Reason #3: The Parks Department - 11/02/25

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There's been a lot of changes in my life recently. Personally, financially, mentally, etc. Even just today, I visited the mall for the first time in a month or two and it's completely changed! They're constructing some kind of new addition in the center and several of my go to stores have been forced to move locations and downsize. Not sure why this in particular threw me for a loop, but I felt genuinely sad to see my favorite nerd merch store in a much smaller space with much less cool stuff. But maybe that in particular is a topic for another time.

Sometimes you need to go back to an old favorite to cope and, for me, that has been the 2010s mockumentary comedy, Parks and Recreation. I first watched Parks and Rec in 2015-ish as the series was wrapping up on NBC. I never watched it as it aired on cable - it was one of mine and my sister's early comfort shows on Netflix that we binged together in her apartment. It made us laugh, it made me develop a weird gender-crush on Adam Scott for a bit, and it remained a kind and wholesome memory after we finished it.

This past month has been my first rewatch of the series in at least 5 years (if not a complete 10) and I'm happy to report: still funny! My roommate has eagerly joined in and we've both laughed out loud multiple times an episode. I'm currently early into Season 5, a season that I barely remember and am excited to continue re-experiencing. Nothing can live up to the joy of Season 3 though. The Harvest Festival arc is so good!! Watching it all again has been exactly what I needed. Maybe after it's over, I'll revisit some other old haunts. We might be on the precipice of a Criminal Minds rewatch...

Daily rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ 3 stars out of 5.