With the abrupt time jump featured at the tail end of last season, “Parks and Recreation” left many of its fans concerned as to what direction it would take for its big finale. Fortunately though, the first few episodes of the show’s seventh and final season prove that faithful viewers have nothing to worry about.
Now set in 2017, the series places its characters in vastly different situations than what we’ve seen before. Rather than showcase the antics of the Parks and Rec department in Pawnee, season seven puts core characters Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ron (Nick Offerman) against one another over a land feud. While it’s rather sad to watch this conflict unfold, it’s also reassuring knowing that this season will likely build up to a climactic resolution.
Other major plot points include Tom (Aziz Ansari) running his own restaurant, appropriately named “Tom’s Bistro,” and Andy (Chris Pratt) and April (Aubrey Plaza) fearing their adult lives have made them boring. We also see Jerry (Jim O’Heir) change his name yet again to Terry.
Amidst all these changes, the show remains as hilarious as ever. Like “The Office,” which creators Michael Schur and Greg Daniels also worked on as writers and executive producers, “Parks and Recreation” maintains the same level of satirical humor through its delightful characters and clever storytelling. Between Jon Hamm and Werner Herzog cameos to Andy having his own children’s TV show, this season gives fans of the series exactly what we want.
Another feature of this season is that it will premiere two episodes at a time instead of one, making for a full hour of one of the best sitcoms on television every week.
In addition, Schur and company also bring back old characters like Councilman Jamm (Jon Glaser) and Tammy (Megan Mullally) for some truly brilliant episodes. While the overarching story is rapidly changing, the comical tone of the series remains prevalent.
In episode two, April struggles to find a career which will make her happy, and Ben (Adam Scott) decides to help her. When she decides to visit a mortician, the look of terror on Ben’s face is absolutely priceless.
As much as I loved “The Office,” I do believe it ran too long. Once Michael left, the last couple seasons suffered from a lack of substance. “Parks and Recreation” however, seems to be coming to a close at just the right time. At this point, viewers still care about its characters enough to stay tuned on how their stories will conclude.
And going back to the Leslie and Ron conflict, a key component is that both characters are still as lovable as they’ve always been. If you thought Ron’s one-liners about his ex-wives were great in the past, wait until you see the episode titled “Ron and Jammy.”
The biggest change within this season is the setting. With everyone having different jobs and Leslie working to build a national park, the beloved Pawnee office is currently in the past. My guess is that the writers will revisit it toward the show’s conclusion as a means of nostalgia. But for now, the characters are all looking to the future.
Another component that gives this season a conclusive feel is that Tom is looking to get married and settle down, which is a major development for his character. Given that fans know him as the worldly “player” figure, showing him pursue a previous love interest is an interesting dynamic.
“Parks and Recreation” ranks among my favorite sitcoms, and I’m thrilled to see it going in the right direction for its final season. With evolving storylines, developing characters and enough laughs to get viewers rolling, I have nothing but praise for the show.
