[8.4/10] Some cringey moments, but that’s one of the things the Greg Daniels-Michael Schur coaching tree does really well. I love the theme of this one, where everyone, in their own way, confronts what the end of the world would mean to them, and each character’s personality is reflected in their reaction.
First and foremost are the Zorpies though! It’s not deep (or, at best, it’s fodder for other parts of the show to be deep), but I love the quiet riff on Scientology and other local cults. The details like the founder being an office supply manager or their little wooden flutes or their smugness at paying for things with a check are delightful.
They also create a great setup for some good Ben and Leslie drama. Leslie is at her most exaggerated and dare I say, unpleasant, since Season 1. I don’t mean to say that I don’t enjoy her here, but she’s normally someone so easy to root for who tries so hard to be a good person. Here, she’s being selfish and unfair, and that’s entirely human and understandable, but also compromises her character a bit. It’s a good thing, and gives her reason to acknowledge it and make amends.
Her conversation with Ron, like most of her conversations with Ron, is fine fine material too. They have such a great dynamic. He tells her that no matter how much the epiphany that she’d want to spend the end of the world with Ben means to her; it won’t be ending, and she’ll be back where she started. It’s sobering, and it serves as motivation for Leslie to be an adult and apologize (albeit sneakily). I don’t know. I like extreme Leslie, who’s clearly in the wrong but going after what she wants (or scaring people off from what she can’t have) in her own loony way. It makes her as endearing as all the preternaturally capable things she accomplishes do.
Tom and Jean Ralphio face the end of the world by, true to form, throwing the perfect party. The party is such a great reflection of the trendy pair’s unrestrained ids at play. The over-the-top cartoonish and uber-stylish vibe of everything is a great reflection of their sensibility, straddling the line between ridiculous and just believable enough to seem plausible. Bringing back Lucy to give it a little emotional punch is nice, and Tom and his buddy losing, but trying to make the best of it is very endearing as well.
Even Chris and Ann, who are mostly a sideshow here, have their moments. Chris contemplating the Reasonabilist philosophy, and Ann cutting through it with her homespun wisdom, which naturally leads them to the party, is a pleasant bit. And Ron taking advantage of the Zorp cult to sell his wooden flutes and recorders is plenty funny, especially when they’re hailing Zorp and he’s just counting dollars.
The most affecting story, though, is probably Andy and April’s. The pair trying to do everything on Andy’s bucket list is as adorable as you’d expect, and fits their creative, impulsive, “don’t think, just stupid” philosophy. Maybe it’s just the indie rock soundtrack, but their spur of the moment trip to see the Grand Canyon is touching in just the right way. It’s not cloying, but April admitting that she wants to be annoyed by it and is coming up empty sells the moment (along with Andy wondering where Mt. Rushmore is).
Overall, if the world were ending, I don’t know if I’d be watching Parks and Recreation, but it’s still a nice set of stories about people spending a night thinking about where they’d want to be, and who they’d want to be with, if there were no tomorrow.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-03-17T01:41:24Z
[8.4/10] Some cringey moments, but that’s one of the things the Greg Daniels-Michael Schur coaching tree does really well. I love the theme of this one, where everyone, in their own way, confronts what the end of the world would mean to them, and each character’s personality is reflected in their reaction.
First and foremost are the Zorpies though! It’s not deep (or, at best, it’s fodder for other parts of the show to be deep), but I love the quiet riff on Scientology and other local cults. The details like the founder being an office supply manager or their little wooden flutes or their smugness at paying for things with a check are delightful.
They also create a great setup for some good Ben and Leslie drama. Leslie is at her most exaggerated and dare I say, unpleasant, since Season 1. I don’t mean to say that I don’t enjoy her here, but she’s normally someone so easy to root for who tries so hard to be a good person. Here, she’s being selfish and unfair, and that’s entirely human and understandable, but also compromises her character a bit. It’s a good thing, and gives her reason to acknowledge it and make amends.
Her conversation with Ron, like most of her conversations with Ron, is fine fine material too. They have such a great dynamic. He tells her that no matter how much the epiphany that she’d want to spend the end of the world with Ben means to her; it won’t be ending, and she’ll be back where she started. It’s sobering, and it serves as motivation for Leslie to be an adult and apologize (albeit sneakily). I don’t know. I like extreme Leslie, who’s clearly in the wrong but going after what she wants (or scaring people off from what she can’t have) in her own loony way. It makes her as endearing as all the preternaturally capable things she accomplishes do.
Tom and Jean Ralphio face the end of the world by, true to form, throwing the perfect party. The party is such a great reflection of the trendy pair’s unrestrained ids at play. The over-the-top cartoonish and uber-stylish vibe of everything is a great reflection of their sensibility, straddling the line between ridiculous and just believable enough to seem plausible. Bringing back Lucy to give it a little emotional punch is nice, and Tom and his buddy losing, but trying to make the best of it is very endearing as well.
Even Chris and Ann, who are mostly a sideshow here, have their moments. Chris contemplating the Reasonabilist philosophy, and Ann cutting through it with her homespun wisdom, which naturally leads them to the party, is a pleasant bit. And Ron taking advantage of the Zorp cult to sell his wooden flutes and recorders is plenty funny, especially when they’re hailing Zorp and he’s just counting dollars.
The most affecting story, though, is probably Andy and April’s. The pair trying to do everything on Andy’s bucket list is as adorable as you’d expect, and fits their creative, impulsive, “don’t think, just stupid” philosophy. Maybe it’s just the indie rock soundtrack, but their spur of the moment trip to see the Grand Canyon is touching in just the right way. It’s not cloying, but April admitting that she wants to be annoyed by it and is coming up empty sells the moment (along with Andy wondering where Mt. Rushmore is).
Overall, if the world were ending, I don’t know if I’d be watching Parks and Recreation, but it’s still a nice set of stories about people spending a night thinking about where they’d want to be, and who they’d want to be with, if there were no tomorrow.