Random Best Ron Swanson Episodes Of 'Parks And Recreation' (15 items)

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  (#6) Ron and Tammy

  • November 05, 2009

  Ron doesn't have a lot of weaknesses. He holds his heart close to his chest, and doesn't let much sway his unwavering principles - except for Tammy. Ron's ex-wife Tammy runs the Pawnee library department, and she wants to take over the vacant lot that Leslie plans to turn into a park. She still has an incredible hold over Ron, and wields that power to get her way. Their hot-and-cold relationship is wild, intense, and ridiculous, and it makes for great television. 

  The best part? Tammy is played by Nick Offerman's real-life wife Megan Mullally. Their chemistry is indisputable, and this episode features one of Offerman's best Ron performances ever. Lucky for us, Tammy would return in future episodes for more romantic antics. 

  Best quote: Ron: "Every time she laughs, an angel dies. Even telemarketers avoid her. Her birth was payback for the sins of man. But you know the worst thing about her?"
  Leslie: "She works for the library."
  Ron: "She works for the library."
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  (#13) Operation Ann

  • February 02, 2012

  "Operation Ann" is the episode where we get to learn about one of Ron's many passions — riddles. When Leslie sends Ben on an elaborate scavenger hunt for Valentine's Day, she's putting him in way over his head. Ben employs Ron's help, because there are few things more satisfying for Ron than solving a puzzle. What's so great about this episode is that it shows us how bubbly Ron can get when focusing on something he loves.

  The real kicker comes at the end of the episode, when Ron comes to Leslie's office with specific instructions for his upcoming birthday. He insists, very firmly, that the wild goose chase Leslie sent Ben on is NOT something that he wants. He reaffirms this multiple times and then leaves. But seconds later, he pops back into her office, saying, "I do want that. Please do that for me." 

  Best quote: "I absolutely do not want to solve a series of riddles and clues each more intricate than the last. You understand what I'm saying?" 
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  (#4) Leslie And Ron

  Season 7 Episode 4 of Parks and Recreation pulls on the heartstrings. Leslie and Ron's rivalry has reached a head at this point, and both are locked in an office by the rest of the Parks gang until they can finally hash out their differences. With two people as opinionated as Leslie and Ron, that takes a while. Tensions are high, and without spoiling too much, things get very, very, heated. 

  But this episode is so incredible because it delves deep into the very nature of Ron and Leslie's work relationship, leaving no stone unturned. After everything that's happened between them, including Season 7's infamous rivalry, they finally reach a state of peace. At the climax of the episode, Ron reveals the real reason he quit his job at the parks department, and why he started acting out against Leslie's wishes. Make sure you have tissues on hand — this scene will make you cry. 

  Best quote: Ron: "Why do people eat anything besides breakfast food?"
  Leslie: "Because people are idiots, Ron."

  Original Airing: January 20, 2015

  Season: 7

  Episode Number: 4

  Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller
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  (#2) 94 Meetings

  • April 29, 2010

  If there's one thing we know about Ron Swanson, it's that he prefers to keep his human interactions to a minimum. This is why April's top priority as his assistant is to prevent meetings from happening. But in the episode "94 Meetings," Ron learns that April has been scheduling all of his meetings for March 31st, a date she believed to be nonexistent. However, it does exist, so all 93 of his meetings land on a single day. 

  It's absolute mayhem, and it gives Ron plenty of opportunities to showcase his signature grumpiness. His attitude rubs off on April, who in turn, quits her job due to embarrassment from the error. But in a sweet twist, Ron convinces her to come back as his assistant, further strengthening their mentor-mentee relationship. 

  Best quote: "April was supposed to be the moat that kept the citizen barbarians away from Swanson castle. Instead, she blew up the castle and stabbed me in the face."
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  (#9) Road Trip

  Who says Ron Swanson isn't good with kids? Season 3 Episode 13 features a Ron-based subplot that's too funny to pass up. While the other characters are working through their romantic relationships, Ron strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young girl visiting the Parks and Recreation department on a school field trip. After learning that she needs to interview someone from the office for a school report on "why government matters," Ron perks up. He begins to tell her about taxes and citizens' rights - eating part of her lunch as a visual aid - using metaphors that he believes are suitable for an elementary schooler. The hilarious exchange is punctuated by the girl's willingness to learn, and Ron's eagerness to teach. 

  Best quote: "My name is Ron Swanson, and I'm gonna tell you everything you need to know about the miserable, screwed-up world of local government."

  Original Airing: May 12, 2011

  Season: 3

  Episode Number: 14

  Director: Troy Miller
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  (#1) The Fight

  • May 12, 2011

  "The Fight" is one of the best episodes of Parks and Recreation for a number of reasons, and one of them is definitely Ron Swanson. In the cold open, Ron gathers all of his office mates, demanding to know who broke the coffee machine. They all start pointing fingers, and an argument breaks out. Of course, Ron was the one who broke the coffee maker, punching it in a rage, after it burned him.

  His monotone, passionless delivery of Tom's overzealous advertising script for Snake Juice - a bunch of alcohol mixed with sugar, coffee, and "some other junk" that "kind of tastes like Kahlua" - is hilarious. The fact that he only agrees to taste Snake Juice after Tom pledges to shave Jean-Ralphio's head if he doesn't like it, is even better. Of course, the cherry on top of this brilliant episode is when Ron, drunk off of Snake Juice, dances to Flo Rida's "Who Date Girl feat. Akon" while wearing April's little, black fascinator. It's a fan-favorite moment. 

  Best quote: "I predict ten minutes from now they’ll be at each other’s throats with war paint on their faces and a pig head on a stick. Good, it was getting a little chummy around here."

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