Parks and Recreation Coverage: Ben’s Song

Episode Commentary: “The Treaty”

After the disappointingly quick end to the Tammy One saga, things in Pawnee finally get juicy again with ‘The Treaty,” in which last week’s revisiting of Leslie and Ben’s amorphous current relationship is revealed as merely a prelude.

In many ways, “The Treaty” felt like the episode where this still-youngish season finally gets real. Entertainment 720 is finally put to bed for good (it takes a big series to admit when you’re wrong, guys), and Ron courts Tom to return to the parks department. Chris Traeger becomes confused about his relationship with Millicent Gergich, and is forced to face the shortcomings of his hyperbolic sunniness.

But for once this season, the main story thread proved to be a worthy one. Leslie and Ben help to run a mock United Nations with a group of Pawnee high school students. As the students seek to solve the global hunger crisis, and Leslie uses the event to promote her campaign, it becomes clear that Ben and Leslie are not ready to be just friends. And, of course, nothing in Pawnee ever plays out in private.

Ben Wyatt is a man of greater passions than he seems. While Adam Scott has played an integral role in a few episodes this season, “The Treaty” still felt like a breakthrough for him and his character, allowing him to hit notes beyond his usual wry deadpan. Last week, Ben was the voice of reason in the face of Leslie’s frantic mental circumlocutions. This week, it is revealed that Ben is every bit as conflicted and vulnerable as she is, as every bit as capable of acting out to hilarious effect.

The Chris Traeger story was also interesting. Ann Perkins continues her return to form, and Donna gets something to do for the first time in a while as Chris calls together a “think tank” to ascertain exactly why Millicent has not returned his phone calls. Seeing Ann finally actively influencing the show’s story, as opposed to merely reacting, is long overdue.

Unfortunately, the loser this week—again—was Jerry Gergich. When Chris and Millicent began, it looked like Jerry was finally going to stop being the butt of everyone’s jokes, and to grow into a complete character. But in “The Treaty,” he once again gets the short end, including a needlessly mean jab at the very end. Give Jerry a break, people.