Let's discuss Ron Swanson, shall we. Up to this point, Ron (portrayed by Nick Offerman) has been a pretty minor character. We know he is Leslie's boss; he is a strong libertarian, who just happens to work in the government; he has a manly mustache; loves meat; and he even can play the saxophone. We know all these distinctive traits about him, but what we don't know is the real "human being" behind this manly outer surface. Well, that all changes in this episode.
As someone who has seen the series from beginning to end, after re-visiting this episode, I can tell just how important this episode was to the entire series. So many great running jokes and running gags started in this episode. The two big ones are Ron's hatred for his ex-wife Tammy Two (not his only ex-wife with the name of Tammy) and the Parks department's hatred for the library. Tammy just happens to work at the library and Leslie has gotten word that they are planning on using Lot 48 (formerly known as the pit) for their own greed. Leslie and Ron decide to confront Tammy about this which leads us down a crazy rabbit hole of anger, lust, despair, and betrayal.
Tammy two is played by the great Megan Mullally (Offerman's real life wife). Le me just say, Mullally plays the hell out of this character. Her commitment, and Nick Offerman's as well, is off the wall. To say Ron Swanson isn't being himself is an understatement. The way Ron acts in this episode is totally bizarre, and this side of Ron only comes out when he is aroused by his ex-wife. It's pretty uncomfortable to watch, but that's what makes it so great. The fact that these two characters are real life husband and wife I think works as an advantage, because they can literally get a way with doing whatever they want. If what I'm saying doesn't make any sense, just watch the episode and you'll know what I mean.
"Ron and Tammy" is really an episode that serves one sole purpose, which is to flesh out Ron's character. Everything else that happens in this episode is pretty much second grade stuff compared to the brilliance that is the Ron and Tammy plot. The humor is a little different than previously showcased in the show. This episode does feature more raunchy humor, so if you are not a fan of that type of humor, this may turn you off a little. With that being said, it is still a very entertaining episode with so many great quotes, and two incredible performances by Mullally and Offerman. After watching this episode, you should begin to realize why many people consider Ron Swanson to be one of the great characters in television history.
