S03E15 - The Bubble

Live from Pawnee: A Parks and Recreation Fan Rewatch Podcast

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode that introduces our favorite court stenographer, Ethel Beavers! Leslie and Ben are dating, but keeping it a secret because of Chris' no-dating policy. They are enjoying what Leslie calls "the bubble", the beginning of a relationship when everything's simple and fun. The bubble is threatened, however, when Ben has a meeting with Marlene Griggs-Knope, Leslie's mother, a notoriously tough politician in the Pawnee school system, who wants Ben to approve school bus purchases despite a tight budget. Right before Ben's meeting, Leslie tells him Marlene is her mother, making him nervous, ineffectual, and causing him to capitulate to Marlene's demands. Leslie finds out her mom (who doesn't know they are dating) thinks Ben is a pushover, so Leslie trains Ben for his next meeting with her mother to prove he is confident, capable, and self-assured. Meanwhile, Chris has several new ideas he is putting into action, including promoting Jerry to PR director, making April everyone's assistant, having Tom digitize the city archives on the dreaded FOURTH FLOOR, giving Andy a temporary paid position as Tom's assistant, and putting Ron at a circular desk in the middle of the bullpen to make him more accessible. Tom is absolutely miserable with his assignment, and starts to question everything. Ron believes everything will eventually go back to normal, as it has with past city managers and their ideas, but Donna is concerned that Chris "the microchip" Traeger will not quit. Folks, we ask the hard questions so you don't have to, such as ... Can Donna learn to use her wacky space-age keyboard? Will Ben win the second round with Marlene? How does the new assignment affect Tom's future job interests? Will Marlene find out Ben is dating her daughter? Why does Ben summon a quote from Calvin and Hobbes? Is the FOURTH FLOOR as terrifying as we remember it? Loyal podcast viewers, we're getting close to the end of the season, and things are heating up - you won't want to miss this episode! In lieu of a sponsor, we have a PSA regarding Pawnee City Hall's 4th Floor. Yeah. You heard right. THAT floor.