New Beginnings.

“Hey Sanitation, let’s talk health insurance. Your dependents don’t have it anymore, have some illegal cheese!” –Ben Wyatt

The theme of the episode is clearly R-E-S-P-E-G-C. Ben desperately wants it from his employees, and Leslie refuses to give it to her her's. Don’t take that line out of context. Or do, I guess.

Leslie

C

Oh Leslie, you beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk ox. I adore you. You are both the wind beneath my feminist wings and also, literally, the face on my key chain. But there is nothing I hate more than when you don’t have faith in your eternally loyal coworkers. Leslie, meet me at camera three: Girl, you realize these are the same people who saved your park fundraiser when Pawnee got hit by fake avian flu? And helped you set up the Harvest Festival that essentially bailed the Pawnee government out of bankruptcy? And acted as your free campaign team that got you VOTED INTO OFFICE? Not to mention just three episodes ago you were heavily leaning on Tom’s business and marketing expertise to save the Pawnee water supply from being turned into a Mecca for diabetics. I get that you feel left out and unneeded from having been out of the office for so long, but this panicky, bull-dozer version of Leslie has been done, and done, and done, and I’ve hated it each time.

But props on the Eiffel Tower shirt. You’re too adorable to stay mad at for any real length of time.

Ron

A+

Guys, Ron is totally content doling out sage life advice to Leslie without being coerced or immediately regretting it. Oh hey there, character development. Nice to see you’re still a major strength of this show. And that tag at the end is magical. Not only did Ron leave the state to bury the ashes of his ‘Employee of the Month’ plaque, he also has to cover his tracks straight up Balto-style.

Tom

A+Oh Tommy. I love laser shows and your velvet suit. I just want to turn you into a stuffed animal and watch Supernatural on the couch with your fuzzy, lifeless body. All of the A’s, you well-developed stuffed animal TV-show character.

Ben

A

It was such a smart choice of the writer’s to have Ben trying to play the part of both Chris and himself without Chris’s energy to back him up. And I LOVE that he’s terrible at pranks. Adam Scott drowning in sweat ushering everyone outside was a masterpiece. The idea of Donna & Co. trying to get Ben to unwind has been done (see Ben’s Batsuit purchase as proof), but it makes sense for him to be especially uptight in this new role, so I’ll forgive it.

I’m also going to go ahead and give Adam Scott an ‘A+’ for this week. Is there anyone on the planet who plays a better terrified nerd? (Spoiler alert: no. There isn’t.)

Donna, Andy & April

A, A & ADonna, as always, can do the most with the fewest lines. Or no lines. Her reaction shot when Andy said Ben was going to prank them is FLAWLESS. And of course April would love getting covered in fake blood. It’s also the only time I can imagine April taking an enthusiastic selfie.

Chris & Ann

B & B

Oh Chris and Ann. You are the deliciously tasty saltine cracker that Larry chokes on. Pretty tasty when you’re in a Fallout Shelter situation, but when there’s a smorgasbord of delicious characters like Ben, Donna and Ron to compete with, you immediately fall to the back of my pantry. But Chris does let Ann pee with the door open for important TV events, which is obviously a must on my dream-couple checklist. Just because the other characters got better storylines doesn’t mean I love you any less. B’s all around!

“New Beginnings” 

B-Any episode where Leslie can’t seem to trust her colleagues, who have proven time again that they deserve it, isn’t going to be my favorite. Then again, any episode where Ben has to be in a room with police officers is usually bound to be wonderful, so they evened each other out. Overall, Parks and Rec does an amazing job letting their characters grow and keeping them in character all at the same time, but this episode missed the mark for me.

Extra Credit

• The Barks and Recreation/Parks and Roocreation signs.
• Ben accidentally attempting to bribe the police then immediately surrendering.
• Ron sniffing out an elk hair. Okay, is this guy actually human Balto? He’s not, right? Pungent Beef Smoothies’ would make a great band name. CALLING IT.
• "That was a fantastic season finale. And a show that is LITERALLY a never-ending roller coaster of emotion.”
• Andy knows his place in the food chain: he’s Government, Jr.
• Also, please send me names of musicians like Uretha Franklin. That’s all I want in my life. 

Demerits

• The Knope/Wyatt clan seriously regressed this week. Get it together, kids.
• I need me some Craig. An hour of Craig. A full hour!

Best Jerry/Gary/Larry dig

• Even Chris gets one in. “That LITERALLY went on forever.”
• Jim O’Heir’s coughing nearly murdered me. It was too perfect. “No, I totally understand, I’ll just cough it out.”
• “What the hell is wrong with you, are you in a cult? I want to join and sacrifice Larry.”