Farmer’s Market.

“I want to be Pac-Man and instead of dots, I want them to be cinnamon buns.” –Ann Perkins

This week, Leslie tries to turnip the heat when she thinks Ben doesn’t carrot all about the Chard vendor’s blue(berry) marketing strategy. When their work life pears with their home life, their relationship gets chili and Leslie starts raisin hell. A Ben vs. Leslie episode? Okra-p. Collard me excited.

Lettuce get to the recap! (#SorryNotSorry).

Leslie

A

Now this version of bulldozer Leslie makes sense, unlike last week’s major character regression. Leslie sees a problem, comes up with a solution, and smothers everyone else with it until they suffocate and give in. Leslie is that person that forces the puzzle pieces together, even when they don’t fit, because it totally makes sense for that piece to be there and the manufacturer must be wrong and there’s NO WAY you lost one of the pieces and you definitely tried them all. (I may be projecting here). It’s more important to me that Leslie stay in character than it is to have her be likeable all the time. She is a human bulldozer in the best and worst of ways, and having to deal with bad vegetable puns and 158 rules of conduct for the Pawnee Farmer’s Market is part of dealing with Leslie. And to be honest, Leslie is the best. She’s earned the right to be annoyingly passionate and borderline rude; I’ll still love her.

Ben

B+

Ben, you are my favorite nerd. Of course you would separate family and work life by using a firewall. But at this point, I’d think you’d be slightly more adept at dealing with Leslie’s special blend of crazy. You and I both know nothing can misdirect her, and trying to run home so you don’t have to deal with it is NOT going to work. After all, your home was probably built on the grounds where the first Pawnee election was held, so it’s technically state property.

And guys, Adam Scott directed this episode! A’s for you, Adam Scott.

Ann

A+

Oh Ann Perkins, you beautiful, pregnant, relatable, hungry, hungry hippo. This may have been Ann’s best episode of all time. Rashida Jones had a myriad of great lines to work with, and her food rant is a thing of beauty. I’m a little bummed that the writers didn’t give her this much meat until her second-to-last episode, but better late than never.

Side note: what does it say about me that I relate the most to a very pregnant and hormonal fictional character? I can’t be alone in this.

Chris

AIf disagreeing with Leslie is like arguing with the sun, then complaining to Chris is like staring into a flood light. Tackling the issue of how difficult it is for woman to vent to men is an excellent concept, and Chris and Ann are literally the perfect couple to exemplify this. And while I get that Ann is completely hormonal from carrying a human life insider her, I am SO IN LOVE with Chris. Don’t we all just want someone to cut our horse pills in half and buy us cream for our boob-hats?

April & Andy

A & A

This storyline was absolute perfection. Andy really does make up songs off the top of his head (I sing his “I am on hold” song from “Hunting Trip” every time I’m on hold). It’s been a confirmed character trait for years. Often, when shows have been on the air this long, the writers have to start making up habits and traditions that have never been established and it comes off as disingenuous. But Andy has the skills to make up kids songs about picking noses, and April has previously acted as his manager and cheerleader. Farmer’s Market takes the same old ingredients they’ve always had and turns them into a new delicious, boogery dish.

Bert Macklin

A+As for investigating dirty feet for the FBI. It’s a stinky job; I’m just glad you’re doing it.

“Farmer’s Market”

AAfter last week, I was afraid that Parks and Rec might have hit its limit for original episodes. But last night proved me wrong. Of course Leslie and Ben would have issues separating work/home life. And of course Ann wouldn’t get to vent to Chris, the shining beacon of human perfection. And OF COURSE Andy would make a perfect children’s singer. None of these storylines have been done before, and all of them are perfectly in character. Episodes like this are the reason why I trust the writers enough to look forward to season 7. Yeah, that’s right kids. We’re going to have a a 7th season.

Extra Credit

• CRAIG IS BACK! “Have you not already lost it?” “OH YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW.”
• Ann’s entire food rant, starting with“I have a beach ball in my stomach that’s punching on my bladder.”
• The surprise in Leslie’s Toffee Surprise is the toffee.
• Ann has Pre-Post-Partum Depression anxiety
• “I literally have one thousand questions.”
• “This is an excellent rectangle!”
• All the vegetable hate:
  Broccoli is a small tree, while cauliflower is a small, dead tree.
  Chard is either kale that took a dump on spinach or celery with B.O.
  Chard juice shots are actually trees barfing in your mouth.

Demerits

• That the episode ended.

Best Jerry/Gary/Larry Dig

• The only thing I love more than when everyone picks on Larry is when Larry gets to pick on Kyle. “I just want to choke him until he passes out.”
• Leslie’s scream of frustration at Larry. Poetry.
• I’m starting to forget his name is actually Jerry. Wait, no, it’s Gary.

What did you guys think? And if I missed any great vegetable pun opportunities, peas tell me.

P.S: For everyone who has always wanted an entire Ron Swanson episode, I found this gem while I was procrastinating this morning: