Parks and Rec: the comedy you've been waiting for

I was never the biggest fan of comedy TV series before Parks and Rec. I watched most of The Office, and I liked it a lot, but at times the humor was too cringe-worthy for me. I can't stand second-hand embarrassment in real life or TV shows, so every Michael Scott scene was like running the gauntlet for me. I never really got into other popular comedies either, such as 30 Rock or The Big Bang Theory. Just not my kind of scene. So I watched drama series upon drama series for a long time.

Then I started watching Parks and Rec with a friend and I was immediately hooked. (I think he started me off in the 2nd or 3rd season which is where it really takes off.) It's such a perfect show. It's hilarious and heartwarming and you will fall in love with every single character. The jokes are many, and subtle-- blink and you'll miss it kind of thing. My favorite thing about it is that it never relies on cheap tactics to get laughs. It is so utterly unoffensive and positive. It's basically the polar opposite of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which I do enjoy. But while Always Sunny gets its humor in people being awful to each other, Parks relies on passion and compassion.
 

Every main character in the show, and most of the minor recurring characters, are absolute gems. There is not one who you don't care about, not one you don't root for. The cast is wonderfully diverse, built up around one of the strongest female characters of all time: Leslie Knope. Their relationships are wonderful to see as they develop; every time I watch Leslie and Ben's wedding episode I cry. Every single time. Actual tears. It's beautiful.


Finally, the plot of the show is great. As Leslie's career develops, you cannot help but to root for her. And when she and her loyal team succeed, I feel so proud. The first season is definitely the weak link, but season 2 and certainly 3 onward, it is pure gold. The end is good too, so you don't have to prepare yourself for a letdown like with a lot of long-lived shows.

No matter who you are and no matter what kind of show you usually like, please watch Parks and Rec. You won't regret it. It might even change how you feel about the comedy genre.