![]() I think the show is doing no favors to Leslie as a character by keeping her apart from Ann, especially in episodes-like this one-where Ann so clearly needed her. I may be guilty of an overreaction of Knope proportions here, but I think Leslie’s character has regressed this season she’s lost some of the subtlety that the writers used to let Amy Poehler so brilliantly weave into her characterization. And this wasn’t a kind of selfishness that could be attributed to a broken heart like in “Smallest Park” or even a sense of feeling left out like her story with Tom in “ New Beginnings.” Instead, it was just another episode of Leslie being forceful without any of the warmth and kindness that used to be able to balance out her character. In “Farmers Market,” though, Leslie came across as selfish-plain and simple. In fact, Leslie used to be defined by her selflessness, her desire to do everything she could to make the people around her happy. Yes, Leslie can be overly forceful and ambitious in every aspect of her life, but she used to somehow manage to be those things without ever coming across as selfish. ![]() I’m tired of watching the warmest character on television be outlandishly petulant. Yes, the laughs in this part of the episode felt original, but the emotional component-the thing that separates Parks and Rec from all other comedies-felt stale. And while people may argue that another episode of Leslie and her friends rallying around each other would feel repetitive, I would say that these storylines, with Leslie overreacting towards one of her friends (or in this case her husband) because she can’t get her way, are even more repetitive.įor example, we’ve already seen Leslie and Ben at odds like they are in “Farmers Market” in this season’s “ The Pawnee-Eagleton Tip Off Classic.” So while this storyline had some funny moments (Ben running away from Leslie to avoid conflict, Ben’s fear of dying in the fountain, and especially anything involving the actual farmers market-from the Chard Bodies to the cabbage saleswoman unbuttoning her blouse), it ultimately felt like a rehash of something we’ve already seen: Leslie overreacts, Ben gets her to see reason (because he’s literally the perfect husband for her), and they come to a conclusion that works for all involved. I know that too many episodes spent celebrating Leslie would make the show feel too sappy, but I feel like this season has spent a lot of time highlighting Leslie’s worst traits without enough time spent on her best traits to create a strong balance. But after too many episodes this season of Leslie being the antagonist in a storyline, I’ve missed those lovely days of Parks and Rec past when I could root for Leslie Knope on a weekly basis. Don’t get me wrong Leslie’s overzealous personality and steamroller tendencies aren’t out-of-character traits. Something has been missing in recent Parks and Recreation episodes, including this week’s “Farmers Market,” and I finally figured out what it is: a likeable protagonist. I laughed and cried as I made my way through my favorites-“Flu Season,” “The Debate,” “Win, Lose, or Draw,” and “Leslie and Ben”-and I spent a lot of time thinking, too. My Thoughts I spent a lot of time this weekend watching old episodes of Parks and Recreation as I rested a bum shoulder on my couch. Meanwhile, Ann needs an outlet for her frustrations about what pregnancy is doing to her body, and Andy finds a potential new career as a children’s party performer.įavorite Line “Tom put all my records into this rectangle…The songs just play one right after the other! This is an excellent rectangle!” (Ron) ![]() Two-Sentence Summary Leslie oversteps her bounds as she tries to use Ben’s position as city manager to remove a chard vendor with questionable advertising techniques from the Pawnee farmers market. I hope all of you had an excellent weekend that didn’t involve chard shots! ![]() Sorry for the delay, fellow Parks and Recreation fans. ![]()
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