But I couldn’t. I watched the episode Friday morning, and maybe it was because I’d been up really late travelling the night before and was still exhausted, but I sobbed. SOBBED. What is this show even going to be like now without Leslie and Ann’s friendship. It was such a driving force. For the past few weeks I’ve complained that there was so little Leslie and Ann interaction (and I still maintain that there was so much more that could have been done with them in these last few episodes), but at least there was potential for them to have story lines together. But now there’s not, and barring a guest appearance later on, there’s never going to be a Leslie and Ann story line on “Parks and Recreation” again. BRB TOTALLY CRYING SOME MORE. There was really nothing else to do with this episode but dedicate it to goodbyes.
I thought Chris’ story line with the rest of the guys was sweet. It wasn’t too sentimental, and the idea of giving Chris the empty box to fill with new memories for the baby fit right in with Chris’ positive outlook on life. I know not everyone was a fan of his character, but I always thought Chris was really funny, especially when his enthusiastic positivity would clash with Ron. Of course Chris’ biggest friendship was with Ben, but I also loved the fun “opposites attract” kind of friendship that he developed with April.
There were so many call backs to previous episodes that were alluded to with Chris’ gifts to the guys, like the bronzed burger to commemorate Chris and Ron’s Burger Cook Off and the bottle of Snake Juice that he gave to Tom. Even though Rob Lowe hasn’t been on the show since the first episode, he really engrained himself into the series, and I’m going to miss Chris Traeger’s character.
But this episode was really about Leslie and Ann saying goodbye. Leslie made Ann a copious amount of scrap books, with topics like “Eat, Read, ‘Eat Pray Love’ Talk,” “Kelly Clarkson Concerts 1,2 & 3,” “Thoughts on Sam Waterston,” “First Text Message,” “Road Trips 100 Miles or More,” “The Mystery of the Woman We Saw in ‘Food and Stuff’ Who Looked Like Isla Fisher,” and “Ice Cream Sandwich Taste Test.” She also throws Ann thirty parties in one to celebrate all of the birthdays, holidays, and other events that she and Ann might not be together for anymore. But Leslie’s last big surprise is to break ground on Pawnee Commons, the park project that first brought Leslie and Ann together.
Of course a problem arises and our two favorite girlfriends have to team up together one last time to sort it out. And they succeed triumphantly of course! There were also call back moments for them too, like wearing the Kickass helmets and references to Galentine’s Day. Ann’s goodbyes to all of her other Pawnee friends were great (Andy’s in particular was perfection).
Even though I watched it through a blurred fog of tears, Leslie and Ann’s last scene together was beautiful and funny and sad and really just perfect. I’m going to miss them together so much.
This was actually a difficult episode to recap, mostly because I’m still not over it. There were hilarious moments, but it was also really emotional and bittersweet. You need to watch it without delay if you haven’t done so already. The show is on a break now until after the Olympics, so there’s plenty of time for the fans to collect ourselves until new episodes start back up again. I know I’m going to need it…
ARE YOU OKAY?! Really? That’s what I thought. Me neither. Did you think Chris and Ann had a satisfying send off?
