Master Plan (Season 2, Episode 23)
Even before āLeslieās House,ā it was clear that Parks and Recreation was shaping up into something special. But the prospect of adding two new faces - even if those faces are as adorable as Adam Scottās and Rob Loweās - to the cast could have risked overstuffing a show already dangerously full of characters fighting for airtime. Ironically, a half-hour featuring Leslie poorly (and Ron giddily) reacting to news of impending budget cuts was Parks and Recreation at its most crowded.
The introduction of Ben and Chris in āMaster Planā was also the show introducing its first major, non-Pit story arc, with Pawneeās bankruptcy eventually culminating in āHarvest Festivalā well into the following season. The show had mostly been a series of one-off episodes up until that point, largely maintaining continuity through callbacks and relationships (Andy and Aprilās own becoming a real possibility here, as the episode celebrates her 21st birthday). From āMaster Planā on, though, there was rarely ever a stretch of time where Leslie wasnāt working towards some greater goal, which helped open up the show to bigger and better venues from which to watch the Parks crew change.
Published: Feb 22, 2015 03:37 pm