Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • What Looks Good For the Week of December 4, 2019

      Ben Wachtel
      December 2, 2019
      Columns, What Looks Good
    Recent
    • Revisiting the Witchblade/Fathom/Tomb Raider Crossover

      Daniel Gehen
      February 8, 2021
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Leading Question: Martian Manhunter and the Justice League

      Ben Wachtel
      October 8, 2015
      Big Two, Columns, DC Comics, Leading Question
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: 6 Most Expensive Comic Books April 2021 Update

      nguyen ly
      April 17, 2021
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 4.5

      Review: "When I Arrived At The Castle" Beckons You To Revisit Multiple Times

      Ben Wachtel
      April 24, 2019
      Indie, Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.0

      Review: Beast Wars #2 another chance to change the past

      Stephen Cook
      March 3, 2021
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 3.5

      Under the Dome 1.09 "The Fourth Hand" Review

      Ben Wachtel
      August 24, 2013
      Reviews
    Recent
    • Singles Going Steady – Vowels, Who Needs Them?

      Daniel Gehen
      March 8, 2021
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Interview: Joe Rubinstein Part Three: Kosher Comics, Bondage Comics and Super-Hero Comics

      Ben Wachtel
      January 9, 2015
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade: Donald Duck: "Christmas on Bear Mountain"

      Ben Wachtel
      December 25, 2015
      Classic Comics Cavalcade, Columns
    Recent
    • VISITOR is the Quintessential “SPIRIT” Story

      Daniel Gehen
      March 26, 2021
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Exclusive Marvel Preview: "Captain America: Sam Wilson" #6

      Ben Wachtel
      January 28, 2016
      Marvel Comics, Previews
    Recent
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 17, 2021
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • "THE BEST OF WITZEND" is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Ben Wachtel
      September 15, 2018
      Books, Classic Comics, Fantagraphics, Reviews
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Collecting Profile: 6 Most Expensive Comic Books April 2021 Update
  • Collecting Profile: Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Collecting Profile: 1990 Marvel Universe Trading Cards
  • Collecting Profile: Red Sonja
  • Collecting Profile: Dr. Doom
  • VISITOR is the Quintessential “SPIRIT” Story
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Columns

Parks and Recreation 5.19- "Article Two" Review

Ben Wachtel
April 25, 2013
Columns, Reviews

 

Parks and Recreation NBC Logo

5.19- "Article Two"

 

Because I review Parks and Rec every week, I try to plan ahead. In addition to my duties as a writer for Comics Bulletin, I am a full-time student, so I have to be able to manage my time effectively. But it’s really hard to do that, because NBC changes their Thursday night comedy lineup more often than Rick Reilly uses this exact joke structure in his writing. This week, they showed two episodes, in contrast with the entire month of March, during which they aired just one new episode. I’m not saying the show draws low viewership numbers because of an inconsistent schedule, but it can’t help.

“Article Two” will probably be remembered for the video that circulated in the days before the episode aired in which guest star Patton Oswalt improvises an eight-minute filibuster about his ideas for the new Star Wars movie and suggests that it should be a crossover between the franchise (with robot Chewbacca), the Marvel universe with surprise appearances by the X-Men, and the entire pantheon of Greek gods.

 

 

My unreasonably high expectations for Oswalt’s appearance on the show were met. He’s one of my favorite standup comedians and I was blown away by his performance in Young Adult. I did think he played his character well, and I admired how the episode allowed Garth Blunden an opportunity for some real characterization. Generally, townspeople – even those played by famous or semi-famous or marginally famous guest stars – are only explored on the surface, because there’s only so much time in a 22-minute episode. Additionally, most townspeople are just there to be laughed at, because if you’ve ever been to a small town council meeting (I have), the people that show up are really just there to argue.

 

Parks and Recreation NBC Article Two April Ron Swanson

 

But we learned there was more to Garth than what we initially saw on the surface. He’s a lonely man that feels rejected, and even people that share his interests aren’t willing to give him the opportunity to take part in things that are important to him. While the storyline between Leslie and Garth made me laugh less than either of the other two, it was an interesting change of pace. Even guest actors earlier this season, like Jason Schwartzman in “Bailout,” for instance, got minimal screen time and were mostly used as a function of the story. I think as I look back at my initial experience with the episode, I wanted to laugh at Garth, who has been branded a loser by the community that we usually see as welcoming, but I’m glad the episode allowed him a chance to be included.

 

Parks and Recreation Ben Article Two NBC

 

I am always interested in the way that Parks and Rec infuses real-world social and political issues. If you’re the single person that reads my reviews regularly, you’ll know that I try to decode the sometimes subtle politically-charged storylines. I don’t think it was a coincidence that the questionable part of the town charter was Article Two, or that Ted argues “that’s the way it’s always been done is not a good reason to be doing something,” or that the Pawn Shop Guy (quickly rising on my weekly Parks and Rec townspeople power rankings list) hands Ben a box of guns to solve his problem, or that Garth fears that if the outdated laws are removed from the town charter, stormtroopers will bust down his door.

By balancing silly details with mostly inoffensive subject matter, the show can comment on political issues while still maintaining the lighthearted, welcoming tone that viewers expect. Still, though, it has the capacity to be deeply satirical – while it isn’t as easy in real life to obtain handguns as it is in the Pawnee pawn shop, they are clearly making a point about firearm regulations. So the show isn’t a vehicle for cutting satire that attempts to cultivate social change like Glee’s weird recent school shooting storyline, but that’s okay, because those types of storylines fall flat on their faces more often than they succeed. Instead, they write a funny show that doesn’t deviate from their successful weekly formula that also relates to national or small-town politics.


Ben Wachtel likes baseball, the Boston Celtics, pancakes, tacos, and swam collegiately at Purdue University. You can follow him on Twitter at @benwachtel24.

Ben WachtelParks and Recreation (NBC)

Share On:
Tweet
Gender, Transformation and Mr. Angel: A Chat with Buck Angel and His Wife Elayne Angel
Parks and Recreation 5.20- "Jerry's Retirement" Review

About The Author

Ben Wachtel

Related Posts

  • 3.0

    Psych 7.14 "No Trout About It" Season Finale Review

    Ben Wachtel
    June 5, 2013
  • 2.0

    Psych 7.13 "Nip and Suck It" review

    Ben Wachtel
    May 29, 2013

Latest Columns

  • Revisiting the Witchblade/Fathom/Tomb Raider Crossover

    Daniel Gehen
    February 8, 2021
  • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

    Daniel Gehen
    December 4, 2020
  • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

    Daniel Gehen
    October 30, 2020
  • Comictober 2020: DRACULA MOTHERF**KER

    Daniel Gehen
    October 27, 2020
  • What Looks Good for the Week of 10/14/2020

    Daniel Gehen
    October 12, 2020
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders