"Parks and Recreation": One of the only sitcoms that knows how to portray love

Last night’s episode of “Parks and Recreation” was titled “Halloween Surprise,” but it overflowed with treats, not tricks. They started small and sweet — Donna’s art-imitates-life arc as a prolific tweeter, Ron trying out Solomonic wisdom on two little girls, Leslie’s Rosie-the-Riveter-Is-a-Total-Hottie costume, Tom trying to make fart attack happen, among others – and ended with the big tear-jerking sugar rush of Leslie and Ben’s perfect engagement. “I need to remember every little thing about how perfect my life is right now at this exact moment.” The writing in this scene was good, but it was Amy Poehler and Adam Scott’s teary happiness and cracking voices that made the moment so contagiously happy. “Parks and Rec” really found itself as a series when it stopped trying to copy “The Office,” and let Leslie blossom into an ultra-competent heroine, not a boorish Michael Scott clone. Upon hearing Jerry’s declaration, that “as long as the people I love are a part of my life I’ll be fine,” Leslie had just replied, “Oh my God, your life is so depressing.