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The Best Episodes of Parks and Recreation Season 2

Every episode of Parks and Recreation Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Parks and Recreation Season 2!

The Best Episodes of Parks and Recreation Season 2

In an attempt to beautify her town — and advance her career — Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of...
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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 1 - Pawnee Zoo
    7.8/10(3599 votes)

    #1 - Pawnee Zoo

    S2:E1

    When Leslie decides to marry two penguins to promote the local zoo, she inadvertently causes an uproar when both penguins turn out to be male. Meanwhile, Mark puts Ann in an awkward situation when he asks her to go see a movie.

    Director:Paul Feig
    Writer:Norm Hiscock

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  2. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 2 - The Stakeout
    8.0/10(3431 votes)

    #2 - The Stakeout

    S2:E2

    While tending to the new community garden, Leslie and Tom discover someone has planted marijuana among the vegetables. In an effort to catch the people responsible, they pull an all-night stakeout. With Leslie's permission, Ann decides to go on a date with Mark.

    Director:Seth Gordon
    Writer:Rachel Axler

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  3. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 3 - Beauty Pageant
    7.6/10(3296 votes)

    #3 - Beauty Pageant

    S2:E3

    Leslie gets to judge a beauty contest, but ends up having conflicting opinions on "the ideal woman" with the other judges. While on a date with Mark, Ann learns Andy has been living in the pit.

    Director:Jason Woliner
    Writer:Katie Dippold

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  4. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 4 - Practice Date
    8.2/10(3367 votes)

    #4 - Practice Date

    S2:E4

    Leslie is nervous about her first date with Dave, so Ann takes her on a practice date to help her prepare. Meanwhile, after a local councilman is caught up in a sex scandal, Tom, Ron, April and Mark decide to see who can uncover the worst dirt on each other.

    Director:Alex Hardcastle
    Writer:Harris Wittels

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  5. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 5 - Sister City
    7.6/10(3547 votes)

    #5 - Sister City

    S2:E5

    Leslie plays host to the Parks and Recreation department from Pawnee’s sister city, Boraqua, Venezuela, and is shocked at the cultural differences. Tom becomes an errand boy, and April plays hard to get.

    Director:Michael Schur
    Writer:Alan Yang

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  6. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 6 - Kaboom
    7.6/10(3112 votes)

    #6 - Kaboom

    S2:E6

    Leslie, Ann and the rest of the Parks Department volunteer to help the organization KaBOOM! build a playground for a neighboring town. After building an entire playground in one day, Leslie gets frustrated at the lack of progress with the pit, and takes some advice from Mark to cut through the red tape.

    Director:Charles McDougall
    Writer:Aisha Muharrar

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  7. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 7 - Greg Pikitis
    8.2/10(3380 votes)

    #7 - Greg Pikitis

    S2:E7

    Leslie enlists the help of Dave and Andy in order to catch a local teen vandal. Meanwhile, Ann struggles to make her Halloween party fun, and ends up getting help from an unlikely source.

    Director:Dean Holland
    Writer:Michael Schur

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  8. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 8 - Ron and Tammy
    8.3/10(3388 votes)

    #8 - Ron and Tammy

    S2:E8

    Leslie is upset when she learns the library department wants to take over her lot. Making matters worse, the library is run by Ron's ex-wife Tammy, who still has a powerful emotional hold on him. Meanwhile, Andy gets a job in hopes of winning Ann back.

    Director:Troy Miller
    Writer:Mike Scully

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  9. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 9 - The Camel
    7.7/10(3071 votes)

    #9 - The Camel

    S2:E9

    After one of the murals ("The Spirit of Pawnee") in City Hall is defaced, Leslie and the Parks Department compete to come up with a new design. Meanwhile, Andy and Ron share an uncomfortable moment at the shoeshine stand.

    Director:Millicent Shelton
    Writer:Rachel Axler

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  10. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 10 - Hunting Trip
    8.6/10(3670 votes)

    #10 - Hunting Trip

    S2:E10

    Leslie tries to prove she can hang with the guys so she invites herself on Ron’s annual hunting trip, but things don’t go as planned. Meanwhile, April and Andy bond in the office while everyone is away.

    Director:Greg Daniels
    Writer:Daniel J. Goor

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  11. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 11 - Tom's Divorce
    7.7/10(2998 votes)

    #11 - Tom's Divorce

    S2:E11

    After Leslie finds out that Tom is getting a divorce, the department takes him out on the town to cheer him up. Meanwhile, Andy tries to hustle Mark in a game of pool.

    Director:Troy Miller
    Writer:Harris Wittels

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  12. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 12 - Christmas Scandal
    7.9/10(3034 votes)

    #12 - Christmas Scandal

    S2:E12

    Leslie designs the Pawnee Winter Wonderland Festival, but has to hide from the press when a meeting with a disgraced Councilman lands her in the middle of a sex scandal. Meanwhile, Ron offers to cover for Leslie for the day, and quickly discovers how much work she really does.

    Director:Randall Einhorn
    Writer:Michael Schur

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  13. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 13 - The Set Up
    7.9/10(3042 votes)

    #13 - The Set Up

    S2:E13

    Ann sets Leslie up on a blind date with a co-worker, which does not go as well as Leslie hoped. An old friend of Ann's makes Mark feel insecure.

    Director:Troy Miller
    Writer:Katie Dippold

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  14. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 14 - Leslie's House
    7.8/10(2957 votes)

    #14 - Leslie's House

    S2:E14

    After an amazing date with Justin in Indianapolis, Leslie tries to impress him with a dinner party at her house.

    Director:Alex Hardcastle
    Writer:Daniel J. Goor

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  15. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 15 - Sweetums
    7.8/10(2915 votes)

    #15 - Sweetums

    S2:E15

    The Parks Department forms a partnership with a local company to sell energy bars at the parks in Pawnee, but Leslie tries to stop the deal when she discovers how unhealthy the snacks are. Mark reluctantly agrees to help Tom move out of his house.

    Director:Dean Holland
    Writer:Alan Yang

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  16. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 16 - Galentine's Day
    7.5/10(2910 votes)

    #16 - Galentine's Day

    S2:E16

    When Leslie hears her mom’s story about an old flame, she and her boyfriend Justin track him down and reunite them on Valentine’s Day. Meanwhile, Andy and his band are nervous about playing a gig at the Senior Center.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writer:Michael Schur

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  17. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 17 - Woman of the Year
    7.9/10(2894 votes)

    #17 - Woman of the Year

    S2:E17

    Leslie is outraged when Ron wins a “Woman of the Year” award for a project she started. Meanwhile, Tom is desperate to find some money to invest in a local Pawnee club.

    Director:Jason Woliner
    Writer:Norm Hiscock

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  18. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 18 - The Possum
    7.9/10(2905 votes)

    #18 - The Possum

    S2:E18

    When a possum bites the mayor's dog on a golf course, Leslie is asked to form a task force to catch the pesky animal. Meanwhile, Ron is upset when Mark refuses to bend the rules for him.

    Director:Tristram Shapeero
    Writer:Mike Scully

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  19. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 19 - Park Safety
    8.0/10(3000 votes)

    #19 - Park Safety

    S2:E19

    After Jerry gets mugged by a bunch of kids, Leslie meets with the head park ranger in hopes of improving park safety. Meanwhile, everyone tries to be nicer to Jerry once he returns to the office.

    Director:Michael Trim
    Writer:Aisha Muharrar

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  20. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 20 - Summer Catalog
    7.8/10(2844 votes)

    #20 - Summer Catalog

    S2:E20

    Preparing the Summer Events Catalog, Leslie decides to take Ron and the past directors of the Parks Department out for a picnic lunch. Tom enlists the help of Ann and Mark to pose for the cover photo.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Katie Dippold

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  21. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 21 - 94 Meetings
    8.4/10(3083 votes)

    #21 - 94 Meetings

    S2:E21

    Ron is furious when April mistakenly schedules a ton of meetings for him. Meanwhile, Leslie fights to preserve a historical landmark.

    Director:Tristram Shapeero
    Writer:Harris Wittels

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  22. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 22 - Telethon
    8.2/10(2969 votes)

    #22 - Telethon

    S2:E22

    Leslie hosts a late-night shift for a local telethon, and lands former Indiana Pacer Detlef Schrempf as a celebrity guest. Meanwhile, Mark has big plans for his relationship with Ann.

    Director:Troy Miller
    Writer:Amy Poehler

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  23. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 23 - The Master Plan
    8.4/10(3040 votes)

    #23 - The Master Plan

    S2:E23

    Leslie is disappointed when her new park plans are put on hold by a visit from two state auditors. April has plans for Andy at her birthday party, and Ann tries to piece together a romantic mystery.

    Director:Dean Holland
    Writer:Michael Schur

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  24. Parks and Recreation Season 2 Episode 24 - Freddy Spaghetti
    8.5/10(3070 votes)

    #24 - Freddy Spaghetti

    S2:E24

    When Ben prevents Leslie from holding a children’s concert, she takes matters into her own hands. Mark makes some big decisions about his life, and Andy gets some unexpected romantic attention.

    Director:Jason Woliner
    Writer:Daniel J. Goor

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Season 2 Ratings Summary

"Pawnee Zoo" is the best rated episode of "Parks and Recreation" season 2. It scored 7.8/10 based on 3599 votes. Directed by Paul Feig and written by Norm Hiscock, it aired on 9/17/2009. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "The Stakeout".