I watched this show when it first aired and it never really resonated with me. But I tried it out again this year and suddenly I found it much funnier. I still think the 'documentary style' is a little played out. NBC put Parks and Rec on with this style in the middle of the fame of The Office. They had a formula that works and they ran with it. Maybe because I was watching The Office at the time I didn't have room for another documentary style sit com.

But now that it's the only documentary style sit com I'm watching it's suddenly really funny to me. One of the things that makes the show funny is the reaction shots of other characters to the stupidity of the shows situations. Those make scenes funny and really bring the jokes home.

Also somehow the Ron Swanson character didn't appeal to me back when this show was new. Now I see why people think he's one of the greatest characters on TV.

All in all, if you gave up on this series years ago like I did, give it another shot.

There are very few sitcoms that either make me genuinely laugh or surprise me ... this show does both, constantly. I started watching it after I fell in love with Chris Pratt in Jurassic World & Guardians. I heard people commenting on his wonderful, cute performance in this show so I gave it a chance ... and I could not be any happier that I did.
If you do not like it in the beginning, stick with it ... it gets better! But watching the show in its entirety allows you to fully understand many of the running jokes that appear throughout the seasons. And yes, it is fairly juvenile ("fart attack") but everything else makes up for it, if fart jokes aren't your thing.
The characters are human, they screw up, they love each other, they hurt each other ... but they all do the best that they can and, in the end, they care for each other and it always shows.
Watch this show, give it a chance :)

I've been an Office fan for years so Parks and Rec was a shoo-in. The first episode I saw was Indianapolis so I got started late in the game. But I've been watching all the past episodes to catch up and spent a fortune on Amazon.

It definitely is for a different sense of humor. The key to a great comedy is that every character has funny qualities. Some shows, like Parks and Rec and The Office take a while to understand the characters and appreciate them. I didn't care for the Office the first time I watched, but learned to love it as I got more into it. Shows like this are like an ongoing inside joke.

There are people who find Will Ferrell's comedies hysterical whereas I cannot stand the sight of him. I nearly stopped watching The Office until I realized he was not going to be on there permanently.

Different strokes for different folks. Some like stand-up, some like sitcoms, some like toilet humor like the American Pie series, most Adam Sandler or Tom Green movies, other people like mockumentaries. To each their own but I love Parks and Rec!

I ignored this until I read a post about a Ron Swanson quote that directed my attention to the series. Somehow, I got interested in how a series about bureaucrats from the Parks & Recreation dept in Indiana could be interesting. Unfortunately, I wasn't familiar with Amy Poehler at that time, and even found her annoying at first, but after a couple of shows, I changed my mind; she's really good.

This became one of my favorites; the cast are all very good, and always funny. If you like shows like the Office, you'll probably like this one. I'm not sure that it's quite as good as the Office, but it definitely is in the same league. I've watched the first few seasons so far on Amazon's streaming, and haven't gotten tired of it yet.

Since the request for these reviews was sent to me out of sequence, I critiqued these backwards, praising season three to the hilt, leaving nothing for me to say about season one, except this: You can't go wrong with this series, unless you left your sense of humor in your pants when they went in the laundry. "Parks and Rec" is irresistible, as are its characters and the nutty way it's shot. When you reach the last season available on DVD, and I guarantee you'll stick with it to that point, you'll hunger for more. Great television, nothing more to say.

April Ludgate and Ron Swanson make the show worthwhile
If wasn't for them I would give the show 1 star, if the show was primarily about them I would give it 5 stars

I have only watched three episodes, and although I do like the show it is such a spinoff on The Office that it isn't hitting me as much as an original show! If I had seen this before I ever saw The Office then I might've given it five stars. Though in thinking about it, I have no idea which show came first! I certainly like it enough to continue watching though!! And I am totally appreciating my Amazon Prime in this area as well as the two day free shipping I have enjoyed over the past year, year and a half! Amazon, I love you!!! 😉

The more I watch this show, the more I love it. It took me a couple episodes to really get into it, but since then I've also watched the second season, and the third is on it's way!
Great actors, and the show is generally light hearted and very funny.

If you liked the The Office, you'll like this show. They have very similar humor and feel.