7x06 Save JJ's

[6.4/10] Another kind of jumbled but decent episode. It’s nice to see the Parks Dept. team having to come up with unusual solutions to problems rather than just competing with Gryzzl and inevitably winning the Newport land. Gryzzl winning it in the first act was a pleasant surprised. But then things got sidetracked with the whole Save JJs thing, and then the dilapidated section of Pawnee thing. It gets tied together nicely enough at the end, and I like the notion that Ron and Leslie getting in-sync is paid off (despite their hilarious awkward high five attempts) when it really matters and they need to make a proposal). It was just more of hodge-podge of events than a story with a clear throughline.

I was equally lukewarm on redoing Treat Yo Self: Beverly Hills. The twist the last time they did this with Ben was fun because it cut against the spirit of the “event” in an amusing way. But this was just more, moderately amusing trendiness with tacked on dating advice. The Tom-Lucy stuff still feels pretty tepid, and this didn’t help much. They have good chemistry, but the scheme to ask her out and hire her and get her to move still feels sitcommy and rushed. That said, I like that Tom at least has the decency to try not to be her boss when he asks her out, even though that part still feels kind of weird too.

The mini-story with “Jonathan Karate” trying to persuade Dennis Feinstein was cute enough. Mixing Andy with a bunch of little kids is a good bit, and I’ve warmed to the amusing terribleness of Feinstein.

Overall, not the worst episode, but no story fully clicks, even if there’s good stuff in there.