Great independently created two-parter! And I adore that you and José talk in each other's episode. I'm here for that kind of creator supportive network. Wouldn't have known about T1J without it.
It's like his reaction to his and Leslie's hookup is ours to his character. "A male co-lead in the first two seasons? No. ... ... ... ... Oh my god..."
@@futuristicgirl14 agreed honestly there are points in the show where I almost thought they were gonna do it for real than they swerved us with more heteronormativity and like those other two guys are fine but we could’ve really gotten something trailblazing if they’d gone for it with Leslie and Anne instead of the show only having major gay characters in the last season
This might sound super basic but I’ve always loved how Parks and Rec has so many different women, and the women who are leads/main characters feel realistic. I love the episode where Leslie is trying to host a dinner party and her house is a dump. I love that Ann is the one with one off side character boyfriends who are only there for HER character development. Tammy is never leaving my mind. April, Donna. Leslie’s mother. It’s something that makes the show feel really refreshing.
The fantastic thing about Parks and Rec. is that every main character has a satisfying upwards arc. They all end better than they've started. And since they've all started in public service the fictional world were they live is improved.
Mike Schur and the writers explained in different interviews that they felt after season one that it was not so much Leslie that needed changing but the way the other characters reacted to her. And it does resonate with what differentiates The Office and Parks and Rec. Parks and Rec shifts and becomes joyfull and wholesome once Leslie's co-workers start supporting her projects while keeping their personality and find their own development. I love this perspective shift. Parks and Rec is uplifting. It was also inspired by The West Wing but being kind of the opposite having the smallest stakes compared to the White House staff but being as dedicated civil servants for a city of lunatics!
I love how important friendship is to Parks and Rec. As much as I love the romances in the show, it feels truer to life how much the characters grow through their friendships. (Also this made me think differently about the beginning of the show; I 100% have made people start later in the series when recommending it to them 😂)
Yeah that's a big difference with PR and Schitts Creek. I love the family, but almost everyone in the town is just a nuisance, so it's much harder to binge
The first is only six episodes, and I'd say the show is more or less where it needs to be by the sixth episode, so people really shouldn't skip it. And Amy Poehler is great through the whole thing. She pretty much carries it while all the other characters catch up to her later on.
I agree, José. Watching the first season is mandatory for me. I've heard (dumb!) people say to skip the first season of Parks & Rec, and Community, too. And both are idiotic suggestions. While the tones are a bit different, there are foundational world building aspects to season 1 on both shows that you can't get by skipping it. Anyhoo, I started watching your video a couple of days ago, but I had to leave for travel. I'll watch the rest tomorrow. Thanks for all you do!!!
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 i agree, Doctor. I'm glad we have such empathetic and caring doctors in the world who understand that anyone who disagrees with them is an IDIOT!
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 I can understand skipping S1 of P&R but S1 of Community? Are you kidding? Seasons 1-3 are the best seasons of community. Anybody who thinks they can cut that down by a third is crazy.
@@cumincalamity9867 I wonder if they’re maybe thinking episode one? Because I agree that community’s pilot is less than great, but I agree. To suggest skipping the whole first season is absolutely absurd.
Anne is such an underappreciated character sometimes. I've seen people describe her character and her plots as "boring" but she's really the compass that keeps everyone else direct and centered. She's this unique fusion of being skeptical and contrarian, but it's coming from a place of care and concern, which you don't really see in media in general.
I agree and I'll say Ron hiring Leslie was a move on his part (which her being there for 5 years before REALLY doing anything proves). Ron hired her cus she had the talk but he 1000% believed she couldn't folllow through (similar to Mark). The difference is when Leslie started to prove herself and fully fight for her beliefs Ron changed HIS mindset to align with her. Unlike Mark who was set in his negativity
Nah there are times where they could mention him and don't. Like there's a whole episode where they mention all of Ann's exes and they don't mention him even tho he an Ann dated for almost all of season 2
@@T1J yeah they could have easily had him come back for a reunion episode and had Anne and Leslie realize how much of a schlub he is. I think there was probably some bad blood after they fired him (which isn't even his fault, hes a great actor. go give channel zero season 1 a try).
There was an episode where Leslie was trying to find someone to design her park. Mark's final act on the show WAS to prepare blueprints of a design. This never comes up.
The wild residents are completely spot on to real life. I have worked in local government for 20 years and wild shit has happened in my time, including seeing someone throw a dead rat at an employee, received a manifesto which was submitted as a petition then turned over to the police, and finding a man living in the city basement in secret.
This is awesome. Can you do one for Abbott Elementary?? I see so many similarities to parks and rec except Janine seems to have something believably worth fighting for compared to Leslie's loyalty to the people of Pawnee, which never made sense to me.
I love Abbott Elementary so much. Definitely see the similarities between it and Parks and Rec. I love how both shows develop the friendships between all of the characters
pawnee and it’s residents suck because of the nature of american government. leslie’s biggest enemies are always corporations, other politicians, and powerful people as opposed to the citizens, who’re just annoying. as she fixes things, the town and the people in it do get better
@@SKULLKR3W Yeah, feeling passionate for your local hometown when you know it should be better, you desperately want it to be better for everyone, sometimes even in spite of "the public" there, is definitely a relatable thing for me (Fresno resident lol)
I completely forgot about season 1 Leslie. Similarly, Michael Scott from the Office had no redeeming qualities at the beginning and was impossible to empathize with. They had to make him more likable to save the show.
@@elustranthe makers behind the British office actually decided that they wanted it to be short. The show ending had nothing to do with the characters.
@@JP-wq8ou fair enough. It seems that British productions veer on the shorter side with a few exceptions for some panel shows and old standbys like Dr. Who. American TV tends to milk IP for as long as possible, often to the detriment of quality.
I haven’t thought of it so much as something they needed to do to save the show, so much as something they needed to do so the show could run for several seasons. But I suppose it may be accurate to say US audiences weren’t as willing to accept a character like S1 Michael Scott, at least at the time. So I don’t know, maybe you’re right, and he had to change regardless.
When Ben and Chris came in at the end of season 2 they were like Darcy and Bigley in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and Leslie and Ann were Elizabeth and Jane Bennett. Elizabeth wasn't getting over some guy she had a crush on leaving her, she was a strong, independent woman and that's what Leslie became.
i think it's very important what you pointed out about leslie's mom being cold towards her. leslie also have no siblings and her father died when she was ten. before ann she doesn't really have anyone that reciprocates her love and admiration, even though she's clearly tried to put herself out there (all the horrible dates she tells ann about). it's sort of heartbreaking to think about how much love and enthusiasm and admiration she has been giving others (probably her whole life) without getting it back. i really love ann and leslie's storyline, as it was really heartwarming seeing a female character's transformation being facilitated by friendship (almost like a platonic soulmate) rather than the usual romantic relationship. i am currently rewatching parks and rec for the fourth or fifth time and i love season one.
I've always found Leslie FAR more likeable than Micheal Scott from The Office, she starts out kinda bad but grows and helps other people grow around her
Wait, why does Mark not being mentioned at all later in the show ruin your point? It seems like it emphasizes that Leslie has moved past that part of her life.
it's more than him not being mentioned, he literally does not exist anymore, there are opportunities where they could have mentioned him for continuity's sake and they choose not to. and since i argue that Leslie getting over Mark was important to her growth, him not existing kinda messes up that point lol
I wouldn't say that Andy becomes one of the most lovable characters on the show. He develops, to be sure, but his "charm" still resides in being childish to the point of pettiness and random cruelty, which is one of the most notable things he and April have in common even after their marriage.
I remember that at a point in season 2 I realized that Parks & Rec had surpassed The Office, so yes it absolutely hits it’s stride there but I can’t imagine skipping season 1 (or recommending it). You can see the building blocks of something great there and watching it evolve live was a thrill and still is on rewatch. I think you can say the same for a lot of sitcoms, and that’s why it’s always a shame when one with promise gets cancelled before finding it’s groove. A lot of rocky first seasons pave the way for great shows.
Fun fact! The first episodes of P&R feel so similar to the office, because the original plan was for it to literally be an in universe spinoff. An early plan for the show was an episode of The Office where a used copier would be shipped from Dunder Mifflin in Scranton to Pawnee, and gets delivered to the parks and rec office where things go from there and lead into the separate parks show. It didn’t end up that way but the original plan was literally to have the 2 shows be similar
I actually really like Mark’s character. He represented a weakness in Leslie and when he stopped being that he got his own growth. When binging it seems much more natural but I get how people see this taking way too long in real time
Leslie's genuine drive, compassion, and competence really sets her apart for me. The first season making her out to be more bumbling is always a bit difficult to go back to, but I do like this understanding of what changed, how, and why.
I feel like the only one who likes Mark as a character. He worked well as a foil to Leslie's optimism and we got to see instances where he loses some of his cynical shell. He wasn't just a jerk. He was once like Leslie until the system beat him down.
He was alright, I don’t hate him, I just don’t feel he was particularly necessary and the character dynamics of the group without him worked just as well if not better I get it though, I think Star Trek TNG is a great show but the loss of Tasha after the first season stings
This was so on the nose. I remember when Parks and Rec came out I gave up on it after the first 3 episodes, only going back many years later on reruns. The changes were very noticeable.
Formerly known as Everything Rhymes with Orange…and also Nothing Rhymes with Orange. I know “5,000 Candles In the Wind” is their top hit, but I gotta say, “S3x Hair” has been stuck in my head & randomly pops up from time to time, though I only know the one line from it, 😂 so gotta give credit there…
I literally two days ago started watching the show over again! I definetly agree with the in-universe charector development of Leslie. I would not skip the first season because you’d miss so many sweet introduction gems. I always thought that Leslie’s success inch by inch furthered her ambition and encouraged her to be more of who she’s wanted to be. All the supporting charectors are comedic gems. 👍
Yeah when a friend of mine wanted me to try the show. They told me 100% to skip the entire first season. With the perspective you have presented, I might have to go and watch it and see what I think.
its only 6 episodes so its not like you have to slog through something like TNG's meh first 2 seasons which are like 40ish episodes or something. It sets up the cast better.
TY for making this! You brought tears to my eyes. I started this show in high school and it ended when I was a college student. You kind of reminded me of how magical it felt. I think for the first time in forever I might rewatch it! And like you mention in your video, I was one of those people who always used to tell others who wanted to start watching to start with season 2. I think season 1 is better when you can go back and feel like you know the characters already. Its more amusing after youve seen later episodes and the cast has figured out their chemistry. But i think it's that way with a lot of shows. First episodes and first seasons are hard
Now I appreciate the first season more! I didn't mind Leslie in the first season, I just wasn't interested in the rest of the characters. Still, she couldn't stay like that the whole show, so it makes sense she changed! Parks and Rec is one of my favorite shows, too.
Just been rewatching. Season 1 makes sense and puts everything is place. Season 2 is a bit all over the place, kicks in when April and Andy get together and when Ben and Chris enter.
You made a great case for the first season. The way you explained it makes a ton of sense and i would love to see any other character analysis from Parks and Rec
So I’ve watched the show entirely 8+ times probably, and I respect the first season for what it was because it adds a huge progress in character development. Which is a very important theme, these are normal people finding their purpose in life and where they want to be in the future. The amount of tears shed from the foreshadowing and deep details that can be overlooked. Understanding how the characters feel and change throughout the series is such a beautiful sight and I love love love this show with all of my being especially with the knowing that there are flaws and awful characters, Tom haverford. You can’t find your purpose in one season of your life it takes multiple seasons and these characters have shown me that no matter what path or choice you will make it will all work out in the end. Another detail is the contrast in struggles these characters face, Leslie is a driven hardworking person but she struggles a lot and the town just pulls her down and makes her feel awful, Andy is a good for nothing dead beat that finds his purpose and eventually becomes successful, somehow.
I love your break down of it! The series really shows the importance of having a supportive, loving, true friend, how that changes your understanding of yourself and the world, which so many of us are lacking. Great explanation.
It's my comfort show and I've watched it well over 100 times, while I didn't love the first season the first time I watched it - it grew on me in the context of the other seasons. Now I love the silliness and awkward humor of S1 and it always feels like the start of something great when I watch it.
So happy I clicked on this video. This is one of my favorite shows too and it’s my comfort show. If I am going through a rough time I find myself rewatching it from the beginning. Yes , the first season feels like a beat down for Leslie but it’s the friendships, like the one with Ann (that beautiful unicorn) that is the true heart of the show.
Amy Poehler is always great and her as a comedy duet with Tina Fey is legendary, like a female duo Beatles. Everything they did was instant classic and gold. Yes, even Baby Mama. But for me, my favorite thing Amy ever did and I rewatch, nay binge at least once a month is her handful of skits within the show recurring character bit on Late Night with Conan O Brian where she hilariously played Conan's sidekick Andy's fictional little sister Stacy, the unhinged Conan-crushing obsessed pre-teen who would hijack the show inevitably going from swooning devoted fan to unsettling crazed deranged threatening sociopath in the blink of an eye culminating in young braces headgear Stacy storming from her studio audience perch into full scale assault on the state capital mode frenzied attack on her undermining Bro Andy before charging at Conan to mount him like a dog in heat humping the side of the couch. She was really young and super skinny then so it really sold the whole barely teen psycho infatuated fan girl act perfectly. These 7 skits scatteed over the course of a two year span shows what an energetic force of nature comedy tornado Amy Phoehler was during her Uptight Citizens Brigade improv days. She was fierce and fearless.
3:41 it was explained in the show why ron hired leslie. From parks and rec fandom wiki- “However, he was adamant that Leslie should be hired. Ron explains that it was her interview that had him convinced-to him, she was tough and honest, and stood up for what she believed in even if it might have damaged her chances of getting the job.”
I've seen this entire show twice and on my third viewing, and I saw it very late with no idea about the discussions about changing Leslie's character in the show, it all seemed very natural character development for me, it wasn't forced and the fact that the entire second season is a consequence of the first season finale's Leslie rejection of Mark, it makes sense. I love this show, specially the show finale. It was one of the few perfect TV show finale of all time. This and Veep.
This is a great video that perfectly summarizes the 1st season; I never considered the polarities of Leslie’s Mom and Mark. I have a fond memory of the first season of Parks and Recreation and always through it got a bad rap. Thanks for giving it the justice it deserves.
Woah the video rec near the end of video is fantastic! i was getting sad the video was ending cause i wanted to hear more about P&R. Also, I think analysis videos about individual P&R character is something i’d love to hear from u!
No one ever talks about that trailer park boys started the mocumeturary style in 2001 although it's early works cart boy and one last shot also did it in the 90s
Funny enough, all this time I've been utterly confused about the appeal for this show... because I never made it past episode 3. Guess I should pick it back up again!
You absolutely should! Season two gets so much better. At the end of the second season, they introduce two new characters that really helped turn Parks and Rec from a good show to a GREAT show.
Thanks T1j. I took this show for granted. I wouldn't have said its among my favorites, but it really was. So many quotes, so many odd and hilarious pairings. I've yelled Treat Yo Self as many times as any line from Chappelle show, I cant wait to rewatch it!
Great video! Absolutely love Parks and Recs! I too feel that the first season is just as important as the others, even just to see how far the characters have come since then. Well articulated, and wholeheartedly agree!
I love your take on this so dang much. I was also really happy to hear you recommend that new fans watch the first season, as I think I started watching it midway through season 1 with my family and loved the series all the way through, but really grew to love it more as it continued on specifically because of season 1. Also, for anyone who’s interested in seeing Paul Schneider in a way different role, I highly recommend George Washington(2000), as I was really surprised once I realized where I recognized his character from. It’s a great movie imo, and highly underrated.
I don’t tell anyone to skip the first season. I tell them not to judge it by the first few episodes, because I think the first season is actually really good. It’s just slow to start. This is my top 5 comfort shows ❤
First video I've seen from you, and no, I can't say no to that face. Loved watching this examination of Leslie's character. Really love Parks and Rec. Binged it while it was on Netflix and then when it left, I bought the entire series on DVD. It is a comfort watch, even the first season. It has its moments, even as it's finding its feet.
I feel like Mark leaving and never being mentioned again kind of fits with real life in a similar way to your vid saying Leslie’s personality didn’t get retconned but grew organically. Sometimes we do t realize a relationship ain’t good for us for awhile, and then even when we do we think we can change our expectations and then the relationship will maintain. If someone on the other side of that equation moves away… you get busy. Your mind has more space to focus on people who are good for you and new things to do/things you’ve been passionate about. If someone soon enters your life and eventually takes up a position in it that is a healthy version of your misconception about the unhealthy relationship friend… you continue to forget the previous friend who things were weird with at several points before they left. If parks continued to be more like the office, the second to last or final season would have mark return or have someone randomly mention Mark only for Leslie to have a weird melancholy about how she just didn’t attempt to keep in touch with him “but wait I guess I kind of did t want to with how things changed after the night at the pit and then him with Ann… I don’t like that I just didn’t resolve this while he was here and make him better or tell him off!” “Leslie, sometimes we just need people to leave our lives and we don’t know it. You got to have it happen for you and then you had a crazy few years where we all became closer friends and you accomplished more than you would’ve thought possible before. So what if you didn’t get to ‘figure this out’ bike he was here? He was t a good fit as a friend and he didn’t like being here. That’s a win win.” Or something like that
Love these types of video essays. Difference between Office fans and Parks- nothing but love in these comments, where as Office fans love to critique and look harder at everything, and lots of disagreements on minor points. I miss when we had shows like this on tv, epic era.
You're on point, they were defs writing too much Office into the show at first. In that there's a patheticness in a lot of the characters, the "comedy" comes from them sucking as humans, and the "heart" is a few moments where they're not being assholes to each other for once. There's no clearer example of this than seeing S1 Andy, and S2+ Andy. He went from dead-end unappreciative boyfriend, to a human Golden Retriever. The show got 100x better when they gave it it's own identity and made it a show about eccentric characters in a bizarre town enriching each other's lives and actually making an impact in government.
One part of the old show they never shook off was the whole office bullying Garry, even Leslie which never made any sense. But at least they gave Garry the best ending as catharsis.
I would say Mark being retconned out actually supports everything you're saying. He was more setpiece for Leslie to fawn over, but the change in Leslie's character didn't work with this and so they didn't have a point for Mark to be on the show
![Ice On My Teeth - ATEEZ エイティーズ 에이티즈 [Music Bank] | KBS WORLD TV 241115](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/c-n92OgbbwA/mqdefault.jpg)
watch José's video here!: ruclips.net/video/1Tn4YKRquNw/видео.html
Great independently created two-parter! And I adore that you and José talk in each other's episode. I'm here for that kind of creator supportive network. Wouldn't have known about T1J without it.
Good video!
Paused on 9:25 by chance. Great dissolve image. Check out out. 🤗
I have watched every ep of this show and I had completely memory holed that Mark was even a character.
Happens to me every rewatch!
It's like his reaction to his and Leslie's hookup is ours to his character.
"A male co-lead in the first two seasons? No.
...
...
...
...
Oh my god..."
He's quite the Jump-scare when I rewatch the show
I keep forgetting that ann and andy dated
I’m so glad they got rid of his character he was really boring
I always felt that Anne was the real love interest in parks and rec, not a romantic one mind you but their friendship feels like the heart of the show
We got queer baited lol
I ship it, but in a platonic way
@@futuristicgirl14 agreed honestly there are points in the show where I almost thought they were gonna do it for real than they swerved us with more heteronormativity and like those other two guys are fine but we could’ve really gotten something trailblazing if they’d gone for it with Leslie and Anne instead of the show only having major gay characters in the last season
Anne was kind of toxic and a wet blanket.
@@dwaynebrice1697 you guys will call any mildly sardonic woman toxic i stg
This might sound super basic but I’ve always loved how Parks and Rec has so many different women, and the women who are leads/main characters feel realistic. I love the episode where Leslie is trying to host a dinner party and her house is a dump. I love that Ann is the one with one off side character boyfriends who are only there for HER character development. Tammy is never leaving my mind. April, Donna. Leslie’s mother. It’s something that makes the show feel really refreshing.
I agree
The fantastic thing about Parks and Rec. is that every main character has a satisfying upwards arc. They all end better than they've started. And since they've all started in public service the fictional world were they live is improved.
I love that.
Mike Schur and the writers explained in different interviews that they felt after season one that it was not so much Leslie that needed changing but the way the other characters reacted to her. And it does resonate with what differentiates The Office and Parks and Rec. Parks and Rec shifts and becomes joyfull and wholesome once Leslie's co-workers start supporting her projects while keeping their personality and find their own development. I love this perspective shift. Parks and Rec is uplifting. It was also inspired by The West Wing but being kind of the opposite having the smallest stakes compared to the White House staff but being as dedicated civil servants for a city of lunatics!
I love how important friendship is to Parks and Rec. As much as I love the romances in the show, it feels truer to life how much the characters grow through their friendships. (Also this made me think differently about the beginning of the show; I 100% have made people start later in the series when recommending it to them 😂)
Yeah that's a big difference with PR and Schitts Creek. I love the family, but almost everyone in the town is just a nuisance, so it's much harder to binge
I make people skip season 1, and when I rewatch the show I generally skip to whenever Ben and Chris show up, THAT’s when it gets great
The best relationship in the series (Leslie and Ben) is only good because they are great supportive friends FIRST
The first is only six episodes, and I'd say the show is more or less where it needs to be by the sixth episode, so people really shouldn't skip it. And Amy Poehler is great through the whole thing. She pretty much carries it while all the other characters catch up to her later on.
I agree, José. Watching the first season is mandatory for me. I've heard (dumb!) people say to skip the first season of Parks & Rec, and Community, too. And both are idiotic suggestions. While the tones are a bit different, there are foundational world building aspects to season 1 on both shows that you can't get by skipping it. Anyhoo, I started watching your video a couple of days ago, but I had to leave for travel. I'll watch the rest tomorrow. Thanks for all you do!!!
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 i agree, Doctor. I'm glad we have such empathetic and caring doctors in the world who understand that anyone who disagrees with them is an IDIOT!
Imagine skipping the first season and never seeing Leslie fall into the pit, one of the most iconic moments of the show. 🤣
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460
I can understand skipping S1 of P&R but S1 of Community? Are you kidding? Seasons 1-3 are the best seasons of community. Anybody who thinks they can cut that down by a third is crazy.
@@cumincalamity9867 I wonder if they’re maybe thinking episode one? Because I agree that community’s pilot is less than great, but I agree. To suggest skipping the whole first season is absolutely absurd.
Anne is such an underappreciated character sometimes. I've seen people describe her character and her plots as "boring" but she's really the compass that keeps everyone else direct and centered. She's this unique fusion of being skeptical and contrarian, but it's coming from a place of care and concern, which you don't really see in media in general.
I agree and I'll say Ron hiring Leslie was a move on his part (which her being there for 5 years before REALLY doing anything proves). Ron hired her cus she had the talk but he 1000% believed she couldn't folllow through (similar to Mark). The difference is when Leslie started to prove herself and fully fight for her beliefs Ron changed HIS mindset to align with her. Unlike Mark who was set in his negativity
I don't think Mark got ret-conned. He just left their lives, like a normal work friend sometimes does
Nah there are times where they could mention him and don't. Like there's a whole episode where they mention all of Ann's exes and they don't mention him even tho he an Ann dated for almost all of season 2
@@T1J yes with her box of exes and mark has none even tho rando's do
@@T1J yeah they could have easily had him come back for a reunion episode and had Anne and Leslie realize how much of a schlub he is. I think there was probably some bad blood after they fired him (which isn't even his fault, hes a great actor. go give channel zero season 1 a try).
I'm that coworker! I've had so many different jobs and I've kept in contact with two total people 😂
There was an episode where Leslie was trying to find someone to design her park. Mark's final act on the show WAS to prepare blueprints of a design. This never comes up.
The wild residents are completely spot on to real life. I have worked in local government for 20 years and wild shit has happened in my time, including seeing someone throw a dead rat at an employee, received a manifesto which was submitted as a petition then turned over to the police, and finding a man living in the city basement in secret.
This is awesome. Can you do one for Abbott Elementary?? I see so many similarities to parks and rec except Janine seems to have something believably worth fighting for compared to Leslie's loyalty to the people of Pawnee, which never made sense to me.
I love Abbott Elementary so much. Definitely see the similarities between it and Parks and Rec. I love how both shows develop the friendships between all of the characters
she wants to make it better cause it sucks ass always made sense to me like helping those people from themselves
pawnee and it’s residents suck because of the nature of american government. leslie’s biggest enemies are always corporations, other politicians, and powerful people as opposed to the citizens, who’re just annoying. as she fixes things, the town and the people in it do get better
@@SKULLKR3W Yeah, feeling passionate for your local hometown when you know it should be better, you desperately want it to be better for everyone, sometimes even in spite of "the public" there, is definitely a relatable thing for me (Fresno resident lol)
Janine and Leslie both fight for the same thing; improving their communities.
I completely forgot about season 1 Leslie. Similarly, Michael Scott from the Office had no redeeming qualities at the beginning and was impossible to empathize with. They had to make him more likable to save the show.
And that's why the American version of the show lasted longer than the more cynical British version.
@@elustranthe makers behind the British office actually decided that they wanted it to be short. The show ending had nothing to do with the characters.
@@JP-wq8ou fair enough. It seems that British productions veer on the shorter side with a few exceptions for some panel shows and old standbys like Dr. Who. American TV tends to milk IP for as long as possible, often to the detriment of quality.
@@elustran Yeah it’s a weird pattern and I’m not quite sure how it developed. Maybe it’s to preserve quality.
I haven’t thought of it so much as something they needed to do to save the show, so much as something they needed to do so the show could run for several seasons. But I suppose it may be accurate to say US audiences weren’t as willing to accept a character like S1 Michael Scott, at least at the time. So I don’t know, maybe you’re right, and he had to change regardless.
When Ben and Chris came in at the end of season 2 they were like Darcy and Bigley in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and Leslie and Ann were Elizabeth and Jane Bennett. Elizabeth wasn't getting over some guy she had a crush on leaving her, she was a strong, independent woman and that's what Leslie became.
i think it's very important what you pointed out about leslie's mom being cold towards her. leslie also have no siblings and her father died when she was ten. before ann she doesn't really have anyone that reciprocates her love and admiration, even though she's clearly tried to put herself out there (all the horrible dates she tells ann about). it's sort of heartbreaking to think about how much love and enthusiasm and admiration she has been giving others (probably her whole life) without getting it back. i really love ann and leslie's storyline, as it was really heartwarming seeing a female character's transformation being facilitated by friendship (almost like a platonic soulmate) rather than the usual romantic relationship. i am currently rewatching parks and rec for the fourth or fifth time and i love season one.
I've always found Leslie FAR more likeable than Micheal Scott from The Office, she starts out kinda bad but grows and helps other people grow around her
"That's because the show is not about the park..." it's about the recreation
Yes. Please do separate Ron and Andy videos!
What that human being said!!
Please!
yes please!!
Wait, why does Mark not being mentioned at all later in the show ruin your point? It seems like it emphasizes that Leslie has moved past that part of her life.
it's more than him not being mentioned, he literally does not exist anymore, there are opportunities where they could have mentioned him for continuity's sake and they choose not to. and since i argue that Leslie getting over Mark was important to her growth, him not existing kinda messes up that point lol
@@T1J The park plan episode comes to mind.
I wouldn't say that Andy becomes one of the most lovable characters on the show. He develops, to be sure, but his "charm" still resides in being childish to the point of pettiness and random cruelty, which is one of the most notable things he and April have in common even after their marriage.
I remember that at a point in season 2 I realized that Parks & Rec had surpassed The Office, so yes it absolutely hits it’s stride there but I can’t imagine skipping season 1 (or recommending it). You can see the building blocks of something great there and watching it evolve live was a thrill and still is on rewatch.
I think you can say the same for a lot of sitcoms, and that’s why it’s always a shame when one with promise gets cancelled before finding it’s groove. A lot of rocky first seasons pave the way for great shows.
Fun fact! The first episodes of P&R feel so similar to the office, because the original plan was for it to literally be an in universe spinoff. An early plan for the show was an episode of The Office where a used copier would be shipped from Dunder Mifflin in Scranton to Pawnee, and gets delivered to the parks and rec office where things go from there and lead into the separate parks show. It didn’t end up that way but the original plan was literally to have the 2 shows be similar
All those characters you talked about doing a whole video on? Do that. Do every one of those characters. I love this show and your channel so much!
I actually really like Mark’s character. He represented a weakness in Leslie and when he stopped being that he got his own growth. When binging it seems much more natural but I get how people see this taking way too long in real time
Leslie's genuine drive, compassion, and competence really sets her apart for me. The first season making her out to be more bumbling is always a bit difficult to go back to, but I do like this understanding of what changed, how, and why.
Agreed. When her competence started to be respected by her colleagues and the show, that's when the show got better
I feel like the only one who likes Mark as a character. He worked well as a foil to Leslie's optimism and we got to see instances where he loses some of his cynical shell. He wasn't just a jerk. He was once like Leslie until the system beat him down.
I thought he was great too!
He was alright, I don’t hate him, I just don’t feel he was particularly necessary and the character dynamics of the group without him worked just as well if not better
I get it though, I think Star Trek TNG is a great show but the loss of Tasha after the first season stings
“Leslie, it’s not that big of a deal” is a gut punch that makes all season 1 worth it
Character perspectives on all of them PLEASE
5:10 I actually liked Mark’s character. With so much zaniness it kind of felt like he balanced the other characters by being boring and normal.
This was so on the nose. I remember when Parks and Rec came out I gave up on it after the first 3 episodes, only going back many years later on reruns. The changes were very noticeable.
Leslie and Ann have one of my fav on screen friendships, I love this show so much, thanks for covering it! Appreciate your take
I can always get behind Parks and Rec content.
Never watched the show, just literally clicked because it's T1J.
I feel like I'm the only person who loves the first season, so this video hit home right away. We are Mouse Rat and this is The Pit!
Formerly known as Everything Rhymes with Orange…and also Nothing Rhymes with Orange.
I know “5,000 Candles In the Wind” is their top hit, but I gotta say, “S3x Hair” has been stuck in my head & randomly pops up from time to time, though I only know the one line from it, 😂 so gotta give credit there…
I love the first season too
I do too. I found Leslie very lovable from the beginning
I literally two days ago started watching the show over again! I definetly agree with the in-universe charector development of Leslie. I would not skip the first season because you’d miss so many sweet introduction gems. I always thought that Leslie’s success inch by inch furthered her ambition and encouraged her to be more of who she’s wanted to be. All the supporting charectors are comedic gems. 👍
I always liked season 1- Never knew it wasn't popular.
Yeah when a friend of mine wanted me to try the show. They told me 100% to skip the entire first season. With the perspective you have presented, I might have to go and watch it and see what I think.
its only 6 episodes so its not like you have to slog through something like TNG's meh first 2 seasons which are like 40ish episodes or something. It sets up the cast better.
TY for making this! You brought tears to my eyes. I started this show in high school and it ended when I was a college student. You kind of reminded me of how magical it felt. I think for the first time in forever I might rewatch it! And like you mention in your video, I was one of those people who always used to tell others who wanted to start watching to start with season 2. I think season 1 is better when you can go back and feel like you know the characters already. Its more amusing after youve seen later episodes and the cast has figured out their chemistry. But i think it's that way with a lot of shows. First episodes and first seasons are hard
Now I appreciate the first season more! I didn't mind Leslie in the first season, I just wasn't interested in the rest of the characters. Still, she couldn't stay like that the whole show, so it makes sense she changed! Parks and Rec is one of my favorite shows, too.
T1J, been a fan for years and so happy to see your videos hit the ol’ algorithm. Keep up the fantastic work.
Just been rewatching. Season 1 makes sense and puts everything is place. Season 2 is a bit all over the place, kicks in when April and Andy get together and when Ben and Chris enter.
You made a great case for the first season. The way you explained it makes a ton of sense and i would love to see any other character analysis from Parks and Rec
exquisite analysis. i loved leslie’s character development over the seasons.
loved this video, great defense for the first season and am looking forward to your vid on ron.
i love mark actually i missed him so much in the later seasons sucks they didnt use the plans he made for the park before he left
So I’ve watched the show entirely 8+ times probably, and I respect the first season for what it was because it adds a huge progress in character development. Which is a very important theme, these are normal people finding their purpose in life and where they want to be in the future. The amount of tears shed from the foreshadowing and deep details that can be overlooked. Understanding how the characters feel and change throughout the series is such a beautiful sight and I love love love this show with all of my being especially with the knowing that there are flaws and awful characters, Tom haverford. You can’t find your purpose in one season of your life it takes multiple seasons and these characters have shown me that no matter what path or choice you will make it will all work out in the end. Another detail is the contrast in struggles these characters face, Leslie is a driven hardworking person but she struggles a lot and the town just pulls her down and makes her feel awful, Andy is a good for nothing dead beat that finds his purpose and eventually becomes successful, somehow.
Fine I’ll rewatch parks and rec again, you’ve convinced me
I always thought Leslie’s transformation was gradual and made sense
PLEASE make a video about Ron!
"Ann is on the pill." 😄I forgot about that part! Great video T1J !!
I actually love you and your vids and i cant believe i didnt subscribe sooner.
I love your break down of it! The series really shows the importance of having a supportive, loving, true friend, how that changes your understanding of yourself and the world, which so many of us are lacking. Great explanation.
The first season is great, and yes it gets even better, but personally I loved the show from episode one.
It's my comfort show and I've watched it well over 100 times, while I didn't love the first season the first time I watched it - it grew on me in the context of the other seasons. Now I love the silliness and awkward humor of S1 and it always feels like the start of something great when I watch it.
So happy I clicked on this video. This is one of my favorite shows too and it’s my comfort show. If I am going through a rough time I find myself rewatching it from the beginning. Yes , the first season feels like a beat down for Leslie but it’s the friendships, like the one with Ann (that beautiful unicorn) that is the true heart of the show.
Amy Poehler is always great and her as a comedy duet with Tina Fey is legendary, like a female duo Beatles. Everything they did was instant classic and gold. Yes, even Baby Mama.
But for me, my favorite thing Amy ever did and I rewatch, nay binge at least once a month is her handful of skits within the show recurring character bit on Late Night with Conan O Brian where she hilariously played Conan's sidekick Andy's fictional little sister Stacy, the unhinged Conan-crushing obsessed pre-teen who would hijack the show inevitably going from swooning devoted fan to unsettling crazed deranged threatening sociopath in the blink of an eye culminating in young braces headgear Stacy storming from her studio audience perch into full scale assault on the state capital mode frenzied attack on her undermining Bro Andy before charging at Conan to mount him like a dog in heat humping the side of the couch.
She was really young and super skinny then so it really sold the whole barely teen psycho infatuated fan girl act perfectly. These 7 skits scatteed over the course of a two year span shows what an energetic force of nature comedy tornado Amy Phoehler was during her Uptight Citizens Brigade improv days. She was fierce and fearless.
Plug for Jose’s Parks and Rec retrospective - it’s great!
10 out of 10 Lil’ Sebastians!
You're editing/set up is killer, I've loved seeing your growth over time, keep up the great work!!!
This is an amazing discussion of the show! I will listen to you narrate and review ALL THE THINGS.
3:41 it was explained in the show why ron hired leslie. From parks and rec fandom wiki- “However, he was adamant that Leslie should be hired. Ron explains that it was her interview that had him convinced-to him, she was tough and honest, and stood up for what she believed in even if it might have damaged her chances of getting the job.”
Despite her competency which of course he wouldnt be a fan of he hired her because he admired her determination
this was my comfort show in highschool and id watch it on repeat, i hated mark and the first season but this makes me see it in a new way! :)
I've seen this entire show twice and on my third viewing, and I saw it very late with no idea about the discussions about changing Leslie's character in the show, it all seemed very natural character development for me, it wasn't forced and the fact that the entire second season is a consequence of the first season finale's Leslie rejection of Mark, it makes sense. I love this show, specially the show finale. It was one of the few perfect TV show finale of all time. This and Veep.
This was amazing thank you, hope you do more on the show!
yes! more parks and rec videos! i loved this.
As someone who lives in Indiana - this show couldn't actually be more sadly accurate lol.
This is a great video that perfectly summarizes the 1st season; I never considered the polarities of Leslie’s Mom and Mark. I have a fond memory of the first season of Parks and Recreation and always through it got a bad rap. Thanks for giving it the justice it deserves.
Woah the video rec near the end of video is fantastic! i was getting sad the video was ending cause i wanted to hear more about P&R. Also, I think analysis videos about individual P&R character is something i’d love to hear from u!
I loved this essay/retrospective! Such an underrated show
I've seen you in the same comments on P&R clips so I know how much you love this show. It's cool to see you talking about it in more depth
No one ever talks about that trailer park boys started the mocumeturary style in 2001 although it's early works cart boy and one last shot also did it in the 90s
Funny enough, all this time I've been utterly confused about the appeal for this show... because I never made it past episode 3. Guess I should pick it back up again!
You absolutely should! Season two gets so much better. At the end of the second season, they introduce two new characters that really helped turn Parks and Rec from a good show to a GREAT show.
@@reblewi30 Thanks for the motivation, I absolutely will!
Thanks T1j. I took this show for granted. I wouldn't have said its among my favorites, but it really was. So many quotes, so many odd and hilarious pairings.
I've yelled Treat Yo Self as many times as any line from Chappelle show, I cant wait to rewatch it!
Great video! Absolutely love Parks and Recs! I too feel that the first season is just as important as the others, even just to see how far the characters have come since then. Well articulated, and wholeheartedly agree!
That's really kind of you to support your friend José like that
I love that you are discussing this. My 17 yo got me into this show only a few years ago and I have such love for it now.
In the episode Ron and Leslie, they briefly go over the story of Leslie being hired. It wasn’t that Ron thought she wouldn’t work.
That was a great breakdown. Thanks for helping me appreciate one of my favourite shows even more
Yes! Not enough people talk about parks and rec, in my opinion.
I love Leslie ❤️
+1 for a Ron Swanson video!
Been subscribed to you for years, glad to see you again 🙂
Yay!! Love this show! Thank you 💕 Also, yes please on more videos on other Parks&Rec characters 🤗
glad ur getting more recognition!
1:59
OK, I legit spit my drink out a little. Sometimes the sillyest sight gag you can think of is the one to go with.
I love Marlene’s character so much. One of my favorites
I love your take on this so dang much. I was also really happy to hear you recommend that new fans watch the first season, as I think I started watching it midway through season 1 with my family and loved the series all the way through, but really grew to love it more as it continued on specifically because of season 1.
Also, for anyone who’s interested in seeing Paul Schneider in a way different role, I highly recommend George Washington(2000), as I was really surprised once I realized where I recognized his character from. It’s a great movie imo, and highly underrated.
I don’t tell anyone to skip the first season. I tell them not to judge it by the first few episodes, because I think the first season is actually really good. It’s just slow to start. This is my top 5 comfort shows ❤
First video I've seen from you, and no, I can't say no to that face. Loved watching this examination of Leslie's character. Really love Parks and Rec. Binged it while it was on Netflix and then when it left, I bought the entire series on DVD. It is a comfort watch, even the first season. It has its moments, even as it's finding its feet.
I feel like Mark leaving and never being mentioned again kind of fits with real life in a similar way to your vid saying Leslie’s personality didn’t get retconned but grew organically. Sometimes we do t realize a relationship ain’t good for us for awhile, and then even when we do we think we can change our expectations and then the relationship will maintain. If someone on the other side of that equation moves away… you get busy. Your mind has more space to focus on people who are good for you and new things to do/things you’ve been passionate about. If someone soon enters your life and eventually takes up a position in it that is a healthy version of your misconception about the unhealthy relationship friend… you continue to forget the previous friend who things were weird with at several points before they left. If parks continued to be more like the office, the second to last or final season would have mark return or have someone randomly mention Mark only for Leslie to have a weird melancholy about how she just didn’t attempt to keep in touch with him “but wait I guess I kind of did t want to with how things changed after the night at the pit and then him with Ann… I don’t like that I just didn’t resolve this while he was here and make him better or tell him off!” “Leslie, sometimes we just need people to leave our lives and we don’t know it. You got to have it happen for you and then you had a crazy few years where we all became closer friends and you accomplished more than you would’ve thought possible before. So what if you didn’t get to ‘figure this out’ bike he was here? He was t a good fit as a friend and he didn’t like being here. That’s a win win.” Or something like that
This happened twice with Shur shows, where they needed to iron things out after the first season
Maybe the real Recreation was the friends we made along the way
Love these types of video essays. Difference between Office fans and Parks- nothing but love in these comments, where as Office fans love to critique and look harder at everything, and lots of disagreements on minor points. I miss when we had shows like this on tv, epic era.
This is the first video of yours ive seen. loved it! looks like im going to bechecking out Jose next. then bac 2 see what else you got for me.
I have never watched most of the shows you make videos about, but I still watch them 😅
You are really good at this!
You make great videos, dude! I saw the Joe Shmo video you did and now this one. You've got my sub!
Subscribing hoping you make Ron and Andy videos. Great job, enjoyed this video
God I miss this show. Great job! You got a new sub.
Great video. I would be excited for videos about other characters on this show.
just found your channel and love your content!! keep it up boss 😁
You're on point, they were defs writing too much Office into the show at first. In that there's a patheticness in a lot of the characters, the "comedy" comes from them sucking as humans, and the "heart" is a few moments where they're not being assholes to each other for once.
There's no clearer example of this than seeing S1 Andy, and S2+ Andy. He went from dead-end unappreciative boyfriend, to a human Golden Retriever.
The show got 100x better when they gave it it's own identity and made it a show about eccentric characters in a bizarre town enriching each other's lives and actually making an impact in government.
One part of the old show they never shook off was the whole office bullying Garry, even Leslie which never made any sense. But at least they gave Garry the best ending as catharsis.
I would say Mark being retconned out actually supports everything you're saying. He was more setpiece for Leslie to fawn over, but the change in Leslie's character didn't work with this and so they didn't have a point for Mark to be on the show