Like previous episodes, the theme of the season seems to be growth. Since the show jumped three years there have been many subtle differences that each character exhibits, showing their growth.
In this episode in particular, Donna is finally settling down, no longer living her bachelorette lifestyle, blowing nice guys off. Though she still cares about receiving that awesome flatware from relatives, cause what’s better then free gifts. Her wedding of course will be DA BOMB, and all planned by OCD, overreacting Craig, who hasn’t yet to change from his neurotic self.
April is voluntarily helping Donna by being her maid of honor and is able to admit her feelings for a fellow human being, but in typical April fashion she still yells and shows no mercy toward the Meagle’s when they cause drama. Andy of course is by her side, being his puppy-dog like self, I believe his best Andy line of this episode was figuring out what passive aggressive means, nicer-meany?
Tom is still Tom in the fact that he does everything over the top, like buying his and her outfits for himself and Lucy for the reception. He’s finally grown into being the man that Lucy from season 2 was talking about when she dumped him last. No longer is he obsessed with his ex-wife, and actually admits he could see himself marrying Lucy!
Which leads us to Ron who manages to inform Lucy of Tom’s precocious feelings. Ron admitted he loved weddings and kept blaming the matrimony of love around him as to why he interferes with Tom and Lucy’s relationship, but one could have questioned whether or not he was drunk the entire time, because why else would Ron Swanson be so concerned about other people’s feelings.
Let’s not forget about Leslie and Ben. We finally get to meet their triplets and as Leslie refers to them as monsters, it’s proven with how chaotic and stressed out their nanny is. Big news hits the couple when Jennifer Barkley propositions Ben to run for the House of Representatives. At first Leslie believes Jenn wants to sway her into running, but they find out its Ben, and surprisingly, Leslie handles it calmly and is very supportive. The old Leslie may have overreacted and freaked out, and selfishly made it about her but not 2017 Leslie. Leslie and Ben decide to pretend that Ben had agreed to run and act it out during the reception, and what do you know, he’s great at it. Since Ben and Leslie, have barely had time to drink any form of alcohol since becoming parents they get very drunk after only a few sips of wine, so Ben wakes up hung over and running for office from drunk Ben making the decision for him, agreeing to run.
Though Leslie and Ben already start to feel overwhelmed, sober Ben is able to keep his composure with the press and supportive Leslie is encouraging about going through with it.
Each character has come a long way since the beginning of the series; even Jerri is finally being called his real name, Gary. This episode, revolving around Donna’s wedding, superbly highlighted each character’s growth and change from where we first met them on the show.
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