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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!

In an attempt to beautify her town — and advance her career — Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of...
Genre:Comedy
Network:NBC

Season 2 Ratings Summary

"Pawnee Zoo" is the best rated episode of "Parks and Recreation" season 2. It scored 7.8/10 based on 3372 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".

  • Pawnee Zoo
    7.8/103,372 votes

    #1 - Pawnee Zoo

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/17/2009

    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

  • The Stakeout
    8.0/103,215 votes

    #2 - The Stakeout

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 9/24/2009

    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

  • Beauty Pageant
    7.6/103,090 votes

    #3 - Beauty Pageant

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/2009

    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

  • Practice Date
    8.2/103,159 votes

    #4 - Practice Date

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/8/2009

    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

  • Sister City
    7.6/103,315 votes

    #5 - Sister City

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/15/2009

    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

  • Kaboom
    7.6/102,910 votes

    #6 - Kaboom

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/2009

    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

  • Greg Pikitis
    8.2/103,167 votes

    #7 - Greg Pikitis

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 10/29/2009

    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

  • Ron and Tammy
    8.3/103,166 votes

    #8 - Ron and Tammy

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/5/2009

    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

  • The Camel
    7.7/102,882 votes

    #9 - The Camel

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/12/2009

    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

  • Hunting Trip
    8.6/103,433 votes

    #10 - Hunting Trip

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 11/19/2009

    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

  • Tom's Divorce
    7.7/102,808 votes

    #11 - Tom's Divorce

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 12/3/2009

    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

  • Christmas Scandal
    7.9/102,834 votes

    #12 - Christmas Scandal

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/2009

    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

  • The Set Up
    7.9/102,846 votes

    #13 - The Set Up

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/14/2010

    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

  • Leslie's House
    7.8/102,770 votes

    #14 - Leslie's House

    Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 1/21/2010

    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

  • Sweetums
    7.8/102,729 votes

    #15 - Sweetums

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 2/4/2010

    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

  • Galentine's Day
    7.5/102,723 votes

    #16 - Galentine's Day

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 2/11/2010

    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

  • Woman of the Year
    7.9/102,709 votes

    #17 - Woman of the Year

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 3/4/2010

    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

  • The Possum
    7.9/102,721 votes

    #18 - The Possum

    Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 3/11/2010

    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

  • Park Safety
    8.0/102,813 votes

    #19 - Park Safety

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 3/18/2010

    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

  • Summer Catalog
    7.8/102,664 votes

    #20 - Summer Catalog

    Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 3/25/2010

    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

  • 94 Meetings
    8.4/102,887 votes

    #21 - 94 Meetings

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 4/29/2010

    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

  • Telethon
    8.2/102,778 votes

    #22 - Telethon

    Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 5/6/2010

    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

  • The Master Plan
    8.4/102,845 votes

    #23 - The Master Plan

    Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 5/13/2010

    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

  • Freddy Spaghetti
    8.5/102,873 votes

    #24 - Freddy Spaghetti

    Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 5/20/2010

    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