Have your friends recommended Parks and Recreation, but you're overwhelmed by the sheer number of episodes? Do you want to know why the show is popular, but don’t have the time to watch it from start to finish?

We're here to help with “10 Essential Episodes”, our guides to getting the essence of beloved TV shows without committing to every single episode.

It was born out of a spin-off of The Office, but would go on to rise – at least in quality and consistency – above its predesessor.

Parks and Recreation had the benefit of learning from the production of The Office. Not just in terms of the mockumentary format, or what the "NBC Must See TV" Thursday night audience was looking for. It was also a bullpen of sorts for talent, an incubator where Mike Shur learned could become the next-man-up for Greg Daniels.

If you've never seen it, you'd be surprised by the A-List talent that fills out the cast. In the 15 years since Parks and Rec premiered, nearly every main cast member has gone on to critical and commercial success – headlining blockbuster movies, winning Emmys, creating or starring in critical darling shows, or writing multiple books.

If you've been a fan of any of those things, why haven't you gone back to watch Parks? You don't have to answer that. There are 49 hours and 46 minutes of Parks and Recreation, that's time you could be doing something else. Like learning to juggle chainsaws.

Whatever your reason, if you want to understand what Parks and Recreation is all about, these are the ten episodes to watch:

The 10 Episodes of Parks and Recreation

1. The Stakeout

We’re skipping season one entirely, so here’s the gist: Leslie Knope is a go-getter in local government. She’s got a plan to transform a pit in a vacant lot into a park. That’s all you need to know to hop into this episode and start enjoying the “better Office”.

Obviously there are seven episodes of character dynamics and interpersonal relationships that are missed in that brief summary, but those change so much so quickly here in season two that it isn’t important to get attached.

And, here in the second episode of the sophomore season, things get re-explained rather quickly as the pit and those relationships are front and center.

If you love it: Consider watching those first 7 and strap in for the long haul. Otherwise check out another episode featuring Louis CK’s Dave alongside Leslie and Andy: Halloween.

If you hate it: Not a great sign. Hopefully it was the Ann-Mark relationship that didn’t do it for you. That is short lived, and Mark leaves the show after this season.

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2. Hunting Trip

So much of what makes Parks and Recreation shine is here on display in Hunting Trip. Gender politics, the divide between the rural citizens of the United States vs. both coastal “elites” and political wonks.

Plus we’ve got one of the best instances of a fast-cutting Amy Poehler multi-joke talking head.

Here, Leslie and a few of her coworkers are crashing Ron’s yearly hunting trip on company-dime, much to his chagrin.

If you love it: Ron also gets mad in 94 Meetings and

If you hate it: You can try to steer clear of some of the more prominent themes of gender politics, like or all of season 4.

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