Spoilers – Parks & Recreation Season 5 Episode 2: “Soda Tax”

We have quite a bit of information about the second episode of the upcoming season of Parks & Recreation. Here are some of the highlights!

In Pawnee…

Looks like someone with an unhealthy love of a hunky NYPD detective is helping out in the P&R office. She’s putting Leslie a little off her game.

We see a quick peek of a wife and his henpecked husband. He’s no longer wanted because of a Sweetums product.

There’s a public forum attendee who has/had (?) a job that Leslie can only dream about.

We meet a taxpayer that re-defines the words ‘taking advantage of public buildings”.

…And another (somewhat older) taxpayer that has definite ideas of just what to tax.

…And yet another meeting attendee who may not understand the taxes that already exist.

There might also be a purse snatcher around. Although he just seems nosy.

Did you know that Pawnee has lobbyists? Well, one shows up in this episode and she seems to be fighting for consumer rights. They also seem to be about ridiculous products.

Meanwhile, in Washington, DC…

Ben tries to bond with some of his new interns and realizes he’s a bit out of touch. When a young man agrees to join in on a group sports activity, Ben finds out what they really think of him. There’s a handmade piece of evidence that comes from a very likely, familiar, and frightening source. That source terrifies this new character. (There’s talk of a melon-baller.)

From what I can tell, the main storyline in this episode pulls it’s subject matter straight from the headlines! Of course, it takes things to a completely absurd place, but isn’t that what Parks & Rec is all about?

The fifth season of Parks & Recreation starts on September 20 on NBC.