"so i want to spend the rest of my life with you. is that cool?"

[falulatonks]

1. I don't know why I'm still surprised by this, but just thinking about this episode has me kind of shocked by how fantastic it was. It was probably the sweetest episode of the show so far, but it was hilarious and well-paced and a great ensemble piece, and never saccharine.


2. Let me tell you the most infuriating thing about Parks and Recreation: it has no right to make these things work. The Andy/April wedding should not have worked. It could've been cloying and unreasonable and a little dumb, because the reason these kids are even doing this is that they're young and naive and don't know anything about how they could last long-term.
   
   - except they nailed it. It was charming and light and sweet but still very final. And in an odd way it really, really works - I adore the idea of having these two thinking that hey, there has literally been nothing or no one in their lives that they've loved more, and the fact that they celebrated that innocent joy of it instead of ignoring it altogether is perfect and refreshing and so very Parks and Rec, and I adore that the writers just went for it.


3. And now it's a permanent 'ship! I love the way this show builds towards fixed points - I've talked about the progress in this show before, but maybe what it comes down to is that the writers clearly have mini-goals and things they intend to cover within the short-term, and they work at it and get there, and then mark it off their list of to-dos and add it to the show's canon. And it's non-negotiable. It's my favourite thing about Leslie/Ben, actually - because they found someone perfect for Leslie, and right off the bat they signed him on as a series regular. It's so certain. They don't worry, neither should you.


4. Is it just me or does this show tend to portray the most indifferent people the most negatively? It was Oren this week. I think it's fitting.


5. Leslie Knope is fucking wonderful. And this show is better than a lot of other shows about using its an entire ensemble (see: Ben Wyatt, who is being used fantastically; I know a lot of you miss Mark, but the writers never really knew what to do with him, I think, which is why he's Quitz), but Amy Poehler is magnificent - she's sharp and hilarious and her delivery/timing is impeccable, but she's also so absolutely the heart of this show. And that's a big thing to say, considering how huge the heart of this show really is.
   
   Watching her first balk at the idea of the wedding (and with good reason, obviously - hairdressers need to be chosen carefully) and then seeing the way she softened during the ceremony was kind of beautiful. And her conversation with Ron! And her conversation with April! They told her first! APRIL LOVES HER. I love how earned that statement is - it makes sense that she'd say it, and it makes sense that she'd say it when she did. I cannot deal with the joy I get from this show in general, but when it's Leslie-appreciation-specific, it gets me a bit weepy.
   
   (Speaking of Leslie-appreciation: I haven't been able to rewatch Harvest Festival all that much because how much everyone screwed things up for her kind of made me angry with everyone in Pawnee except Ron and Leslie herself. how dare they do that to her. What hasn't she done to earn your respect and hard work for the one festival that her career's been building up to! what is wrong with all of you. Christmas Scandal made me rage for similar reasons because her career was being jeopardized by that damn councilman, but at least everyone in the department was behind her. jeez.)


6. More Leslie feelings - loved her reactions first to Ben suggesting he may be staying, and also the way she finally told him he should. The whole heart-eyes thing Ben's got going has mostly been one-sided up till now, but after the way she aired out her concerns tentatively in Camping (although Ron was the one who helped her with it in the end, obviously, because that friendship is flawless and the show understands) and the slightest joy at the beginning of this episode (before she schooled it into something a little sterner and more acceptable) and the firm way she said he should stay at the end - she's getting there. It's adorable. It wouldn't have made sense for her to say it otherwise, because she really has been so primarily concerned with getting the harvest festival right, but they got it to work. This 'ship is going to be delightful.


7. I really, really love Ann Perkins. My problem with Ann Perkins, however, is that sometimes I feel like I'm colouring her character in where the writers have only barely grazed the outlines of it. I think she tries very hard to be good but is kind of awkward and tends to feel superior, and I find that interesting and sweet and tonally pretty perfect/consistent in this show, but the writers like showing those characteristics by putting her in relationships with men. I get it, because she needs a reason to be in this show, and having her date guys in the government is the most useful for this. but it's also a little frustrating because I want to her be beyond that - not just the Girl in the Relationship - which is why what I've figured out her arc is going to be this season (knocking her down a little bit, showing her she doesn't need to be perfect and needs to calm down) is both intriguing and a little bit worrying, because the best way to do this is have her date more guys. I know we're going to see this, and fandom is going to be a bitch about it (already anticipating "slut", sigh.) - so I really, really hope we cover it the way Fancy Party did, because it was perfect: sharpening her up, slapping a little bit of sense into her. Donna was used well, and I'm glad we saw more of her after Harvest Festival in the context of this storyline.
   
   I want to see more of you, Ann! I want to see you pull yourself away from men a little more, or if you want, choose better guys - someone good for you. I want to see you angry like you were in Flu Season, because I like seeing you lose your cool, and I like it when the show proves my theories about you right! more Ann time, Ann! Come on, show. This arc could be perfect.


8. Other random things:
   • Ron Swanson is crazy-fantastic. He made me cackle at his rage over the existence of the vegetable loaf, but also made me feel a little verklempt during his conversation with Leslie about Andy and April. Magnificent character.
   
   
   • Andy/April high-fived when she reached him after walking down the aisle. they high-fived. Also: their vows were perfect. Also: I am kind of looking forward to "I'm going to divorce you!" mini-tiffs. (If this doesn't work out I may have to kill someone.)
   
   
   • Jean-Ralphio is my favourite recurring character because he's an idiot but also because Tom is fantastic when he's reacting off of him. Also: the Vince Vaughn movie he suggests quoting from is Fred Claus.
   
   
   • Ben and Tom being bros gives me a lot of joy. They're oddly perfect together. I loved them in Indianapolis immediately, but both of them chilling around in Tom's "tent" in Camping was fucking delightful, and the quickly-shut-down ribbing over Lord of the Rings this week was brilliant. I don't know how they work, but they absolutely do - and it's nice seeing Tom showing a little heart since Wendy's gone. I like seeing him have friends.

Still cannot believe how terrific that episode was. I don't know how they do it. I just don't understand it.

I haven't watched anything else from the Thursday comedies yet, but since everything will be compared to Parks and Recreation, it's probably better for them.

Other things I watched that I should really talk about:

• Shameless (US) - which is lively and brilliant. I don't know how this show captured my heart so quickly, but within minutes of the Gallaghers settling into that practised morning routine, I was hooked. (I think I've loved stories like this since I read the Boxcar Children series.) I love their bravado and how much they throw themselves into both surviving and letting their siblings survive. and Steve should go away. also, this cast is really brilliant. I love them all.


• Luther - this show isn't just intense, it's fucking insane. I don't have other words.


• The Good Wife and Castle are my favourite dramas on TV right now. I love Parks and Recreation and miss Cougar Town terribly. I haven't watched Modern Family lately, but I'm a little cranky with it.


• I started Rome and it's magnificent - beautiful and crazy and bloody and classy and genius. I will talk about it more the further I get into it, because I just finished the fifth episode.

My internship is going brilliantly, and my boss agrees - to the extent that he's left me in-charge of the local office while he goes off overseas for a working holiday. in-charge. Everyone's incredulous that he'd left a nineteen-year-old in charge of everything, but all I'm doing on top of clearing my regular task lists is checking the mail and sending off packages of book orders and checking everyday that the office isn't broken into. heh.

I don't know why I left you guys, I'm sorry. I promise I'll stay; LJ is still the best.

-- rachu

P.S.: Eight days to new Doctor Who. Eight days to Matt Smith and his glorious face!

Comments

[kasuchi]

You have been missed! ♥ I love your reaction posts to Fringe et al. They always make me want to go back and do mine again, but I'm always so behind on TV...

[falulatonks]

I haven't watched Fringe properly since December, oh man. I'm thinking of letting it all be and just catching up with it quickly once the season's over.

[kasuchi]

Yeah, I'm thinking that's what I'll have to do with The Good Wife. =/ I'm 7-8 eps behind on that and nnngh it depresses me like you wouldn't believe!

I caught up enough on Fringe that I no longer feel ridiculous for how behind I am/was. Still, I'm just behind on all of my TV 'cause I had project after project. I think I have gray hairs because of the last few weeks. Sigh.

[falulatonks]

You'll be relieved to be able to watch The Good Wife all at once, I think, hehe. So many things are happening! NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN RESOLVED!

Oh, right, you've had an actual life!! What's that like? :P It must feel kind of rewarding, though - I've had so little to do lately that I can't wait to get back to actually studying again.

[kasuchi]

*laughs* Probably, but then my friend Sam is just annoyed that he can't talk to me about the show! It's a mess, haha. But TGW is a show where I do actually trust the writers. And, unpopular opinion time, I don't find Kalinda as ~interesting~ as the rest of the fandom seems to. I mean, I think she's beautiful and mysterious, but that's kind of all. I love her friendship with Alicia, too, as femslashy as it can get sometimes. But mostly, I care about Alicia, and Diane, and Will, and (in spite of myself) Peter and Eli and yeah.

Pfft, my life has been one big ball of stress. Go check out kasuchi to see what's been going on. Short version: I had a project I'd been working on for 8 weeks when my professor told me to start over. So I did. It's due in....4 hours? And we just finalized and compiled the pdf last night. I've been stuck in epic meetings every. single. week. since I came back from New York City. Meanwhile, I graduate from college in 13 days. Life is a scary ball of terror, especially as I'm graduating without a job. Meanwhile, the family wants to go to India in September. I'll be in Bangalore and Madras. Maybe I can talk them into visiting Singapore sometime? :D

I was just thinking about this today: I want to visit all over SE Asia, but I also want to travel with friends. I know people in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and HK. All I need is someone to travel with. I'd also love to go to Australia. Maybe I need to drag my friend teenwitch77 along with me -- she's in Melbourne, why not.

[falulatonks]

Yeah, I know what you mean - in fact I went into this show thinking I'd like her but not be all that compelled unlike the rest of the fandom - but I think the writers have always (and in this season particularly) given something to back up Kalinda's need for "mysteriousness": she has reasons for protecting what she does about herself, and I like that a lot. I'm tired of "mysterious" characters who have no backstory whatsoever, ugh. And I love her friendship with Alicia for sure, and with Cary this season (very much). I care a lot of about the three leading ladies on this show. I love these women.

Sounds exciting, hehe. No, really, wow. TV would not have been anywhere on my list of to-dos if I'd been in your situation. Good luck!!

!! COME TO SINGAPORE! I don't know if I'll be here for university yet, because I still haven't chosen where I'm going to go (ugh), but you should come here. And a SEA mini-tour would be fantastic, I think - Singapore would be the most sterile of them all, but they're all really interesting places with such fascinating cultures.

[kasuchi]

I mean, I don't hate Kalinda or anything. I just don't find her the most compelling. Cary is totally my favorite, I think, mostly because I think I relate to him the best. Maybe it's the business major in me, but I understand and forgive him his actions, especially because he makes decisions without all of the information -- info he can't always get. Plus, he's clearly got the hots for Kalinda, and I actually want to see that happen. I miss Cary's friendship with Alicia, though. :(

I tried to keep abreast of some of my shows, but it was a pretty futile effort all around. Still, I had to let TGW slide. It was the hardest show -- a lot of things have to be done on Tuesday night, alas.

I would love to visit Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand at least. My friend Emily, from Taiwan, said she'd love to come with me. I know so many people in the first two -- there's your and raynos, and I have some friends from Uni over in Malaysia -- but Thailand is the tough one. On the one hand, I seriously doubt Bangkok is a slum or anything. On the other, having a friend there already would make travel a great deal easier/cheaper. But yes, I definitely want to travel there. I doubt I'd have much opportunity to visit at any other time in my life.

What's up with you and the Uni Decision of Epic?

[darling-ashes.livejournal.com]

Go you!!! You should channel your inner Leslie Knope and rock that being in chargeness.

[falulatonks]

:D How 'in charge' I am is really not that much at all, but I plan to rock it!

[quick-ly.livejournal.com]

Parks and Recreation is honestly the best show on tv for me, not only because it's so funny but also cause it has a heart and knows when to ude it without being cheesy. I have nothing to complain about, and it's so rare to feel that way about a show!

[falulatonks]

Yes!! And the without being cheesy part is so important to me - it could get out of hand, but they always manage to pull it back just right, and I love it for that.

[peasantings.livejournal.com]

I spend most of my time watching Parks & Rec just sitting in my dorm room with this big ass smile on my face, squealing, and kind of hoping nobody hears me yelling "Oh, Andy/Ron/Leslie/April/Tom/Jean-Ralphio/April's Gay Boyfriends/April's Parents/Simon & Garfunkel/this show, I love you!"

But how surprising and delightful this episode was.

Also: I kind of missed Mark for the first time today. I don't know. It was weird.

[falulatonks]

I ADORE THIS SHOW. I watched Fancy Party on the train, and how huge my smile got was probably pretty terrifying for everyone on the train with me. It's a good thing I didn't make noise.

Sometimes I'm surprised I miss Mark, because he really didn't have much to do at all, but I did like him a lot. The writers just didn't know what to do with him. :/

[cashewdani.livejournal.com]

I just love how at the moment it seems like the writers at Parks and Rec can do anything. This episode was incredible and a gift to me from the heavens.

Also, Shameless, how are you so good and how have I spoken about you so little?!

[falulatonks]

They really are kind of invincible right now, aren't they? I LOVE IT. I guess it's because they've pretty much been working in a vacuum throughout the season.

I love Shameless so much. I can't believe we need to wait until next year for more.

[hyacinthian.livejournal.com]

Hiiiiiiiiiii. I'm so glad your thoughts are here. Ann thoughts! Thoughts about the episode working when it shouldn't have! It was so sweet. I loved April's hipster sister and I just loved how chill and low-key it was and I loved Ron and the things that he was saying.

But your Ann Perkins thoughts! Let me draw hearts around them all. Because you are so right. Also, I loved that Ann is sort of hiding all her awkwardness and that the Singles Night really brought it out and as much as I think that fandom might be mean towards her because of it, I really hope this Donna as mentor thing sticks around because we can get Donna characterization and Ann characterization at once!

[falulatonks]

Ugh, yes, I really love how low-key this show makes all the major things. It could've been huge and over-the-top or too cheesy but it balanced all of it out perfectly. And Ron is fantastic. He said a lot of excellent things but his scene with Leslie where they talked about ~those crazy kids - oh, my heart. these two.

I hope Donna is a big part of Ann's arc this season for sure, because it could be delightful and yes, characterisation for both of them! Gimme!

[zombie_boogie.livejournal.com]

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT THIS SHOW IS PERFECT AND YOUR REVIEW IS PERFECT. I wrote really extensive thinky-thoughts already, but this this this this. This to Andy and April's wedding working when it shouldn't have. This to Ron Swanson being magnificent. This to Tom's friendships. This to Leslie Knope appreciation existence, especially with regards to her face. This to Leslie/Ben and perfect ship construction.

ROOOOME! I WANT ALL OF THE THOUGHTS. ALL OF THEM. I've been meaning to write a big epic feelings post for this show, and maybe by the time I finally get around to it you'll be caught up :P.

(I realize it's 6 am-ish your time at the time of my posting this, but I hope you are around when you get up in the morning (in the fuuuuuuture) so we can talk).

[fujiidom.livejournal.com]

If I could articulate words regarding my feelings, they would form this exact post.

[falulatonks]

I really want to reply to this with a hug.gif, but. Hooray for similarly sappy feelings!!

[imprinted-soul.livejournal.com]

IN CHARGE! WOMAN YOU NEED TO STOP BEING SO MODEST ABOUT THESE THINGS WHEN YOU TELL ME IT'S GOING FINE:P I WOULD HAVE CONGRATULATED YOU IN PERSON THAT IS SO WONDERFUL ASDFLAJFKJ

BEST JOB EVER I SWEAR.

[falulatonks]

NOT REALLY, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR FROM A BIG DEAL. I'm not doing anything major at all! IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.

BUT YES, BEST JOB EVER.

[imprinted-soul.livejournal.com]

IT IS A BIG THING! i mean, first job and all!

I'M BORED.

[sneakergaze.livejournal.com]

Lol, I was telling the Ochster I want to steal your internship when you're done with it - but seriously, please tell me all about it when I see you next! (Which will be...idk when. :P) Congratulations on being in charge! That is awesome like a possum and like others have said, totes Knopesy. \m/

Your Parks thoughts are my thoughts except more eloquent and clever. :D

[falulatonks]

:D See, the thing is that it isn't exactly an internship, because the company doesn't have "an internship" post or something? When he's got more work to do than usual he just hires one random person, and I happened to send him an email about it just a week before the previous intern left. I still can't believe how lucky I was to actually get it in the first place, but it's been awesome and interesting and lots of other great things.

:D

[hmsharmony.livejournal.com]

Let me tell you the most infuriating thing about Parks and Recreation: it has no right to make these things work. The Andy/April wedding should not have worked. It could've been cloying and unreasonable and a little dumb, because the reason these kids are even doing this is that they're young and naive and don't know anything about how they could last long-term.

- except they nailed it. It was charming and light and sweet but still very final. And in an odd way it really, really works - I adore the idea of having these two thinking that hey, there has literally been nothing or no one in their lives that they've loved more, and the fact that they celebrated that innocent joy of it instead of ignoring it altogether is perfect and refreshing and so very Parks and Rec, and I adore that the writers just went for it.

Absolutely. ABSOLUTELY. I heard about what happened and I was filled with all of these doubts and wondering how on earth they could make it work ... and then they make it work PERFECTLY. OF COURSE THEY DO. OF COURSE. You captured my feelings exactly.

Your thoughts on Ann are really interesting, as I feel similarly about other female characters from various fandoms. It's difficult not to fill in the blanks! IDK. I get really attached to characters that have a lot of potential, and when the writers don't make good on their promise I just create my own head canon. Anyway, if anyone throws the word "slut" at Ann I'm going to RAGE. RAAAAAGE. And like you I'm crossing my fingers that the writers deal carefully with her character (and one day let her seriously develop away from the men).

WHOA. Congrats on doing so well with your internship (although surprised I am not). AND WAIT, WAIT. YOU'RE ONLY 19? WE'RE ALMOST THE SAME AGE? EXCUSE ME, GOING OFF TO FEEL COMPLETELY INFERIOR AND INCOMPETENT. You are too amazing to be only 19!

[falulatonks]

I get really attached to characters that have a lot of potential, and when the writers don't make good on their promise I just create my own head canon.
I know! I don't think Ann's been cast away at all, and S3 only shows that they really do want to flesh her out and give us more to react to and to like about her, which I really love. I hope they do it well, though.

IT'S PURE LUCK, BELIEVE ME! And it's really not as much as I expected it would be!! Thank you, though. :D And STOP IT, I can't believe we're that close in age, either!! THE FEELING IS MUTUAL, YOU ARE FAR TOO WONDERFUL.

[sonni89.livejournal.com]

YAY! I'm so happy you're posting on here again! I like reading your thoughts on Parks and Rec. :D

But yes, I agree with everything you said! The April/Andy thing SHOULDN'T have worked, but it did! OH SHOW. I really don't know how they do it! IS THIS THE STANDARD BY WHICH I WILL JUDGE FUTURE TV SHOWS? BECAUSE I WILL BE DISAPPOINTED ALL THE TIME.

LESLIE KNOPE IS THE BEST. The end. I loved everything about her during this episode- first trying to be the voice of reason, then just letting them go with it... April telling her that she loves her? I CRIED, not even going to lie.

Leslie and Ben need to start making out right about now. It's enough. Hahaha. No, seriously. At this point, I do think Leslie has feelings for him, too (we all know Ben's liked her since pretty much Freddy Spaghetti)

I love Ann, but I do wish she got more of a role. I guess it's difficult since she doesn't work at the Parks department and most of the storylines play out there, but I did like her storyline in this episode. She would be someone who is really awkward, but it doesn't really show at first. (Also, her laughing and going "yeah" at that guy's question when she didn't understand was a total GPOY moment for me, haha)
I would like to think that the Parks and Rec fandom is better than to label Ann as a slut when she goes out dating more guys, but maybe not? I probably have too much faith in the (fandom) world.

(I'm sorry, I still don't seem to be able to write a coherent comment about Parks and Rec, haha)

I really need to catch up on Doctor Who before the new series starts! I have 7 episodes to go, I think I might be able to do it!

[falulatonks]

IS THIS THE STANDARD BY WHICH I WILL JUDGE FUTURE TV SHOWS? BECAUSE I WILL BE DISAPPOINTED ALL THE TIME.
I KNOW! Oh god. "This show's wedding was way too fancy!" "This show's wedding didn't end with a song by Mouse Rat!" Damn Parks and Recreation.

Leslie Knope is literally the best. I can't think of many other characters I adore this much.

Yeah, working with Ann is always going to be difficult for this show, but I like what they've finally been doing for her - I don't think she really needs to be tied in with the department all the time to see her actually doing things, you know?

And oh, Sonni - after being with Doctor Who for this long I don't think any fandom is above calling female characters sluts. :/ I hope we avoid it, but I'm proceeding with caution!

Have I told you HOW GLAD I AM that you're watching this show?! Doctor Who IS SO WONDERFUL. And Series 5 was fantastic, for me.

[eachtoeach.livejournal.com]

ALL YOUR PARKS FEELINGS. Yes! I was a little taken aback when I saw those spoilery promo pics and thought maybe it was a bluff or something but I am so glad they followed through. Yes, April and Andy's future is questionable because they're so young and financially unstable, but I love that the show looked past that and focused on the pure joy of their love, how life is short and you should do what makes you happy. It was very sweet and Ron's explanations of how his marriages fell apart really drove it home for me. I love that this show takes risks and it pulls (mostly) everything off so well. Let's do that for Ann!

SHAMELESS! I could not be more in love with that family. And I love that you dislike Steve! He irritates me to no end. As much as I want Steve and Fiona to live Happily Ever After™ that will never happen for her because I feel like her happiness is derived from her family. Why can't he see that? Apparently in the UK version Steve and Fiona run off and get married in Amsterdam and I'm really hope the US version changes that.

I think I want to start watching Luther, but I honestly have no idea what it's about. Wikipedia tells me nothing other than it's a drama.

Look at you being in charge of the office! Go you!

[falulatonks]

I'm still surprised they went through with it at all! but cashewdani mentioned that it feels like the Parks and Recreation writers can get away with anything at this point, and she may be right - they're kind of fearless right now, and I really, really love it, because they pull everything off so effortlessly, too.

DID THEY GET MARRIED? NOOOO. I'm so glad you dislike Steve, too, because how entitled he is about how good he will be at "making Fiona happy" on his own makes me kind of angry.

hehe. Luther could kind of be seen as a procedural, because the lead (Idris Elba) is a detective who solves a case every week, but procedural is so insufficient to describe this show - because the case ties in so much to all the characters involved, and the characters' stories are all so important and are basically the foreground of the show, so - defining the show is actually pretty difficult. It's not Wikipedia's fault! I didn't know anything about it until I watched the first ten minutes, either.

[joirerson.livejournal.com]

So happy about Fancy Party. I second EVERYTHING you said about the episode. And Ann! Yes, she needs a new arc. One that doesn't involve dudes.

[allthingsholy.livejournal.com]

Catching up on old P&R reactions (because I'm up early for work, for god only knows what reason) and it's basically like you reached in my head and pulled out my feelings. Having watching s3 now a few times (ha, "a few"--okay, Allison, pretend to be normal) I really like that this is the turning point in Ben and Leslie's relationship. Like, up to now, as far as Leslie knew Ben was leaving after the festival and letting herself get wrapped up in feelings wasn't going to be practical (and I think she's tried to be practical about her feelings ever since she realized being hung up on Mark was really dumb). But at the same time, there's April and Andy, who are the exact opposite of practical, and the parallels between April/Andy and Ben/Leslie in this ep were delightfully restrained but totally there. She just needed a push, and now he's staying and she's loosened up and it's all good and amazing and it makes my heart do cartwheels.

Also this: I've talked about the progress in this show before, but maybe what it comes down to is that the writers clearly have mini-goals and things they intend to cover within the short-term, and they work at it and get there, and then mark it off their list of to-dos and add it to the show's canon. And it's non-negotiable. It's my favourite thing about Leslie/Ben, actually - because they found someone perfect for Leslie, and right off the bat they signed him on as a series regular. It's so certain. They don't worry, neither should you.

The yes-est of yes-es. How was this show so magical for so long and no one told me?