TV Review: Parks & Recreation 5.3, "How a Bill Becomes a Law"
“How a Bill Becomes a Law” is another example of how expertly Parks uses the characters it’s developed so well over the years.
rating: 4
Whereas last season saw Leslie Knope in an almost constant state of healthy panic as to the possibility of winning her city council campaign, this season is clearly all about takin care of business. In only the third episode of the season, Leslie is already seeing her second bill try to get passed, this one a much less controversial one than last episodes soda tax, a proposal spurred by the local childrens swimming team, the Pawnee Porpoises, to extend the public pools hours of operation so the team can practice more. A seemingly innocuous enough bill, right? Well, as we come to find in the cold open, Jon Glaser of Delocated playing Councilman Jamm has a deadly combination of a preference for Leslies private bathroom in her new office, irritable bowel syndrome, and somewhat ironically, not giving a shit. This lethal combo leads Jamm to threaten to halt Leslies bill unless he gets her new office. Im glad the show isnt shying away from the business of government. Its been a constant motif throughout the series, but one could imagine not necessarily exploring the environment the show has worked so hard to create for fear of alienating or boring its viewers. Thankfully Parks is a much better series than that and isnt afraid to dive into what would otherwise be the most boring, bland public pool of local government bureaucracy and makes it funny and endearing. In addition, not only does Leslie learn her lesson in sacrificing for the greater good, but Tom also learns the same valuable lesson. Jamm is not only a city councilman and a pompous jerk, but also a dentist for some reason and we learn during what I assume was a routine check-up for Tom that Jamm is also a member of the Pawnee Smokehouse, an elite club dedicated to the finer things in life like cigars and smoking jackets and probably gothic furniture. Ultimately though Leslie accepts that giving a bully what he wants so you can help kids get what they deserve is nothing to be ashamed of, in fact quite the opposite. Tom learns that no club is worth being a jerk to little kids and is uncharacteristically physical and many as he pushes Jamm into a pool before he can reveal to the kids the dirty dynamics of politics. And to top it off, Tom doesnt even like cigars and Leslie likes her new new office just fine. In what for me was an even more Aww-inducing plot, Chris, newly empowered by his recent attendance in therapy (a plot point that I very much like not being spotlighted nor forgotten), instills a 311 line so that the citizens of Pawnee can call with any problem whatsoever and get connected to the appropriate department. This seems like a kind of lame idea as I would imagine city hall would already have a phone number with a secretary, but the premise allowed for Jerry to receive and attempt helping some citizens with their 911 calls so its cool. More importantly though, the situation let Rons frustration with the inefficacy of local government lead him to take Andy to go fill in a pothole in front of a citizens house. This mystery citizen turns out to be Diane Louis, played by Lucy Lawless. As no woman (or man) can resist Ron Swanson wielding a jackhammer (its his penis) and since Lucy Lawless is Lucy Lawless, the two immediately spark an adorable set of googly eyes at each other, which Andy sharply notices with a lipstick covered smirk (since Andy is so chock full of awesome sauce and is blessed by being a child at heart, hes spent the whole time playing princess with Dianes kids). Caught up in the spirit of playing princess, Andy along with his mini-royalty goads Ron into letting them plaster his face in make-up in the attempt to win over Diane. She does enjoy Rons new look, but as she responds with boisterous laughter, super-alpha-male Ron is embarrassed and abruptly leaves. Thankfully though, Andy doesnt let Rons pride get in the way of a good thing and makes sure to leave Diane a chalk-scrawled note leading her to Rons office where she asks the manliest man alive out on a date. Thankfully the big lug says yes. In what may have been the funniest plot for me, April suggests to Ben taking a road trip to surprise Andy and Leslie but the two end up stuck behind a presidential motorcade before they can even leave the parking garage. This would simply be annoying but its an especially hot day in D.C. so Ben keeps his car on the whole time while April regretfully check out his Summer Times Cool Jams Mixand Ben reads her his Star Trek fan fiction. This story didnt have the dramatic weight of Leslies struggle to get a bill passed or the same adorableness of Ron being cute with a woman, but its simplicity let it be the funniest outright as Aubrey Plaza and Adam Scott are two of the most talented comedic performers Ive seen on TV in recent years and the plot still ended on a sweet note of platonic bonding. I very much like the pairing of the terrifying April and wound-too-tight Ben. Its a compelling version of the classic odd couple combination but with two of my favorite performers. How a Bill Becomes a Law is another example of how expertly Parks uses the characters its developed so well over the years. These individuals play to their strengths and whether its Donna and Jerry hanging in the background or Leslie and Tom tearin it up at the pool, the writers and performers are clearly comfortable with their dynamics and know how to make them shine.