VonCarlie Hoke/Oct. 28, 2022 3:39 p.m. EST
When it comes to comfort, Parks and Recreation is one of the most famous, and with good reason. The fictional and somewhat backward city ofPawnee, Indianais full of colorful characters and the entire main cast is full of comic geniuses -Even the antagonists are adorable. However, one of the most popular characters is that of Nick Offerman.Ron Swanson, who may have made a career of running the Department of Parks and Recreation, but also despises the government with a passion that could rob the most inflexible anarchist of his money.
Between his love of all things outdoors, animal protein and wood crafts, Ron Swanson is basically a caricature of everything it means to be a man, stereotypically speaking. That, plus his hostility to civic responsibility, makes him the perfect counterpart to Parks and Recreation leader Leslie Knope, and we absolutely love him for it. Their relationship hits every note of the enemy scale with artistic excellence, and in honor of Ron's moustached machismo, we've compiled a list of the best Parks and Recreation episodes that showcase just how masculine his tendencies are.
13. The fight
It's fair to say that every man has at least a hint of chaos in them, and they can cause more than a little stir when they unleash it on the world. The opening scene of Season 3 Episode 13 of Parks and Recreation is a great example of Ron Swanson enjoying lighting a fire and watching the world burn around him. He gathers the department around his old coffee maker and asks who broke it. Leslie immediately blames herself to avoid a confrontation, a lie Ron dismisses before she's even finished speaking the words. Fingers are pointed at the entire group for various reasons, but everyone else denies having anything to do with the broken coffee maker.
In a side note for the cameras, Ron admits that he was the one who broke the coffee pot by hitting her after she burned her hand. With a mischievous smile, he looks at the group of government officials who are becoming increasingly aggressive with their various coffee arguments, and says he predicts all-out war soon, ending in Lord of the Flies. Fashion with at least one pig's head on a stick.
He certainly delights in causing a little dissonance in the group. Despite itthis momentprovided to us by Ron Swanson is referenced byRedditUsers as a great reflection of how well the cast of characters works comically.
12. Sweets
While there's certainly something to love in a man, the stereotypes and expectations behind masculinity as we know it can be a little unsettling, and Ron Swanson is far from exempt. An example of this is the influence of alcohol and the almost encouraged addictive behavior that social norms imprint on men.To the National Library of Medicinestates that binge drinking and binge drinking are more common among men, making it important for society that men be able to "manage" alcohol.
In episode 15 of the second seasonRon proves he doesn't get drunk easily. He and Leslie are drinking at a Sweetums event when Leslie forces Ron to wait an hour to drive after he calculates how long it should take for the alcohol to leave his system. To prove to her that he would be perfectly happy driving, Ron drinks six glasses of whiskey when he gets home and builds a beautifully tuned harp out of dangerous hand tools, a feat he surely ought to have. I felt decently sober and competent. While it's certainly impressive and an exaggerated societal standard of masculinity, it's important to realize that such a feat should never be attempted by anyone other than a fictional character.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration website or contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
11. Eagleton
As they age, some tend to cling to the trappings of youth and reject any memory of their dwindling time on this earth, making birthdays particularly depressing. While Ron Swanson certainly hates his birthday and tries his best to hide the day from the people in his life, age is not the reason behind his dislike of birthdays. He just doesn't like the attention that comes with a lot of other men - so muchMr bouncercreated a guide on how men should face the great event.
Ron Swanson could have used this guide when Leslie Knope came into his life, because in Season 3, Episode 12, Ron becomes acutely aware that Leslie is planning something for her birthday. He gets so paranoid that he sleeps in his office the week before. His paranoia is heightened when Andy mentions he's in the "Kidnap" squad.
It's not just that Ron doesn't want any trouble on his birthday that puts "Eagleton" on this list, but what Leslie really does for Ron. She leads him into a quiet room, seats him in a leather chair in front of a table covered with bacon, his favorite whiskey and a huge steak from his favorite restaurant. It's a perfect birthday for Ron Swanson, and many men would agree.
10. Indianapolis
Speaking of Ron Swanson's favorite restaurant, he takes a trip there in Season 3 Episode 6 to find that it's permanently closed. Charles Mulligan's Steakhouse has for years been home to what Ron believes to be the simplest and most perfect steak, as evidenced by his scrapbook which includes all his past travels over the years. Ron, who doesn't like many things at all, is understandably upset by the news and he satisfies his hunger and desperation by going to a nearby restaurant.
Here he utters one of his most iconic phrases: "Bring me all that bacon and eggs you've got." Drowning his grief over the loss of a Charles Mulligan steak in a sea of bacon and eggs isn't a bad way as far as the breakfast enthusiast is concerned. The line featured on many men's personalized products, from BBQ aprons to dad mugs, and was likely given as giftsEtsyfor many male-centric Father's Days and Holidays.
9. One Last Journey
Ron Swanson has developed a lot in character over the seven seasons of Parks and Recreation. He starts out as a grumpy loner who, despite his love of food, prefers to avoid his peers rather than sit down to eat with them, and eventually becomes a married family man, filled with love and pride for more than just his formal family. but also by those who found it. Also. In the show's series finale, Ron comes to Leslie and says that he's not sure where the next phase of his life should take him as he's been successful in all his post-Parks and Rec endeavors, but wants something new to fill his time occupy . .
This prompts Leslie to give him one of Ron Swanson's greatest gifts of all time, which is running a national park. He would be able to spend his days alone outdoors, which many Ron Swanson-style men would refer to as living the dream. In conversation withweekly entertainment, Nick Offerman predicts that Ron would have taken that dream job and created one of the best national parks in the country.
8. Leslie & Ron
Season 7 Episode 4 is another example of how developing your personality is among the manliest things you can do. "Leslie & Ron" sees the two characters, embroiled in a semi-vicious rivalry, get trapped together in the Parks and Recreation Department overnight, forcing them to confess what really happened to their longtime friendship has torn apart.
Ron confessesAs Leslie left the department, she took everyone with her, her voice cracking with emotion as she mentioned the loss of April. He then explains that Leslie accidentally left him at JJ's Diner, where they arranged to talk and where Ron had planned to ask her for a job so he could get back together with his friends.
This episode really shows what each member of the Parks and Recreation Department means to Ron, and to be heartbroken by their loss is a big sign that he understands the value of his found family. Also, Ron swallows his pride when he tries to go to Leslie's to ask for another government job - he's willing to do what he's never done before to maintain the relationships he's built .
7. A Sra. Knope went to Washington
Some of his best moments are his short ones, another masculine quality of Ron Swanson is his directness and directness. In Season 5, Episode 1, Ron takes on the task of planning the annual employee appreciation barbecue, an event usually covered by Leslie Knope each year. He plans to do exactly the opposite of Leslie and hold a very simple meeting where he butchers and grills a pig.
Of course you can't kill a pig in a public park...or can you? Ron is stopped by a ranger who can't believe what Ron is up to. Ron responds by presenting his "permission", which is just a piece of paper that says "I can do whatever I want". This actually has some merit considering Ron is the head of the Parks and Recreation department, but it just doesn't work for him in the long run. Still, this simple yet hilarious scene made it into thecomedy bites' was one of Ron Swanson's greatest moments and remains a fan favorite.
6. Citizen Knob
Despite some glaring differences, Nick Offerman and Ron Swanson have become synonymous, and with good reason. In conversation withGQ, Offerman reveals that part of his own personality was inscribed into the character, most notably his love of woodworking and building things with his hands - possibly one of the manliest hobbies there is. In fact, Ron's carpentry work in Parks and Recreation is Offerman's in real life.
Season 4 Episode 10 is a great example of Ron taking pride in creating things with his hands. The group of colleagues and friends build a replica Parks department as a gift for Leslie, and despite Ron's desire to build it out of wood, they decide to make a gingerbread version to honor his love of candy. Frustrated at not being able to build from gingerbread, Ron instead leaves the task to the others, choosing to make Leslie a wooden replica of his desk if she is elected to the city council.
Upon delivering her gifts, the team also reveal that they will be helping her with her campaign for city council, with each member of the group bringing their skills to the table. Ron concludes by stating that he will help her with "any other damn thing you might need". This proves that Ron is reliable and pretty much a jack of all trades - apart from the gingerbread art.
5. Go big or go home
It should come as no surprise that on a list of things that go into making a character male, a sports-related episode ranks relatively high. In the first episode of Season 3, Ron and Andy sign on to coach opposing teams for the newly restored youth basketball league in Pawnee. As you'd expect, Ron trains with strict guidelines rooted in being a man. He even creates his "Swanson Greatness Pyramid" on which he bases his teachings, which quickly became a fan-favorite graphic found in (probably) every dorm room and cubicle in the continental United States.RedditThe user has confirmed that it has graced a wall or two of his life.
The pyramid consists of several knowledge treasures that would be useful to anyone trying to shape themselves into the male image of Ron Swanson. Twice in the chart is a tip on avoiding skim milk, which emphasizes the importance of this particular guideline, along with advice on teamwork, discipline, and, interestingly, anger. Almost a whole bunch is reserved for various animal proteins, and Honor takes the top spot, saying, "If you need to define it, you don't have it."
4. Surveillance
If a man stubs his toe in the woods and there's no doctor around to see, is he hurt? It has been proven that men go to the doctor less often than women and accordinglyhealth line, one reason is that some men hate the vulnerability that comes with admitting they're not 100%. Because of this, in Season 2, Episode 2, Ron Swanson is dealing with his pain in the most ridiculous way, hoping to avoid a doctor's help for his hernia.
Ron sits at his desk in the most awkward and rigid posture possible on The Stakeout, unable to move his neck or upper body without experiencing crippling pain. It gets so bad that he can't get out of his chair and stays in the parks department for a long time, where he is found by a suspicious April, who has returned to check on him, believing something is wrong. She asks if he lived in his office and throws a marker in his face, leading Ron to admit he needs to go to the hospital.
The sequence of scenes between Ron and April is hilarious and touching, and one of the first times Ron is shown warming up for the young intern. The episode also shows how Ron's stubbornness begins to wane in the company of his found family.
3. How a bill becomes a law
Like many Alpha Males, Ron Swanson loves strong women. While his previous relationships with various Tammys ended in chaotic ruin, he finds peace with Diane, who happens to be played by her"Xena: Warrior Princess"Star Lucy Lawless - a match made in TV Heaven. Ron first meets Diane in Season 5 Episode 3 when she goes to City Hall to fix a pothole in front of her house. Ron offers to fix the hole himself, which almost mocks Diane. When he does show up to fulfill his promise, she is shocked to find that someone from the government is helping her and appropriately apologizes for her disrespect towards him.
If her actions that matched her words weren't enough to put How a Bill Becomes a Law at the top of this list, her striving to make Diane's kids happy does. After repairing the hole, he sits down for tea with her two daughters, resulting in him being covered in makeup and glitter. It's a look we never expected from Ron — although it is one, according to his interview withForum von Connecticut, Nick Offerman would probably call – and that oddly increases his male rating.
2. Pawnee-Ranger
Above all, Ron Swanson believes that nature is stunningly beautiful and must be protected at all costs. He loves being in the countryside, making a living from it and protecting it - something many men share, as nature is one of themThe art of masculinity' 5 masculinity switches. That's why he's very proud to be the leader of the Pawnee Rangers. In Season 4 Episode 4, her all-boy squad takes on Leslie's newly formed all-girl squad, The Pawnee Goddesses. The two scout leaders have two opposing ways of leading their groups, inspiring Ron's group to slowly move toward Leslie's less rigid, more comfortable, and more fun group.
Ron is devastated about this as the Pawnee Rangers mean everything he loves about the wild and what it means to be a man. After feeling bad about the rivalry and the squad she took from Ron, Leslie posts an ad for a new squad that's tough and brave and led by Ron. He stumbles across a small group of children, consisting of both girls and boys, who are more than on board with the activities he had planned for his original troupe, leaving him open to applying his masculine teachings to the to pass on to the next generation.
1. Exercise date
The manliest thing about Ron Swanson is his alter ego, Duke Silver. The secret identity comes up only occasionally, but the man can play a mean saxophone, has a velvety voice, and wears a fedora. He first appears in Season 2 Episode 4 when Tom is trying to get Ron dirty and it's revealed that he goes under the alias Eagleton and has a relatively successful music career and following that is mostly made up of middle-aged women insists April's mother.
There's something about Duke's saxophone that exudes testosterone and sex appeal. Accordinglybaltimore sonne, the saxophone is a sexy instrument and is typically regarded as one of the most seductive instruments due to the moaning and snarling noises a musician can make, as well as the type of soulful music genres the saxophone implements, such as blues and jazz. Whatever the reason, Duke Silver can attract women.