember most of them. I remember really struggling with the first episode of the 7th seasons, for example (possibly the first two).

By biggest problem is how everyone’s occupation just got really fuzzy part way through the show. Is Anne a nurse while she works at Parks? How many of these people have two or more jobs? Do any of them ever have any free time? These are silly things to worry about – especially in the sitcom genre, where occupations are traditionally just suggestions- but I did feel like it reached heights of absurdity, especially once Leslie ran for City Council.

But I mostly quite enjoyed it and appreciated it’s ability to balance laugh-out-lough moments with what feels like actual love for its characters as (somewhat) believable real people.

PS Oh yeah, every time they leave Pawnee for the rest of “Indiana” it always looks suspiciously like California.

Only thorough and hard work of creative team and tallented actors can lead a TV series to success. Parks and Rec represents a wonderful example of an outstanding and notable TV show appealing to vast audiences.

The story itself revolves around Parks and Recreation department in the town of Pawnee, which is aimed at creating new areas of recreation and maintaining the existing ones. Although the employees are desperately trying to improve the living standards in Pawnee, local citizens keep on complaining, thus, preventing really positive and important changes in the town. This disharmony created by the screenwriters appears to be intriguing and catches the viewers' attention from the first shot.

Besides, Parks and Rec is stuffed with hilarious jokes and amusing situations. I can't but appreciate this wonderful feature, as it brings home the idea that every complicated issue gets much easier in case you are capable of laughing at it and realising that there are no unsolvable problems. Witty characters like old good friends always inspire you.

It cannot be denied, that charaters introduced in the show are round and quite complex, as they develop throughout the narration. At first, Leslie Knope, the main character, seems to be unbelievably irritating, annoying and constantly trying to overcomplicate simple issues. However through the course of time we reveal her gentle but at the same time strong nature. The trully determined woman who never forgets about her principles , virtues and values becomes the one you admire... sincerely.
People surrounding her are unique - each of them also has their genuine and sophisticated personality. For instance, Ron Swanson, the head of the department, represents the direct opposite of enthusiastic Leslie Knope. This character combines come old-fashioned views, masculine behaviour, devotion to his ideals and special sense of humour. The amazing blend is nothing but the reason for viewers' great love for him.

I can endlessly talk about Andy Dwyer a.k.a. Burt Tyrannosaurus Macklin, April Ludgate, Ann Perkins, Garry "Jerry"/"Larry"/"Lenny"/"Terry"/"Barry" Gergich "Gengurch"/"Girgich", Tom Haverford .... It's evident, that almost every character deservers to be understood and paid attention to!

On realization that the TV series has come to the end and it's high time you said goodbye to the characters sadness breaks your heart into pieces. However Pawnee and its citizens (including Li'l Sebastian) stay with you forever. Deep in your soul.