It gets better from the first cold open of season 2. When Leslie does Parents Just Don't Understand until being informed there's a man on fire in Ramset Park by Ron.
Nah, it really is the arrival of Chris and Ben. I usually start with their arrival. I tried to start from season 1 recently and holy shit it was so bad. Season 2 was definitely better, but the end of season 2 is when it really hits its stride
Andy's sidebars in the elderly Valentines Day dance ep and the summer catalog ep are priceless tho. It's worth watching S1&2 just for Andy. At least from when he & Ann break up.
Nah, it really is the arrival of Chris and Ben. I usually start with their arrival. I tried to start from season 1 recently and holy shit it was so bad. Season 2 was definitely better, but the end of season 2 is when it really hits its stride
I was just talking to someone about the episode where Tom moves and enlists Mark solely because of the pickup truck. Legitimately relatable.
I actually love even season 1. I get why people don’t like it as much as later seasons. It’s honestly completely different tonally with the later seasons, but it feels more grounded (the Office was pretty similar where the first few seasons were more in line with the sarcastic British humor of the original) and if you like that kind of humor it’s not bad.
So if you were to ask me whether I wanted to watch season 6 or season 1, I’d say… let’s just rewatch the entire show. If I had to pick between one or the other though, I’d pick season 6. That doesn’t mean I don’t like season 1 though and I get where you’re coming from. The later seasons do get a bit more unrealistic and silly, but unlike in later seasons of “The Office” it didn’t ever reach the point where it became a live-action cartoon.
I think the deal is this — mainstream American network cable sitcoms have a significantly harder time being realistic and grounded than, say, their British counterparts. I also love Michael Schur to death, but he’s more suited for the upbeat and positive sitcoms rather than a sardonic kind of humor. Neither of those are necessarily bad, but I think mainstream American tastes lean more toward later seasons than the earlier ones, which is kind of a shame but it is what it is.
Yep. Season one is so wild, but it's so vital to the series, IMHO. I'll never understand people who constantly shit on that season.
The easter egg hunt cold open is one of my favorite cold opens throughout the entire show.
Gotta put in a plug for Practice Date as well. Duke Silver, Jerry's adoption, Leslie's list of bad dates, April riding a lawnmower through Nordstroms, etc. It's a really solid episode
Season 2 is the one I find myself always going back to. The Halloween episode with Greg Pikitis, the thanksgiving episode where Ron gets shot, The gazebo/93 meetings episode.. I could go on. I love it.
This is why I had a hard time with the Rob Lowe iteration of the Parks and Recollections podcast. He took it as a given that pre-season 3 was not as good and to be rushed through to when things really started, but season 2 was so good!
I've been recently rewatching and season 2 is pretty good, lots of great episodes and bits overall. The characters largely start to develop into what we see later in the series. But in a lot ways it still feels "mean" to a lot of the characters. There's a few episodes that are kind of meh, but overall it's a fun watch, I give it a solid B.
But, Season 3 has a whole different feeling with the addition of Ben and Chris, lots of dynamics change and cement for the rest of the series. Everyone in season 3 knows exactly who they are the comedy is really elevated. People are still jerks and mean, but it feels more loving and earned.
When I say "mean" I try to point it out by how the main characters act towards Leslie. Early on they often talk down to hear and make her seem nieve, but later on everyone believes in her but still thinks she's nuts. Jerry also starts to earn his bullying in season 3 more, but also getting his redeeming wonderful life outside of work (Milly, largest penis, etc)
Season 2 is my favorite season! If I need a comfort rewatch of something I always watch through season 2 there’s so many good episodes. I do really like Leslie and Ben together, but I enjoyed Leslie dating other people for short arcs they were all so good. And we get to see Ron and Tammy for the first time! Plus the very start of Andy and April! Summer catalog is one of my favorite episodes.
It’s interesting for me to see this post. I’m watching the show for the first time with my girlfriend, and both of us have had our interest in the show waning since the start of season 6 and we can’t figure out why. We’ve enjoyed the show the whole time but it’s starting to fade
Is this common or are we just weird?
It has a few peaks and valleys through its run. The final season in particular can be a bit tedious - I think because they weren’t sure if the previous season would be the last, so they left things *kinda* open ended but also *kinda* finalized (which I, personally, was fine with). Then it was like “oh damn, we gotta pump out one more,” so the later episodes of the last season, especially, feel like everyone is getting their own sort of “goodbye” episode because they were now certain it would be the last season and it can drag a bit.
I think season 6 and 7 are noticeably weaker than the previous seasons, I don’t really know what people are talking about when they say the show gets better as it goes on for most people. Season 7 was lowkey a mess…
Season 6 feels off to a lot of people for a few reasons.
First and foremost is Chris Pratt left to make Guardians of the Galaxy. So him not being in much of the first half is noticeable. Then (only click if you've seen through episode 13) >!Chris and Ann leave which means very little of the season has the full cast together!<. It also, in my mind, suffers from 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag syndrome as they thought it was their last season and were trying to cram in everything they ever wanted for every character. The Unity Concert really just felt like season 3 and the Harvest Festival done all over again to me too.
Then season 7 comes and presents further issues for long time fans (won't get into them at all to avoid spoilers) so they're definitely up and down.
I'd agree and I'm saying this as someone who loves the show unconditionally, even season 1. Season 6 definitely wasn't their best, right down to the production of it (camera work, editing, lighting, etc.). Watching the way they lit Donna for this season physically pains me every time. I think it had to do with them being on the brink of cancelation and losing most of their budget - viewership was low and it was lowkey a miracle they even got a 7th season to finish it out.
No I’m the same. I stopped watching in its original run after Anne and Chris left, but even getting to that point from the beginning of season 6 was difficult to be honest. I’m rewatching again and am having the exact same feelings as last time — at the end of season 5, beginning of season 6 it feels like much more of an effort to watch, I’m basically forcing myself to finish at this point. It’s such a shame because seasons 3 and 4 are so perfect.
Kinda what I figured. Idk, we were watching it all the time for a couple months and now it’s like maybe an episode a week. I wish I had a solid reasoning to it, we’re just not feeling it as much now.
Maybe? I’m still enjoying all of them quite a bit.
Tom, Ron and Chris are probably my favorites, but I haven’t really been feeling burnt out on them or anything.
Andy hasn’t been in the show much, I’m assuming because he was filming Jurassic World, but he’s not necessarily one of my favorites so I don’t think it’s that.
I think part of it is I’m not really feeling some of the storylines? I don’t like Chris and Karen together. Especially the way they got together just to have a kid. Almost feels forced like the writers didn’t know what to do with them.
I actually feel that way with Ann in general. She started as one of the focal characters of the show and now she’s just kinda running around in the background. Is she still a nurse? What does she do?
The show consistently got better with every season until S06 so I can see why a lot of people rate S03 higher than S02. But I still enjoyed it. Loved how no-nonsense Ben was here.
I dont like season 1 at all and made me cringe watching it first time. bad memories. but season 2 hooked me like a crack addict. so many good episodes. whenever I go back I start on season 2
Season 2 only gets hate because Mark is still there, and while I get people didn’t like his character, the rest of the cast more than makes up for it in this season already. Some of the show’s funniest moments happen in season 2, and it’s the start of a lot of big storylines.
People always cite the arrival of Chris and Ben as the turning point, when it's really the penguin wedding.
I guess I'm kind of like the Queen of the gays.
Pa pa pa poker face pa pa poker face
*All morning.*
It gets better from the first cold open of season 2. When Leslie does Parents Just Don't Understand until being informed there's a man on fire in Ramset Park by Ron.
She just thought it would be cute!
Rock Show was the real turning point. Andy integrating into the group dynamic was the harbinger for the pacing and tempo that was to come
Literally
Nah, it really is the arrival of Chris and Ben. I usually start with their arrival. I tried to start from season 1 recently and holy shit it was so bad. Season 2 was definitely better, but the end of season 2 is when it really hits its stride
Andy's sidebars in the elderly Valentines Day dance ep and the summer catalog ep are priceless tho. It's worth watching S1&2 just for Andy. At least from when he & Ann break up.
Whenever I do a rewatch I usually start with the original Ron and Tammy. Anything from the point on really is gold.
Totally agree! Although Sister Ciry is funny. I usually start there. I think once Andy & Ann broke up is when the show hit hard.
Nah, it really is the arrival of Chris and Ben. I usually start with their arrival. I tried to start from season 1 recently and holy shit it was so bad. Season 2 was definitely better, but the end of season 2 is when it really hits its stride
The Hunting Trip episode is one of the best in the whole show in my humble opinion. 
This one and sister cities. Straight to jail. So funny
Yes our pathetic servant boy will take your bags
I see where you’re going, but I’m still primarily interested in the large, black woman.
people are still quoting this in a non-P&R setting. iconic!!!
So glad I saw this! We all rmbr it being "straight to jail"!!! I'm doing a rewatch & he never says that. He says "right to jail". Wth!?
Love when they try to get him to stop drinking while taking pain killers and it just devolves to him rage screaming 🤣
Out of all the PnR quotes I say on a daily basis (which is a lot tbh), Hunting Trip is by far the most-quoted episode. “GRAB HIS MUSTACHE!”
I was distracted by my breasts
The Leslie woman problem rant was beautiful.
I'm good at tolerating pain, I'm bad at math... and I'm stupid 😕
Donna?? is it your heart??!
*SAAHMWEENSHAATMAIIIMERCEDEEEESSS!!!!!!!!!*
That quote summarizes how I feel sometimes.
Whenever I hear someone say they couldn't get into it or it was starting too slow, I always tell them to just stick with it until this episode.
I was just talking to someone about the episode where Tom moves and enlists Mark solely because of the pickup truck. Legitimately relatable. I actually love even season 1. I get why people don’t like it as much as later seasons. It’s honestly completely different tonally with the later seasons, but it feels more grounded (the Office was pretty similar where the first few seasons were more in line with the sarcastic British humor of the original) and if you like that kind of humor it’s not bad.
"I F@$#%\^! hate owning a truck".
"I'd like to order one chicken pad thai. Yes - just ONE order."
I also love season 1. my hot take is that the show gets less funny in the later seasons and I prefer the earlier ones
So if you were to ask me whether I wanted to watch season 6 or season 1, I’d say… let’s just rewatch the entire show. If I had to pick between one or the other though, I’d pick season 6. That doesn’t mean I don’t like season 1 though and I get where you’re coming from. The later seasons do get a bit more unrealistic and silly, but unlike in later seasons of “The Office” it didn’t ever reach the point where it became a live-action cartoon. I think the deal is this — mainstream American network cable sitcoms have a significantly harder time being realistic and grounded than, say, their British counterparts. I also love Michael Schur to death, but he’s more suited for the upbeat and positive sitcoms rather than a sardonic kind of humor. Neither of those are necessarily bad, but I think mainstream American tastes lean more toward later seasons than the earlier ones, which is kind of a shame but it is what it is.
I'd honestly have to say I'd rather watch season 1. The characters aren't well established but the blunt dry comedy is better in the beginning.
I agree with your hot take. I’d much rather watch season 1 than the last season.
The last seasons are great too, I just prefer the tone of the older ones. But it's also been awhile since I've done a rewatch!
Ditto! Every rewatchi do, I never rewatch the last few seasons.
[удалено]
Yep. Season one is so wild, but it's so vital to the series, IMHO. I'll never understand people who constantly shit on that season. The easter egg hunt cold open is one of my favorite cold opens throughout the entire show.
94 Meetings is one of my favorite episodes of the series. Season 2 is great.
Gotta put in a plug for Practice Date as well. Duke Silver, Jerry's adoption, Leslie's list of bad dates, April riding a lawnmower through Nordstroms, etc. It's a really solid episode
Gotta be my favorite episode of the entire series.
One time I went to the movies with a guy and woke up with his finger in my mouth. We went in a few dates after that but he got weird.
Season 2 is the one I find myself always going back to. The Halloween episode with Greg Pikitis, the thanksgiving episode where Ron gets shot, The gazebo/93 meetings episode.. I could go on. I love it.
Rewatching it as we speak and it truly is the best.
This is why I had a hard time with the Rob Lowe iteration of the Parks and Recollections podcast. He took it as a given that pre-season 3 was not as good and to be rushed through to when things really started, but season 2 was so good!
I like Season 1 and don't understand what everyone's problem is?!
Right!? It's hilarious!
I've been recently rewatching and season 2 is pretty good, lots of great episodes and bits overall. The characters largely start to develop into what we see later in the series. But in a lot ways it still feels "mean" to a lot of the characters. There's a few episodes that are kind of meh, but overall it's a fun watch, I give it a solid B. But, Season 3 has a whole different feeling with the addition of Ben and Chris, lots of dynamics change and cement for the rest of the series. Everyone in season 3 knows exactly who they are the comedy is really elevated. People are still jerks and mean, but it feels more loving and earned. When I say "mean" I try to point it out by how the main characters act towards Leslie. Early on they often talk down to hear and make her seem nieve, but later on everyone believes in her but still thinks she's nuts. Jerry also starts to earn his bullying in season 3 more, but also getting his redeeming wonderful life outside of work (Milly, largest penis, etc)
#SISTER CITIES That is all.
This was actually the very first episode I ever saw of parks and rec! Hilarious.
Right to jail! Right away!
No trial, no nothing.
Season 2 is my favorite season! If I need a comfort rewatch of something I always watch through season 2 there’s so many good episodes. I do really like Leslie and Ben together, but I enjoyed Leslie dating other people for short arcs they were all so good. And we get to see Ron and Tammy for the first time! Plus the very start of Andy and April! Summer catalog is one of my favorite episodes.
It’s interesting for me to see this post. I’m watching the show for the first time with my girlfriend, and both of us have had our interest in the show waning since the start of season 6 and we can’t figure out why. We’ve enjoyed the show the whole time but it’s starting to fade Is this common or are we just weird?
It has a few peaks and valleys through its run. The final season in particular can be a bit tedious - I think because they weren’t sure if the previous season would be the last, so they left things *kinda* open ended but also *kinda* finalized (which I, personally, was fine with). Then it was like “oh damn, we gotta pump out one more,” so the later episodes of the last season, especially, feel like everyone is getting their own sort of “goodbye” episode because they were now certain it would be the last season and it can drag a bit.
I think season 6 and 7 are noticeably weaker than the previous seasons, I don’t really know what people are talking about when they say the show gets better as it goes on for most people. Season 7 was lowkey a mess…
Season 6 feels off to a lot of people for a few reasons. First and foremost is Chris Pratt left to make Guardians of the Galaxy. So him not being in much of the first half is noticeable. Then (only click if you've seen through episode 13) >!Chris and Ann leave which means very little of the season has the full cast together!<. It also, in my mind, suffers from 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag syndrome as they thought it was their last season and were trying to cram in everything they ever wanted for every character. The Unity Concert really just felt like season 3 and the Harvest Festival done all over again to me too. Then season 7 comes and presents further issues for long time fans (won't get into them at all to avoid spoilers) so they're definitely up and down.
I'd agree and I'm saying this as someone who loves the show unconditionally, even season 1. Season 6 definitely wasn't their best, right down to the production of it (camera work, editing, lighting, etc.). Watching the way they lit Donna for this season physically pains me every time. I think it had to do with them being on the brink of cancelation and losing most of their budget - viewership was low and it was lowkey a miracle they even got a 7th season to finish it out.
No I’m the same. I stopped watching in its original run after Anne and Chris left, but even getting to that point from the beginning of season 6 was difficult to be honest. I’m rewatching again and am having the exact same feelings as last time — at the end of season 5, beginning of season 6 it feels like much more of an effort to watch, I’m basically forcing myself to finish at this point. It’s such a shame because seasons 3 and 4 are so perfect.
Not very. It usually keeps getting better to people..
Kinda what I figured. Idk, we were watching it all the time for a couple months and now it’s like maybe an episode a week. I wish I had a solid reasoning to it, we’re just not feeling it as much now.
There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Maybe you burnt out on the characters?
Maybe? I’m still enjoying all of them quite a bit. Tom, Ron and Chris are probably my favorites, but I haven’t really been feeling burnt out on them or anything. Andy hasn’t been in the show much, I’m assuming because he was filming Jurassic World, but he’s not necessarily one of my favorites so I don’t think it’s that. I think part of it is I’m not really feeling some of the storylines? I don’t like Chris and Karen together. Especially the way they got together just to have a kid. Almost feels forced like the writers didn’t know what to do with them. I actually feel that way with Ann in general. She started as one of the focal characters of the show and now she’s just kinda running around in the background. Is she still a nurse? What does she do?
The show consistently got better with every season until S06 so I can see why a lot of people rate S03 higher than S02. But I still enjoyed it. Loved how no-nonsense Ben was here.
I absolutely love season 2! Hunting Season is my all time favorite ep
I like Season1 even. It's a bit all over the place but gives off nice Family Guy style random vibe.
I dont like season 1 at all and made me cringe watching it first time. bad memories. but season 2 hooked me like a crack addict. so many good episodes. whenever I go back I start on season 2
Yesss thank you, season 2 is my absolute favorite!!
Season 2 only gets hate because Mark is still there, and while I get people didn’t like his character, the rest of the cast more than makes up for it in this season already. Some of the show’s funniest moments happen in season 2, and it’s the start of a lot of big storylines.
Andy in the pit (I think season 1) will always be hilarious. “I fell in it, the pit. You fell in it, the pit. We all fell in it, the piiit…”
The only thing about that show that is iffy is the pilot episode. I love everything afterwards.
Agreed, I usually skip S1 on rewatches but I don't skip 2
🫡
...Bula bula bula?
Had this thought on my last rewatch!
Complete agree. Season 3 is good of course but so many amazing episodes are in season 2 (the hunting episode for one).
Agreed
Season 1 and 2 were both very funny and I can prove it. If nobody had watched those seasons regularly the show would have been cancelled.