Parks and Rec “The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show” and “Two Funerals” 

Something I really appreciate about this final season of Parks and Recreation is that it is ending with intention. It’s always nice when a show knows it is ending and has the opportunity to wrap up the story well as opposed to ending abruptly. Even better is the fact that the season is short. Granted, I’d love for Parks and Recreation to go on forever if I could (I mean really, how can I live without Leslie Knope?), but the fact that it is a short final season means that it isn’t dragging on longer than it should – like, say, How I Met Your Mother managed to do.

With “The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show” (say that three times fast), we get an ending of sorts for April and Andy. The entire episode is actually an episode of Andy’s show, complete with the credits for a really fun touch. It’s the final episode of his kids’ show, and Leslie takes it over to honor Andy and remind us all of how they met in the first place. My, how far he has come.

Meanwhile, April gives the camera a few knowing looks to show how guilty she feels for taking Andy away from the thing he’s finally found a passion for. Of course, Andy has a great attitude about the whole situation, and he goes after April when she runs off from the set.

These two should really get more credit for being a favorite TV couple, and I’m reminded with this episode how much I love them together. Andy tells April he loves her and is more than happy to move with her and find something else to do – why? Because nothing is more important than she is.

“Two Funerals” actually does some similar things. Tom makes a serious move with an incredibly romantic proposal to Lucy that shows some pretty spectacular character growth. Of course, the first plan includes something ridiculous and elaborate that involves Leslie, cameras, and banners, but Tom realizes that isn’t the way to go. Instead, the proposal is simple yet sentimental, and it’s basically perfect.

As for the actual funerals, the first is of the town Mayor (can we say amazing guest appearance? Ahem, Bill Murray). The Mayor’s death means that Pawnee needs an interim Mayor, and it is Ben’s task to find one. Turns out, there aren’t many people in this town that are qualified for such a job, and even fewer are willing. With the interviews for Mayor, we get a fun string of guest appearances from various characters we’ve seen throughout the series, including Henry Winkler as Dr. Saperstein, Paul Rudd as Bobby Newport, Mo Collins as Joan Callamezzo, and Nick Kroll as “The Douche.”

Obviously, none of these are good choices, so April suggests Ben just take the job himself. It would be a way to redeem himself from that whole “Ice Town” thing, right?

But just as he is about to sign the papers, Ben realizes that he doesn’t want to erase “Ice Town” from his image because it made him who he is today. He also realizes who the perfect person to serve as interim Mayor would be.

Gary/Jerry announced in the beginning of the episode that he was finally going to retire. As usual, no one cares what he has to say, one of few jokes on this show that I have to be honest in saying I’m tired of. That’s also what makes the ending of “Two Funerals” so perfect. Ben chooses Gary to be Mayor, and Leslie turns the celebration that was supposed to be for Tom and Lucy into an inauguration for Gary. He’s so flattered and grateful that it’s actually a really emotional scene.

The second funeral is for Ron’s barber. Ron hates change, but he ends up trying out a new hair salon and finding common ground with a hairdresser who you definitely would not expect Ron to get along with. I love seeing Ron accept things that are new, and even more than that, I love seeing him giggle!

What did you think of this week’s episodes of Parks and Recreation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Parks and Rec airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.