The Parks and Recreation reunion special was everything that faithful fans of the show could have asked for. It had all the signature ingredients that made the original show so endearing: obvious chemistry among the cast (even if they weren’t in the same room), good-heartedness, and lots of cheer.
It also contained a number of hidden details that, while easy to overlook, were nevertheless nice little Easter eggs for those who loved the show and all that it represented.
The Gryzzl App
Those who watched the show in its last couple of seasons no doubt remember Gryzzl, the morally murky technology company that managed to become an almost ubiquitous presence in Pawnee (with mixed results and some conflict with Leslie and company). It should come as no surprise, then, that they are the vendors of the Zoom-like video conferencing software that the gang uses to communicate with one another. As it is in the real world, big tech is everywhere.
The Claymation
Fans of the show will recall that Ben Wyatt doesn’t do very well when he’s not actively working. Much like Leslie, he seems constitutionally incapable of truly relaxing. Thus, it came as no surprise that, when he lost his job in the Pawnee government, he attempted to make a claymation film, with results that were less stellar than he would have liked. The appearance of the star of that little ill-conceived show was a reminder of why Ben shouldn’t be left to his own devices for too long.
The Reminder That Garry Is Mayor
Say what you will about Garry Gergich - known variously as Jerry and Larry - but there’s a goodness to him that can’t be denied. Though most of the show featured on his various blunders, in the end he rose to the occasion and was elected mayor several times. His appearance in the reunion special was a reminder that he is currently the leader of Pawnee. As ineffectual as he might be at times, there’s no question that his sunny disposition is just what the little Indiana city needs in this time of crisis.
Jean-Ralphio Has a Tendency to Get Hit by Cars
What would a Parks and Recreation reunion be without Jean-Ralphio, the dapper and yet infuriating friend of Tom Haverford whose exclamation of “the worst!” has become a key part of the world's lexicon. In the reunion, he remarks that he has once again managed to get himself run over by a car, this time by a Porsche.
The man is clearly either very lucky or very unlucky, depending on how you look at it. One thing’s for sure, though. He’s one of a kind.
Perd’s Non-Sequiturs Were Part of the Screen
Perd Hapley is one of those signature characters that were and are a key part of what makes Parks and Rec so endlessly charming. His signature tautologies - in which his statements basically end up meaning almost nothing - have always been a part of any interview that he conducts. They certainly make their appearance in the reunion special and, though you may have missed it, they also make their appearance on the screen itself, in the form of lines like “the person who is speaking right now.”
Joan Has a Home Shrine to Herself
Though she likes to think of herself as a hard-hitting journalist, Joan Callamezzo has shown time and again that she’s usually more interested in either booze or boosting her own ego than she is in journalism (though she has been known to hit Leslie with a hard-hitting question, usually involving some sort of scandal). In her brief appearance in the reunion special, it’s also revealed that she has something of a shrine to herself. It’s both funny and sad at the same time, a perfect distillation of Joan’s character.
Leslie Has Her Wedding Photo in the Background
There’s no question that Leslie and Ben make one of the best couples to have ever graced the world of television sitcoms. They just seem to be so perfectly made for one another, and they bring out the best in each other. Thus, it was both touching and sweet to see that Leslie has a framed photo of her and Ben sitting behind her. It’s a reminder of how much they mean to one another and how they have a relationship that is built to list.
Ben Still Doesn’t Get Li’l Sebastian
Though it didn’t take long for Ben to begin to fit in with the other members of the Parks Department, one thing that he just never could wrap his head around was the collective adulation of Li’l Sebastian. Unsurprisingly, then, he was the only one in the group sing-along at the end of the reunion who just didn’t enjoy it very much, and he even said it was too long.
Thankfully, April and others were there to tell him to shut up.
Donna’s Elite Gold Status
It probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the one and only Donna has, somehow, been awarded Elite Gold Status with Gryzzl. Did you see the gorgeous clothes that were in the background? Donna has always been a woman who knows how to treat herself, and while it’s unclear exactly what being an elite gold member of Gryzzl means or what it takes to get there, be sure that Donna Meagle definitely deserves it.
Garry's Negative Gryzzl Points
Poor Garry. Affable and jolly he might be but, as Ron said, under attention he tends to wilt. Clearly that carries over into his accrual of Gryzzl points. In contrast to Donna, who seems to have racked up quite a few, Garry has somehow managed to lose them, to such a degree that he’s actually in the red. It’s not quite clear how that is possible, but if anyone could manage to do it, it would be Garry.