Friendships in maturity are very completely different than the friendships of our youth. But, making pals as children is one thing that’s way more of a spotlight in media. Whereas grownup friendships are sometimes portrayed in TV and flicks, how they arrive to be typically both isn’t proven or isn’t life like to most people’ experiences. Equally, we don’t typically see the real-life trials and tribulations of gaining, sustaining, and altering grownup friendships precisely represented in what we watch. Parks and Recreation has lengthy been praised for the worth it places on friendship, significantly feminine friendship. However, its appreciation for friendship between ladies isn’t the one factor that units its depiction of friendship aside from different exhibits of its form. Right here’s why the numerous sorts and nuances of grownup friendships which can be at play in Parks and Recreation are so essential to see onscreen.
There are many sitcoms which have grownup friendship on the forefront of the story. However, having a tight-knit group of longtime pals like in Mates or constructing a friendship from roommates you discovered on Craigslist like in New Lady aren’t nice examples of the place most people’ grownup pals come from. What friendship means adjustments for most individuals as they develop into maturity. And, media’s correct portrayal of it will be important — particularly in a sitcom like Parks and Rec that goals to be a consolation watch and make viewers really feel much less alone. A part of what makes Parks and Rec fill this function so nicely is the numerous forms of friendships that it portrays, how all of them got here to be for the characters after they have been totally grown adults, and the way they keep their friendships via thick and skinny. Whereas Parks and Rec is a office comedy at its core, it’s typically praised for the significance it places on feminine friendship. From Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ann’s (Rashida Jones) good platonic like to the invention of Galentine’s Day, the vacation all about feminine friendship, nobody appears to worth friendship greater than Leslie Knope.
Essentially the most central friendship of Parks and Recreation is the friendship between Leslie and Ann. Leslie Knope meets Ann Perkins in an opportunity meet-cute when Ann involves a city assembly that Leslie is operating. Over time, the 2 grow to be one another’s go-to sounding boards and confidantes. Their relationship runs a sensible course over the present’s seven seasons. Not solely do Leslie and Ann develop to point out a deep understanding and appreciation for each other, however they even undergo pure rising pains. They’ve their first critical combat when Leslie indicators Ann up for a job interview that Ann isn’t ready for. Leslie provides Ann a dose of actuality that she wants when she tells her that she at all times begins to show into the lads she dates. Ann confronts Leslie about the truth that Leslie has created too many friendship holidays for them to rejoice. The connection isn’t good on a regular basis, however not each disagreement turns right into a combat.
The pair undergoes a transition when Ann and Chris (Rob Lowe) transfer away to boost their child elsewhere. Leslie panics at this concept and searches desperately for a brand new “finest pal.” However finally, she realizes that Ann’s distance received’t imply she must be changed. Whereas the character of their friendship adjustments via these milestones, the core of their love stays the identical. Adults face these sorts of life adjustments on a regular basis, and friendships not often take precedence over infants, jobs, or massive strikes. Nonetheless, this second in Parks and Recreation was essential to Leslie and Ann’s friendship arc. Simply because adjustments happen within the pair’s lives doesn’t imply that their friendship is over and may’t develop and alter to suit their worlds.
Whereas this relationship is on the core of Parks and Recreation, many grownup friendships in addition to Leslie and Ann’s are on show on the Pawnee Parks Division. And, they exhibit the numerous forms of pleasant relationships that occur for adults within the office. Workplaces deliver collectively people who wouldn’t in any other case discover one another. And, typically that is the place the dynamics and comedy come from in office sitcoms.
Parks and Rec has a knack for character improvement, and the characters that viewers develop to know and love over the collection’ run are so nicely established that it’s simple to have a grasp on how they match into completely different dynamics. Unlikely friendships blossom between Tom and Ben, Andy and Ron, and Donna and Ann, amongst others. These friendships aren’t an enormous a part of the present, however their presence brings consideration to how friendships typically actually work in workplaces.
The collection additionally takes particular care in displaying one other reality of friendship that seldom performs out efficiently on display screen: the best way sure pals fulfill sure, particular roles in your life. TV characters typically appear to have one finest pal who’s current for all of life’s issues and massive moments. However, this typically isn’t actuality, and Parks and Recreation exhibits a world of tiny relationships which can be extra like actual life. Tom and Donna aren’t the perfect of pals, however they love uniting for his or her annual “deal with yo’ self” day: They very probably can’t discover different companions who will recognize this celebration the best way they do. Ron and April aren’t at all times confiding in one another like Leslie and Ann, however they recognize little particulars about each other. April views Ron as a mentor; Ron considers April’s delinquent tendencies and avoidant, indifferent nature to make her the proper assistant.
Along with portraying many various sorts of life like friendships, it’s uncommon for a present to place a lot concentrate on what a great pal an grownup in her office is. Being a “good pal” is often considered as extra of a childlike aspiration or focus. However, not solely did Leslie Knope’s success as a mannequin pal grow to be considered one of Parks and Rec’s defining options, it illustrated the significance of all completely different sorts of friendships for adults. Not one of the different characters within the collection put the concentrate on friendship that Leslie does. However, the type of effort Leslie places in for all of the folks in her life has such an affect that viewers watch as her pals are slowly impressed to worth friendship the best way she does. Ann voices her seemingly unattainable aim to be nearly as good a pal to Leslie as Leslie is to her. Ron is mortified by the idea that Leslie will throw him a birthday celebration. However, when the “occasion” seems to be good for Ron and Leslie says she wouldn’t “throw Ron Swanson an Ann Perkins occasion,” Ron adjustments his tune.
The best way Parks and Recreation values friendship is actually distinctive. And, not solely do the myriad life like friendships portrayed within the present make for attention-grabbing dynamics, but it surely provides the collection a surprisingly candy focus. It might not be one thing that we have a tendency to consider a lot as adults, however Leslie Knope actually makes us all need to be higher pals.
