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Season 5 – Parks and Recreation

Play trailer Poster for Season 5 – Parks and Recreation Sep 2012 Holiday Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Leslie Knope, a midlevel bureaucrat in an Indiana Parks and Recreation Department, hopes to beautify her town (and boost her own career) by helping local nurse Ann Perkins turn an abandoned construction site into a community park, but what should be a fairly simple project is stymied at every turn by oafish bureaucrats, selfish neighbors, governmental red tape and a myriad of other challenges. Leslie's colleague Tom Haverford, who delights in exploiting his position for personal gain, is as likely to undermine her efforts as to help her, while her boss, Ron Swanson, is adamantly opposed to government in any form, even though he's a bureaucrat himself.
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Parks and Recreation — Season 5

Parks and Recreation — Season 5

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Critics Consensus

Heartfelt yet hilarious and snarky yet good-natured, Parks and Recreation remains one of the best sitcoms around and only continues to improve.

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Critics Reviews

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Emily Nussbaum The New Yorker Oct 10, 2019
"Parks" is not an overtly ideological show, but buried within it are thoughtful, complex political themes that extend into the larger world in a way that's rare for modern network shows. Go to Full Review Matt Zoller Seitz New York Magazine/Vulture May 3, 2013
Bottom line: It's a classic. Go to Full Review James Poniewozik TIME Magazine Sep 20, 2012
The premiere-maybe the best Parks episode since "The Comeback Kid" in January-gives me hope that this will be a capital season. Go to Full Review Andy Greenwald Grantland Oct 10, 2019
No show on TV, comedy or drama, has been as steady or as wonderful as Parks these past few years. Go to Full Review Charlotte Stear Den of Geek Oct 9, 2019
Parks and Recreation never barrels in with an over the top, ridiculously funny first episode. It eases you in and it gains momentum from there. This was a great start. Go to Full Review Britt Hayes ScreenCrush Jun 12, 2018
Is Pawnee better off than it was a year ago? For our characters, the answer is most definitely yes. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Musa A @doodleflame Mar 11, 2026 As good as the previous seasons! See more Ed R @JustcallmeER Feb 17, 2026 Heartfelt yet hilarious and snarky yet good-natured, Parks and Recreation remains one of the best sitcoms around and only continues to improve. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Feb 8, 2026 22 funny NBC episodes. See more Max W @MaxthorWoo Feb 4, 2026 Season 5 of Parks and Recreation remains as brilliant as ever; with the narrative focus gradually shifting toward other regular characters, the show is poised to deliver the most satisfying conclusion for each one. See more Jakey B @RT00961171 Jul 28, 2023 Another great season that focuses more on just spending time with its characters and their relationships, with story beats nicely starting to come full circle from earlier in the show. Still endlessly hilarious but it really is the growing bond between its characters that keeps this show going. Each season feels it own and that's no different again, this one giving characters new challenges and changes with the political and social satire at the centre giving the series more weight over other work place sit-coms. See more Krzysztof P @RT62723140 Dec 3, 2022 Inne, nieco słabsze i bardziej nienaturalne "The Office". Zabijacz czasu, niezły do oglądania kątem oka przy robieniu czegoś innego. Wolne tempo. Bardzo mocno przerysowane postacie, mało zmieniają się wraz z fabułą See more Read all reviews
Parks and Recreation — Season 5

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Cast & Crew

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Amy Poehler

Leslie Knope

Rashida Jones

Ann Perkins

Aziz Ansari

Tom Haverford

Aubrey Plaza

April Ludgate

Nick Offerman

Ron Swanson

Chris Pratt

Andy Dwyer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 20, 2012 Ms. Knope Goes to Washington Leslie is overwhelmed when she and Andy visit Ben and April in Washington, D.C.; Ron throws a barbecue for the whole staff. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 27, 2012 Soda Tax Leslie passes a city-wide tax on huge sodas in hope of combating obesity in Pawnee; Chris helps Andy prepare for his police entrance exam. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 4, 2012 How a Bill Becomes a Law Leslie tries to pass a law extending the community pool hours; Chris thinks of a new way to solve people's problems around the city, which leads to Ron fixing a pothole for a local mother (Lucy Lawless); April and Ben plan a road trip. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 18, 2012 Sex Education Leslie holds a sex-education class following an STD outbreak among senior citizens in Pawnee; when Tom's gadgets are taken away, Ron helps him acclimate to life without technology; April and Ben meet Congressman Murray. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 25, 2012 Halloween Surprise Ben gets a job offer, forcing Leslie to think about their future; Ron and Andy take Diane's girls trick-or-treating; Tom looks for a new business idea. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 8, 2012 Ben's Parents Leslie meets Ben's parents; Jean-Ralphio helps Tom prepare the pitch for his new business idea; Chris has mood swings. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 15, 2012 Leslie vs. April April tries to get Lot 48 turned into a dog park, upsetting Leslie; Tom gets Ben's help with his new business idea; Andy improves his crime scene investigation skills. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 29, 2012 Pawnee Commons Leslie asks the public for park design suggestions but is suspicious when the best design comes from an Eagleton architect; Tom asks the office for help with his new business; Andy tries to make his job as a security guard exciting. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 6, 2012 Ron and Diane Tammy II crashes a woodworking awards dinner that Ron, Diane and Leslie are attending; Jerry fails to invite some of his friends to his holiday party. Details Episode 10 Aired Jan 17, 2013 Two Parties Ann plans a bachelorette party for Leslie, but Councilman Jamm derails the event; Chris has a game night at Ben's. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 24, 2013 Women in Garbage April and Leslie try to get more women hired in government; Tom asks Ben and Andy to teach him about basketball; Ron watches Diane's kids. Details Episode 12 Aired Feb 7, 2013 Ann's Decision After a series of unsuccessful relationships, Ann makes a decision; Ben asks Tom, Chris and Ron to help him select a caterer for the wedding; April has to complete one of Leslie's tasks. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 14, 2013 Emergency Response Ben and Leslie put together a black-tie gala to raise money for the park, but a drill for a city-wide emergency derails their plans; Andy gets ready for his police academy exam; Ron fills in for Leslie on "Pawnee Today." Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 21, 2013 Leslie and Ben Leslie and Ben work to complete a years-long project in two hours; Ron's temper causes trouble. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 21, 2013 Correspondent's Lunch Leslie's speech for a media event goes missing; Ben starts his new job; Ann asks someone an important question. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 14, 2013 Bailout Leslie tries to help a failing video store stay open; Chris advises Tom on dealing with a difficult employee; Ann tries to force April to be her friend. Details Episode 17 Aired Apr 4, 2013 Partridge Ben and Leslie travel to Ben's hometown so he can accept the key to the city; Ron is sued; Chris and Ann take a compatible parenting quiz. Details Episode 18 Aired Apr 11, 2013 Animal Control Leslie decides to revamp the Animal Control Department; Ann tries to get Ron medical attention; Ben, Tom and Andy seek out donors for their charity foundation. Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 18, 2013 Article Two Leslie tries to get outdated laws removed from the town charter; Chris gives April and Ron management training; Ann and Ben compete for a present for Leslie. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 18, 2013 Jerry's Retirement Leslie tries to come up with a way to commemorate Jerry's retirement; Chris and Ann get ready to have a baby; Tom worries about how Jerry's departure will affect him. Details Episode 21 Aired Apr 25, 2013 Swing Vote Ron submits budget cut proposals that upset Leslie; a big donation is made to Andy and Ben's charity; Ann helps Tom with girl troubles. Details Episode 22 Aired May 2, 2013 Are You Better Off? Leslie commemorates her first year as a city councilor; April receives life-changing news; Tom considers a business opportunity. Details

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Parks and Recreation — Season 5

Parks and Recreation View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Greg Daniels, Mike Schur, Howard Klein, David Miner
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-PG (L)
Genre
Holiday, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 20, 2012
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