Oh Parks and Recreation, I guess your new baseline is going to be set at awesome. I can live with that.

"The Trial of Leslie Knope" quickly breathed a new and different dynamic in to the still sparkly fresh Ben and Leslie relationship. A pretty gutsy move, considering how much could have been mined from them just as a working couple and attempting to keep their positions and love lives from mixing. Nevertheless, with Ben now resigned from the government, where do things go from here?

Ben originally didn’t really want to stay in Pawnee, and was only sticking around for Leslie. Nor did he really enjoy his job. Now that he’s with Leslie and without an occupation, what happens? As we all know, the show works best when everyone is in the department. Will he be part of Leslie’s campaign? The two of them did kick total butt in mock UN. Or will he be more Ann-like in being that random towns person who shows up occasionally?

Wherever Ben ultimately goes from here though, I know it’ll be worth it.

I have to commend Parks for keeping things real within the framework of the show, and following through with consequences for Ben and Leslie’s actions. Many times these obstacles end up being nothing more than roadblocks to stretch time, extend the angst and lengthen the pangs of will they/won’t theys. But they are, undoubtedly, almost never followed through with (I’m looking at you Chuck). Ben and Leslie owned up to the fact that they broke some rules, and they suffered the consequences like frozen whores... I mean government employees.

Once again the only low of the episode for me was Chris. He was over the top, and while I’m used to him and like him in a few scenes, his brand of humor isn’t for me. In the end, it just makes my ears feel like they’ve have bee pollen paste rubbed on them. I’m at the point where I would like him to be in line with the rest of the Department: use him sparingly, or just let him run away.

Other thoughts:

• I’m a little bummed with all the Law and Order watching Leslie has done that no one ended up sneaking in some of the sound cues. Come on corporate synergy, I had higher expectations of you!
• I had forgotten how many sweet little moments Ben and Leslie shared in Season Three.
• Tammy 2! I love that she’s just around once in a while, and that Ron can smell her coming.
• Does anyone else just love listening to all of the crazy shenanigans Pawnee does? Listening to everyone just read the laws was a highpoint of the episode.

What did everyone think of the episode? Sound off in the comments and be sure to head on over to the quotes section afterwards!