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Episode guide

Essential Parks and Recreation Episodes

NBC, 2009 to 2015

Our 11 character guides for Parks and Recreation point to 42 key episodes across 7 seasons. Of those, 12 turn up in two or more guides, so they come first, followed by every episode in air order.

Season and episode numbers follow the original broadcast order.

The essentials(12)

Episodes that matter to more than one character, the most shared first.

  1. Season 7, Episode 12

    "One Last Ride"

    In 5 guides
    • Leslie Knope: Flash-forwards follow Leslie to a long career in public office.
    • Ann Perkins: Ann returns, and the flash-forwards show her family heading back to Pawnee.
    • April Ludgate: Flash-forwards show April and Andy starting a family.
    • Tom Haverford: Flash-forwards show Tom losing his business and turning the experience into a hit book.
    • Jean-Ralphio Saperstein: Jean-Ralphio and Mona-Lisa try to fake their deaths for insurance money.

  2. Season 3, Episode 16

    "Li'l Sebastian"

    In 4 guides
    • Andy Dwyer: Andy's tribute song for the beloved mini horse wins over the town.
    • April Ludgate: April's knack for selling Mouse Rat CDs gets her named the band's manager.
    • Tom Haverford: Tom decides to quit city hall and join Jean-Ralphio at Entertainment 720.
    • Jean-Ralphio Saperstein: Jean-Ralphio and Tom organize the miniature horse's memorial and launch Entertainment 720.

  3. Season 1, Episode 1

    "Pilot"

    In 3 guides
    • Leslie Knope: Leslie promises Ann that she will turn an abandoned pit into a park.
    • Andy Dwyer: Andy falls into the abandoned pit and breaks both legs.
    • Ann Perkins: Ann complains about the pit that injured Andy and meets Leslie for the first time.

  4. Season 2, Episode 10

    "Hunting Trip"

    In 3 guides
    • Ron Swanson: Leslie crashes Ron's annual hunting trip, and Ron ends up shot in the head by a stray pellet.
    • Andy Dwyer: Stuck at the office together, Andy and April bond over silly games, and she gives him a neck full of hickeys.
    • April Ludgate: While the others are on the trip, April and Andy bond over silly office games, and she covers his neck in hickeys.

  5. Season 5, Episode 9

    "Ron and Diane"

    In 3 guides
    • Ron Swanson: Ron brings Diane to a woodworking awards show, where Tammy II makes a scene.
    • Donna Meagle: A guilty Donna goes to invite Jerry to the office's Jerry Dinner and ends up a guest at his family's joyful Christmas party.
    • Jerry Gergich: Some of Jerry's coworkers are left off the invite list for his holiday party and discover his blissful family life.

  6. Season 2, Episode 23

    "The Master Plan"

    In 2 guides
    • Ben Wyatt: Ben arrives in Pawnee with Chris as a state auditor and puts Leslie's plans on hold.
    • Chris Traeger: Chris arrives in Pawnee as a state auditor alongside Ben and meets Ann at the Snakehole Lounge.

  7. Season 3, Episode 9

    "Andy and April's Fancy Party"

    In 2 guides
    • Andy Dwyer: Andy and April surprise their guests by getting married.
    • April Ludgate: April and Andy throw a dinner party that turns into their surprise wedding.

  8. Season 4, Episode 4

    "Pawnee Rangers"

    In 2 guides
    • Donna Meagle: Donna and Tom bring a heartbroken Ben along for their annual Treat Yo' Self day.
    • Tom Haverford: Tom and Donna take Ben along on their annual Treat Yo' Self day.

  9. Season 5, Episode 7

    "Leslie vs. April"

    In 2 guides
    • April Ludgate: April clashes with Leslie by pitching a dog park for Lot 48.
    • Tom Haverford: Ben helps Tom chase funding to launch Rent-A-Swag.

  10. Season 5, Episode 14

    "Leslie and Ben"

    In 2 guides
    • Leslie Knope: Leslie and Ben squeeze a wedding into a single evening.
    • Ben Wyatt: Ben and Leslie decide to get married that same night and pull off a wedding at the parks department.

  11. Season 6, Episode 13

    "Ann and Chris"

    In 2 guides
    • Ann Perkins: Ann and Chris say goodbye to Pawnee and leave for Michigan.
    • Chris Traeger: The parks department throws Chris and Ann a goodbye party before they leave Pawnee.

  12. Season 7, Episode 11

    "Two Funerals"

    In 2 guides
    • Donna Meagle: Donna announces that she and Joe are moving to Seattle.
    • Jerry Gergich: After Mayor Gunderson dies, Ben names Garry the interim mayor of Pawnee.

Every key episode by season(42)

Season 1(1 episode)

  1. Season 1, Episode 1

    "Pilot"

    An essential, in the guides for Leslie Knope, Andy Dwyer, and Ann Perkins. Read the notes

Season 2(11 episodes)

  1. Season 2, Episode 2

    "The Stakeout"

    • Ann Perkins: Ann goes on her first date with Mark Brendanawicz while Leslie stakes out the pit nearby.

  2. Season 2, Episode 4

    "Practice Date"

    • Jerry Gergich: A contest to dig up dirt on coworkers reveals that Jerry was adopted, which is news even to Jerry.

  3. Season 2, Episode 8

    "Ron and Tammy"

    • Ron Swanson: Ron's ex-wife Tammy II, a scheming library official, turns up and quickly gets under his skin.

  4. Season 2, Episode 10

    "Hunting Trip"

    An essential, in the guides for Ron Swanson, Andy Dwyer, and April Ludgate. Read the notes

  5. Season 2, Episode 11

    "Tom's Divorce"

    • Tom Haverford: Tom's divorce from Wendy is revealed to be the end of a green card marriage.

  6. Season 2, Episode 13

    "The Set Up"

    • Jean-Ralphio Saperstein: Tom brings Jean-Ralphio in to interview as Ron's assistant, and Ron rejects him immediately.

  7. Season 2, Episode 16

    "Galentine's Day"

    • Leslie Knope: Leslie hosts her annual celebration of female friendship and tries to reunite her mother with an old flame.

  8. Season 2, Episode 17

    "Woman of the Year"

    • Jean-Ralphio Saperstein: Jean-Ralphio puts up most of the money for Tom's bid to buy into the Snakehole Lounge, but Donna shoots down their pitch.

  9. Season 2, Episode 19

    "Park Safety"

    • Jerry Gergich: Jerry claims he was mugged in a park, and the department tries to be nicer to him, until he admits he really fell into a creek chasing a burrito.

  10. Season 2, Episode 23

    "The Master Plan"

    An essential, in the guides for Ben Wyatt and Chris Traeger. Read the notes

  11. Season 2, Episode 24

    "Freddy Spaghetti"

    • Ann Perkins: Ann kisses Andy in the hospital, and his confession about it costs him his first chance with April.

Season 3(8 episodes)

  1. Season 3, Episode 1

    "Go Big or Go Home"

    • Chris Traeger: Leslie sends Ann on a date with Chris to win back the parks budget, and the two decide to keep seeing each other.

  2. Season 3, Episode 2

    "Flu Season"

    • Chris Traeger: Chris's ultra-fit body turns out to be no match for the flu, and Ann nurses him through a feverish breakdown.

  3. Season 3, Episode 4

    "Ron & Tammy: Part Two"

    • Ron Swanson: Tammy II returns and Ron once again falls under her spell.

  4. Season 3, Episode 8

    "Camping"

    • Chris Traeger: Chris returns from Indianapolis to serve as Pawnee's acting city manager.

  5. Season 3, Episode 9

    "Andy and April's Fancy Party"

    An essential, in the guides for Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate. Read the notes

  6. Season 3, Episode 11

    "Jerry's Painting"

    • Jerry Gergich: Jerry's painting of Leslie as a bare-chested goddess sparks a controversy at a community art show.

  7. Season 3, Episode 14

    "Road Trip"

    • Ben Wyatt: After a successful work trip to Indianapolis, Ben and Leslie finally kiss.

  8. Season 3, Episode 16

    "Li'l Sebastian"

    An essential, in the guides for Andy Dwyer, April Ludgate, Tom Haverford, and Jean-Ralphio Saperstein. Read the notes

Season 4(4 episodes)

  1. Season 4, Episode 4

    "Pawnee Rangers"

    An essential, in the guides for Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford. Read the notes

  2. Season 4, Episode 6

    "End of the World"

    • Jean-Ralphio Saperstein: Tom and Jean-Ralphio spend Entertainment 720's last money on one lavish party before they lose the office.

  3. Season 4, Episode 9

    "The Trial of Leslie Knope"

    • Ben Wyatt: Ben and Leslie's secret romance goes before an ethics hearing, and Ben gives up his job to protect hers.

  4. Season 4, Episode 22

    "Win, Lose, or Draw"

    • Leslie Knope: Leslie's race for Pawnee City Council comes down to election night.

Season 5(6 episodes)

  1. Season 5, Episode 5

    "Halloween Surprise"

    • Ben Wyatt: Offered a job running a campaign in Florida, Ben comes home to Pawnee and proposes to Leslie.

  2. Season 5, Episode 7

    "Leslie vs. April"

    An essential, in the guides for April Ludgate and Tom Haverford. Read the notes

  3. Season 5, Episode 9

    "Ron and Diane"

    An essential, in the guides for Ron Swanson, Donna Meagle, and Jerry Gergich. Read the notes

  4. Season 5, Episode 12

    "Ann's Decision"

    • Ann Perkins: Ann decides to become a single mother and starts looking for a donor.

  5. Season 5, Episode 14

    "Leslie and Ben"

    An essential, in the guides for Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt. Read the notes

  6. Season 5, Episode 20

    "Jerry's Retirement"

    • Jerry Gergich: Leslie tries to help Jerry meet his old career goals before he retires, and Ron brings him back part time.

Season 6(6 episodes)

  1. Season 6, Episode 1

    "London"

    • Ron Swanson: Diane tells Ron she is pregnant, and the two get married.

  2. Season 6, Episode 7

    "Recall Vote"

    • Leslie Knope: Leslie faces a recall election that threatens her council seat.

  3. Season 6, Episode 9

    "The Cones of Dunshire"

    • Ben Wyatt: A laid-off Ben throws himself into a new hobby before taking a job at an accounting firm.

  4. Season 6, Episode 13

    "Ann and Chris"

    An essential, in the guides for Ann Perkins and Chris Traeger. Read the notes

  5. Season 6, Episode 20

    "One in 8,000"

    • Donna Meagle: Donna asks Ron for help avoiding her ex Joe, and Ron persuades her to give the nice guy a second chance.

  6. Season 6, Episode 21

    "Moving Up"

    • Tom Haverford: After a premature opening costs him his investor, Tom reopens his restaurant on the night of the Unity Concert with new backing.

Season 7(6 episodes)

  1. Season 7, Episode 4

    "Leslie and Ron"

    • Ron Swanson: Locked in the old Parks office overnight, Ron and Leslie finally settle their feud.

  2. Season 7, Episode 7

    "Donna and Joe"

    • Donna Meagle: Donna marries Joe while April, her maid of honor, keeps the Meagle family together.

  3. Season 7, Episode 8

    "Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington"

    • April Ludgate: April searches for a new career path outside the Parks Department.

  4. Season 7, Episode 10

    "The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show"

    • Andy Dwyer: Andy hosts the last episode of his kids' TV show.

  5. Season 7, Episode 11

    "Two Funerals"

    An essential, in the guides for Donna Meagle and Jerry Gergich. Read the notes

  6. Season 7, Episode 12

    "One Last Ride"

    An essential, in the guides for Leslie Knope, Ann Perkins, April Ludgate, Tom Haverford, and Jean-Ralphio Saperstein. Read the notes

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