Parks & Recreation: Seasons 1-6

4 out of 5 Stars

Parks & Recreation, overall, is an absolute delight. I don't remember the last time I enjoyed a comedy on TV this much. This show is not just full of laughs, it's full of heart. Taking on the sitcom format in the vein of shows like The Office, Parks & Recreation finds a footing of it's own, taking the "mocumentary" style in a direction of it's own and taking it's own place in Television history. I bet Leslie Knope is proud.

I'm a late-comer to the show right before it's been announced that it's going into it's last season but it has still been worth it. Season 1 was a rocky start for the show with only 6 episodes and basic setting to how the show would feel. Although still funny, the first few episodes in the series are a bit rough and don't have the same spark but still at least help set up the well-developed characters that will stay with us through most of the series (Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson, April Ludgate, Andy Dwyer, Tom Haverford, Donna, Ann Perkins, and Jerry).

Season 2 is really when the show takes off and hits the charming and funny spark that helps the show sky rocket. The relationships are more firmly forged and greatly used to heighten the comedy. All while continuing to follow Leslie's neverending quest to become the greatest public servant and government employee to live. Really, the show keeps a high streak all the way through season 5. There are a few downs here and there I think (mainly with the Douche) but overall most everything in the show stays entertaining and hilarious. It also never completely loses sight of the end goal. Every season has a through plot that continues to carry the show, among all the various side plots, and manages to stay consistent with the beginning of the show.

In Season 3, two characters are added as leads, Ben Wyatt and Chris Traeger, who add a new dynamic and an added fresh take to the nerd scene to round out the show. And really, every cast member fits the character so well it's as if they embody and personify them. Basically, the casting is impeccable.

Though, I feel at Season 6 they hit a slump, which might be part of why they felt it was time to end the show soon. Although still funny and quite enjoyable, this season starts to feel like the writers are having some trouble coming up with ideas. The hilarity that took place in the previous 4 seasons just isn't quite there and feels like it's dropped a step and a half. This by no means it's not still enjoyable and worth it. Perhaps one of the best parts of season 5 is the exploration of some of the more serious sides of many of the characters. It's the coming of age story for Parks & Recreation, which makes for a more mature and sentimental season, but that also means a few less laughs.

Overall, I would say that all of this show is worth watching so far. Definitely one of the best comedy shows of the past decade along with shows like Arrested Development. If you have not checked it out, I highly recommend it. And if you're not hooked at season 1, I suggest sticking it through to Season 2.

The Crazies

3 Stars out of 5




Ogden Marsh is a small farming community in the middle of Iowa. Than one day the townspeople begin to go crazy and kill everyone they know, pretty much turning them into a more sophisticated form of zombies. Pretty soon government ops show up to quarantine to the town and the sheriff is on the run with his wife for their life.

The Crazies is a film that isn't quite what it was advertised to be. It isn't quite a full fledged horror film but rather a film that is partially horror, partially drama, and very much seems to be political. It's perhaps also the film with the year's worst title. What makes it a horror is that the townspeople start to kill everyone and also perhaps the fact that the government comes in to fix to the town in their own way. The script is at least written decently so we only primarily follow one or two characters who by the end of the film we have been able to feel for.

The Crazies is a film that will startle the general audience for at least half the film but will most likely wear off soon after that. The same antics are used enough that pretty soon we understand that hand out of the darkness to the sudden soundtrack hit is really just our main characters helping each other out of a tough situation. But the tension is built well. Unfortunately what this film ultimately feels like it is supposed to be is what throws things off a bit. Really it seems to be a political statement against the government messing things up.

It's really a scenario that has been seen before. The government loses something important, a weapon of some kind, and someone else's lives are destroyed because of it but the government really has no remorse for their actions and instead tries to cover it all up. That is really the horror of this film. A government unwilling to take action for destroying people's lives. This film is the cautionary tale of what the government can truly become as well as the threat of nuclear weapons with a dose of zombie on the top.