Every Mad Men fan knows that showrunner Matthew Weiner loves a good bottle episode.
bottle episode (n.) an episode of television where two regular characters spend an entire episode with each other, usually leading to an emotional discovery.
And he's had an amazing track record.
The Mad Men Season 4 episode "The Suitcase" is one of the most critically acclaimed episodes in television history.
But on Tuesday's new episode of Parks and Recreation, titled "Leslie and Ron," showrunner Michael Schur gave Weiner a run for his money.
Schur not only contested the bottle episode throne, but he also subtly revealed how Parks and Recreation has always just been a retelling of Mad Men set in a parallel universe, in a fictional town called Pawnee.
After watching the episode, it is quite apparent that Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson are spiritually connected to Peggy Olsen and Don Draper.
And that "The Suitcase" and "Leslie and Ron" are basically the same episode.
2. Because both couples face a momentous rift in their friendship (aka a MORNINGSTAR).
4. And despite their nonchalant attitudes, Ron and Don are feeling it too.
Sad Ron is sad.
Sad Don can't even anymore.
Yes, we know. This is from Season 7 of Mad Men, but Don and Peggy have so much emotional baggage to unpack that it should at least take three seasons.
10. A bite to eat...
You have to remember to eat during these emotional reconciliations. It's almost as key as the drinking.
Case closed.
P.S. we're really just not ready for these two wonderful television shows to end.
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