The Parks and Rec Open Thread

"So Gayle and Jerry..."        "I've thought about it a lot. There's no logical explanation."
(Spoilers are flashing their hoo-hahs herein.)

Oh, this episode. I LOVED this episode. The return of Duke Silver! Hello, Christie Brinkley! Did you know that Megan Mullalley (Tammy) and Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson) are married in real life? And did you know that Nick Offerman is a real-life super-talented woodworker? Neat, right?!

But mostly I loved this episode because Jerry. I have this profound affinity for Jerry (GARY!), and so everything about it made me blubby, especially when April and Tom were reading the nice emails that Jerry had sent them and they'd never read. I am tearing up just thinking about it. I love you, Jerry Gergich!

And Donna's heartbreaking expression when she realizes they need to go pick up Jerry. I love you, Donna Meagle!

I'd love to know what you all made of how the show handled the narratives of everyone being shocked that Jerry's wife is thin and beautiful, and how no one can understand why they'd be together. I thought it was pretty obviously a send-up of those narratives—it is apparent that she loves Jerry because he is a fucking awesome guy—but, like a lot of ironic humor, it also potentially entrenched those narratives. Hmm.

I also thought the show did a good job of playing on the trope that men are worth more if they have beautiful wives on their arms, because it's so evident Jerry doesn't consider Gayle his property, and Jerry's real value is repeatedly underlined as his kindness and fundamental decency.

But I can see why someone might feel otherwise! So what did you think?

I also love that Chris is finally making the transition from raw nerve to slightly less raw nerve, lol. He's a medium rare nerve now! Good job, Dr. Richard Nygard!

Here are other things!

"Merry Congratuchristmas! ... Jingle bells! Jingle yay! Jingle good for you!"

"I've had a Ron Swanson Google alert for seven years, and it finally paid off!"

"This time the giant spider got caught in MY web. Progress!"

"Hey, if we're going that way, can we stop at our place real quick, because I forgot to put on deodorant. And a jacket. And one of my socks. Plus I gotta poop. But I can stop anywhere for that."

"I don't know if you know this, but things with fat in them taste WAY better than things with no fat." "Everybody knows that."

"Wow, look at this room. So much wood, ready to be worked."

"I need to protect a sweet couple from a sex-crazed librarian who makes me question my stance on using the b-word. I dunno, maybe just this once. No, Leslie, fight it. FIGHT IT."

"Jerry filter!" "Jerry filter!" "Who's Jerry Filter?!"

"What a story! I felt like my HEART was white-water rafting!"

"Jerry Snurffle. Oak."

"It might be cold outside, but it's about to get warm all up in my jazz."

Discuss.