Oooh, before I start, happy birthday to my baby sister, Stefers the Great, who turns 30ish today! Also it is the first day of my new jorb, so I’m going to be a nervous wreck all day! Yayyyy!

Anyway …

I think I probably say this every time, but today’s and yesterday’s challenge question are the hardest ones because, while it’s not that I can’t see the flaws of the shows I love, I have a difficult time altering someone else’s vision, especially one as focused as the creators of Parks and Rec was. However, I was able to narrow it down to one thing that always rubbed me the wrong way.

The show’s treatment of Garry was pretty much 100% awful. I read somewhere that the character was supposed to know he was beloved by everyone and just accepted merciless teasing for … reasons, I guess. I just don’t buy that for one goddamn second. They were straight up mean to him, mocking him for his weight, clumsiness, lack of initiative, etc. And sure, he seemed to take it in stride, if not oblivious. And sure, he did have a picturesque life outside of work with a beautiful wife and daughters, but come on.

Ben did try to befriend Garry, even declaring that he liked him in front of God and everyone, but not only was he overruled by the entire group – even Garry himself – he continued to question why Gayle stayed married to Garry in the first place. Leslie did try to make a birthday party for him, although that was mainly to show Ron that she could multitask as Deputy Parks Director and city council nominee, and she did attempt to make all his dreams come true when he retired that one time. But dammit, she dismissed him at every chance she could go. Chris was equally as cruel, even when he was dating his daughter, Millie. Tom and April were the worst offenders, with Tom even mocking Garry as he has a heart attack right in front of him. Really, the only person who wasn’t completely assholish to Garry was Donna. Although she did laugh at his propensity to drop things, she actually did seem to enjoy interacting with him.

Basically, what I’m saying is that I wish Garry had gotten more of a send off than to be beloved by everyone in the town except the people he worked with. I feel like he was the only one who didn’t change positively throughout the course of the series; we got to see more of his life, especially how calm and collected he was when he was around people who loved him, but it really did seem like he was simply there to be the goofy fat guy that nobody appreciates. It got really old by the seventh season. Like, guys, be nice to Garry!

Art Credit: Reppiced, Giphy