Yes, we are starting at episode 6 of this season for Parks & Rec reviews, but I’ll fill in anything you need to know, along with going back to recap earlier episodes from this season and also from prior seasons. In my opinion, the more Leslie Knope, the better.

Episode 6 takes place on the day the world is supposed to end and it takes us on 3 different journeys.

(Spoiler alert: the world doesn’t really end).

The show takes us along with Tom & Jean-Ralphio throwing the best party ever, Leslie as she deals with Ben possibly moving on to a new relationship and Andy and April filling out his bucket list.

Tom and Jean-Ralphio’s party is thrown to take them and their company, Entertainment 720, out with a bang. The company had just gone under and they decided to end the world, playing it up to the level of having a drum line and caged tiger on display.

The Leslie/ Ben storyline continues through this episode, with Leslie having a hard time dealing with the cute local reporter chatting up Ben for a good chunk of the evening. It gets slightly uncomfortable for the viewer (well, at least this one) through the awkward “yeah we can hang out after we’ve broken up…well, maybe not…” situation, particularly when Ben gets kidnapped so as to keep him and the reporter apart. Of course,  there are some great Knopeisms to help balance it all out.

Andy and April’s story this week was just plain cute. They decide to check things off Andy’s bucket list, considering it’s the end of the world and all. This decision leads to broken glass and very little money left in the bank, culminating with an impromptu road trip. When they arrive at the destination -  the Grand Canyon – Andy has a great line to follow up April’s emotional moment, unable to even say something sarcastic for once.

How realistic is this episode? The final short scene has the group leader who started the world ending movement scheduling another date in May claiming he got the date wrong. I love the way the writers have made things so relevant recently, causing the whole show to have an even more real feel to it. Also, they’ve been getting a little more emotional lately, too, but they have the collective gift to have a successfully serious, moving moment and then having a moment of great comedic timing in the next beat. Love. It.

And a few random thoughts to throw out that people who haven’t watched won’t get, but those who have will understand. I will elaborate on these in the weeks to come, I am sure.

• What purpose is Anne Perkins actually serving on the show currently?
• Is Jean- Ralphio trying to get with Donna?
• Is Tom going to leave Pawnee to be with his old flame? He makes the comment that he’s got nothing keeping him in Pawnee when talking to his ex who is off at grad school in another town. I will cry if he leaves a whole bunch.

Let me know if you agree or disagree with any of my random thoughts or have anything to add; I’d  love to geek out over these things with you folks.

Also, you can see a longer cut of the episode and footage from Andy and April’s road trip over at NBC (if you live in the US).

Jenny Stracener is a pretty good dog sitter but really is a cat lady at heart. She is currently working on fulfilling her (not so) secret dream job as a freelance writer and you can read more of her takes on comedy and podcasts at Podcast Listening Log. You can also see her ramblings about the exciting and also a little of the mundane on her Twitter.

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