Episode 2 - The Flu
6 March 2012
The Harvest Festival storyline is clearly a good thing for Parks and keeps this episode chugging through its weaker moments. I would recommend practically all sitcoms have story arcs like this and here was a great example why. If Leslie had been giving a pitch that had been made up for the episode then I would have hated this. Her flu and drug induced states were annoying to watch but because the festival is what will save her job and the whole department I happily endured them.
Sit coms always have and always will reach for the "character under the influence" story to get cheap laughs and nine times out of ten it doesn't work. I know some people laugh at any random lines but Leslie's stream of nonsense always seemed implausibly forced to me. Her ability to pull it together for the big speech was fine because the festival is clearly going to be her big success and we had to begin (I assume) the story of Ben falling for her. Or at least being so inspired by her that he wants to stay in Pawnee longer. I tired quickly of Chris being ill as his whole persona remains too cartoony for me to laugh. But again that served the purpose of bringing him and Ann closer so it wasn't all bad.
Elsewhere Ron and Andy were perfect man-companions for a day which was a lot of fun. Ron was in fine form coming out with lines like "We still never talk sometimes" and "I'm surrounded by a lot of women in this department...and that includes the men." I like the way in which Ron has become a surrogate Dad to both Andy and April. It somehow makes them seem like an even better match. I liked the way April gave away her feelings for Andy by being so mean to Ann and how Ann stood up to her when she had the chance. It was all solid character stuff and when the characters seem real and likeable the jokes will follow more easily. Speaking of which Tom had a fun subplot as he charmed some local businessmen into helping out with the Harvest Festival and then shamelessly plugged the club he has a stake in. It was a nice double hit showing him helping and taking at the same time.
Overall I thought this was a good episode, the plot made sense, the relationships all moved forward and there were a load of jokes. Without the flu silliness it could have been even better but I did smile at Leslie licking and rubbing germs all over Jerry's desk.
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