As a die-hard fan of Parks and Rec, it pains me to say negative things about the show and to give episodes low ratings. With that being said, I undoubtedly believe that Canvassing is one of the weakest episodes in the entire series. Allow me to explain.
It isn't necessarily a terrible episode or poorly written or anything. There are still some good laughs, but the show just doesn't feel like the show it will eventually turn in to in the next season. The show is created by Greg Daniels and Mike Schur (2 comedy legends as far as I'm concerned). Both of, at the time, had just come off of massive success writing for The Office (US). Now, despite similarities between both workplace comedies, Parks and Rec will eventually become its own unique and amazing series, separate from The Office. However, in episodes like this one, it feels too similar to its predecessor.
A perfect example of what I am talking about is the scene towards the end at the town hall meeting. Now, we will see many more town hall meetings to come in this show. They are some of my favorite scenes in the entire series, but the type of humor that is displayed in this particular meeting is very different than the later ones. This one feels more cringy and awkward, a little too much like The Office. Where the later ones are more satire-based and a little more goofy than these ones. The Pawnee citizens were just too harsh and cruel. Not that big of a deal, but just an example of why I believe the writers have not gotten the tone right just yet and episodes like this one are some of the weakest in the series.
It isn't necessarily a terrible episode or poorly written or anything. There are still some good laughs, but the show just doesn't feel like the show it will eventually turn in to in the next season. The show is created by Greg Daniels and Mike Schur (2 comedy legends as far as I'm concerned). Both of, at the time, had just come off of massive success writing for The Office (US). Now, despite similarities between both workplace comedies, Parks and Rec will eventually become its own unique and amazing series, separate from The Office. However, in episodes like this one, it feels too similar to its predecessor.
A perfect example of what I am talking about is the scene towards the end at the town hall meeting. Now, we will see many more town hall meetings to come in this show. They are some of my favorite scenes in the entire series, but the type of humor that is displayed in this particular meeting is very different than the later ones. This one feels more cringy and awkward, a little too much like The Office. Where the later ones are more satire-based and a little more goofy than these ones. The Pawnee citizens were just too harsh and cruel. Not that big of a deal, but just an example of why I believe the writers have not gotten the tone right just yet and episodes like this one are some of the weakest in the series.