Parks and Recreation: "Operation Ann" Review

"Oh, Ann. You beautiful spinster."

Yes, I know I've bitched about how I've felt the campaign storyline has sucked up too much of Parks and Rec's Season 3, but it can't be just a coincidence that the first break we've had from that story, "Operation Ann," was a stellar, superior episode that brought a tremendous freshness to the proceedings.

Plus, I love it when things and people return on this show, using zany little Easter eggs from its in-show universe like building blocks. Galentine's Day, the murals, Oren, The Bulge, Ron's birthday, Li'l Sebastian. It was all great. And while the past few episodes have been good, this one had me laughing all the way through. Plus, it had a Party Down reunion, with Adam Scott running into Martin Starr, who played the dude at the Snow Globe Museum!

Man, there were just so many things that went right here. Ben, Ron and Andy made the perfect scavenger hunt team, and the way Ron went from "I hate riddles and other such nonsense" to "I love riddles" to actually trying to trick Leslie into giving him a riddle for his birthday was fantastic. "I absolutely also do not want to solve a series of clues, each more intricate than the last." Plus, Andy knowing what a cryptex was and explaining it with "I know what things are" floored me. Especially the way he kept wanting to touch it and/or take it away from Ben like a grabby child.

And, of course, "Have you tried f***?" Genius.

I also liked how, as the evening went on, Leslie actually realized that she might have made the series of clues way to ridiculous and hard for Ben. That was a great moment of self-examination from someone who usually gets way too hyper-focused on things. Also I loved how, while not in a romantic way, Ron knew as much, if not more, about Leslie than Ben did. And yes, Andy dropping the crowbar through the glass case after actually being smart enough to figure out not to break the glass in the first place was delightfully dim.

Even the Ann storyline, which could have been a bit dull, was great because it involved her meeting a series of men who were each able to be their own unique freak show. The twist at the end, where Ann ("you tricky bastard") went out with Tom was sweet too. But I do hope this "coupling" ends right here. I don't exactly want for them to be a item, but I do think that the two of them were perfect for, you know, a nice fun evening with a few drinks at a restaurant. It was also amazing to see Leslie say, "You're a very nice person!" to April as it it were a hostile barb.

But I also have to mention...Chris staring out longingly at Jerry while monks chanted in the background. Holy s***. And also the names of those wonderful murals:

Cornfield Slaughter
Lament of the Buffalo
Eating the Reverend
It's Raining Blood
Death Everywhere
Needless Slaughter
Slaughter Gone Wrong

This was the strongest episode in a long while, nailing every single comedic beat. Since Ann has usually been the one over the years to always have a boyfriend it might seem odd how much Leslie was so desperate to hook her up with someone. But then again Leslie's maniacal love for Ann, her beautiful tropical fish, knows no bounds. Or yield signs.

Matt Fowler is an Editor of IGN TV. You can follow him on Twitter at @MattIGN.

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