Comedy Parks and Recreation - Part 2

[MadVillainy]

It's not a matter of being bland or not, it's that there was no real thought behind Mark B.'s character or the purpose he would serve. He was just a paint-by-numbers straight-white-male love interest, with a few random personality traits (he's a nice normal guy like Jim Halpert ... who occasionally exhibits sexual compulsiveness, whaaaa?!). There was no real reason behind that character, it's just that the showrunners decided they needed "someone like that" on the show because every other show has one. For heaven's sake, he technically didn't even work in the same workplace as the other characters in a workplace comedy!

I dont think Mark was that bad of a character. He had some funny lines and reaction here and there. But as you said he didnt really serve that much purpose. Ann was the straight man/normal one for the most part so they didnt need to have a 2nd one.
And his sexual compulsiveness was so blown out of proportion to me. It was told alot more than it mentioned/shown.

Ben was the normal one too/still is but even before they developed him he some really good deadpan reactions and moments and then also that whole episode where he kept freaking out on TV. But as you said they developed him a lot better than they did with Mark

Didn't the guy who played Brendanawicz leave to pursue a film career.

Yeah. That's what was initially reported if I remember correctly. Stupid move.

I saw an article sometime last year, where the actor basically was saying that he got tired of Hollywood and he thought of, or actually quit acting in "mainstream" projects. He also said that he didn't like the direction of where Mark was going.

This last episode tugged at my heart strings quite a bit.

Spoiler

Ron wanting to ask Leslie for a job because he missed his friends.

You get to know a character for six years, and when they drop a bomb like that. Can't help but tear up.

That was a really good moment.
The one that got me was when Ron said: "I looked up and I didn't recognize anyone I was working with" or something like that.

It wasnt my favorite episode, but I probably would put Leslie & Ron in one of the best made episodes theyve done.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Mark may not be back, but we know he's coming back:

 

[PWN3R]

One of the best TV friendships ever. Final season has been fun so far, but jesus man, those last two episodes and the Morning Star reveal had me all emotional.

I love these characters so much.

 

[Dr. Evil]

So now that Leslie and Ron have renewed their friendship, I'd be curious to see what happens when they want the same place for different reasons.

 

[Scarecrow_King]

I wasn't sold on the Ron/Leslie fight. It seemed so implausible, but damn, the reasons they gave made me believe it. That **** was emotional.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I still would love to see Ron work for the federal government to see how much damage he can do.

 

[Primal Slayer]

When are we going to see the kids? Very last episode?

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Andy is still the best part of every show for me. "Put that down!", slowly puts down fast food bag haha

 

[Pink Ranger]

This is Michael Jackson's ghost using Pink Ranger's account. This show is awesome.

 

[Broseph44]

This is Michael Jackson's ghost using Pink Ranger's account. This show is awesome.

Hahaha yes

 

[Broseph44]

HAHAHA Ben missed that detail in the paperwork because of Star Wars episode 7 love Ron asking if Star Wars is the one with that little wizard boy

 

[terry78]

Is Star Wars the one with the little wizard boy?

 

[Pink Ranger]

Ron vs. Drone.

 

[Broseph44]

Ending of the first episode was perfect hahaha

 

[Broseph44]

Treat yo self 2017!

 

[Broseph44]

Andy kills me. All we need is a blimp, and a decoy blimp...

 

[James]

Ron vs. Drone.

Oh man, Ron killing a robot is the perfect thing. The rain, the thunder, the gun. So freakin' cool.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Oh man, Ron killing a robot is the perfect thing. The rain, the thunder, the gun. So freakin' cool.

It bet it was actually Ron's 4-year-old son who blew that thing out of the sky. Ron just took it to Leslie's house because it was past beddy-bye.

 

[antsman41]

Both really solid, it's awesome to see how much Leslie has done since the beginning.

LOL @ the SW Ben joke.

 

[Man in the Suit]

Jaden Smith in Hitch 2: Son of a Hitch

 

[StarLord]

I can't believe I only just noticed that JJ is the ''oh boy, you are in for a show tonight, son'' cop in The Dark Knight Rises.

 

[MadVillainy]

That shot of Ron with the rifle holding the dead drone was incredible.

Another great 2 episodes. Parks and Rec has no bad episodes to me.

 

[Travesty]

Jaden Smith in Hitch 2: Son of a Hitch

I dunno, I'm not a fan of these future jokes they keep doing, along with this holographic smart phone tech. I mean, I get it, this season is based in the future, but they're getting a little carried away with it.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I dunno, I'm not a fan of these future jokes they keep doing, along with this holographic smart phone tech. I mean, I get it, this season is based in the future, but they're getting a little carried away with it.

This show always had an undercurrent of broader social commentary attached to it. Last season was a thinly veiled satire of the eurozone debt crisis. Past seasons have been about nanny statism vs. neoliberalism, the corruption of local politics, etc. This season, it's about the pace of technological advancement (which in real life is not beyond the realm of possibility) and the pitfalls of abrupt economic development. You could almost argue it's a satire of China vs. the developing world.

 

[Travesty]

Heh, I get the satire around it, I just don't like the execution of the future tech and the future jokes. All of the Google(Gryzzl) satire could still be pulled off with regular smartphones. If this was taking place about 15-20 years in the future, I could get more on board with it, but since its only 2 years, it's just stands out as being more ridiculous than anything to me.