TV Review: Parks & Recreation 5.22, "Are You Better Off?"
rating: 3
The fifth season finale of Parks & Recreation was better than I expected. Despite having supported the Pawnee players throughout this debatably lackluster season, the lack of genuine stakes and satisfying resolutions began to wear on me these last few episodes; however, Are You Better Off? ultimately performed admirably not only in terms of any given Parks episode, but specifically as a season finale, which has certain functions. One of the most prominent reasons Parks & Rec is a great series is because it fulfills sitcom conventions without being too obvious or cloying. A staple of season finales is to provide a look back at the growth the season saw while setting things up for a potential future; Are You Better Off? accomplished both these feats while allowing many of the series peripheral characters to make worthwhile contributions such as Jerrys, I miss you guys! or Jean Ralphios harmonizing with Mona Lisa. Many of these contributions were showcased during Leslies hijacked public forum in which the supposed victims of Leslies political achievements spoke out against the rookie councilwoman (and if Im not mistaken, this is a fairly common device used in many superhero comic arcs; wasnt The Trial of Spider-Man one of them?). While I was elated to see Jason Schwartzman expertly reprise his characters shy, inappropriate earnestness, I couldnt help but be annoyed by the Council for Family Stability representative couple, the Langmans. Whereas Marshas appearances throughout the series have all been the epitome of that which one loves to hate, her husband Marshall is apparently still the same trite gay male stereotype he was in Sex Education. While for the most part I couldnt buy into the Paunchburger representative, Ms. Pinewoods committee to recall Leslie from office and resented the implication that viewers were to feel some sort of threat to our protagonist from its 300 members, I found the resolution of Leslies simple yet effective, Bring it on, wonderfully refreshing. Finally, instead of lending credence to the idiots of her constituency and fostering her own self-doubt, Leslies embraced her convictions and seems ready to draw heat in their name. While Leslie pulled out a surprisingly satisfying demonstration of growth at the last moment, the seasons biggest waste of character growth, represented by Andy, carried a plot about which I felt similarly ambivalent. From the cold open at Rons cabin the audience is introduced in the most straightforward, and consequently least skillful, manner to the mystery of whos pregnant. As season finale surprise pregnancy reveals sound like the bulk of Soap Opera 101s curriculum, and Andys immediate dismissal of April as a candidate set her up as the eventual mom-to-be, I was incredulous as to how this plot could go anywhere. However, at its conclusion we realize that not only is April not pregnant (thank God), but well probably watch her attending veterinary school next season. The kicker is that Diane turns out to be the one with the bun in the oven, which is cool because watching Ron Swanson, the personification of self-reliance, isolation, and misanthropy, being cute with kids has been a consistent source of comedy and growth for the character all season. The pregnancy plot started weak but eventually upended its own expectations which is the mark of intelligent story telling. Plus, we now know that Diane used a product called, Womb! There it is! In addition to Leslies new found political resiliency, Aprils vet school, and Ron and Dianes pregnancy, Are You Better Off? successfully set up Toms new Rent-A-Swag competition and it isnt Diddy. Though I dont believe Parks & Rec is better off than it was a year ago, and this episode may have carried with it much of what made the fifth season less than the sum of its parts, ultimately it reminded me why the series deserves its fans love and admiration a combination of brilliantly realized characters with mostly clever and original wit the likes of which are too rare on network television.