Leslie’s (Amy Poehler) suspension is in full effect on this week’s episode of Parks and Recreation, and she’s not happy. After her attempt to smuggle out some work on a flash drive is thwarted by Chris, (Rob Lowe) Leslie is forced to take a vacation.
She uses this time to create a new spice called “salgar” (salt and sugar combined) but quickly gets bored. Adorable, perfect Ben (Adam Scott) suggests she use her time off to improve the Parks Department as a private citizen while he looks for a new job.
Ben’s job hunt goes about as expected – he’s perfect for mind-numbingly boring jobs. After a soul-crushing interview at an accountig firm, Leslie advises him to just find something he loves, proving that they can’t be any more freaking great together.
Leslie forms the Parks Committee of Pawnee (or PCP) and is busy as ever, but still finds time to buy everyone back at work the perfect Christmas present. For example, April (Aubrey Plaza) gets a painting of herself viciously killing the Black Eyed Peas and Ron (Nick Offerman) gets a remote that allows him to close his office doors. Ron, of course, can’t stand the emotional debt he owes Leslie after years of receiving her perfect gifts, and decides the department must come together to create an amazing gift for Leslie.
Using Leslie’s love of work and candy, they decide on creating a gingerbread replica of the office, which Leslie, of course, adores. She even gets her suspension lifted a little early.
I thought this episode was in good contrast to the previous week’s more romantic endings, lest we forget that Leslie’s friends love her just as much as Ben does. Ben Schwartz‘s return as Jean-Ralphio was amazing as usual, but I think JR’s probably on the verge of a mental breakdown. He just looks nuts. My favorite moment, though, had to be the board Tom (Aziz Ansari) made of Leslie’s most loved things. “Hogwarts” and “Taylor Swift?” Seriously Leslie, it’s like we’re the same person.
The neurotic in me is also worried that Ben won’t be able to find a good job in Pawnee and have to leave, but for now I’m going to try and ignore that fear.
What did you guys think of this week’s episode? Let us know in the comments.