In what might be my favorite episode of the season, Parks and Recreation focused heavily on one of my least favorite characters. Rashida Jones’ Ann isn’t grating or unrealistic, she’s just not particularly funny and feels tangential to the rest of the cast. Literally everyone else is very directly related to the Parks Department while Ann provided the view of the outsider. Unfortunately, that means she is often portrayed as such. Thus far she’s been best utilized as someone for Leslie to bounce ideas and neurosis off of.  Last night Ann was given the attention usually reserved for the rest of the cast. Instead of being on the outside looking in, the Parks Department was on the outside looking to help her out. Since they were coming off another successful Galentine’s Day brunch, Leslie decided to help her find a man of her own at an upcoming Valentine’s Day social.

While at the social, Ben is given the task of finding a series of clues (the first given to him in a cryptex) that will lead him to the meeting point for his first Valentine’s Day with Leslie. Looking to Ron for help, Ben finds a man obsessed with puzzles and riddles. Ron’s constant giddy chuckles and intense will to find all the clues is nothing short of adorable. This episode was another example of why Nick Offerman’s Emmy snubs are downright unfair.

At the dance, Ann finds being a single person to be incredibly depressing. Leslie, the world’s best Best Friend, throws guys toward Ann hoping for a match. They are all hilariously unsuitable. The men include Oren (a crowd favorite) and a man who is deeply in love with his own sister. Not exactly Ann material by any stretch. At the same time, the dance’s DJ, Chris is sulking after Jerry’s daughter ended their relationship. Rob Lowe’s turn as a pathetically sad version of Chris was also particularly entertaining.

“Operation Ann” was one of my favorite episodes of the season because each of the three storylines in the episodes were both funny and true to the characters. While the Ben scavenger B-story didn’t really advance an overarching plot, it was a snapshot of the type of relationship one might have with Leslie Knope and with that it kind of built their relationship as more true in my mind. Ann gets paired off at the end of the night not with Chris, as Leslie (and I think the audience) fears, but with Tom, thanks to some meddling from April who really does have a heart deep, deep down. Chris seems to be in better spirits but I’m not entirely sure why. Lastly Ben and Leslie’s adventure culminates at a memorial for Lil’ Sebastian who Ben still pretends to love. Sometimes pretending to love something is important in a relationship. It’s a reflection of caring deeply for the other person. The writers could have had Ben genuinely fall in love with Lil’ Sebastian but this makes it so much better.  This episode may not have dealt with Leslie’s run for public office, but it reminded me why I love hanging out with these characters every week.

Favorite Moments:

• This week’s show was (pardon the cliché but its true) a laugh a minute.
• First Martin Starr of Party Down had a cameo working in a snow globe museum where Ben was searching for clues. It gave me flashback to Henry and Roman going back and forth about Casey. BTW, Lizzy Caplan has recently said that a Party Down movie is in the works.
• Leslie’s headlines for the day each person was born. i.e., “Joseph Stalin Dies”.
• Some ideal men according to Leslie: Joe Bide, Sam Waterson.
• Does she have a little Indian in her? WOULD SHE LIKE SOME?
• Playboy otter lost at sea that Leslie had.
• “Getting wet with sound”.
• “Did you try ‘Fuck’?” Ron and Andy trying to figure out cryptex clues.
• Jerry found a man seeking an escort.
• Oren hiding under the table.
• Andy looking in the whipped cream.
• “Not as beautiful as my sister, but you know the law.”
• Ron goes to The Bulge and is the object of many men’s gaze.
• “Snuggle up like little buuuunies.”, Tom suggesting a post date snuggle-fest.
• Ron’s not so subtle way of telling Leslie he wants very intricate clues for his next birthday.
• Also a reminder: Parks and Rec is off next week. The week after is called "Dave's Return" so we us some Louis C.K. Hooray!