Parks and Recreation charmed the world with seven successful seasons. While all 125 episodes of the political satire sitcom were entertaining, some were better than others, and that’s what we’re here to dive into now.
Using the star ratings on IMDb, we’ll be looking at which episodes were the biggest winners of the series. These scores are given to each episode based on the votes of registered users on a scale of 1 to 10.
Shout-out to "Ann And Chris," the one other 9.0-rated episode that won't be getting an entry on this list.
With that out of the way, it’s time to drive out to Pawnee, Indiana and see how the episodes stack up; Here are the highest-rated episodes of Parks and Rec according to IMDb.
Flu Season
This hilarious Season 3 episode saw everyone in Pawnee getting hit with the flu. Ann is given many patients to care for at the hospital including April (who is still mad at her for kissing Andy) and Chris (who has a history with Ann). Meanwhile, Leslie is getting sick but keeps pushing through it despite Ben’s insistence that she gets checked out. She really wants to present on her proposed harvest festival, after all.
The episode was praised for the casts' strong performances, especially that of Rob Lowe. His interaction with Ann not only made him funnier but also made Ann a more interesting and likable character. The episode got a 9.0 on IMDb.
Ron And Diane
A few members of the parks department are thrown into a tailspin after learning that Jerry didn’t invite them to his Christmas party. Meanwhile, Tammy makes an appearance at an awards ceremony in an attempt to distract Ron from his new relationship with Diane.
This Season 5 episode was incredibly compelling and funny. It also didn’t hurt that Tammy’s reappearance made for some laugh-out-loud humor, earning this episode a 9.0.
Moving Up: Part 1
The first episode of the two-part Season 6 finale had Leslie deciding whether or not to take a new National Parks Service job while at a convention in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Ben does his best to get Pawnee free wifi. A third plotline sees Tom opening up the next of his business ventures, an up-scale bistro.
The episode was ridiculously compelling and built together many funny plot points, but more on that in a bit. Part 1 received a 9.0 rating.
Fancy Party
In this Season 3 episode, Andy and April trick the parks department into attending their wedding. While everyone believes they’re at their house for a dinner party, they’re all shocked to find out it’s actually a marriage ceremony.
A separate narrative has Ben debating about whether he should head back to his old job in Indianapolis or stay in Pawnee. The final plot saw Ann awkwardly navigating a singles mixer.
The episode received generally positive reviews for being both sweet and hilarious without having to try. The genuiness of it all had the episode earning a 9.1-star rating on IMDb.
Win, Lose or Draw
Leslie faces election day while Ben debates about whether or not he should head to Washington to work on a campaign. A separate storyline has Andy and April trying to save the files she deleted off of the parks department computers.
This 9.1 rated episode came at the end of Season 4 and successfully set up the season after it. While it brought new challenges and changes to the table, it also closed up running storylines and ended on a satisfying note.
Leslie And Ben
In this 9.3-star rated episode, Leslie and Ben enact their plan to get married on a whim that night. Everyone heads their separate directions to throw the wedding together, however, a last-minute marriage isn’t as easy as they expected. Despite this, it all ends in a beautiful and simple ceremony.
Fans were thrilled to see Leslie and Ben officially end up together and loved the humor sprinkled into the romantic storyline.
Moving Up: Part 2
The already discussed Part 1 continues with Leslie inviting a few coworkers to her new Chicago workplace during the Unity Concert. Meanwhile, Andy considers his getting his band, Mouse Rat, back together.
The episode brought Season 6 to a satisfying close, wrapping up many running storylines through witty dialogue and scenarios. It was also fun to see First Lady Michelle Obama stepping in for a surprise cameo. This earned the episode a 9.4 rating on IMDb.
One Last Ride: Part 1
The series finale of Parks and Rec saw the gang splitting up and heading in separate directions. It featured many flash-forwards, which revealed what the characters were doing with their lives many years down the line.
Each continuing narrative was heartfelt and funny, wrapping up every character’s story like a present. Though the first part was great for expertly setting up the finale, the only thing better was the episode that followed — but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.
The episode received a 9.5-star rating on IMDb.
Leslie And Ron
This Season 7 episode with a 9.6 rating has the gang locking Leslie and Ron in a room after they grow tired of their feuding. Ben tells them both that once they have sorted things out, they can call him in on the baby monitor he’s left them with. However, after Leslie breaks the monitor, the pair is forced to stay locked in the room overnight.
Audiences loved the emotional spin put on this episode with a humorous setup. Both Amy Poehler’s and Nick Offerman’s characters played well off of each other, cementing this episode as a favorite of many.
One Last Ride: Part 2
Ah, we’ve reached it: the highest-rated episode of Parks and Rec.
The second part of the finale was universally praised, with Leslie and Ben becoming not only successful in the relationship realm but also successful in the political one. They each receive the opportunity to run for governor of Indiana in 2025, and it is hinted that in 2048, one of them has become President of the United States.
The episode rightfully scored itself a 9.7-star rating on IMDb.