In the first season, Andy was an unlikeable garbage bag of a human being. One of the aspects of the relationship was Andy Dwyer’s jealousy throughout much of the season. Mark also showed knowledge of Ron Swanson’s dual identity as jazz musician Duke Silver, which became a recurring plot point throughout the series. Thanks to Mark, Jerry inadvertently found out he was adopted, which was how the showrunners realized that Jerry’s character was the “world’s undeserved punching bag” archetype. In fact, one of the only episodes where he stands out is the fourth episode “Practice Date,” where he and his coworkers had a contest over who could dig up the most dirt on the others. The second season was 24 episodes long and boy oh boy is it hard to remember much of anything Mark was up to. Having him hit literal rock bottom was a perfect place for his story as the first season came to an end. By the end of the season, he had struck out with Ann and drunkenly hit on Leslie, only to be rebuffed due to his inebriated state and ended the finale by falling down the giant pit. He was starting to move away from going from woman to woman and it confused and frightened him. Aubrey Plaza did an improvised line that made her realize that her character April would probably be into Andy.ĭuring this time, Mark was defined as being a slowly reforming playboy. Ron opened up a couple times about how much he hated his ex-wife Tammy. Granted, they were starting to get there. The season lacked energy, it lacked the show’s trademark optimism, and the players hadn’t figured themselves out just yet. Parks and Recreation season 1 lasted a mere six episodes and they were a very dry and rough six episodes. On its own, this episode reveals Mark’s role as a redemptive character, lightened by Leslie’s hope with potential for a will-they/won’t-they romance. He’s too cynical to humor her, yet he’s still quietly taken in by her drive and secretly gets Ron to push things forward by calling in a major favor from their past. He’s very forward that Leslie’s plan to turn a giant pit into a park is a fool’s errand. It’s also Mark who sets things right in this first episode. His sudden recollection, minor as it is, is probably the only actual humorous moment with Mark in that pilot. Leslie still excitedly holds a candle for Mark while Mark barely remembers they ever slept together. Then there’s how they perceive their brief fling from years earlier. Not only in the sense that he’s a straight man playing off her manic behavior, but because he’s long burned out from the world of politics while Leslie is still completely hyped about her job. In this first episode, Mark is introduced as Leslie’s foil. But more than that, it’s the last time anyone’s MENTIONED Mark Brendanawicz as he didn’t just leave the show, but he ceased to exist. That’s right, we’re at the ten year anniversary of the last time anyone has seen Mark Brendanawicz. While the show lasted until 2015, Mark’s last appearance was at the end of the show’s second season. Mark’s existence has always fascinated me. Ladies and gentlemen, the Pete Best of Parks and Recreation. She gets all hyped up and off we meet…this guy. Halfway through the episode, when needing help, Leslie builds up a major character introduction. We even got introduced to idiot manchild Andy Dwyer and emotional void April Ludgate.īut there’s one moment in there that really sticks out on a rewatch. Ron Swanson was a man’s man who hated the government despite being part of it. Tom Haverford showed himself as a self-important douche with no passion for government work. Ann Perkins was equal parts delighted and annoyed by the strange world around her. Leslie Knope was the overly-optimistic workaholic. That first episode, airing on April 9, 2009, introduced us to a lot of the core characters who were maybe rough around the edges, but still acted true to what they would blossom to be when the show hit its stride. Ending in early 2015, the series now maintains a dedicated following and is one of those Netflix shows you can easily binge through…as long as you power through the first season or forget about it completely. Parks and Recreation lasted seven seasons and wrapped itself up on its own terms.
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