Parks & Recreation Watch: Season 4, Episode 13 - Bowling for Votes

Parks and Rec keeps everyone in a pair of big groups and gets the ball rolling in a believable way for Leslie to make up those 70 points she is behind in the polls.

Our first group of Team Knope supporters are fundraising and the team consists of Jerry, Chris, April, Andy, and Donna. The drama mostly revolves around Chris and April with the latter’s attempts to destroy his happiness as they compete for top fundraiser for the night. April and Andy are not looking forward to the evening, especially with Jerry in charge, and the appearance of a super positive Chris only makes matters worse. What April doesn't realize is that Chris' happiness is about to be tested as Jerry announces his daughter is planning on leaving Chris that very night. We don't get to see the break up, but when we catch up with Chris the next day he is at a loss of words, for one of the first times in his life, I assume. April makes a nice mea culpa for messing with the positivity in his life and it was nice to see these two reconnect after their brief stint together in season 2. The group is able to raise a surprising amount of funds for a town like Pawnee and that was an important step for moving Leslie’s campaign forward to possible victory.

These scenes were a real showcase for Aubrey Plaza's April as she got to show off a tremendous amount of range. We see every side of her annoyed, sweet and evil and it gave the character a sense of depth we don't get all that often. April puts up all a wall from who she really is and I am happy every time they chip away at it showing her softer side.

The rest of this group stays mostly to the background, but they squeeze in a few laughs from everyone involved. Chris Pratt awkwardly leaving the room with Champion was my favorite bit, especially acting like the dog talked, and getting to see how everyone interacted with their callers was a bunch of spot on character moments dropped throughout the episode. I am intrigued to see what they do with a single Chris from here and I wonder if there is a deeper goal they have for him romantically or if they just needed to tie up a loose end that didn't go the way they expected.

Leslie and the other remaining Team Knope patrons are putting on a fundraising/outreach bowling night as they try to boost the appeal of Ms. Knope after a lackluster focus group. Leslie has a deeper agenda, of course, and that is to win over a particular potential voter who doesn't plan on voting for her; and possibly worse, doesn't think she is a good bowler. Ben encourages Leslie to mingle with all of the guests, but she is so fixated on proving this particular guy wrong that she uncovers that he is worse than she could possibly imagine. It’s when the voter calls Leslie a Bitch that Ben stands up for his woman and unintentionally gives the campaign the boost it needs. Ben punching the guy and, the subsequent press conference in which Leslie refuses to apologize, gives the campaign a shot in the arm it couldn't have gotten from a simple bowling night. The town seems to slowly begin rallying around Team Knope’s underdog movement.

Leslie's inability to let things go supplies plenty of laughs as she battles her potential voter, but Ron, Ann, and Tom competing in a "friendly" game of bowling was great. Tom and Ron haven't had a lot to do as of late but both were in top from here. From discovering Ron's favorite restaurant, to Tom's bowling style and Anne giving them both trouble everyone had at least a couple good moments. Furthermore, Ron's disdain for Tom's game was a perfect conflict for him and Tom's wussy side contrasting his granny bowling dominance provided a lot of laughs that were longer overdue for the character.

The episode was also a nice little showcase for Ben as he had to deal with Leslie, yet still be on her side. The episode showed a lot of range for their relationship and how good these two are together even when they are pulling at each other in opposite directions. I really love Ben and Leslie together and each week they seem to strengthen them further and further; they are my favorite TV couple since Coach and Ms. Coach.

Parks and Rec had a very successful episode again this week and did so by revitalizing a couple characters lost in the mix as of late. The shows continued ability to strengthen Ben and Leslie's relationship means the shows second wedding can't be too far behind and I can't wait to see what they do with it. It was also a pleasant surprise how easily and affectively they were able to make Leslie's campaign comeback a possibility and I look forward to more quirky ways they come up with to boost her profile. Keep it up Parks and Rec, you are doing good work.

Bullets:

-She has a whole binder over one comment!

-Chris makes me smile.

-"When I eat, the food is scared."

-Tom's jacket; Drive reference!

-"I want his happiness to go away."

-Bowling is Ron's game.

-"Son, people can see you!"

-Look out for Leslie; you do not cross that woman.

-Scoliosis, that is the perfect description for Leslie’s ridiculous casual look.

-"I knew."

-"What the fuck."

-I thought Chris and Jerry's daughter were broken up already?

-Tweety bird, ha. I am glad Tom is back.

-"Ask, Ron"

-Champion!

-"Terrible Moonwalk."

-"I might be a wizard."

-Ben is flipping out!

-"Hurt fingys."

-Poor Jerry, getting booed for Chris’ break up.

-That headline was terrible.

-Oh Chris, he's so sad.

-April, how sweet.

-Oh man, Ron's got that form down.

-A perfect game!