Posting my comment in 2 parts since I'm over the character limit.
I typically refrain from commenting on LJ or Tumblr, but I stumbled upon this post and wanted to jump in because I pretty much completely disagreed with most of it. I personally have loved Season 4, particularly from End of the World on. I was worried earlier in the season because the show did feel a bit off (Ron and Tammys and Pawnee Goddesses are probably my least favorite episodes this season). Looking back, I think it's because I prefer episodes where the A/B/C plots are related or if separate, find a way to intersect at some point. This wasn't happening in some of the early season 4 episodes.
But the reason I'm posting is this. I honestly think that nitpicking and overanalyzing shows to death is what takes the joy out of watching them. Look, I like talking about my favorite shows too and interpreting various things and speculating on what may happen next, but sometimes, I think people take it too far. Especially the speculating part. People spend a lot of time thinking about how they think Ben and Leslie's relationship should be, or what should happen in the campaign storyline, or whichever other characters/arcs they're interested in, and then if plays out differently on screen, they get upset.
I also don't get the Ben criticism or the criticism of his relationship with Leslie. First of all, as I recall, lots of people were up in arms last summer about them potentially breaking up and then when they did, people couldn't stop talking about how they wanted them back together. And now that they are together, people are complaining about how they're boring or the tension is gone. Early in the season, people complained about the lack of screen time the two characters had together. And now? It's all about how the show is TOO focused on them. With the exception of the 3-episode arc leading up to them reuniting, it's not like every episode is all about them. I don't know what it is that people want.
Getting back to Ben specifically, how is he not on Leslie's side? How is he being a wet blanket/negative Nelly?? Ben WANTS her to win this election. And he is on HER side. But they're different people who are not always going to see eye to eye on things. It's great that Leslie is an optimist and she wants to run a positive campaign without resorting to negative campaigning. But her campaign ad was terrible. In recommending a different approach, Ben wasn't showing that he doesn't get her. And saying she needs to get tougher isn't a knock on her. As her campaign manager, he is simply advising her on what he thinks she needs to do to win this election. I was happy with the compromise they reached. No one steamrolled anyone else. They listened to each other's opinions and found middle ground.
As for the scavenger hunt in the last episode, I was really surprised to see that turn into an opportunity to dump on Ben both here and on Tumblr. I did not at any point see it as Ben being annoyed. If anything, he was flustered and frustrated. We've seen how easily Ben can crack under pressure. He wanted to get to Leslie and was worried he's never figure out the clues in time, and was probably also beating himself up over not being able to solve the puzzle. I also didn't see his "woman I have chosen to love" as a negative thing. All of season 3, I sort of felt like Ben had Leslie up on a pedestal and he saw her as perfect and someone who could do no wrong in his eyes. Well, now they're in a relationship and that "bubble" Leslie spoke of last season has burst. They're getting to know each other better, flaws and all. But despite those flaws, they're still choosing to be together. Couples are going to argue and get annoyed with each other from time to time. That doesn't mean they love each other any less.
no subject
I typically refrain from commenting on LJ or Tumblr, but I stumbled upon this post and wanted to jump in because I pretty much completely disagreed with most of it. I personally have loved Season 4, particularly from End of the World on. I was worried earlier in the season because the show did feel a bit off (Ron and Tammys and Pawnee Goddesses are probably my least favorite episodes this season). Looking back, I think it's because I prefer episodes where the A/B/C plots are related or if separate, find a way to intersect at some point. This wasn't happening in some of the early season 4 episodes.
But the reason I'm posting is this. I honestly think that nitpicking and overanalyzing shows to death is what takes the joy out of watching them. Look, I like talking about my favorite shows too and interpreting various things and speculating on what may happen next, but sometimes, I think people take it too far. Especially the speculating part. People spend a lot of time thinking about how they think Ben and Leslie's relationship should be, or what should happen in the campaign storyline, or whichever other characters/arcs they're interested in, and then if plays out differently on screen, they get upset.
I also don't get the Ben criticism or the criticism of his relationship with Leslie. First of all, as I recall, lots of people were up in arms last summer about them potentially breaking up and then when they did, people couldn't stop talking about how they wanted them back together. And now that they are together, people are complaining about how they're boring or the tension is gone. Early in the season, people complained about the lack of screen time the two characters had together. And now? It's all about how the show is TOO focused on them. With the exception of the 3-episode arc leading up to them reuniting, it's not like every episode is all about them. I don't know what it is that people want.
Getting back to Ben specifically, how is he not on Leslie's side? How is he being a wet blanket/negative Nelly?? Ben WANTS her to win this election. And he is on HER side. But they're different people who are not always going to see eye to eye on things. It's great that Leslie is an optimist and she wants to run a positive campaign without resorting to negative campaigning. But her campaign ad was terrible. In recommending a different approach, Ben wasn't showing that he doesn't get her. And saying she needs to get tougher isn't a knock on her. As her campaign manager, he is simply advising her on what he thinks she needs to do to win this election. I was happy with the compromise they reached. No one steamrolled anyone else. They listened to each other's opinions and found middle ground.
As for the scavenger hunt in the last episode, I was really surprised to see that turn into an opportunity to dump on Ben both here and on Tumblr. I did not at any point see it as Ben being annoyed. If anything, he was flustered and frustrated. We've seen how easily Ben can crack under pressure. He wanted to get to Leslie and was worried he's never figure out the clues in time, and was probably also beating himself up over not being able to solve the puzzle. I also didn't see his "woman I have chosen to love" as a negative thing. All of season 3, I sort of felt like Ben had Leslie up on a pedestal and he saw her as perfect and someone who could do no wrong in his eyes. Well, now they're in a relationship and that "bubble" Leslie spoke of last season has burst. They're getting to know each other better, flaws and all. But despite those flaws, they're still choosing to be together. Couples are going to argue and get annoyed with each other from time to time. That doesn't mean they love each other any less.