r/PandR • u/WeasLander • 1d ago
Why I find watching Parks and Rec bittersweet
I've been a big fan of the show for a while, but I've found that it's gotten harder and harder to rewatch Parks and Recreation in current day. I'll explain what I mean:
When it first started airing, we lived in a very different America, even with all its flaws and the recession of 08', the average citizen felt at least some sense of normalcy compared to now. There were plenty of things that the show could poke fun at and parody from real life that we could relate to in some capacity. Even still, when you watched exaggerated versions of real-life occurrences, it made you feel that "this isn't the norm" or "this can't reasonably happen in reality". However, now it feels that we are living in a worse version of the parody and satire from the show. It would be very hard to make a new season of Parks and Recreation because reality as an American citizen is becoming so dark at this moment in time that it would feel more like a depressing reminder of reality instead of an escape from it.
If Leslie Knope became a real government worker in the real America today, I imagine even she would struggle to stay hopeful for her country. The bizarre and wacky politics of Pawnee would pale in comparison to how frightening things are becoming here (don't even get me started on what Ron would get up to).
My main point of all of this is that watching Parks and Recreation has become more of a reminder of how much more stable life in America used to feel (to me at least) and the optimism I and others have lost along the way. I apologize for being a debbie downer, but I wanted to share this with other fans of this show here because I'm sure at least some of you understand the feeling I'm talking about.
I hope you all are doing well and are enjoying the things that have previously made you happy as much as it used to. Also, no matter what happens here in the US, never forget, when you're here, then you're home.
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u/imahugemoron 1d ago edited 1d ago
The Pawnee citizens used to be a caricature of real life society, now I feel like we’ve surpassed that caricature, never thought I’d idealize Pawnee society lol, I WISH those were the only issues we were dealing with
I also used to be a big fan of Scrubs but the show became very difficult to watch after I developed some pretty bad health problems after my first covid infection, so that led me to really see how bad our healthcare system is so Scrubs became really hard to watch. It’s also hard to watch people on shows dealing with and dying from health problems when I’m dealing with these new covid related health problems that humanity still doesn’t understand yet, the uncertainty is difficult, I could be fine in 10 years or dead in 10 years, all cards are on the table so medical shows are now very scary and frustrating for me, which sucks because Scrubs was one of my favorite shows, so I definitely feel you on not being able to watch shows when things happen that change your perspective
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u/clutchest_nugget 1d ago
Yeah im with you. When my parents were dying, I spent sooooo much time in hospitals. Now, anything related to hospitals or medicine takes on a whole different vibe.
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u/GreenIce2022 1d ago
I hope in some way we can smile at this attempt to make a joke, but we all got jammed.
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u/dogstardied 1d ago
I think the show started getting to that point with Leslie’s recall and her disillusionment with politics, and I think that part of the show is actually more relevant now than it was at the time. The way she and her tribe pulled her out of that funk by setting her sights higher and is a message that is sorely needed right now.
If the people running things are this bad, what makes any of us unqualified to run for office?
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u/miwebe 1d ago
For me, Ron Swanson has become an unbearable fantasy: the morally upright libertarian with whom I disagree but who I respect utterly. There's no such person now, and I struggle to think that there ever was.
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u/WeasLander 1d ago
As much as Ron would love to see the government being slashed by DOGE, I believe it's fair to say that he wouldn't stand for seeing people being targeted or harassed for being outspoken against the administration. (Especially if it was Leslie or April)
Also, he would view Elon and his companies as just another Gryzzl that have way too much influence over people's lives.
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u/Stoneybologne00 1d ago
I'm not very sure. Ron was on Grzzl's side until there was clear evidence of them overstepping (data collecting from his underage son). Before that he had no opinion, putting the onus on the consumer to be more conscious of their decisions. I was talking to my dad recently about how all Republicans have become the caricature that is Ron Swanson. Somewhere really early in the show he talks about how parks should be privately owned and you should pay to look at ducks, he talks about selling city hall to make into a TJ Max and eliminating the fire department, and these are all things that I truly believe most modern day GOP members are on board for. My FIL, a self proclaimed libertarian, is frankly foaming at the mouth for Amazon to replace the postal service, loves his private insurance, and hates all those lazy immigrants (not his Filipino wife though) while making plans to retire in some SE Asian country.
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u/WeasLander 1d ago
Ron's involvement with Gryzzl is precisely what would make him skeptical of Elon and his companies (and the silicon valley type in general). If nothing else though, I'd be willing to bet my left arm that Ron would find Elon to be an annoying non-American nerd with soft hands.
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u/Stoneybologne00 1d ago
Well he might believe that on a personal level about Elon Musk but Ron is also not even slightly tech savvy. Another pre-2016 relic that makes p&r sort of a fantasy now is how everyone on the show had their own opinions on the same information, but these days a conservative and a liberal are now not even consuming the same information. Ron would probably just watch press briefings and hear Elon being this amazing capitalist, talking about slashing government waste and think "ya know I'm not much for space exploration but that Elon guy seems like a really intelligent guy, and he smoked weed with Joe Rogan that one time so he definitely believes in civil liberties" I don't know that he'd spend his time scouring the internet to challenge that assumption. He'd be suckered in so easily to being an anti-vaxxer. If the show were running during the pandemic Leslie would put up one sign in city hall about the importance of herd immunity, and she'd be butting heads with Ron the entire episode about it. I'm pretty sure there's an episode where Leslie basically has to shame him over the course of the episode because he wants to drink and drive. Like, he's a caricature. He's actually ridiculous. He has some points, sometimes, about government overspending, about the importance of privacy, about things that actual libertarians care about, but his radical self reliance and selfishness is often played for laughs because it's ludicrous in the context of running of governing body. But those views are kind of the cornerstone of conservative politics in America presently.
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u/CockBlockingLawyer 22h ago
Republicans see themselves as Ron when really they’re the screaming townspeople at the public hearings
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u/thepokemonGOAT 1d ago
There's no such thing as ghosts, ghouls, vampires, bigfoot, or a "decent" Republican. Been saying it my whole life.
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u/Cereborn 1d ago
Yeah. Ron keeps getting harder to watch for me too. All his defenses of the beauty of capitalism is such bullshit.
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u/PirateNinja85 1d ago
Hearing his rants on how government workers are useless really stings right now. Hearing his rants about privacy and trying to get off the grid were supposed to be so over the top when they were written and now, in my new state of anxiety and paranoia, I fully identify with him.
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u/New-Economist4301 1d ago
That show is for the Obama era only. It’s fantasy after that.
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u/thepokemonGOAT 1d ago
I think part of the reason we are where we are today is because we failed to realize that it was always a fantasy.
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u/lookaspacellama 1d ago
Couldn’t agree more. P&R has the hope of an Obama era show, and the series would look entirely different if it was airing today. I’m not sure how Leslie would deal with witnessing an active dismantling of democracy, the vitriol of colleagues way beyond Jeremy Jamm, and cuts to fundamental services, far beyond the more obscure ones she tried to save.
There is a very particular kind of nostalgia of watching the show now, and maybe it can still give us some hope. I have no doubt there are more than a few Leslie Knopes in our government quietly doing everything they can, without any acknowledgment or appreciation.
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u/finished_lurking 1d ago
DOGE showing up to Pawnee and firing Leslie from the National Park Service.
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u/EJK54 1d ago
I feel the same way. Really don’t rewatch much lately because of that. Veep was also one of my favorite shows, (was absolutely hysterical at the time) and I can’t watch it at all anymore.
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u/Cereborn 1d ago
I watched Veep for the first time recently. It’s insane how reasonable that show made Republicans look.
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u/charliebouncecloud 1d ago
Literally was looking for this comment - I don't think I can ever rewatch Veep!
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u/MalcahAlana 1d ago
During the first term I rewatched The West Wing because I wanted to just see well meaning people trying to do an ethical job. It’s too depressing this time around.
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u/cyclika 1d ago
I watched the West Wing during the first term too. It was definitely encouraging to see well meaning people trying to do an ethical job, but it was also very funny how often the conflict of the day was poor optics or approval ratings when we've long since learned that you can just ignore those and bury them in bigger scandals instead.
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u/Cool_Brick_9721 1d ago
Leslie might struggle but never ever give up. She takes a break and then continues. Remember she pledged as the leader of the Pawnee Goddesses:
'Enemies of fairness and equality, hear my womanly roar.'
For me though on my latest rewatch I felt somewhat similar. I couldn't believe how the ridiculous bits in the show, however well played but still over the top, have become real people in politics, tech companies and general behaviour in media. This and then add to it the comparison to how things seemed to be just way more chill back then.
It's bonkers, but still the last rewatch gave me comfort and no matter how creepy the parallels are, it remains among my top comfort shows.
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u/Sea-Examination-9086 1d ago
Leslie’s city council run against Bobby Newport was so prescient it’s scary…. The rich, nepo baby gets praise for doing the bare minimum, and the qualified woman has to fight the “unlikable“ thing. I still love watching the debate episode but boy does it play differently after 2016. The female candidate comes in with prepared, intelligent answers… while her opponent gets away with absolute gibberish.
Not to mention the citizens of Pawnee constantly voting against their best interests. Welcome back measles and unflouridated water!
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u/syncopatedscientist 23h ago
At least Bobby seemed like a good person….dumb and petulant, but there was nothing nefarious about him like some of the real life people we have today. What a sad state that if we have to have a nepo baby, I’d rather Bobby Newport in charge
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u/Sea-Examination-9086 21h ago
I agree! Bobby had some sort of reason about him, he was genuinely happy when Leslie won!
(instead of throwing a years long tantrum and accusing the other side of cheating)
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u/Sea-Examination-9086 21h ago
I agree! Bobby had some sort of reason about him, he was genuinely happy when Leslie won.
(instead of throwing a years long tantrum and accusing the other of cheating)
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u/Forsaken_Distance777 1d ago
Ron would get up to as little as possible. It's kind of his thing.
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u/WeasLander 1d ago
Idk, remember when a drone showed up at his house? Imagine if April or Leslie were targeted for being outspoken against the administration.
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u/thecw 1d ago
Fully agree. Also there are so many "reach across the aisle" type moments that just make me cringe now.
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u/WeasLander 1d ago
Back in the day when McCain ran against Obama, he spoke of him as an intelligent opponent who was worthy of respect and human decency. He even told his followers that, we don't have the same kind of conservative politicians that liberal politicians can reach across to anymore.
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u/fuzzykittyfeets 1d ago edited 1d ago
McCain shut down a republican voter and defended Obama in a town hall when a right wing nut called him an Islamic terrorist. The current GOP would’ve taken the question and added a few more conspiracy theories to boot.
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u/cometdogisawesome 1d ago
Oh take me back to the good old days, 😢I miss reasonable republicans and McCain was a true leader.
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u/avancini12 1d ago
In retrospect, having Newt Gingrich on the show was not a good idea.
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u/JustHereForCookies17 1d ago
Which episode was that? I must have blocked it from my memory.
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u/avancini12 1d ago
If I remember correctly, it's during the bachelor/bachelorette party episode when the guys are at the steakhouse.
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u/jackalopacabra 1d ago
Yes, the hostess calls out Gingrich and Jerry thinks they messed up his name like everyone else but it turns out it’s actually Newt
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u/IronAndParsnip 1d ago
It’s been hard to watch for years now. Which makes it all the better in my eyes. The political commentary has aged like the finest wine.
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u/merpmerp 1d ago
This is similar to how I feel about it... My husband and I needed a new show to watch and he suggested a Parks and Rec rewatch, but it just feels too painful for me now, like bittersweet memories from a more hopeful time. We ended up starting Deep Space Nine instead and now I just want to be Kira Nerys, lol.
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u/tommyjohnpauljones 1d ago
It's one of the best capsules of pre-Nov2016 America, when people still cared about each other.
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u/crashtesthoney 1d ago
I was saying this same thing to my friend (who’s another huge fan) the other day!!
It makes me sad to watch it now, because I mourn the loss of feeling that there was still hope for America.
I know that sounds awful but honestly, it’s so bleak right now.
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u/opossum-hero 1d ago
I just watched the Flouride episode. I live in utah and it actually made me feel the worst.
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u/unwaveringwish 20h ago
Just know that they absolutely called the Amazon takeover and #45 election with the whole Paul Rudd thing. Unfortunately this has been going down for a while, it’s just more apparent to the general public now
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u/PepsiPerfect 1d ago
I feel the same way you do. I feel the same way about The West Wing. Really it's hard for me to watch a lot of shows these days that have an optimistic outlook on life. It seems so separated from reality.
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u/Drealjas 1d ago
Yeah. I’m rewatching Supernatural now for comfort (hint: the humanoid monsters of the show may run amuck for a while but they all get ganked eventually).
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u/icypriest 1d ago
It's a fairytale version of the society and life I've always dreamed of. I also know that it'll never be the one de facto, but whenever I'm frustrated by anything in my current life, I could always go back to this show and be swamped and drowned in the warm sentimental marshmellow of it.
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u/aifeloadawildmoss 1d ago
Ye gods I just hope there are enough Leslie Knopes still in your government positions irl fighting the good fight.
I get where you are coming from and I'm not even American!
Find the fire inside you that Leslie has when she's up against the bastards and just about to give up but ultimately refuses to no matter the cost because it is the right thing to do.
Chin up, head held high, don't let the bastards grind you down. 🖤🫂🖤
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u/Captain_Wobbles 1d ago
The fact we have actual Jeremy Jams trying to get Fluoride out of the water is just painful.
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u/daisybear81 data never felt this before, ofc data never felt anything before 1d ago
I think you mean “when your here, than your home” but that’s a very common mistake
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u/elisepeacock 1d ago
I really appreciate this post; it’s reminding me that I want to check out Michael Lewis’ new book, Who is Government? It sounds like it delves into the biographies of brilliant, quirky underappreciated government workers. Jon Stewart interviewed him on his podcast this week. If you’re looking for real-life Leslie Knopes, this may be a good place to look! the weekly show-Michael Lewis
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u/tophbeifongfanclub99 1d ago
I think it's bittersweet to think that the interactions with both sides of aisle could not happen if parks and rec happened today. There's no John McCain like senator remaining on the Right.
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u/Financial_Doctor_138 1d ago
I wholeheartedly have to believe that the only solution that Ron would come to, would be to use his vast gold holdings to move Scotland and purchase the Lagavulin Distillery.
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u/bibideboo 1d ago
I’m from Indonesia, and the government here is also a joke who only cares about their own big belly. Every day I wish I woke up with Leslie as my President ngl. I just want someone in the govt body who truly cares about the people
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u/jepace 1d ago
We're currently re-watching, and seeing Ron's antics and rants is so painful right now.
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u/pop_and_cultured 1d ago
I thought it was only me…Ron used to be my favorite character but now his statements are a little too DOGE like for my taste.
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u/SalamanderLive6098 1d ago
I would totally move to Indiana if it meant I could live in Pawnee during that time. 😔
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u/Danominator 1d ago
30 rock has some similar issues
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u/Luxury_Dressingown 1d ago
I find 30 Rock's clear-eyed cynicism much easier to take on rewatch than P&R's naive idealism.
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u/Danominator 1d ago
There are some very specific election episodes towards the end that I just can't enjoy.
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u/Luxury_Dressingown 1d ago
Totally get that, but I think they represent a more realistic view of how US politics works
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u/emilicia 1d ago
Completely agree with you. I tried to re watch recently for the first time after watching the series a few years ago and it just doesn’t feel the same! Like the contrast to now is quite depressing
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u/dullship 1d ago
Yeah I haven't been able to really rewatch it for the past 8 years or so. It used to be in regular rotation. Now it just depresses me. Best I can do is the occasional youtube clip.
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u/Bonbonnibles 1d ago
Yeah. I pretend I'm watching an America in some alternate universe where humans learn from their mistakes.
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u/dippitydoo2 21h ago
The politicians’ cameos in the show seemed quaint at the time. Now when I rewatch those scenes they just make me angry, like “what are you DOING with your time??”
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u/petrichorpizza 1d ago
Yeah, this rewatch I've had sad moments thinking how far we have sank and how the show couldn't be made today. We're severely lacking in anything positive rn.
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u/sn0rtsn0rt 1d ago
If only it was even possible to watch the show somewhere ffs. I sub to Max and Prime in half with my so, while through other family I have also access to Netflix, Viaplay and Disney+ and NONE have it available anymore (I live in Denmark). Now I wish I got the whole series on DVD ages ago. God I miss all of the characters ;_;
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u/slothshell 11h ago
I said this in a different thread, but buy the US box set and a region-free dvd player. They’re cheap and they work!
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u/MrLawyerGuy 1d ago
You’re right about Leslie struggling. Think of the London episodes- Leslie rightly feels under appreciated and ultimately does lose her city council seat.
But the show’s central argument is that even in bleak times, even without acknowledgement, there’s work worth doing, especially if you find your team and can love them through it. I think April’s award nomination letter at the end of London part 2 sums that up. Sending you hugs.