A few years ago, all of my friends were telling me that I needed to watch this show called "Parks and Recreation." I didn't understand why, and I had tried watching it multiple times but couldn't get attached to the wildly outrageous characters and situations on the show. I kept telling myself that I just had to be in the right mindset in order to get hooked and it would happen eventually. Turns out, I was right. Right after school ended this spring, I decided to try and watch the show one more time. I fell in love and finished all seven seasons in about three weeks, and in the end, I didn't want it to be over. I didn't want to leave the unique characters, even the ones I disliked thoroughly until the end, and I didn't want to leave the overly quirky town of Pawnee. I am now telling everyone, even you reading this, that you need to go and watch this show immediately (if you haven't already, that is). Here are five of the reasons why I love this show:
1. The relationships between characters will make your heart melt.
And I'm not just talking about the romantic relationships. Leslie and Ann's friendship will forever be one of my favorite fictional friendships. Leslie, at times, is hard to connect with; she is overprotective of the people she loves, will do anything to get her way, and loves everyone she meets just a little too hard. Ann (and Leslie's husband Ben) still loves her anyway. They deal with her antics in a positive and loving way but aren't afraid to tell her that she is stepping out of her bounds or that an idea just won't work. Even though many of the friends and couples get into fights occasionally, they know that at the core of their relationships is love, and that's the most important thing.
2. It creates diversity without the stereotypes.
Whether it be race, or sexuality, or something else, this show has it all. But with this diversity, the stereotypes that have become so common in today's entertainment world don't make an appearance. Yes, there is a gay man, but his story doesn't revolve around that facet of his character. There are multiple characters of color, but again, their race isn't the central focus even though their pasts and heritage aren't explicitly ignored.
3. It doesn't avoid talking about hard stuff sometimes.
Yes, this show is mainly a comedy. But that doesn't mean that hard-to-talk-about topics don't come up. One thing that consistently comes up is change. Changing jobs, changing environments, changing people that are around you. The show makes those things hard for the characters, but they are never completely beat down by it. They are still the same people, just maybe bruised a little more.
4. The characters stay consistent, even the minor ones.
No one has a wild character arc. Yes, they change throughout the course of the seasons, but it happens naturally and not suddenly. Andy, the resident goofball, becomes more serious over the course of the show but doesn't lose his youthful joy for life. Leslie doesn't lose her drive for helping people through the government, even though it tries to push her down again and again.
5. The life lessons will stick with you forever.
This one is hard to explain. There are so many things that I have learned from this show that I don't even know where to begin. The biggest thing that I can think of is to love those around you and they will support you through whatever crazy things happen in life.
Please go watch this ridiculously quirky show. It will make your life so much better. I promise.
