5x20 Jerry's Retirement

[9.1/10] A tremendous idea for an episode. I love the perfect poetry of Leslie giving up her day off to try to make all Jerry's work dreams come true, only to realize that he did realize his dreams -- they were just with his family and happened off the clock. It serves both as a nice redemption for Jerry, who is still the butt of every joke in the Park Department, but is happy, assured, and confident when at home with his loving wife and daughters, and a nice reminder for Leslie, who as the episode shows, is admirably devoted to her job and her coworkers but can throw herself into her work at the expense of the personal at times. The humor of her trying to fulfill Jerry's dreams is great, from him talking to a gravestone to getting a memorial plaque, and her insecurity about the years blowing by is conveyed in great comic and emotional tones as well.

I also really enjoy the B-story, with Tom (aka File-o Pile-O) worrying that he'll become the new Jerry and trying to avoid that fate. I love Ron's notion that "nature" guarantees a new Jerry will emerge, and Tom's ill-fated attempts to avoid that becoming him. The notion of Andy as a dog who isn't embarrassed by anything is great, and the hunky intern who takes over is plenty amusing as a way to foil Tom's plan as well. But what elevates the story is Tom admitting to Ron that he was always the Jerry growing up, a geeky, different kid who got picked on, who worked really hard to change his image. It adds pathos to a silly, semi-meta bit, and makes it heartening when Ron brings back Jerry part-time to save Tom.

And hey, I even liked the Ann and Chris stuff! I'm not necessarily on board with the two of them getting back together romantically. That said, I really like that the show leans into the weirdness of their situation, and their attempts to put off the decision and try not to face the magnitude of what they're doing are the cutest and funniest the two are as a pair.

Overall, a stellar episode with strong material in each storyline.