TV.com

Parks and Recreation Season 4 Episode 20

The Debate

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 1

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

AIRED: Apr 26, 2012

Free Trial / Subscription

VUDU

Buy

7.1

User Rating

68 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

Leslie and opponent Bobby Newport hold a debate.

TV.com Episode Review

Parks and Recreation: Leslie vs. the 1%

The City Council election is finally almost upon us. And this week Leslie took to the stage to debate her political rival and local daddy’s boy Bobby Newport, heir to the Sweetums Candy empire.

By Michael Svoboda, Apr 27, 2012

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

Verbal Warfare

9.5

By sh811a, Apr 30, 2012

I'm personaly not a fan of the Lesile Campaign plot but this episode I'll admit is one of the high points of the season, that really made Lesile shine.

There really isn't much I can say, I like the fact that this debate consists of people that in reality have no business being there in the first place. Like for example Joan and Perd that run the debate, both are clearly out of place and unqualified, they don't know how to mediate, raise topics, or even chalange the debaters with questions of their own, let alone that idiot Perd at one moment didn't give Leaslie the proper amount of time to reply (he probably forgot to reset the timer or didn't shut the frak up when he should've.). But what really funny is the fact that these two seem to be the only ones in practically every type of media program in Pawnee, honestly are these two the only acts in town.

One of the debators despite briefly in the episode I thought was hilarous, fogot his name but he kept preprosing some of the most dangerous and stupidest ideas I've ever heard. One was a vending machine for machine guns but the second and favorate one was having an automatic gun security system for you car where any car thef that get a mere yard even without making contact with the car gets shot the bigest problem with that plan is when you have to get into your car, then you'd get shot.

I really liked the subplot with Andy, I liked how he reenacted his favorate movies, you can't deny the guy is a good storyteller heck Donna was immersed in them. My favorate reenactment he did was the movie "Rambo" that's one of my favorate action movies so it was a joy to see.

I never really liked the whole Tom/Ann dating subplot I didn't find it funny also felt kinda awkward, also Tom came off really creepy and a real jerk throughout. Ann I know was dating him to spare his feelings but cmon you gotta know when enough is enough. However that subplot concluded on a note of dignity, I did like that Tom did care about Ann and does deep down inside really desire commitment, he does tell Ann the truth about his feelings even though he doesn't get her (rightfully so) at least he knows the truth that the one for him is out there it's just not Ann (at least I don't believe it is). I really liked the fact Ann and Chris were interacting again, that was one of the things I sorely missed. Chris also told Ann about his feelings toward her and that he desired to try again, and of course he also doesn't get her. I'll admit I was a little sad, Chris admits this also when he says a funny comment about exersising his sadness by running up and down flights of stairs; yet at the same time I was kinda alright with that cause I don't want them together again just yet. Ann I don't feel really knows what she wants right now, thats what the experence has taught her, she probably shouldn't date for a while she should do some things for herself for now like travel or something.

And of course that final speach Lesile gives was great because that exactly how I feel about whats going on today.

So, Lesile won the debate but will she win the election, well as they say she's won the battle but the war is far from over.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 2

Flag
Share Hide
Best episode of the season.

9.5

By JaCkKbAuEr2424, Apr 28, 2012

It's been awhile since I've written a review for anything on this website, but I don't think there's an episode I'd rather review more after a long break from writing than this one. It was a perfect encapsulation of what makes Parks such an incredible show, a show passed The Office a long time ago in terms of quality.

Here, we find Leslie and Bobby Newport (played by Paul Rudd in a performance that swings from goofy to childish... in other words, a great performance) finally having the debate that will likely decide who becomes mayor. Leslie knows that Newport has no public speaking skills and will likely crack when forced to face the hard topics, but she forgets that a.) Pawnee isn't a normal town and b.) Newport has a great aide in the form of Kathryn Hahn's character. The debate ends up making Newport look like a bullied, helpless child, while Leslie Knope comes across as the bully.

Meanwhile, the rest of the characters get equally fun story-lines. April and Andy hold a debate viewing party at their house for Leslie's campaign donors, with the help of Ron. When the cable doesn't work, Andy ends up re-enacting his favorite movies for the crowd (Andy grabbing a donor by the neck and screaming, "I ***ed guys like you in prison!" was one of my favorite moments of the entire show). Back at the debate, Chris, Ann and Tom get caught up in some sort of love triangle. I've never been a fan of Ann on the show, as talented as Rashida Jones is, and I've always thought the Tom/Ann relationship was a bit absurd, but adding Chris to the mix makes it all feel fresh again.

Most shows have a superb cast but have trouble providing scenes to each character that feels worth watching. Parks is incredibly consistent in finding something for each character to do, and this episode is no exception. Also, kudos to Amy Poehler for not only writing and directing the episode but giving her best performance yet this season.

Favorite moments:

*After Leslie's epic closing statement, Bobby Newport says incredulously, "Holy s***, Leslie, that was awesome!"

*Any time Tom Haverford says "Noooooo!" in that high-pitched voice of his, I can't stop laughing.

* "Leslie Knope is literally overflowing with ideas for this town. And speaking about methane, have you heard about her plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions?"

moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
3 1

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Adam Scott	Ben Wyatt (Season 3+)
Retta	Donna Meagle (Season 3+, recurring previously)
Jim O'Heir	Jerry Gergich (Season 3+, recurring previously)
Amy Poehler	Leslie Knope
Rashida Jones	Ann Perkins
Rob Lowe	Chris Traeger (Season 3+)

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Brad Leland

Fester Trim

Guest Star

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Episode Photos

Paul Rudd in Parks and Recreation from "...

© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc.
Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation from...

© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc.
Adam Scott and Kathryn Hahn in Parks and...

© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc.
Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation from...

© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc.

See All Photos

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (0)
ADD TRIVIA
- ADD TRIVIA from this episode.
QUOTES (0)
ADD QUOTES
- ADD QUOTES from this episode.
NOTES (1)
ADD NOTES
- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: April 24, 2012 on Citytv
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.