Parks and Recreation: Episode 9, Season 7

Parks and Recreation: Episode 9, Season 7

Picture Credit: NBC

"Pie-Mary"

Synopsis:

Ben and Leslie decide to skip the candidates' wives pie contest (The Pie-Mary). April breaks the news to Ron that she is going to move to Washington. Ron is frustrated with her continued government work but tells her that she needs to give the spare key to his house back. Opting out of the pie contest is a bad plan it turns out. Reporters focus on her skipping the Pie-Mary and if it's a a statement. She would be the first wife to break tradition. April meanwhile can't find the key because the box she stashed it in has a note "If you are looking for Ron's key, I moved it and you'll never find it." Ron loves puzzles and is going to use the clues in the box to solve the mystery. Ben decides to enter the contest instead of Leslie to avoid making any statement. This causes a men's rights organization, the Male Men, to protest Ben's oppression by Leslie.

Gif Credit: nbcparksandrec

They try to smooth it all over with a press conference that leads with mixed feelings but a big backer for Ben. It turns out that the quest for the key is pointless because Ron changes his locks periodically. April remembers where she left it. She buried the key by a big oak tree because the tree reminded her of Ron, both are strong and quiet and is always there when you need him.

Review:
I loved this episode. Ron and April's friendship has always been one of the more interesting ones in Parks and Rec. They are the ones who like people the least and are the harshest. They're partial goodbye was classic them. Parks and Rec seem to be commenting on the "Menimist" movement that has been happening (on a small scale) on social media sites.

MY GRADE: A

Reviewer's Quotes:
Tonight’s entries are both terrifically funny, and, like “Donna And Joe,” they gain so much vital comedic vitality from all the energy found elsewhere in the storytelling. -  Alasdair Wilkins

Ratings/Share: 1.2/4          Viewers: 2.9 million

Parks and Recreation. Episode 8, Season 7.

Parks and Recreation: Episode 8, Season 7

Picture Credit: NBC

"Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington"

Synopsis:

Ben has figured out that April wants to leave government work and is pressuring April to tell Leslie during their work trip to D.C. While they are away Andy has enlisted the group to find April a new job. One of the main ideas is to have her work with Ron. Who apparently works with his brothers that nobody knew he had. Leslie freaks out April by showing her the binder she made that plans out April's next five years career-wise in the government (it came with matching "Gov Buds for Life" shirts). Ben, Andy, and Ron try Ben's old accounting firm for a job for April next. They try to charm Barney into giving April the job once Andy realizes that the consultant job is for her. Unfortunately they have finished taking applications.

Gif Credit: ilanawexler

 

Meanwhile Leslie is offered a DC job as Deputy Director of Operations. She immediately accepts. When Leslie tells April (who she wants to come to DC with her) about it April snaps and says that she is leaving government work. Leslie doesn't take it well and storms off. Madeline Albright convinces Leslie that she is overlooking April's feelings. Leslie takes April to the American Service Foundation (an organization that pairs people with careers in public service) to have them help April find her new career. It turns out that April wants to work there! Nobody tells Ben, Andy, and Ron this. After Andy scared Barney by approaching him wearing an April mask with fireworks Ben and Ron make a presentation and get Barney to consider meeting with April. That's when they get the call that April got the job in D.C. Awkward...

Review:
This episode seemed to just be to move the minor plot (April's job choice) along. The only major plot point they touch is Leslie taking the job in D.C., but not much time was spent on it. I did love the part with Ron's brothers though.

MY GRADE: B-

Reviewer's Quotes:
The first half hour of P&R made for great TV. It actually wound up giving April a whole new direction in life that makes sense for her character and also promoted Leslie to a new power position in the nation’s capital. This season is doing a fantastic job in setting up the futures for these characters throughout the season instead of just finishing everyone’s arc in the series finale like most shows. -  Tajaye Williams

Ratings/Share: 1.1/3          Viewers: 3.06 million

Parks and Recreation: Episode 7, Season 7

Parks and Recreation: Episode 7, Season 7

Picture Credit: NBC

"Donna and Joe"

Synopsis:

Donna and Joe's wedding is approaching. April is the maid of honor and her main job is to keep Donna's family in line. The Meagle's hold grudges and start fights wherever they go. Lucy gets freaked out by Ron telling her that Tommy said that he would marry her tomorrow. Jenn Barkley, a high powered Washington player, shows up at Leslie and Ben's door after they've been dodging her calls. She wants Ben to run for Congress. Ben can't decide what he wants. Craig is taking no prisoners as the wedding planner.

Gif Credit: PhD in TV Watching

April is shutting down the Meagle family drama like a drill sergeant while Ron tries to clean up his Lucy blunder. Ben is seeing if he would be a congressmen so he tries to give a toast at the rehearsal dinner. In the morning he realizes that he drunkenly told Jenn he would run.

Gif Credit: Stuff That is Trending Tumblr

Before the wedding starts Ron forces Lucy and Tom to fix their problems. Ben gets ambushed by reporters and gives a great speech about running for Congress. Donna misses the Meagle drama so April releases the crazy. Also Terry/Jerry/Garry is finally going to be called by his real name, Larry. Her estranged brother appears to yell about a feud over a microwave.

 Gif Credit: PhD in TV Watching Tumblr

Review:
The episode was "meh" for Parks and Rec. I feel like there was so much they could do with Donna's wedding. Instead they tried to shove so many extra things in that many opportunities were lost. Donna's family is a goldmine that they did not utilize! While I appreciate QuestLove playing her estranged brother I wanted to know more. The same sentiment applies to Craig's position as the wedding planner. The time hop wasn't referenced as much in this episode as well. The best part of the episode? Ben and Leslie's pajamas. They match and the shirts say "Willy Wonka and the Policy Factory".

Pic Credit: Confessions of a Pawnee Citizen Tumblr

MY GRADE: B

Reviewer's Quotes:
"Donna and Joe" not only brought everyone together for one event, but it opened up a whole new seasonal story with Ben's congressional run. There's been a lot of campaigning on this series so I hope the show finds a way to keep it fresh." - Matt Fowler, IGN

Ratings/Share: 1.2/4               Viewers: 3.45 Million