Leslie and Ann's Friendship on Parks and Recreation

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

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. 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 standards for TV friendships.

Image Source: NBC

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."

Image Source: NBC

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

So how did we get here?

Image Source: NBC

Let's look back.

Image Source: NBC

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.

Image Source: NBC

Watch This!

Pop Quiz

Watch the Cast of Fear Street Play a Creepy Game of Horror Movie "Would You Rather"

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.

Image Source: NBC

But Leslie says it best:

Image Source: NBC

And, more importantly, her point about:

Image Source: NBC

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

Which they often, and heartily, verbalize.

Image Source: NBC

Even when recognizing their differences.

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

Image Source: NBC

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

She eventually accepts Ann for who she is.

Image Source: NBC

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

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

Image Source: NBC

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.

Image Source: NBC

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.

Image Source: NBC

It gets pretty rough.

Image Source: NBC

Well, rough for Parks and Rec.

Image Source: NBC

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

Like real friends.

Image Source: NBC

But normally, this is how they communicate.

Image Source: NBC

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

Image Source: NBC

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

Image Source: NBC

Ultimate confidence booster.

Image Source: NBC

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

Image Source: NBC

They're extremely creative.

Image Source: NBC

And topical.

Image Source: NBC

Even if they kind of feel insulting.

Image Source: NBC

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

Image Source: NBC

A lot.

Image Source: NBC

Seriously, they get very intricate.

Image Source: NBC

What . . . ?

Image Source: NBC

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

Image Source: NBC

See? Ann loves it.

Image Source: NBC

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.

Image Source: NBC

And it sort of backfires on Leslie.

Image Source: NBC

And they suffer one of the toughest things a friendship goes through: distance.

Image Source: NBC

But because they're Leslie and Ann, it doesn't matter.

Image Source: NBC

Not at all.

Image Source: NBC

Because the second F in BFF means forever.

Image Source: NBC

This is how it all starts.

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

Watch This!

Pop Quiz

Watch the Cast of Fear Street Play a Creepy Game of Horror Movie "Would You Rather"

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

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.

Even when recognizing their differences.

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

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

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.

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

It gets pretty rough.

Well, rough for Parks and Rec.

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

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.

And it sort of backfires on Leslie.

And they suffer one of the toughest things a friendship goes through: distance.

But because they're Leslie and Ann, it doesn't matter.

Not at all.

Because the second F in BFF means forever.

Want More?