TV Review: Parks and Recreation 4.6, "End of The World"

By Jay D. / November 4, 2011

rating: 4.5

Finally. The heart of the season. Parks and Rec played it simple this week and god did it pay off. "End of the World" was, to my count, the most sincere episode of the season, full of laughs and not without just a hint of tragedy. The episode chose one theme to nestle its characters into, and it's in the title. The End of the World. What would you do if it was tomorrow? The Pawnee group "The Reasonabilists" put that question into everyones head. Leslie would try to rekindle her flame with Ben if she could. Tom would throw the most perfect party ever. April would help Andy knock a few things off his bucket list. Ron would do nothing, because he's a realist and he hates hypotheticals. The episode centered around a kind of realization of an ideal by all the characters failed or not. It showed them striving for what they had not before, and it was nice to see them break out of their comfort zones a little. The episode very carefully put a lot of pieces into place. With a simple idea, we got a small glimpse into the true dreams of the Pawnee residents that we've fallen in love with. Leslie puts on a strong face when she goes to work everyday, but she's truly torn between her aspirations and her personal life. In her rather annoying but somehow still endearing way she leads Ben along, stalling him until she can make up her mind. But the real strength of the episode was its gentle conclusion, a wonderful resolution that was a little cheesy but not over the top. Spoilers. Leslie's relationship with Ben just couldn't work out. I'm glad that she was able to come to terms with that in her own way, and though I'm sure we haven't seen the last of them it was nice to see a little bit of closure there. Tom was reconciled with Lucy and it reminded just how well Aziz Ansari really can act. That warm smile he gets after their quick smooch says it all (not to mention his cocky gesture to the cameramen right after). But those were even the most touching endings of the episode. Andy and April truly shined. I've always accepted their marriage as strangely appropriate, although perhaps just a little convenient. Pawnee is, after all, a very small town and it may have just been the best option. This week, my mind was changed. It is clear that April would do anything for Andy, even if she won't admit, because she loves the goof. The moment they stepped out of the car and walked on to the edge of the Grand Canyon, I honestly had to hold back the tears (can't believe I just admitted that). I think they may have become complete tonight, and it means so much to us because we've come to really love those two.

I don't even want to say that Parks and Rec. went back to its roots this week, but I do want to hint at it. Everything about the episode just seemed to gel together, and it was more about just sitting back and watching everyone interact then it was flashy gimmicks and complex arcs. Because that has been the strength of the show so far. They really open up the characters and pick them apart so we truly feel like we know them. And when they connect, it is as funny as it is striking.