I totally agree with your second point! There were elements of this episode that could be construed as silly or ridiculous - especially with the April/Andy/Ben plot - but these characters are so well-established that everything makes sense. We've already seen April and Andy act in a similar fashion before, so it doesn't seem outside the norm to have them be so bad at being adults. We've seen Leslie get revved up passionately about something, so it makes sense that she would run away with the painting.
The pornography thing was strange, but having just re-watched "Tom's Divorce" Leslie's reaction was kind of consistent with her already-established view of sex workers I think? Very second-wave feminism rather than up-to-the-minute third- or fourth-wave feminism.
I love love love Leslie's confidence in her interactions with Ben. It's so refreshing not to see someone in her position get jealous. They just know. So little buillshit in this relationship! Realistic obstacles and grounded feelings and knowing and Rachna my heart is in my mouth.
I feel like Chris is the kind of person who tries too hard to placate people and to be a certain kind of person. Everything is a facade - the way he speaks, the way he acts, his obsessions. He's a people-pleaser and uber politically correct, but he's a people-pleaser and uber politically correct out of selfish motivations because that is how he wants to be seen.
I WILL TALK ABOUT ANDY WITH YOU! His precious little face when Ben admits that he and Leslie like each other! One of my favourite things about Andy is how he reacts when people he admires reciprocate that friendship and respect - Leslie is nice to him and she's the coolest lady ever, Ben has faith in him (or tells him he has faith in him) and he just beams. It's sort of the opposite of Chris in terms of characters who want to be well-liked.
It's lucky that Andy and April are really cute, because I would not be able to live with them otherwise.
This is very true (hipster nonsense!), but that's the magical thing about P&R. It takes things that shouldn't work and makes them work.
no subject
The pornography thing was strange, but having just re-watched "Tom's Divorce" Leslie's reaction was kind of consistent with her already-established view of sex workers I think? Very second-wave feminism rather than up-to-the-minute third- or fourth-wave feminism.
I love love love Leslie's confidence in her interactions with Ben. It's so refreshing not to see someone in her position get jealous. They just know. So little buillshit in this relationship! Realistic obstacles and grounded feelings and knowing and Rachna my heart is in my mouth.
I feel like Chris is the kind of person who tries too hard to placate people and to be a certain kind of person. Everything is a facade - the way he speaks, the way he acts, his obsessions. He's a people-pleaser and uber politically correct, but he's a people-pleaser and uber politically correct out of selfish motivations because that is how he wants to be seen.
I WILL TALK ABOUT ANDY WITH YOU! His precious little face when Ben admits that he and Leslie like each other! One of my favourite things about Andy is how he reacts when people he admires reciprocate that friendship and respect - Leslie is nice to him and she's the coolest lady ever, Ben has faith in him (or tells him he has faith in him) and he just beams. It's sort of the opposite of Chris in terms of characters who want to be well-liked.
It's lucky that Andy and April are really cute, because I would not be able to live with them otherwise.
This is very true (hipster nonsense!), but that's the magical thing about P&R. It takes things that shouldn't work and makes them work.