The BEST episodes of Parks and Recreation season 4

Every episode of Parks and Recreation season 4, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Parks and Recreation season 4!

The series follows Leslie Knope, the deputy head of the Parks and Recreation department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Knope takes on a project with a nurse named Ann to turn a construction pit into a park, while trying to mentor a bored college-aged intern. However, Leslie must fight through the bureaucrats, problem neighbors, and developers in order to make her dream a reality, all with a camera crew recording her every gaff and mishap.

Last Updated: 11/3/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
Share:
Win, Lose, or Draw
star
8.30
2495 votes

#1 - Win, Lose, or Draw

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/10/2012

It's election day in Pawnee, and Leslie and Bobby Newport are separated by a razor-thin margin. While everyone waits with Leslie for the race to be called, they ponder their futures, and their new opportunities.

Directors: Michael Schur
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bowling for Votes
star
8.23
2535 votes

#2 - Bowling for Votes

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/26/2012

Leslie and Ben host a bowling night after receiving feedback about Leslie's campaign. April, Chris, and Jerry hold a competition to see who can raise the most funds.

Directors: Michael Trim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Debate
star
8.19
2437 votes

#3 - The Debate

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/26/2012

Leslie goes toe-to-toe with Bobby Newport in a debate. Ann, Tom, and Chris work in the media spin room, while Ron goes the extra mile to save a party for Leslie's donors.

Directors: Amy Poehler
Writer: Amy Poehler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Citizen Knope
star
8.16
2736 votes

#4 - Citizen Knope

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/2011

Unable to get work done from inside the Parks Department, Leslie forms a citizen action group and fights from the outside. Meanwhile, everyone in the office brainstorms ideas for what to get Leslie for Christmas.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Dave King
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Trial of Leslie Knope
star
8.15
2609 votes

#5 - The Trial of Leslie Knope

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/1/2011

Leslie has to face an ethics committee about her secret relationship with Ben after they come clean to Chris.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Comeback Kid
star
8.14
2608 votes

#6 - The Comeback Kid

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/12/2012

Leslie enlists everyone's help in staging an attention-getting event. Ben takes up a new hobby, while April and Andy adopt a pet.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Writer: Mike Scully
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ron and Tammys
star
8.13
2809 votes

#7 - Ron and Tammys

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2011

Ron's first ex-wife, Tammy One, reenters his life and tries to control his every move. Meanwhile, Ben helps Tom balance the books at his new company, and Ann makes a PSA, with help from Chris.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Norm Hiscock
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Operation Ann
star
8.12
2460 votes

#8 - Operation Ann

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/2/2012

Leslie works to find Ann a Valentine's date. Ron helps Ben with a scavenger hunt, and Chris becomes depressed over his love life.

Directors: Morgan Sackett
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
End of the World
star
8.11
2794 votes

#9 - End of the World

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/2011

A local Pawnee group predicts the end of days, causing chaos in the Parks department.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pawnee Rangers
star
8.07
2688 votes

#10 - Pawnee Rangers

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/2011

Ron takes his boys-only troop of Pawnee Rangers into the wild. Not wanting the girls to feel left out, Leslie also takes her troop of Pawnee Goddesses on an adventure weekend. Meanwhile, a reluctant Ben joins Tom and Donna for a day of relaxation, and Chris spends some time with Jerry.

Writer: Alan Yang
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Campaign Ad
star
8.05
2578 votes

#11 - Campaign Ad

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/19/2012

Faced with a tough new opponent, Leslie and Ben disagree on the content of her first campaign ad. Ron is very uncomfortable when Chris tries to befriend him, while Andy and April make a trip to the doctor.

Directors: Dean Holland
Writer: Alan Yang
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dave Returns
star
8.00
2549 votes

#12 - Dave Returns

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/16/2012

While trying to get an endorsement from the Chief of Police, Leslie and Ben awkwardly run into Leslie's old flame, Dave. Meanwhile, Andy and the rest of the office work on a theme song for Leslie's campaign.

Directors: Robert B. Weide
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bus Tour
star
8.00
2436 votes

#13 - Bus Tour

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/3/2012

An important person in Pawnee dies while Leslie is on a bus tour for the final day of her campaign. Meanwhile Andy investigates a security threat, and Chris finds a cure for his depression.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Born and Raised
star
7.95
2693 votes

#14 - Born and Raised

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/2011

Leslie's book about Pawnee comes out just in time for her campaign. Ann tries to bond with Ron and April.

Directors: Dean Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Treaty
star
7.95
2719 votes

#15 - The Treaty

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/2011

Leslie enlists the help of Ben, Andy and April to host a Model U.N. for Pawnee Central High School. Chris asks Ann for her advice on love when a date cancels on him. Meanwhile, Ron struggles to find a replacement for Tom.

Directors: Jorma Taccone
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Smallest Park
star
7.95
2603 votes

#16 - Smallest Park

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/2011

Leslie uses her new tourist attraction as a way to spend more time with Ben. Meanwhile, Ron and April encourage Andy to go to college, and Chris tasks Tom and Jerry with revamping the Parks and Rec logo.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Live Ammo
star
7.94
2351 votes

#17 - Live Ammo

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/19/2012

Leslie discovers that the Parks Department budget is about to be cut, and she later meets the City Council member she is running to replace. Chris and Ron visit a meditation center.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Meet 'n' Greet
star
7.94
2622 votes

#18 - Meet 'n' Greet

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/27/2011

Andy and April host a Halloween bash at their house. Tom emcees an event for Leslie's campaign. Andy and April receive an unusual wedding present from Ron and Ann.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Campaign Shake-Up
star
7.87
2413 votes

#19 - Campaign Shake-Up

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/1/2012

Leslie and Ben are caught off guard when her opponent Bobby Newport hires a powerful campaign manager from Washington. Chris forces Ron to start interviewing replacements for Leslie when work starts falling through the cracks, and an unlikely officemate solves a challenging problem.

Directors: Dan Goor
Writer: Dan Goor
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I'm Leslie Knope
star
7.87
2781 votes

#20 - I'm Leslie Knope

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2011

Leslie is torn between Ben and her dreams of running for public office, while Ron braces himself for the arrival of his first wife, the original Tammy.

Directors: Troy Miller
Writer: Dan Goor
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lucky
star
7.80
2492 votes

#21 - Lucky

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/8/2012

Leslie and Ben are thrilled when Buddy Wood wants to interview Leslie for his Indianapolis talkshow. April and Ron prep Andy for his final exam in his Women’s Studies course.

Directors: Troy Miller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sweet Sixteen
star
7.79
2439 votes

#22 - Sweet Sixteen

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/23/2012

Leslie realizes that the department has forgotten Jerry's birthday and decides to throw a party for him at a special location. Meanwhile, Tom is flabbergasted when he finds out Ann doesn't share his taste in music.

Directors: Michael Schur
Writer: Norm Hiscock
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV