The current television landscape is filled with slackers, antiheroes, cynicism, Law and Order-inspired crimes, supernatural beings, and backstabbing drama, but Parks and Recreation has always marched to it’s own beat, which is why I’m really going to miss it.
For 125 episodes and 60+ hours, Parks and Recreation has invited us into the crazy yet endearing town of Pawnee, IN. And in the center of it all was Leslie Knope, a character so unabashedly genuine and neverendingly positive that you couldn’t help but be swept up into her orbit, just like Ron, April, Andy, Tom, Donna, Jerry, Ben, Chris, and Ann were.
The escapism that television offers doesn’t always have to be Game of Thrones-level violence and nudity. Sometimes it’s just nice to watch a show where people actually like each other, where a meat tornado is a thing, where a miniature horse is beloved, where Galentine’s Day is celebrated, where people with varying political views can still respect each other, and above all else where the comedy is consistently on point.
In lieu of embedding an Alanis Morissette music video for the song “Thank You”, I wanted to write a more fitting tribute for the show I’ve loved, even since season one. So without further ado:
Thank you for this lesson in perseverance:
Mark: Honestly, Leslie, it’s going to be a long uphill battle. You are going to be super-annoyed with all the people who want you to fail. There is a sea of red tape, endless road blocks. So, yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know.
Leslie: Screw it. I’m gonna try to do it anyway.
– “Rock Show” (1.6)
Thank you for positively portraying female friendships:
Thank you for this roadmap to success:
Thank you helping us to better prioritize:
Thank you for reminder to ‘Treat Yo Self’:
Thank you for not toying with our hearts:
Thank you for championing breakfast food:
Ron: There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food.
– Ann and Chris (6.13)
Thank you for these wise words:
Ron: Live your life how you want, but don’t confuse drama with happiness.
– “One in 8,000” (6.20)
And thank you for seven seasons.
