Parks and Recreation Coverage: Small Hands

“Parks and Recreation” Episode Commentary: “Meet ‘N’ Greet”

“Meet ‘N’ Greet” is as fun and whimsical as the previous episode, but it has a larger purpose, as it achieves actual character and storyline development, showing us new facets of Leslie, Tom, Ben, Andy, Ron, Jerry, Chris and—finally—Ann Perkins.

Ann’s lack of connection to the other characters has been a point of concern throughout this young season, and the show finally dealt with it in a pleasing and creative way. At Andy and April’s Halloween party, Ann is conscripted by Ron Swanson to assist in a series of home repair projects. The subplot starts out as classic Swanson; when a helpful Lowe’s employee asks if there is a project he is working on, Ron glowers back and says, deadpan: “I know more than you.”

Told by Ron that he needs “small hands,” Ann proceeds to help repair Andy and April’s bathroom sink, and once finished shares with Ron a sense of achievement and satisfaction. “Damn it, I just love it so much,” says Ron. Ann agrees. Together, they go around the house and fix everything in sight, and bond in a way they have yet to on the series.

Seeing Rashida Jones with something to work with again is pleasant. How far her new relationship with Ron will go might be interesting. The idea of them becoming more than friends is problematic on a couple fronts. First, why can’t Ann be defined by anything accept who she’s dating? Second, wouldn’t Ann and Ron—both Pawnee city employees—secretly dating be a re-hash of Leslie and Ben last season? But…the chemistry between the two, albeit unexpected, was there, and may demand exploration.

Like all the best “Parks and Recreation” episodes, much more than one storyline was pleasing. Ben and Andy’s “fight” was terrific, as was the development of tension between Jerry and Chris over Chris’ relationship with Millicent, Jerry’s gorgeous daughter.

Oddly, the main story was the least satisfying. While Leslie’s run for office is a great direction for the character, her meet and greet with Pawnee business owners, and Tom’s desperate attempt to use it to promote Entertainment 720, fell flat. Entertainment 720 is proving to be a dud as a plotline—not only is it not remotely believable, it is rarely funny, and usually constitutes an annoying distraction. Apparently, it’s now bankrupt. Let’s hope it’s not too big to fail.