5 Parks & Rec. Fan Theories That Totally Make Sense (And 5 That Would Never Happen)

Fans of Parks and Recreation have been missing the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department since the show ended back in 2015. To fill the void, fan theories for the show have been popping up left and right.

The series may have ended with everyone getting their happily ever after but after fans re-watch the series, newly-found Easter eggs, and emerging theories are making fans wish Pawnee was a real town in Indiana to get some answers. To explore the Parks and Rec world further, keep scrolling for both fan theories that totally make sense and theories that could never be true.

10 Makes Sense: Leslie Is Loaded

It’s hard to ignore the amount of money Leslie spends on random things. Though she’s employed by the government, she spends a lot of money on scrapbooking, waffles, and anniversary gifts for her friends. She donated $1,000 for rec classes, she paid April’s fare to London, and she possibly tried filling “the pit” for $35,000. Leslie didn’t have spare time for a side hustle, so where did this money come from? Did she have money from her father or was she making way more as a government employee than we thought? Regardless, Leslie is loaded.

9 Would Never Happen: The Real Reason Why Ron Worked In The Parks & Rec. Department

Part of Ron’s schtick is that he hates the government and yet works for the government. Is he working for the government as a way to regulate Pawnee or is he working there with a hidden motive?

With Ron having secret treasure buried around Pawnee, one Redditor believes this is why Ron got a job in the government in the first place. His treasure is buried under one of the trees in a Pawnee park. With him working in the parks and rec. department, he can make sure no one digs up his treasure. However, that theory seems a little far-fetched. As we see in later episodes, Ron is a nature guy who loves the great outdoors. He’s working in the parks department because he loves parks, not because it’s where his money is hidden. If he was that concerned, he could just move his money elsewhere.

8 Makes Sense: The Office + Parks And Recreation

Rashida Jones plays both Ann in Parks and Recreation and Karen in The Office. Thanks to both shows being a mockumentary of sorts, fans of both shows wonder if they’re in the same universe. If that were true, one fan theorizes that Karen is actually in the Witness Protection Program and has a new identity: Ann. They suggest that Karen testified against the Scranton Strangler and to protect her she was given a new identity in a new city. Well, instead of a paper saleswoman, she’s now Ann the nurse who lives in Pawnee, Indiana.

7 Would Never Happen: The Entire Documentary Was Focused On Andy’s Genius

This next theory suggests the documentary aspect of Parks and Recreation was really centered around Andy being a secret genius. As the Redditor says, “Andy was a child prodigy but was commissioned as an experiment to see what would happen if the subject wasn’t informed that he was intelligent.”

As a way to document his way of life, they had to do so unsuspectingly, hence focusing on Leslie. Unfortunately, this theory seems a little too out-of-the-box. The documentary was clearly about Leslie and her journey to reaching the top. Everyone else (Andy included) in the department was just an added bonus.

6 Makes Sense: Ron Is April’s Father

We don’t hear too much about Andy’s parents, but it’s obvious they’re well-off thanks to the house they live in, the car they drive, and their ability to pay for April’s education. But that’s about as much as we know about her parents. That is why this theory could have potential.

What if Ron Swanson was April’s biological father? After all, she did say that her mom was a huge Duke Silver fan. It’s understandable if the two got physical and April’s mom got pregnant with April. April and Ron are also a lot alike. She may be darker than he is, but they have an unspoken bond and seem to have the same mindset through the series.

5 Would Never Happen: Mark Died

Mark Brendanawicz was only around Parks and Rec. for two seasons but he made an impact on the show with his intimate relationships with both Ann and Leslie. He quietly left the show after the Pawnee government shut down and that was that. But one fan of the show believes Mark actually died after leaving the Parks and Rec. department.

After quitting and Ann dumping him, this fan believes Mark suffered some kind of depression and either killed himself or died after season two. But if that were the case, the show would have definitely mentioned his passing. Sure, they didn’t mention his absence when he left, but we can’t imagine Leslie not making a big deal about his funeral.

4 Makes Sense: The Real Reason Why Gayle Is With Jerry

With Gayle being undeniably stunning and Jerry being so… Jerry, everyone wants to know how these two are together. How did Jerry get so lucky? Well, there are few reasons as to why Gayle has stayed with Jerry, who really is a sweet and loving man.

One theory suggests Gayle and Jerry got together when Jerry was younger, more in shape, and looked like Chris (after all, Jerry did tell Chris he used to look like him). It’s even been said that Jerry is very well-endowed, implying that these two must have an incredible bedroom life. After Gayle got pregnant, Jerry said he put on sympathy pregnant weight, and by that time Gayle was already deeply in love with him.

3 Would Never Happen: Andy From Parks And Recreation And Andy From Toy Story Are The Same

Fans of Parks and Rec. sure do love to merge shows and movies together to make sense of its world! One theorist suggests that Andy from Toy Story and Andy from Parks and Rec. are the same person. (If that’s the case, are they claiming that anyone with the same name as a cartoon character could be loosely related?)

Since Andy from Parks and Rec. has always wanted to be a cop, this Redditor is saying it’s similar to Toy Story’s Andy who enjoyed playing a cop with his toys. As Andy from Toy Story gets older, he has a hard time letting go of his child-like self and Andy from Parks and Recreation does the same thing. But are these two related? That seems like a hard pass.

2 Makes Sense: The Good Place & Parks And Rec.

Are The Good Place and Parks and Recreation in the same universe? While that may seem silly, let’s look at the facts here. Kristen Bell is in both shows and here in The Good Place, she’s reading a magazine with a shoutout to Dennis Feinstein (the fragrance guru) and Jean Ralphio on the back. We’ve also seen The Swanson Safe Company a few times in The Good Place, which references our favorite Ron Swanson and a possible company of his. Lil Sebastian even made a cameo! There are way too many Easter eggs to count, so it makes sense that Leslie Knope and Elanor lived at the same time.

1 Would Never Happen: Ron Has A Crush On Ann

Has Ron said he’s attracted to strong brunettes? Yes. But does that mean he’s attracted to every single one that passes him by? No way! Ron is far too picky. One theory suggests that Ron had a crush on Ann the whole time and that’s why he was never alone with her much. When he gets sick, Ann tells him what he needs to do to get better and instead of pushing her away he actually listened to her advice. But commenters have agreed that Ron is a (somewhat)logical man who’s going to listen to a medical professional because he respects her professionalism, not because he’s attracted her.

About The Author

Lynn Gibbs
(1665 Articles Published)

Lynn is a nomad who travels the globe on the hunt for her next adventure with her husband. A lover of being outside (and finding the best latte in town), Lynn is typically hiking, walking, or jogging when she’s not focusing on her love of writing. When it comes to shows streaming on Netflix or anything Bravo-related, Lynn’s your gal.

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