How Leslie Knope and Beautiful Tropical Fish Ann Perkins Set the Standard For TV Friendship

Updated on March 13, 2018 at 7:10 PM

Parks and Recreation has been off the air for a few years now, but thanks to the power of modern technology (i.e., Netflix and Hulu), you can still revisit the series, especially in these uncertain times. In a TV show full of straight-up nice people, one of the best friendships (and dude, there are so many good ones) is that of Ann and Leslie.

The nurse and the public servant don't even know each other when the series kicks off, but by the end of the show, you've watched them create and nurture the greatest love of all. They also teach us lessons in how to get there along the way: being supportive when your friend needs you, being tough when your friend is being a butthead, and delivering the most delicious, over-the-top compliments one could possibly dream up. Here's a tribute to the TV friendship that now sets the standard for TV friendships.

This is how it all starts.

When we first meet Ann and Leslie, they don't know each other — they're strangers who come together about a pit; Ann is a local nurse and Leslie is just "that Parks lady."

By the end of the series, Ann and Leslie are here.

So how did we get here?

Let's look back.

First of all, this is Leslie, a woman who is so supportive of other women she creates a whole holiday to celebrate them.

Seriously, we have Leslie Knope to thank for inventing Galentine's Day.

Her friendship with Ann is clearly the one she was always searching for.

They're classic heterosexual life partners, even when they couple up with others to marry and have families.

But Leslie says it best:

And, more importantly, her point about:

But where Ann and Leslie set an example for female friendship is in their support of one another.

Which they often, and heartily, verbalize.

Even when recognizing their differences.

But they still see eye to eye, even if they couldn't agree on TV crushes.

And they have to get past Leslie trying to make Ann more like her.

She eventually accepts Ann for who she is.

But they're there for each other in extremely supportive ways.

Like the time Leslie needs Ann to text her every 30 seconds . . . and she does! That is real friendship, people.

And when Leslie has to deal with taking on her dream role but losing the man of her dreams, Ann knows just what to do.

When Leslie is offered the opportunity to run for city council, she also knows it means giving up her burgeoning relationship with Ben. Ann doesn't know exactly what to do to make it better, so she soothes Leslie on the spot.

They even have an epic fight — the worst of their friendship.

It's not great that they're both totally drunk, but the booze gets them to get some *feelings* off their chests.

It gets pretty rough.

Well, rough for Parks and Rec.

They're drunk and it's silly and they get over it.

Like real friends.

But normally, this is how they communicate.

It consists mostly of Leslie telling Ann how beautiful she is.

Seriously, where can I get a Leslie to tell me this all the time?

Ultimate confidence booster.

And let's not forget: Leslie's iconic Ann compliments.

They're extremely creative.

And topical.

Even if they kind of feel insulting.

But they're still so wonderful, even when Ann's getting called a bastard.

A lot.

Seriously, they get very intricate.

What . . . ?

IDK but, Ann, we'd take it, too.

See? Ann loves it.

Leslie memorably uses it when she takes on an ambitious new project: Ann's romantic happiness.

Of course, she ends up with Chris Traeger yet again.