Parks and Rec, like it’s big brother The Office, survives by moving between the work of the Parks Department and the personal lives of its characters. When it does one, it has to do the other to even things out. That’s what happened in “The Possum,” with Leslie’s task force being the main event, with Andy and April (Anpril?) and the Swanson Code being the back up stories, creating an evenly balanced episode.
At the forefront was Leslie’s task force, created by the mayor to rid the golf course of Fairway Frank, a troublesome possum that had bitten the mayor’s dog. Leslie, of course, will do anything in the name of the mayor, and with a rag tag game of pea-brained animal control workers, Tom, and Andy, she goes to the golf course, and Andy tackles and captures the possum. Leslie is given a favor by the mayor’s office which she intends to use for The Pit (remember that?) and Andy gets a big write up in the paper. That’s where things start to unravel.
You see, there’s another possum loose on the golf course, and Leslie isn’t sure if the captured is really Fairway Frank. Meanwhile, Andy’s realization that his new status as possum catcher could win back Ann (who’s away on vacation), which upsets April, Ann’s house sitter. She retreats to Ann’s house with the possum, which Leslie had her kidnap. The possum gets loose in the house, and the two run in terror from it. It is then that April lets slip her crush on Andy to Leslie, who is sympathetic at first, but crosses the line when she wants to talk about it. That’s what I love about April’s character, she has emotions, she just doesn’t want people to know that. They get the possum, but the damage is already done. Leslie looses the support of the mayor, meaning the Lot Formally Known as the Pit will remain the same. April on the other hand makes up with Andy, who apologizes for making her mad, even though he doesn’t know why.
Then there was the Swanson Code. Ron wanted to make some improvements to his house, but Mark wouldn’t sign off on them until there were no violations in Ron’s house, which, no one else had stepped foot in in 10 years. There are violations all over the place, for a lack of ventilation, to a basket of oil-soaked rags hanging over a wood burning stove. Ron fights and fights it, but Mark wins in the end when he goes and helps Ron, against his better judgment. As a thank you, Ron gives Mark a canoe. Even trade off.
So that was that. Not a spectacular episode, but a pleasing and funny one none the less. Like The Office in its second and third seasons, Parks and Rec has a lot of unmatched heart mixed into the workplace, which is what makes it so enjoyable each week. Next week sees Andy Samberg stopping by, and we’ll, as always, be watching.
Michael’s Score: 76
TUIW Grade: B+
Michael
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