The Parks gang completes one last task together, before saying goodbye to Pawnee.
It has been one crazy and wild journey getting to this point for Parks and Recreation. Defeating all the odds, this show about small town government officials made it to seven seasons. Every year, the show didn't know if it would be coming back or not. Almost every season finale had to be written as if it could be a series finale. Those have created some of the best moments too - Leslie winning the election in Season 4, the time jump in Season 6, etc. But from the very beginning of this season, the creative team knew that these 13 episodes would be the final episodes of Parks and Recreation. They were able to act accordingly and crafted a pretty damn near perfect season of television.The final season allowed the show to be more inventive and imaginative than it ever was before. Because they didn't have to hold out hope that more episodes would be ordered, the storytelling was able to push these characters' lives and relationships to the limits. The time jump to 2017 was an inspired narrative decision. It breathed new lives into these people without changing them too drastically. It also was enough of a shake-up to the core formula to make the storytelling feel fresh and new again. That's simply unheard of for a show - let alone a comedy - in its seventh season when the characters are usually played out and broken down into broad caricatures of their former selves.
Parks and Recreation has always remembered who these characters are and their wants and needs over a prolonged period of time. Every single character came together for a moment in time to work and serve this community as a part of the Parks and Recreation department. Over time, they became friends. Friends who were there for each other during both the highs and lows in life. That's a quality that the show has always embraced. Life is messy and risky but it's worth taking those risks in order to become better. It's a scary proposition. No one knows what the future holds. Everyone can make plans and then something unexpected happens that derails all of it. That is life. But the core message Parks and Recreation has delivered across the years - and especially in this finale - is that life is worth it because of the friends you make along the way who will serve as your support system and your team throughout all of it. That is such inspirational and aspirational writing that the show always effortlessly pulled off.
There's not a whole lot to the plot of this final episode. Leslie and Ben gather the entire Parks and Rec team one last time in 2017 to do one final task together. Like most of their work, it's just some menial job about fixing a broken swing. And yet, it comes with so many memories and history between the characters. They have no clue when they will all be together like this again. They are going their separate ways in life now. Leslie, Ben, April and Andy are all headed to Washington, D.C. while Donna is off to Seattle with Joe. Life changes but everyone wants to keep these bonds of friendship strong.
As Leslie goes through the motions of getting this task accomplished, she connects with every member of her team. Her touch then takes us into the future some more to see what's in store for these characters and their journeys. For the most part, everyone is finding success. But we are also being reminded that life is tough sometimes and it's still worth living and protecting the people you care about. Even though they aren't all together anymore, they are still friends who are glad to help each other out in life. And it's not just Leslie giving a helping hand to her friends. Donna calls on April to help get her non-profit started to help Joe's school. Ben, Ron and Donna advise Tom on whether or not he should expand his business. Leslie helps Ron find the next venture in his life after his kids grow up and he retires from his building company. Leslie advises April on whether or not she should have kids with Andy without pushing her one way or the other. Leslie and Ben attend both Garry's funeral and Tom's book launch. And lastly, everyone is there to support Leslie for when she receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Indiana - as well as the less prestigious honor of having the library named after her. It's all solidly executed emotion that provides the audience a little insight into what the future holds for all of these characters. Yes, it will be several more years before all of them are in the old Parks and Recreation office again. But it's worth the journey because they are able to make that connection again and are able to just enjoy life with their friends and their ever-growing families.
Leslie and company are ready for what their futures hold. The hour ends with the group taking a picture together to remember this time in all of their lives. It was one of Garry's actually good ideas. As the camera pulls in, Leslie says that she is ready. Ready for the future and everything that it will entail. We are allowed a glimpse into what's in store. Leslie becomes a two-time governor of Indiana and perhaps even President of the United States in 2048. That last part is uncertain. She has what appears to be Secret Service agents around her and Ben during Garry's funeral. And yet, it is left open ended. She could be President. Or Ben could. Or neither could because other important people have these kinds of bodyguards too. I love that we aren't given an explanation for everything that will happen. We are just allowed into the mindsets of Leslie, Ben, Ron, April, Andy, Tom, Donna, Garry, Ann and Chris one final time. And that is all that we truly need for a journey that was as rewarding as Parks and Recreation turned out to be.
Some more thoughts:
- "One Last Ride" was written by Michael Schur & Amy Poehler and directed by Michael Schur.
- The moment that got me in full-on tears was when Ben told the gang that Leslie was running for governor. It was an act of selflessness. He recognized that this was a dream of hers and she should be the one to go for it. They are both qualified for the position. But he's letting her be the one at the helm of the journey because he knows just how great she would be at the job. Their unspoken glances afterwards only further prove just how strong their marriage actually is.
- Even Craig and Jean-Ralphio got flash-forward sequences and both were completely rewarding to their characters. Craig eventually went on to marry Typhoon (with Ron as the best man!) and Jean-Ralphio would later fake his own funeral.
- I'm disappointed that Lucy Lawless couldn't come back for one final appearance as Diane this season. But damn, Ron's smile as he was canoeing across the lake in the park in Pawnee was phenomenal.
- I love that Leslie pushes Ben away as soon as she sees that Ann has returned - almost as much as the two of them plotting to get their children together so they can be in-laws.
- Joe Biden stops by for another cameo appearance and now all I want is to see him and Leslie in a battle of charades.
- Burt Snakehole Ludgate Karate Dracula Macklin Demon Jack-O-Lantern Dwyer. And Jack for short.
- Ben is still dumbfounded by how well Gayle Gergich still looks at her husband's funeral in 2048. And Leslie is only a little annoyed by that.
- I love you and I like you, Parks and Recreation.
