What I’m Watching: Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation: Season 2, Episode 15 “Sweetums” (B+)

I love this show. There were so many great moments; I’m not sure if I can even list them all, but I’ll certainly try. When Tom was trying stuff on in the very first scene, even Leslie got the chance to look at the camera with a shocked expression usually reserved for Ann on this show and Jim on “The Office.” I don’t know which is crazier – April’s response to Tom asking for help that she’d rather watch a sex tape of her grandparents or Andy’s completely serious follow-up comment that it’s really sweet that her grandparents still make love. It’s awesome and completely believable that Leslie carries her BAC card with her, and her sitting on Ron’s car to make sure he couldn’t drive home right away was terrific. Ann spraying Leslie in the face to relieve her of the effects of her sugar rush was very reminiscent of Jim spraying Dwight in the face on “The Office” when he got a concussion, but reminiscent in a very good, just-as-funny kind of way. The questions fielded by Ann were fantastic, such as “if sugar is so bad for you, how come Jesus made it taste good,” “corn’s a fruit, sugar comes from a bush,” and “how do we know you’re really a nurse.” Leslie’s feud with the librarian was entertaining, starting with Leslie’s crack about her being cocky for someone whose job is obsolete because of the Internet and followed by the librarian announcing Leslie’s overdue orgasm book over the loudspeaker. It’s wonderful to see April so prominently, and it’s also becoming increasingly obvious that she really likes Andy but is too intimidated to do anything about it. The ending scene wrapping up the great Tom moving plotline was a nice coda, and it’s truly amusing that everyone gives Jerry such a hard time. Because it was so great, here’s the best line of the episode, from Leslie to Ron: “If you eat three pieces of steak every day, you’re going to die. And though I’ve already written your eulogy, I’d prefer not to give it for a while. Here’s the first line: O captain, my captain. Ron Swanson, a swan song.” Oh, Leslie.