Parks and Recreation (TV Series) Pilot (2009) User Reviews

A weak pilot in an otherwise fantastic series.

[brenbella · 6/10 · 24 July 2018]

Parks and Recreation belongs in the same discussion with other great series that despite being, for the most part, consistently great, do have a weak first season. Other examples include Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and The Office (US). Sometimes it takes a few episodes to get the balance just right of the tone and characters. It's a hard thing to do to get a show exactly right from the very first episode. That's why I always applaud shows that do get it right away.

Watching Parks and Recreation's pilot now, after seeing the entire series, I noticed how some of the characters act almost like completely different people. Characters like Ron, Tom, and Ann seemed to be pretty much spot-on from the get-go. However, Donna, Jerry, and April are virtually silent. Andy is a complete jerk, and Leslie is kind of air-headed (almost like a female Michael Scott), and not the brilliant government worker that she would end up becoming. The series definitely has not reached its prime yet, but hey, not every pilot can be like Arrested Development!

To pick apart a sitcom's pilot is kind of ridiculous, and having already seen the series from beginning to end, I can forgive the writers and know that it gets much better, and things start to click real quickly. Just know that if you haven't seen the series yet, and are wondering if you should still continue despite it feeling like a direct rip off of The Office, know that it becomes its own original, brilliant series very soon. Trust me.

Pilot!

[00Yasser · 7/10 · 20 February 2021]

Oh! let's talk about the episode not the show... of course the start of any series is hard but basically it's establishment for a big story; I think the start acting were good the main characters seems have chemistry between each other, the idea of the show seems to be good too with a lot of space for the writer; after all it's just start.. a not bad start.

Slow start

[vixxverlice · 6/10 · 28 December 2023]

This episode introduces us to each character and the overall theme of the show. I found this to be a bit dull though, not as funny as I thought?

So far, I find Leslie Knope to be somewhat unlikable. She is somewhat annoying, so I hope her character is more fleshed out later on into the show?

Since this is a pilot episode, it makes sense that this isn't incredible, but I still found it to be an almost dull start to a show that I think will become very good later on from what I have heard/seen.

Some laughs here and there, but it isn't super funny like "The Office" or "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", but I'm sure it'll pick up.

Below Average

[abh1shank · 14 August 2019]

Seemed like an Office knock-off to me. Tom was funny at times nothing else.

Wow

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 16 December 2020]

Great start to a show which is pretty much a rip off of the office which is also a rip off of the office

Good I Guess...

[Tmj50 · 5/10 · 29 March 2018]

I decided to watch Parks and Recreation because I was told it was like The Office and i wanted to watch something new. I must say I am disappointed.

Ill start off by explaining what I liked. I liked how the actors portrayed their characters traits in a way where it wasn't confusing but instead it was clear and straight to the point. I also like the breaking of the fourth wall. The last thing I liked was the cast the cast again, did a very good job portraying their character.

Now to what i didn't like, unfortunately the pilot had little to offer to make you want to go back and watch it again. When i watched the first episode I waited a week or so to watch the second episode because i was bored and needed something to watch (I liked the second episode way better than the first). The thing is the first episode isn't terrible it just does not have anything to make you want to go back except the building of the park which does not even happen until seasons later. So its not bad its good.

I gave this episode a 5 and not lower because the next episodes are AMAZING they are hilarious, contain good character development, and make you WANT to come back. So get past the first episode and watch the rest of the show because i recommend it highly it is one of the best shows I have seen it just suffers from its first episode.

Pilot

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 6 February 2020]

The pilot episode of Parks and Recreation is in the same vein as the mockumentary The Office.

The first episode concentrates on Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) who has spent six years as bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department in the town of Pawnee, Indiana. She has still managed to retain her enthusiasm despite her head Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) hating local government and would like the parks department privatised.

In this episode Leslie and her colleague Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) go to see Ann Perkins about a pit outside her home caused by a developer. Her boyfriend Andy fell down it and broke his legs. Leslie also slides down it when she goes for a look.

Leslie promises that she will turn the pit into a park much to the amusement of her colleagues who mock Leslie behind her back over the photos of her falling over.

Not the best start to a series. I presume it must get better as it ran for 6 years. We see more of Leslie here and she comes across as hopeless. Andy is rather sleazy as he tries to hit on Ann Perkins. The less said about Ron the better. He keeps a sawn off double barrelled shotgun on his desk.

Getting Lot 48

[vivianla · 18 March 2022]

The character played by Amy Poehler is similar to The Office's Michael Scott - very cheery and upbeat. We see two characters from The Office - the Japanese man and Jim's ex-girlfriend.

Amy works in the government in parks and recreation. She hosts an event to hear out the public's concerns. Jim's ex speaks up about her bf breaking his two legs from falling down a hole. She wants it filled. The Indian guy with Amy hits on the girl by asking if she is living with the bf. He clearly is hitting on her with no shame.

Amy goes to the government offices and mentions how it is like a locker room - you got to snap people with towels. If it doesn't work out you leave the locker room. She tries to get her direct report to give her Lot 48. He refuses to budge as he does not believe in government and they waste taxpayer dollars. He wants all parks to be privatized.

The co-worker Amy had sex with becomes interested in her again after seeing a photo up her skirt when she fell down the hole. He convinces their direct report to give her the lot. She celebrates with the co-workers by drinking alcohol. The Indian guy explains how bad of a drunk she is and how funny it is.