Customer Reviews

Parks & Recreation: Season Two

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Parks & Recreation started promisingly enough in its (short) first season, but the in its second season, it has developed into my favorite thing currently on TV. Every episode is sharply written, and each character is well-defined, as are the relationships between the characters. This show has some of the best cast chemistry I've ever seen.

I think where this show went from being a good comedy to a great TV show is when the character relationships started developing more thoroughly. As the show progresses, there are more "serious" moments that show how these people care about and take care of each other. Make no mistake, these scenes are as funny as the "wacky" moments, but the show's heart shines through.

I highly recommend Parks & Recreation for fans of quickly paced sitcoms and strong ensemble acting

The title of my review says it all.

The 2009-2010 season was incredible. Both veterans such as the Office and 30 Rock and brilliant new series like Modern Family, Glee, and Community made this one of the best TV seasons in years. But in its second season, Parks and Recreation rose above it's weak first season and is at LEAST as funny, well acted and written as the best comedies of the season. But not only that, it (perhaps along with Modern Family) was the most consistent. There were no "meh" episodes... I wouldn't rate any of them below a B+. And the addition of Rob Lowe to the show is a Godsend. Not only does he bring an incredible energy to the show, it may be his best work that I've ever seen.

Something that sets successful shows like the Office, Modern Family, and Parks and Recreation from the rest of the pack is having a big heart. And Parks and Rec. exemplifies this. It simply is not a cynical show, and while packing big laughs week after week, there is a deeper level of humanity and sincerity that in my mind makes it simply about as wonderful as television gets.

First season, while not without merit, failed to fully find it's voice, and ultimately led to a low rated second season. On any TV critic's score card, Parks and Recreation's second season was up there with the best of them. Worse still is that aside from Amy Poehler, it was unfairly snubbed of Emmy noms, and this is a shame. Fans questioned whether NBC would cancel the show, but happily, it will get a third season; sadly it will enter as a mid-season replacement. I'm hoping NBC's faith in the show is manifest in many marketing dollars so that this gem stays on the air.

If you haven't seen this show, you are in luck just because you can grab the first two seasons and watch them back to back. Over the last couple of years, in my mind The Office has run out of fresh ideas and just keeps having people in the office hook up, break up, hook up, and break up again, and it's getting old. THANK GOD for Parks and Recreation. I am NOT the biggest Amy Poehler fan out there, but the main reason to watch this show is Aziz Ansari. The guy is amazing, and I think that in Season 2 Amy was able to step into her role better than Season 1, and the show hasn't looked back. There is a great supporting cast on this show, and Nick Offerman and Aubrey Plaza are both fantastic as well. I used to look forward to Thursday Nights for The Office, but now I look forward to Parks and Recreation, and then watch The Office to see if Dwight and Angela are together or not together, or back together, or not together, or back together...I forget.

Created by some of the producers/writers of the (US) The Office. This show is really taking off this year it was decent last year but not as funny as it is this year. The reason is mainly in my opinion they have given the support cast more camera time. Aziz Ansari(Tom Haverford), Nick Offerman(Ron Swanson)and Chris Pratt(Andy) are clearly showcasing their comedic talent in this show about local government in Pawnee, Indiana. Amy Poehler's character, Leslie cares so much about her job and advancing her career but her boss Ron doesn't which is hilarious. Tom Haverford is her assistant hes basically always trying to be cool and he messes with Leslie, I think Aziz does some improv as well because some of the things he says seems like stuff he would write. The beautiful Rashida Jones is also in this show her character is more of the normal one surrounded by idiots. Ron Swanson is the best his blunt, dry sarcasm and to the point of what he is trying to say makes it funny. His character doesn't really care what people think of him. Andy shines shoes at the city hall he gets in on a lot of their activities, he kind of has ADHD or something to that extend kinda says whatever he is thinking before actually thinking about saying it. Check out this show if you like the office or sitcoms. I don't find Amy Poehler(Leslie)Main character that funny though she is alright but eh, that's why it gets 4.5/5 instead of 5/5.

finally, i have a reason again to watch tv on thursday nights. ever since the beginning of season 6, the office has been running out of steam and as much as the show "tries" to be funny, it just isn't anymore. it's over, and they need to wrap up the franchise this season when steve carell/michael scott leaves, but from what i've heard they are going to continue on which i believe is a BIG mistake. the writers act like they don't know where the show is going and they don't know how they want the characters to come across thus the show's characters do not act like themselves anymore and makes you ponder the question, "would their character really say or do that"?? michael scott is having the biggest identity crisis of them all starting in season 6 to present. michael gary scott use to have substance and depth to his character and even though he was incompetent, oblivious jerk he was a likeable underdog who you want to root for because at the end of the day he is a human being struggling to find love and trying too hard to make friendships and to keep his family (coworkers) afloat in troubling times. now, his character comes across as shallow, childish, and selfish with no humility. i just don't know where the show went wrong. seasons 1-5 were/are something to be cherished because all 5 seasons are classics and are best at what television comedy has to offer. i've came to the point to where i really don't care about the characters or the show and who's dating who in the office and the messy storylines. i'm even embarrassed to say that i'm a "fan" of the show anymore, because frankly i am not a fan of season 6 & 7, and people don't understand when you try to explain to them that "well, i was a huge fan in seasons 1-5 when the show and humor was still quality and the characters still acted like themselves". so i don't even talk about the office anymore to avoid this confusion and long explanation. how sad is that? sorry for that rant but as you can tell, i'm still a little bitter about the situation.

the other comedies on thursday night (30 rock, community) are really good comedies but are not "have to watch" shows that i want to watch religously every thursday night. i'm glad to say that parks and recreation has taken the place of the "love" and "excitement" for television comedy that i use to have for the office in seasons 1-5.

i remember the season being terrific as i watched it on tv but rewatching the episodes on dvd i have realized that this season is brilliant and even rivals some of the office's best seasons. yeah, it's that good. this proves that creators/writers greg daniels and michael schurr know what their doing and can make a great comedy series. i still wonder why they stopped writing for the office? the office's quality dropped significantly at the very end of season 5 and that was the same time parks and rec started to air. it's very obvious that the office's drop in quality and direction started when greg and michael had less input into the episodes.

anyways, this season is just fantastic. everything you can want in a great, hilarious, intelligent comedy: good writing, character development, interesting and surprising storylines, intelligent/quick-wit humor, and the main ingredient/key that the office is currently missing but use to strive at in previous seasons, "heart".

not to mention, the great cast of characters and actors. amy poehler as (leslie knope) is kind of like a version of the office's michael scott but this season we find her growing more confident, competent, and her character is very likeable with lots of quirks and heart. rashida jones plays (ann perkins) who is the gorgeous, level-headed nurse who is one of the less quirky and more straight-forward characters on the show and she compliments leslie's character very well. then you have the deadpan and mustache raises of nick offerman who plays (ron swanson) and his character's greatness and abrashed honesty is equivalent to dwight schrute on the office. comedian aziz ansari plays (tom haverford) and is definitely the funniest character on the show as he brings some of his skills from his stand-up to the screen. aubrey plaza plays the apathetic and sarcastic intern (april ludgate) who reminds me of a mix between ryan howard and jim halpert from the office. then you have one of my favorite actors paul schneider playing the clever-witted, charming nice guy (mark brandanowitz) and his character is instantly relatable with lots of heart and humility. finally, you have the goofy and lovable (andy) who is played by chris pratt. he has become a regular character on the show in the second season and rightfully so. his character seems to add a lot of quirkiness to the show to help level out the seriousness and dryness of the humor. the rest of the minor characters are just OK and will say that i don't really care for the (jerry) character. also, this season we saw a lot of guest appearances including andy samberg, rob lowe, fred armistan, adam scott, justin theoraux, and the comedian Louis CK who plays the small-town, literal cop and leslie boyfriend for several episodes in the first half of the season. i thought his character was flat-out hilarious and his interactions with leslie and the camera were just brilliant and hilarious!! definitely would love to see him back on the show in the future seasons.

so if you are a fan of "the office" (mainly earlier seasons) or the classic short-lived, genius "arrested development", or the family-oriented "modern family", then you have no reason not to watch and love this show. most say that "modern family" is the funniest show on tv right now. this is partially true, i think parks and recreation is tied in that category and when season 3 starts in mid january 2011, i think it has the capabilities to take the comedy reign and sit on the throne. let's just all hope that parks and recreation can keep going for at least 2 or 3 more seasons and hit that milestone of 100 episodes and that greg daniels and michael schurr stay put and keep making this one of the funniest and quality shows on television

Whoever gave the 1 star review obviously was not reviewing this item. Or the show itself. This show is amazing and everyone should get the DVD because it really takes off this season.
Awesome!

Season Two of Parks And Recreation took everything that was great about Season 1, and raised it to a whole new level. Outside of Amy Poehler, (and Rashida Jones to some extent), this was a cast of actors that most people were unfamiliar with and they were hysterically funny. I didn't originally want to watch because I thought it would just be a bad takeoff on the Office, but man was I wrong. Parks and Recreation is the funniest thing you'll see. Period.

First of, season two of Parks and Rec is a gigantic improvement in all areas.

The characters are much better drawn, each and one of them is unique, hilarious and incredibly memorable. Even characters like Donna and Jerry, who uttered maybe one or two lines in the entire six episodes that were season one, are now consistently given interesting and funny stuff to do.

Everything has just kicked into gear. This season has very few flaws, in fact all episodes are so consistently great that it's almost impossible to pick a standout episode.

It's not only the humor that makes this show so great. The relationships between the characters are simply sweet and heartwarming. These people are often goofy, but they are not caricatures. They can be outrageously funny, sad or genuinely happy, and it all feels very organic and tremendously relatable.

This season gave me a ton of laughs, but it also always put a smile on my face that lasted for a long time after I'd finished watching. If you're feeling down, this will make you happy. I guarantee you that.

And seriously, who couldn't love Ron Freaking Swanson?

I was going to write a long review, but everything has already been said by other reviewers here. Simply put, then, if you want to watch a series transform itself into one of the greatest on television, then buy this. After a slow start in season one (which was only 6 episodes), the second season catches fire with amazing characterisations, hilarious gags, outstanding cameos and disarmingly effective romantic twists. Must-see.

Simply put, this is the funniest show currently on TV. For someone reason, it did not get the attention it deserved starting off, and although more people started paying attention by the second season, it still has not gotten the acclaim the show deserves. A great ensemble cast and hilarious dialogue make this the sharpest show since The Office.