Throughout the seven seasons Parks and Recreation gifted fans, April Ludgate stayed true to herself as the distant and cold government employee who didn't know what she wanted in life. After meeting Chris in the second season, his upbeat and optimistic attitude was the complete opposite of April's. In fact, he was so cheerful that he didn't really notice April's sarcastic tone. Nevertheless, these two had to work with each other and get along for the sake of Pawnee.
Although the two were friendly, saying they were closest of pals throughout the series is far-fetched. In fact, their relationship was forced. While these two weren't enemies, we're taking a look at 10 times Chris and April were anything but best friends.
His Success Annoyed Her
Most friendships revolve around mutual respect. A friend wants to see you succeed and thrive in life. Anyone who thinks differently isn't a good friend. April may have a hard exterior but she's a softie on the inside. Her harshness to the outside world can force her to appear meaner than she really is.
In the episode "Bowling For Votes," Chris and co. gathered at April and Andy's house to raise money for Leslie's campaign. They decided to make it a competition to see who could raise the most money. Chris, of course, was in the lead, and his enthusiasm and hard work were annoying April. So much so that she wished bad things for him. And bad things did happen — Millicent Gergich broke up with him that night.
His Gender Equality Commission Spoke Volumes
In the episode "Women In Garbage," Leslie realizes how little women play a part in the Pawnee government. With the help of April and Chris, they put together a commission to bring more women to the workplace.
It wasn't until everyone gathered that April realized how many men were there to speak on behalf of gender equality. Where were all the women? April used that moment to shame Chris, which, of course, made him incredibly upset. But he soon realized he was part of the problem.
She Didn't Want To Be His Personal Assistant
In the third season, Chris asks April to be his assistant while in Pawnee because his former assistant had moved back to Indianapolis. Much to her chagrin, April started working for him, and was consumed with work she's been trying to hide from while in the parks and rec. department.
It's obvious April hates doing things she isn't passionate about, but if she and Chris were friends, she would have sucked it up and did it anyway — like she does with Leslie.
Setting Chris Up With Andy's Teacher Was A Bust
After Millicent breaks up with Chris, April feels like she's partly to blame because she wished Chris's happiness would vanish — and it did. She subtly does nice things for him to turn his mood around but it doesn't do much. Eventually, April tries to set Chris up with Andy's professor, but she was more fond of Ron.
When April found out Ron and Andy's professor slept together, she can be seen smirking at the thought of Chris finding out this nighttime activity. If April and Chris were true friends, she also wouldn't have set Tom and Ann up, knowing it would hurt Chris.
April Was Only Going To Move To Indianapolis To Spite Ann And Andy...
When April was Chris's personal assistant, he asked her if she'd be willing to move to Indianapolis to work with him. His time as an auditor in Pawnee was always supposed to be short-term, but he liked having April work for him. At first, April looked annoyed at the possibility of working with Chris, but after seeing how jealous it made Ann and Andy, April took him up on his job offer. It drove Ann crazy that Chris didn't see a future with her, and the thought of April leaving Pawnee made Andy sad. April obviously didn't move to Indianapolis but even if Chris did move back, there's no way she would have ended up going.
...And She Hated Ann and Chris' Relationship
April never liked Ann. She always thought Ann was condescending and wasn't good enough for Andy. When Ann and Andy broke up, it took him a while to realize he liked April. In the meantime, Ann was already onto the next man with Chris. Seeing that Ann dated April's crush (now husband) and her newish boss, she lost all respect for her. But if April really was close with Chris and respected his happiness, she would have been supportive of his time with Ann and took the high road.
She Listed "Terrible Things" To Keep Chris In A Depression
Chris falls into a depression after finding himself single and alone. Without a woman to keep him company, he has the time to think about other problem areas in his life. During Leslie and Ben's engagement party, Chris has a hard time being happy for everyone in his life when he's not happy with his own. Andy and April "try" to make Chris feel better but it takes a weird turn. Andy tells Chris happy things to lift him up while April says horrible things to bring him back down to depression.
They're Completely Different People
When fans take a step back to look at April and Chris as individuals, they're completely different in every possible way. Chris is much older than April, with a positive and charismatic personality. He loves being around people, being active, and following the rules. April, on the other hand, is much younger, hates most people, and doesn't want to work. She pretty much shows up every day to collect a paycheck, and complains about needing to work. These two are far too different to have a true friendship where they hang out outside of work.
The Hamburger Cook-off
Ron and Chris have plenty of colorful conversations about health. Ron is a hearty meat eater who hates all the health fads taking over America. On the contrary, Chris totally believes in a healthy lifestyle and stays away from the red meat Ron loves so much.
In one episode, the two go head to head in a hamburger cook-off. Instead of supporting Chris, April backs Ron. Ron and April have far more in common than she does with Chris.
Chris Thought Champion Deserved More
While Chris was in his depressive state, Andy and April suggested he take their dog Champion for a weekend to boost his confidence. Luckily for Chris, Champion's company did the trick. But when he gave Champion back to Andy and April, his suggestion for the couple said a lot about how he feels about them. "Dogs tend to take on the personalities of their owners. So if you were to sit on your couch all day watching cartoons and eating Cheetos, that's what he would want to do too." He low-key shades them for their lifestyle but Andy was too sweet to pick up on it.