Parks and Recreation (TV Series) Li'l Sebastian (2011) User Reviews

R.I.P. Li'l Sebastian :(

[brenbella · 10/10 · 17 August 2018]

Season 3 of Parks and Recreation is simply put a brilliant season of television. I can't think of many seasons that are as consistently funny as this one. Every episode has memorable scenes, laugh out loud moments, and are important components in putting together what is ultimately the show that so many people know and love. Pretty much everything is smooth sailing from here on out with a maybe just a few bumps in the road here and there. But most importantly the show has found its voice and the characters are fully established enough and the tone is just right where the writers can now further advance the story to new and better places without having to experiment as much. At this point the writers know what works and what doesn't work and if you have liked this latest season, chances are you will like the next 4 as well.

Season 3's finale "Li'l Sebastian" is a fantastic episode filled with many memorable moments and scenes. The entire episode revolves around the death of the town's beloved miniature horse, Li'l Sebastian. This horse was introduced in this season and will become one of the more iconic symbols of the town of Pawnee. Just one of the many reasons why Season 3 is so great. This season introduced many things that will carry on with the show until its end. Anyways, the Parks Department have decided to organize a final farewell for the horse by initiating an epic funeral ceremony for the horse that the whole town can attend.

This episode is so brilliantly written. It just amazes me how much greatness is packed in here, and the episode still doesn't feel rushed or convoluted. We see the secret romance of Leslie and Ben start to spiral out of control; Tom and Jean-Ralphio team up and start their own entertainment conglomerate; and Mouse Rat perform possibly their most iconic song to date. The episode moves so seamlessly, one hilarious moment to the next, and not only is super funny, but surprisingly very emotional as well. It showcases everything that is so great about the show and gives each character at least one great moment.

The episode also does a fantastic job setting up the next season. Without giving away the ending, there are a handful of intriguing cliffhangers that set up the next season, including a new job opportunity for both Tom and Leslie, and an unwanted visitor from Ron's past. All of these things we see at the end are great cliffhangers that plant the seeds perfectly for what Season 4 will ultimately become.

Speaking of Season 4, some can certainly make the case that Season 4 is better than Season 3. I have already seen the show from beginning to end, and I can tell you that while Season 4 may not be as consistently funny or important as Season 3, it certainly is a more developed season from a story standpoint. Basically Season 4 has one long arch that is perfectly established in the season opener and perfectly pays off in the finale. I think Season 4 is a better constructed season than 3 and still has some very memorable scenes sprinkled through out. So, if you haven't seen season 4 yet, expect a lot of the same greatness that was established in 2 & 3, but told in a much more bold way with more continuity than any of the previous three seasons, and possibly the next three after that.

My Overall Rating for Season 3:

9.4/10

The end to a great season

[mib539 · 9/10 · 26 April 2021]

Hail Zorp! Season 3 saw Pawnee expand its world and settle into its cruising speed. Unfortunately we say goodbye to a Pawnee icon. And the most moving moment of silence I've ever seen. The Parks Dept. Puts on a final sendoff and Andy performs a great tribute song as we say goodbye to Lil' Sebastian, as well as the gang until season 4.

Lower your flags to half staff (show some damn respect!) and enjoy the season 3 finale, you won't be disappointed.

S3: A more confidence, steady and consistently funny season

[bob the moo · 5 September 2014]

After a changeable season 2 which seemed to settle into some sort of comfortable place to work from, this third season continues in the same vein with significantly fewer cameos and a more consistent tone and flow. The plots revolve around the Parks & Recreation department and the characters within it – their relationships, their character quirks and, to a lesser degree, the work they do. As before, it continues to be delivered in a mix of sitcom and fly-on-wall documentary style. This season is also the one where the couple of episodes I have seen on planes have come from – the ones that were funny and made me think I should watch more of it.

Season 3 is not perfect but it is the best so far and it has some very funny episodes as well as generally producing a lot more laughs per episode. It does have the feel of a show trying to repeat The Office US but in a different situation – but to be fair so many shows do now. What made me relax into it as a whole was that it was a lot more settled and was a lot funnier than previous seasons had been – not to suggest that they hadn't hit high notes (because they had) but that they hadn't managed to sustain it as well as needed. With this season it does still have its best material to the second half of its run, but generally it does benefit from stable characters and a clearer narrative arch which involves lots of characters that feel like they will be around for a bit longer (unlike some cameos who felt fleeting).

In terms of that narrative I did feel like they rushed a lot of things; Andy and April for instance go from 'will they won't they?' to being married in a very short period of time, and likewise Leslie and Ben develop quite fast to where they end the season. Although the speed of these does feel a little manufactured and forced, it does seem to give the season a confidence and stability that it builds around very well. So maybe the plot developments are a necessary evil because they do seem to be part of making the show steadier and funnier as it goes along.

With stronger and more consistent material the cast do well. Poehler is a likable heart to the show but also gets lots of laughs too. Jones feels less like a narrative device and more like a character, with lots of relevant involvement here. Offerman continues to run with his character and gets all the best throwaway moments. Ansari may not be to my personal taste, but he does bring a lot of energy to his pieces. Plaza and Pratt may only have one card to play each but both do it very well and I do enjoy them as characters and performers. Lowe remains by far the best addition and he is very funny with his timing and delivery; Scott is less well used mainly because he tends to be the narrative device for a lot of the season, thus giving him less freedom in his material.

I won't say it is a perfect season but it is definitely the most consistent thus far, with good laughs, steady narrative and a stable and confident feel to the whole show. It does rush things along in terms of characters but this seems like a price worth paying for the strengths that it seems to encourage as a result.