The Best Parks and Recreation Episodes

This list was initially going to entail a list of only 7 episodes but this is Parks and Recreation. In preparation for a life without Parks and Rec, I decided to share all my favorite episodes. We could argue which episode is "best" but that idea then didn't sit well with me since every episode has a special place in my heart. These are just more special to me personally. Here are 7 Honorable Mentions: Greg Pikitis, Ron and Tammy, Media Blitz, Ron and Tammy: Part Two, Ron and Tammys, Ron and Diane, The Cones of Dunshire, Flu Season 2

Season 2

The Camel - When Pawnee's local government asks each department to design a new mural for city hall, Leslie has everyone come together to win the design contest. With the exception of Jerry, nobody is able to combine their ideas in any meaningful capacity. But they give it their best shot. What they make is a weird amalgamation of weirdness that could only be brought together by the parks department. It's not the funniest episode. I just think it's an interesting look and celebration of how the series works as a whole.

Hunting Trip - My deep-rooted adoration for Parks and Rec stems from many aspects of its emotional brilliance, but who doesn't love the infinite quotability of this show? The Parks department accompany Ron, Mark, and Gerry, on their annual hunting trip that ends with Ron being shot in the back of the head. Back at city hall, April and Andy wait for a phone call. It's a sorta bottle episode that sorta plays out like a whodunnit with an endless wave of dialogue that is worth quoting. ABOOLAHBOOLAHBOOLAH!

Freddy Spaghetti - During the government shutdown, Leslie recruits the Parks department to host a concert for the kids as a last hurrah before they all have to go find jobs. Not only does this episode solidify Ben and Chris as vital components in the world of Pawnee, we get to see even after a big defeat like government shutdown, Leslie and her team can make a win out of anything.

Season 3

Flu Season - Pawnee gets struck with a bad case of the flu and Leslie has to prepare a speech to recruit donors for her next big project, the Harvest Festival. It's sort of a trope in sitcoms for characters to get sick and forced to spend unwanted time together (Parks is never scared to embrace tropes). Tropes are tropes for a reason, when they're done right, they're done oh so right. Few things make me laugh as loud as April's "Stay back, slut!" or Chris Traeger's excess of bodily fluid (not shown because ew) "STOP. POOPING." I happened to be stuck in bed after a not so good run-in with appendicitis when this episode aired, so it's kind of perfect for me.

The Fight - In what may be the funniest episode of Parks and Rec, Tom gets the Parks crew to help sell his brand new liquor at the Snakehole Lounge. Leslie and Ann have their first big fight and oddly enough helps both of them grow as characters. Tom's first business venture goes a little south. Most importantly, we see the return of Burt Macklin and we get our introduction to Janet Snakehole (she's a widow with a terrible secret). I was going to put a picture but I think the above video speaks for itself.

Li'l Sebastian - The Parks Department deals with the aftermath of Li'l Sebastian's death while Leslie and Ben become careless with their new relationship affairs. But most importantly, we say goodbye to Li'l Sebastian. He wasn't a pony. He was a tiny horse. Li'l Sebastian is an American treasure and a cultural milestone. We miss you dearly, little fella. If you don't care about Li'l Sebastian then fuck you.

Season 4

End of the World - The Parks department take into account what's important in their lives as they help the Cult of Zorp prepare for what they predict to be the end of the world. Parks always had a strong emotional center to it. Once we got into the campaign stories of Leslie Knope, the show somehow packed even more emotion to it. In some ways it became existential. Tom and Jean Ralphio accept defeat and throw one last giant party before going broke. Ron is comfortable with who he is. Leslie and Ben workout some differences.

The Debate - Leslie prepares to face off against Bobby Newport and other candidates in a televised debate for city council. Bobby Newport is the most fascinating version of a TV antagonist in a comedy for me. He's dimwitted, not evil. He's the perfect antithesis to Leslie Knope's high aspirations and brilliant strategizing. He just doesn't care but he wants everyone to be happy. They end up becoming good friends. If Bobby Newport and Leslie Knope can be friends, why can't we all?

Win, Lose, or Draw - Maybe Leslie just wasn't meant to be a part of City Council. Oh, wait, she won? Hell yeah! Here we get to see how supportive her friends are of her. She's given them so much, now is there time to return the favor. She ends up losing her big seat only a little more than a season later, but not before she can save the economy of two towns. If Leslie Knope was going down, she was going down swinging. City council, bitches!

Season 5

Halloween Surprise - While being a generally hilarious episode, the sentiment Parks so often wore on its sleeve was full throttle (the show would top itself in another choice not too far below). From Chris Traeger dealing with depression from his breakup with Millicint Gergich to realize Jerry has her DNA and Ben's abrupt marriage proposal, this one really had it all.

Emergency Response - Councilman Jamm wasn't a complete knockout antagonist like Bobby Newport, but he allowed for some traditional hero vs villain stuff before he too would eventually become her friend (sorta). During the emergency response test (all of them) Leslie figuratively killed all of Pawnee as to hurry things along so she could get to a gala for the Pawnee Commons. And we get Jamm's best line on the show "You just got Jamm'd! Ghost Jamm'd!" and that ending!

Leslie and Ben - As Leslie and Ben attempt to join get married at the gala with everyone in town watching from the aisles, Jamm drunkenly ruins the event with two stink bombs. But that's alright, though Leslie wasn't able to get married in her dream scenario, she got the next best thing: a wedding in city hall. I'm starting to cry just thinking about it. Don't touch me.

Season 6

London - Again, Parks embraces comedy tropes without ever submitting to what could make them such a bore. It's not just that the cast goes to London for an episode so they make fun of the different cultures, It's that these oddly specific characters are going to London. Ron, outspoken anti-European culture, learns to embrace the side of the world he never found appealing. Not sure what Leslie thought he'd get out of that.

Ann and Chris - Saying goodbye to friends is tough. You always promise to see each other and talk to each other, but it gets hard. Life happens. Great friends like Ann and Leslie will always be more than just friends. They'll be family. We said goodbye to Ann and Chris but they will always be a part of Leslie's little family.

Moving Up - Sometimes things look messy. You find yourself at the end of your rope and you wonder how you'll ever get out of this predicament with your sanity. That's essentially where Leslie and Tom find themselves as Leslie struggles to decide whether or not she should leave Pawnee and Tom's Bistro has a terrible soft-launch. But this is Leslie Knope and she always has a plan. Her little plans succeed, Tom becomes a successful businessman for the first time in his life, and we jump 3 years into the future. Time jumps always worry me but no show proves me wrong like Parks.

Season 7

Leslie & Ron - The time jump might be the best thing to have happened to Parks in a long time. I would never claim the show got stale (there was a worrisome point for sure) but the constant evolution of characters kept it fresh until the very end. One of the other worrisome points besides the time jump was the current state of Leslie and Ron's friendship, aka there was none. But it brought us to this beautiful montage of Leslie and Ron rekindling their workplace acquaintance status in a way that brought a tear to my eye. Then I remember crying is acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon so I stop.

The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show - In contention for my favorite episode of any comedy, Johnny Karate follows the final day in the life of Andy's kid's show in Pawnee. Every member of the main cast (minus Tom) showcases their special skills to Andy's show. Ben gets to become Professor Smartbrain, Donna is a Police Chief, Garry gets to be mailman Barry and get beat up by kids, and April endorses learning about animals. It's a trainwreck of comedy and I love every second of it.

One Last Ride - Not many shows get to stick their landing in the finale. Hell, most shows don't get a decent final season. Parks really had it all. In my opinion, they had the best final season of a comedy, and probably one of the best final season's of any television show in general. The final journey for the Parks department wasn't another Harvest Festival or campaign trail (though those were certainly hinted at), it was the Parks department getting back together to fix a swing in a park. There's no job too big or too small for the Parks department, and I'll always love them for that.