Neurodivergent (Headcanon) Alley: Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)

Parks and Rec is another show that bursts with Big Neurodivergent Energy. Unlike some of the shows I’ve been talking about lately, like Doctor Who and Our Flag Means Death, I haven’t revisited any of the episodes since digging deeper into my own neurotype, but this excellent thread from @autismsupsoc nicely lays out how most of the characters on the show can be read as autistic. I’m looking at Leslie today, but I’m sure I’ll return to the Parks and Rec well sooner rather than later!

For me, Leslie is a classic example of The Second Autistic-Coded Character I Spot. On a lot of shows with Big Neurodivergent Energy, there’s a character who most closely resembles popular tropes about autism—I recently brought up Huey from DuckTales, and Gregory from Abbott Elementary would be another good example. They’re the easiest to recognize, and the average person probably wouldn’t consider it a “reach” if you said they were autistic. In the case of Parks and Rec, that’s Ron. The Second Autistic-Coded Character I Spot tends to have traits that present in a less obvious way to the casual observer, and they might not stand out as immediately. But once I catch onto them, their neurodivergence smacks me in the face in the best way. These characters tend to be more outgoing/talkative, more AuDHD-coded, and are more likely to be women. To go with my previous examples, The Second Autistic-Coded Characters I Spotted on DuckTales and Abbott Elementary were Webby and Janine. And more often than not, once I recognize a second character, the floodgates open and I start to see just how neurodivergent the show is as a whole.

That’s a long-winded preamble, but it’s a major foundation for Leslie and why I love her so much. While Ron often speaks in a no-nonsense monotone and likes to avoid dealing with people whenever possible, Leslie is bubbly and eager to a fault. She always comes in hot, frequently coming on too strong with new people and getting incredibly attached to the people she cares about really fast. She doesn’t have much of a social filter, and while that can present in a mean way—like her impatience for Jerry—it more often looks like showering someone in affection to the point of discomfort, or not noticing she’s outstayed her welcome.

Leslie has a deep and abiding special interest in local government. She adores helping people, she loves getting into the nitty-gritty of policies and ordinances, and she has a passion for being a part of something bigger than herself. She works inexhaustibly for the Parks and Rec department because what she does excites her. She longs to do things to make Pawnee better and happier, even if nobody else cares as much as she does. Her mind is like a dog with a bone, and when she gets on something, she’ll stay up all night making a binder or a scrapbook or devising a 1000-step plan.

Leslie is full of love that she throws out into the world with both hands, and that’s not always appreciated. A lot of folks think she’s weird or too try-hard, and when she pours her heart into a project, others might laugh at her effort. Her tireless pursuit of what she wants can annoy the people she needs to liaise with, and when it comes to the more public-profile aspect of her job, others frequently cut her down by misconstruing her honesty and enthusiasm.

But one of the best parts of a Big Neurodivergent Energy show isn’t just an overall abundance of neurodivergent-coded characters. It’s that those characters have a community who love and accept them for who they are. Even if the sheer force of Leslie’s undiluted Leslie-ness can still be a lot for the other Parks and Rec employees to handle at times, they value Leslie in her all excitable dorkiness and frenzied binder-making. She and Ron couldn’t be more different, yet they get one another in a vital way, and Ben loves her from head to toe. When she’s on a crusade or being dragged in the press, the others will back her up, regardless of whether they’re invested in the situation themselves. It’s something that’s just so wonderful to see in a show, a quality that makes me feel warm, fuzzy, and seen.