Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • You Should Pre-Order the 'Strangers in Paradise' Omnibus So It Can Exist

      Ben Wachtel
      March 18, 2013
      Columns, Comics Grind & Rewind
    Recent
    • 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
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • 4.5

      Amazing Spider-Man #801 is a Superb Slott Sendoff (Review)

      Ben Wachtel
      June 20, 2018
      Big Two, Marvel Comics, Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.5

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

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Stan Lee

      nguyen ly
      November 7, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • Get Some Hellboy Craft Beer!

      Ben Wachtel
      February 6, 2020
      Dark Horse, News, Press Release
    Recent
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • 4.5

      TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      October 29, 2020
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 5.0

      Webcomic: The Graveyard Gang

      Ben Wachtel
      January 31, 2013
      Digital Comics, Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.5

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

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

      Daniel Gehen
      December 14, 2020
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Joe Field: the Mastermind Behind Free Comic Book Day

      Ben Wachtel
      May 8, 2011
      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 Interview: Don Perlin - "I Lucked Out"

      Ben Wachtel
      August 28, 2015
      Classic Interviews, Interviews
    Recent
    • 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
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Dispatches from CAB Part One: It's an Adventure

      Ben Wachtel
      November 18, 2014
      News
    Recent
    • 2020 Ringo Awards Winners Announced

      Daniel Gehen
      October 26, 2020
    • BAD IDEA Announces 2021 Publishing Slate

      Daniel Gehen
      September 29, 2020
    • A Full Replay of NCSFest 2020 is now Available

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2020
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'Out of Nothing' is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Ben Wachtel
      July 23, 2018
      Books
    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: If I win Powerball, I will buy Amazing Fantasy 15
  • DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)
  • Collecting Profile: Batwoman
  • Collecting Profile: Daredevil
  • Collecting Profile: Floronic Man
  • Review of Cheetah in Wonder Woman 1984
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Reviews

Parks and Recreation 5.22- "Are You Better Off?" Review

Ben Wachtel
May 9, 2013
Reviews

 

Parks and Recreation Logo

4.22 "Are You Better Off?"

 

Growing up in the Facebook era, I’ve seen my fair share of politically-related posts from friends and general acquaintances. They could not be more infuriating. I don’t know why, really, because I get uncomfortable even when they hold the same basic viewpoints as I do, and normally I’m all for voicing your opinions, because I try to keep an open mind about pretty much everything.

That’s where my mind immediately went during Leslie’s “victory lap,” which brought out many of the townspeople she’s interacted with over the past year – people whose feet she’s stepped on while promoting social change. In typical Parks and Rec fashion, most of the people who get involved in local politics are passionate but outlandish and unreasonable, and it was overwhelming, even as a viewer, to see these people attack the policies she has created. She’s not dealing with reasonable people that see things differently from the way she sees them, she’s dealing with irrational people afraid of their “freedoms” being taken away. In that respect, the device worked well, because it was frustrating and I felt like she was helpless. She’s made so much progress, but the people don’t want progress or for their lives to change at all.

 

Parks and Recreation Leslie Ben Are You Better Off NBC

 

Normally, I really enjoy when the show uses the public forum as a way to add spice to the main political storyline. I praise the way the show personifies Pawnee through its colorful residents almost every week, and that’s a great way to accomplish this feeling of being overwhelmed. At the same time, though, I feel like next year, having a competent challenger to Leslie’s city council seat would make her battle multi-dimensional. Having to defend against the crazed masses is one thing, but to also combat someone as passionate as she is but that also sees things differently from her would allow her political career to continue to evolve.

 

Parks and Recreation Leslie Are You Better Off NBC

 

I tweeted about eight hours before this episode was aired a prediction for the season finale – and until the end of the episode, I really thought I was right. I thought the Internet would name me as its prophet and king. But the actual surprise ending to the episode, which I did not see coming, I think will be even more interesting than April’s child growing up to hate Ann’s child. Ron Swanson the Father has been primed by his guidance of Andy and Tom over the past five seasons, and what better role model to guide a young boy or girl through a very manly childhood than Duke Silver himself? Furthermore, I think it allows Ron to continue his evolution through his first non-dysfunctional long-term relationship.

 

Parks and Recreation Andy Are You Better Off NBC

 

This episode was the season finale – and, I guess, potentially the series finale, although it’s looking like Parks and Rec will get a sixth season. Because it was the last episode of the season, we had to get a look at where every major character is headed next. The result was a pretty cluttered storyline that left little room to breathe. We already know what’s in the future for Ann and Chris, and I’ve discussed Leslie (and Ben, through her) and Ron.

 

Parks and Recreation Tom Are You Better Off NBC

 

A storyline that really is not working for me is Tom’s relationship with Mona-Lisa, a character that was moderately amusing for one episode and unbelievably irritating since. I totally get that the writers don’t want to make every major character’s life perfect right now. He’s got his hands full with Rent-A-Swag, his first successful business venture among a graveyard of failed ones, so it makes sense that he doesn’t really have time to find someone worth his time. But the character is less funny than annoying. I contrast her with Jon Glaser’s performance as Councilman Jamm, a character that’s meant to be abrasive and annoying but that contributes positively as Leslie’s detractor and is talented enough to be both irritating and funny. Mona-Lisa functions in a similar way – we are supposed to dislike her and wonder why Tom is even dating her – but I don’t find her to be comically annoying.

 

Parks and Recreation Andy April Are You Better Off NBC

 

An episode full of Burt Macklin awesomeness concluded not with April announcing that she’s pregnant, as I predicted, but with Andy supporting her dream of going to vet school. At least personally, I liked that they briefly showed April answering a mysterious phone call at the beginning of the episode (which was her hearing she’d been accepted to vet school) and then Andy immediately dismissing her as a suspect because she doesn’t keep anything from him. It adds a layer to the conclusion of the storyline because we get to see inside their somewhat nontraditional marriage, we see that beneath her tough exterior she has a lot of insecurities, we see how good of a match these two characters are, and this is all done in a heartwarming but fairly realistic way. Because this was all a mystery to the viewer, as well, it makes us feel included in this particular moment in a very organic way.  


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
The Vampire Diaries 4.21- “She’s Come Undone” Review
Real Talk: Phil McAndrew's 'Crying in Front of Your Dog and Other Stories' Mixes the Surreal with the Tranquil, Also Mustaches

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 Reviews

  • 4.5

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

    Daniel Gehen
    January 22, 2021
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

    Daniel Gehen
    December 14, 2020
  • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

    Daniel Gehen
    December 3, 2020
  • 4.5

    TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    October 29, 2020
  • 4.5

    Micro Review: Commanders in Crisis #1

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    October 12, 2020
  • 3.0

    Review: GHOST WRITER Fights the Spectre of Unevenness

    Daniel Gehen
    September 3, 2020
  • 3.5

    Review: Strange Skies Over East Berlin

    Yavi Mohan
    August 11, 2020
  • DRAWING BLOOD: A Hyper-Stylized, Fictional Autobiography

    Ben Bishop, Brittany Peer, David Avallone, Drawing Blood, Kevin Eastman, Tomi Varga
    August 9, 2020
  • 3.0

    Alien: The Original Script #1 – This One’s For The Fans

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    August 7, 2020
  • Singles Going Steady: Why? Lettering!

    Daniel Gehen
    July 28, 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