What I’m Watching: Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation: Season 7, Episodes 8 and 9 “Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington” and “Pie-Mary” (B+)

In its old age, this show is becoming extremely sentimental, and I love it. April’s growth as a person was a main theme in both of these episodes, as everyone tried to help her figure out what job she should do next and then Ron realized just how close a kinship they share. It’s always hilarious to see Barney with his love for accounting and Ben, overeagerly laughing at his jokes and expressing extreme disappointment at both Ben and April passing on job opportunities to work with him. Andy’s attempt to convince him that April should be hired, complete with explosives and a creepy picture of her face, was marvelously well-intentioned and so truly terrible in execution. I think that the job April picked for herself is just perfect, and I’m sure she’ll come around to the idea of leaving Pawnee since, of all our characters, she’s never been that attached to her hometown anyway. Her last adventure with Ron was a real treat. I love that we got to see Donna and Gerry spend some time together and to see how that relationship has blossomed, with Donna spending hours just watching Gerry continue to drop valuable items down the drain before easily getting them out the next morning. What I enjoyed most from this hour was all the politics, with a flurry of cameos that demonstrate just how much people in Washington either like this show or Poehler or both. This comedy is more than competent at addressing politics in a funny and fantastic fashion, complete with men protesting for men’s rights and women’s organizations giving Woman of the Year awards to yet another man.