Parks & Recreation continued to make inspired decisions throughout its seven-season run, and the sitcom's most beloved episodes are proof that it stands apart from other shows in the genre. The best Parks & Rec episodes belong in the upper echelon for various reasons, but the quality of the sitcom's greatest installments can't be denied. Although there are several sad Parks & Rec moments, the show is largely remembered for its terrific sense of humor. That being said, the sitcom's best episodes often combine both elements of what made it so great.
Parks & Rec quotes continue to be part of the zeitgeist to this day, forming the basis of countless memes and other references to the show. Almost every member of the main cast has continued the success they found while on the show, and many have transitioned into impressive dramatic roles - such as Nick Offerman's part in The Last of Us season 1 cast, and Adam Scott being named as the leader of the Severance cast. The immense versatility of the Parks & Rec cast is a big part of what helped the sitcom avoid experiencing a common pitfall.
"One Last Ride" takes the top spot
Sitcoms almost always have a golden era and can often tail off toward the end. Even if later efforts are still pretty good, it can be tough to reattain the same standard from a few years earlier. Parks & Recreation would appear not to have experienced this unfortunate phenomenon, as the show's top 5 episodes on IMDb all fall within the last four seasons. What makes this achievement even more impressive is the fact that the top 2 are both from the sitcom's final run of episodes.
Parks & Recreation Top 5 Episodes On IMDb
Title
Season
Episode
IMDb Score
"One Last Ride"
7
12
9.5/10
"Leslie and Ron"
7
4
9.5/10
"Moving Up: Part Two"
6
22
9.2/10
"Leslie and Ben"
5
14
9.2/10
"Win, Lose or Draw"
4
22
9.0/10
Of course, the top spot going to the sitcom's final episode, "One Last Ride," isn't a huge surprise. The emotion and poignancy of a sitcom finale is quite often enough to make it one of a show's best offerings - even if the comedic elements can sometimes be pushed into the back seat as a result. The real surprise is that anything before Parks and & Rec season 4 doesn't make the list until sixth place.
Parks & Recreation Is A Rare Example Of A Sitcom Getting Better Throughout Its Run
The NBC mockentary carried on improving throughout all seven seasons
Even some of the best sitcoms of all time become objectively worse as they go on. Parks & Rec doesn't have that issue, as the show continued to get better and better and ended at its peak. Starting with Parks & Recreation season 1, which was not great, the sitcom learned from its mistakes and was careful not to focus on any story too long. That being said, it still managed to include many of the traditional sitcom tropes. As such, Parks & Recreation is arguably one of the most inconsistent sitcoms ever made - but in the best possible way.
This political sitcom full of humor and heart follows the adventures of Leslie Knope, deputy director of the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Every week holds a new crisis of small-town politics, but Leslie and her friends work tirelessly to make Pawnee — and the world — a better place.
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