[7.1/10] The easiest thing for a reviewer to do is argue that the story of an episode is a metaphor for the story that’s going on behind the scenes at the show, but it’s hard not to speculate here. After the Harvest Festival arc, which marked a turning point for the show and, in many ways, served as the culmination of its repositions and retooling after the show’s poorly-received first season, it’s not hard to imagine the folks in P&R’s writers’ room trying to figure out what to do next and whether they’ll be able to follow up such success.
So it’s natural, then, to imbue that same concern into Leslie Knope, as she worries about whether she can capitalize on the momentum and expectations that come from the Harvest Festival having done so well. The notion of a big Parks dept. camping trip to help come up with ideas is a nice comic premise, but it works better in idea than in execution.
The episode is kind of all over the place, from the camping-related misadventures to the personal stuff with Leslie to the trip to the bed and breakfast. Most Parks and Rec episodes pack in a number of little stories, but with everyone together, “Camping” feels more jumbled than harmonized in that regard.
And the lesson that comes out of it – that Leslie needed to let herself stop thinking about work for a while and the ideas would flow again – feels a bit too trite. Leslie’s anxieties are relatable, and it’s a neat enough (though a bit too sitcommy) solution that Ron locks her in a room and forces her not to work. It just doesn’t really pass the smell test as an epiphany.
The rest of the episode works well enough. Tom’s luxury camping experience is pretty amusing, though the reveal that he drained the battery of their van to get there is, again, kind of wacky sitcom plotting. The same goes for the overly quaint, cat-filled bed and breakfast they all end up in. Andy trying to make April like campign, but getting completely lost is standard stuff from him, but it’s enjoyable enough if not overwhelming. And we return, yet again, to Chris and Ann drama played for laughs, a well that ran dry a while ago.
But the comedy comes at the margins. Ron getting stuck fishing with Jerry was worth some good laughs, particularly Ron’s line that an abstinence seminar from Jerry for his kids might actually scare them off sex. Ben being too posh to “get” camping was a nice touch, including his referring to the ground as “the floor.” And Jerry loving the B&B was fun too.
Overall, true to the fears that Leslie’s storyline reveals, this isn’t much of a followup to “Harvest Festival” but despite the scattered structure of the episode and weakness here and there, it still has its moments and humanizes the preternaturally capable Leslie with her worries about what comes next.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-03-01T21:57:13Z
[7.1/10] The easiest thing for a reviewer to do is argue that the story of an episode is a metaphor for the story that’s going on behind the scenes at the show, but it’s hard not to speculate here. After the Harvest Festival arc, which marked a turning point for the show and, in many ways, served as the culmination of its repositions and retooling after the show’s poorly-received first season, it’s not hard to imagine the folks in P&R’s writers’ room trying to figure out what to do next and whether they’ll be able to follow up such success.
So it’s natural, then, to imbue that same concern into Leslie Knope, as she worries about whether she can capitalize on the momentum and expectations that come from the Harvest Festival having done so well. The notion of a big Parks dept. camping trip to help come up with ideas is a nice comic premise, but it works better in idea than in execution.
The episode is kind of all over the place, from the camping-related misadventures to the personal stuff with Leslie to the trip to the bed and breakfast. Most Parks and Rec episodes pack in a number of little stories, but with everyone together, “Camping” feels more jumbled than harmonized in that regard.
And the lesson that comes out of it – that Leslie needed to let herself stop thinking about work for a while and the ideas would flow again – feels a bit too trite. Leslie’s anxieties are relatable, and it’s a neat enough (though a bit too sitcommy) solution that Ron locks her in a room and forces her not to work. It just doesn’t really pass the smell test as an epiphany.
The rest of the episode works well enough. Tom’s luxury camping experience is pretty amusing, though the reveal that he drained the battery of their van to get there is, again, kind of wacky sitcom plotting. The same goes for the overly quaint, cat-filled bed and breakfast they all end up in. Andy trying to make April like campign, but getting completely lost is standard stuff from him, but it’s enjoyable enough if not overwhelming. And we return, yet again, to Chris and Ann drama played for laughs, a well that ran dry a while ago.
But the comedy comes at the margins. Ron getting stuck fishing with Jerry was worth some good laughs, particularly Ron’s line that an abstinence seminar from Jerry for his kids might actually scare them off sex. Ben being too posh to “get” camping was a nice touch, including his referring to the ground as “the floor.” And Jerry loving the B&B was fun too.
Overall, true to the fears that Leslie’s storyline reveals, this isn’t much of a followup to “Harvest Festival” but despite the scattered structure of the episode and weakness here and there, it still has its moments and humanizes the preternaturally capable Leslie with her worries about what comes next.