The History of Ron and Diane | Parks and Recreation

Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) finds an acceptable, nay, an unparalleled mate in Diane (Lucy Lawless), a woman who managed to bring Duke Silver out of the shadows, stand up to Tammy II and make a father out of Ron.
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ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION
From Emmy Award-winning executive producers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, "Parks and Recreation" is a hilarious ensemble comedy that follows Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, and her tireless efforts to make her quintessentially American town just a little bit more fun.
The History of Ron and Diane - Parks and Recreation
• The History of Ron and...
Parks and Recreation
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[@AlasdairGR]

I love that Megan Mullally’s job on Parks and Rec is basically to show up on set and try to seduce her husband 😂😂

[@TheLexoDex]

HeyNowLookHere Maybe not a Tammy 1. Lord knows what kind of hell a woman like that could rain upon mankind.

[@RAch711baby]

Megan and nick first met on the set of Will and Grace Nick played a plumber he was fixing wills moms sink in thanksgiving and Megan was trying to seducing him she made out with him then a couple a year later they met again and started dating this is just their thing haha

[@jesse8017]

@@RAch711baby They actually met while doing a play when Nick was 29 and Megan was 41. They talk about it in their book "The Greatest Lovestory Ever Told"

[@RAch711baby]

@@jesse8017 love that! I’v been wanting to read that I’ll have to pick it up

[@duperiorfrog7903]

And let NOTHING stand in her way

[@SheldonAdama17]

Definition of irony: Ron Swanson found love through a government program.

[@erwin669]

through the failure of a government program

[@paint2932]

The definition of "finding love in a hopeless place"

[@King_Stranger]

He had a good wingman

[@kenb2957]

A lot of characters end up experiencing deep irony in their ultimate fate. Andy and April became home owners and parents, Leslie broke the rules at work to date, Garry stopped apologizing and just did his best work where everyone could see him, Tom endured rejection and failure respectably and became strong, and Ron said his full name to people.

[@brt1strrbb110]

"Ron, cool baby" "thank you, Andrew." That is somehow so damn sincere.

[@lily.s4675]

Lol,as if the baby was a shirt, or a pair of pants.

[@bobdole4916]

They're different generations, but they understand one another.

[@brandonakers9827]

@@bobdole4916 Wow thats unheard of

[@bobdole4916]

@@brandonakers9827 Nah, it's just noticed more when they don't. You get those young people who think that no one can understand them, and those old people who don't want to make an effort and you end up with the all-too-common generational conflict. But them understanding one another is a lot more common than people think - it's just that most of the time there aren't a bunch of cameras filming it to help us focus on it.

[@brandonakers9827]

@@bobdole4916 yea ur right, but I was just making a poorly executed joke lol

[@rexmachina8091]

i always loved that ron is kind of a stereotypical “man’s man” but isn’t misogynistic in the slightest, in fact he is drawn to powerful and straightforward women.

[@joep2590]

he likes a strong salt of the earth self possessed woman at the top of their field, your Steffi Grafs your Sheryl Swoopes, but he will take a free breakfast buffet any time any place

[@StonyRC]

Yes, he's the sort of man that I would aspire to be ... but I'm simply not cut from the same material!

[@anonamous365]

yeah...on a show run by sjw feminists...what a shock

[@timloth2994]

I don't care if a feminists wrote this(I am more surprise they understood how to make a realist/conservative correctly), this is realistic material to what a man's man is. A person who is strong deserves a partner who is of equal strength. Good strong smart men go for good strong smart women. It isn't rocket science, it's good logical writing.

[@aidenfurry471]

@@StonyRC than reforge yourself into something useful, Ron's given enough tips that you should be able to

[@Ethan-qp3co]

“Yes officer, get her out of these cuffs I want it to be an even fight” Diane is the best

[@arkm7792]

She said fair not even

[@akbarrmd7714]

She still channel Xena courage in that words.

[@hlp215]

Honestly more like she’s a middle school assistant principal, which means she will most likely win the fight.

[@xenogunner]

Even without the cuffs, I don't see how is that fair... She is still the warrior princess lol

[@binder38us]

Even fight? Beat down more likely.

[@samsouyave-murphy986]

4:32 - I totally didn’t realise that the girls had reached the stage where they call Ron “Daddy”. That’s sweet. Good on you, Ron!

[@batvaleska]

Sam Souyave-Murphy that’s really really sweet

[@ryancarrasco2539]

I just finished the show and hadn’t even noticed!!

[@dorkmax7073]

What's even better, I think Diane had also reached the stage of calling him Daddy.

[@samsouyave-murphy986]

Dorkmax No - just no.

[@Michelle-bb7bs]

@@dorkmax7073 dude you have Problem.

[@wolvenclan9041]

Andy : Oh Ron cool baby Ron : thank you Andrew

[@StyxTBuferd]

Best thing about that interaction is how it's clearly the one Ron appreciated the most. It wasn't emotional, it was just a simple acknowledgement, which Ron knows how to handle way better.

[@someshwarrao8382]

Most verbose Ron Swanson interaction

[@MisterMarch]

April’s face when Ron told her and Leslie that he and Diane were getting married is priceless

[@damaniqphillip2756]

Love that reaction

[@Kevin_Kennelly]

She actually smiles.

[@jubihi7785]

Lol i had to watch that again, how did i miss that.

[@26muca07]

It was so legit, it's like they hid the script to get a real reaction from April.

[@michaelcole8196]

It really scares me to see April smile that much. It's almost terrifying

[@syntaxusdogmata3333]

"Why would that matter? Shut up!" Gets me every time! 😆

[@PowerArmorV113]

3:55 I love how the way Andy says it indicates that he isn't aware that it's Ron's baby, just that he has A baby.

[@luthfanwicaksono2721]

Xena, The Warrior Princess, and Ron Swanson, The Manliest Man, are together? Seems good to me

[@luthfanwicaksono2721]

@@kamillionaireapps5889 holy cow, i dont know why i wrote that, I had princess in my mind but my hand said another. Thanks for noticing tho.

[@calamitoso0066]

Also he is Axe Cop

[@chrisc448]

He likes strong, self possessed brunettes at the top of their field. Xena and Lucretia tick these boxes

[@culturedamericanweeb431]

Holy crap I just realized it....

[@MarkMcDaniel]

Autolycus still feels slighted.

[@26muca07]

"I own this pothole" "I'm here to fix it" Better love story than Twilight.

[@thekingscourier1284]

There's a lot of better love stories than twilight

[@blankslate7491]

Twilight is just an vampire control freak who's obsessed with a bland skinny legged airhead

[@duperiorfrog7903]

@@blankslate7491 twilight is your name

[@RichardX1]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The only "love story" worse than Twilight is Fifty Shades of Grey.

[@NickJohnCoop]

Which started as a Twilight fanfic

[@Michael-kd1ho]

Their son would save the world - or destroy it. We're all holding our breath.

[@theemperorschosen7607]

He's the new God.

[@britishtwit5233]

@@theemperorschosen7607 He's more than that. He's a Swanson

[@Couldbedumber]

GIT GUD!!! Xena and Swanson, I love this country for producing such a combination of strength

[@britishtwit5233]

@@Couldbedumber only two true Americans could do such an impossible thing

[@Bazerk101]

He shall make Clark Kent look weak.

[@KittyKat6931]

You missed the best part ever! "Diane Tammy Lewis" 😂

[@dbzcupcake]

"Having you and the kids in my life has made me a different person, I like it. It given more room in my life for fun!"

[@sjoerdschep5719]

dbzcupcake hits really hard knowing how set in his ways Ron has been for so many years

[@ComicalHealing]

One of the best character development arcs in TV history.

[@101Jkid]

❤️❤️

[@mattbarnett6975]

Love how Diane kids call Ron daddy even though he isn’t and only there step father. Makes me smile

[@photofreak56]

I think thats what makes Ron seem so amazing. You know that he loves those girls like their his own. Its one of those things where kids can tell if you love them or if you're just putting up with them

[@gabesarti7184]

The reason I like Ron’s relationship with Diane is because she is the one relationship Ron had where he actually tried to change himself for the better in order to make it better. She also accepts him for who he is, but doesn’t try to use the destructive parts of his personality to manipulate Ron like both Tammy’s did. She also genuinely cares for him, but will still be straight with him about what she wants in a relationship and that she will always place her children first. Edit: also anyone else love Andy’s face when he figures out Diane is pregnant? It’s like he is thinking “Oh my god, I am going to have a baby brother!!!”

[@Sebster85]

Lucy Lawless has aged flawlessly.

[@vlkafenryka788]

It like defies physics or quantum entanglement or something she gets hotter and hotter

[@edonkulation1337]

Like fine wine

[@dsingman3]

One would say she's....Lucy Flawless. ...I'll see myself out.

[@ieatyourbrain8478]

@@dsingman3 it's actually pretty good!

[@ainsleybrown2762]

Lucy Flawless*

[@capture_diaries]

"This is a piece of human garbage named Tammy." 😂

[@generalpenultimo6502]

I love that April just stares directly into the camera upon hearing that they marry 😂

[@unforeseeable2.058]

I love how she’s the first one to react to it before Leslie

[@nightsassy4430]

I like to think his son's middle name is Leslie. And Leslie will have no idea until his wedding in thirty years when he says "I, John Leslie Swanson..." and she looks over at Ron in shock. And he gives her a little smile. And she smiles back softly with tears in her eyes. Just seems like something Ron would do.

[@UmisTsukishiro00]

Thank you for saying this. It’s beautiful.

[@mattstallman2756]

Andy: I think it would impress Diane... Ron: Why would that matter? *(Ron glances at the house)* Ron: Shut up...

[@DeepamGupta235]

Ron and Diane sitting on a tree. K. I. S. S. I. P. P. I. Did you hear that bird?

[@Starmadien2019]

Such a ADHD moment

[@orengk2443]

Underrated moment right here 3:01 where Ron is so happy to see Diane at his workplace

[@loolovesyou]

I love Leslie scrambling to make their wedding ceremony special against their will. I resonate haha.

[@gurpreetdhillon6719]

"Hey Ron cool baby" lol so simple yet so funny

[@mrbrian826]

4:31 They she just call Ron daddy? That's so sweet. How did i miss that on my numerous rewatches of this show!?

[@bugzzz012]

I'd like to think at least one of the girls got drawn to woodworking when they got to high school, because Ron taught them how to saw. And I can already imagine the giddy, proud dad look on Ron's face when they bring home their first project for the class.

[@hoozle]

Of course Ron would finally meet his equal in Xena, Warrior Princess. One of my favourite TV couples.

[@harrydepova8896]

you know this had to come up when making this casting decision as a joke that got serious real quick. "You know who we could cast that would be perfect? Xena, warrior princes. Ha HA... hmmm.... get me a phone."

[@Phi1618033]

3:07 And so a meme was born!

[@reubenseldo1048]

Somehow, I just can't get tired of Lucy Lawless' adorable facial expression when she said, "or are you one of those guys who likes to ask the lady out?"

[@hlp215]

I love the casting choices. Having Megan Mullally (Nick Offerman's SO) playing ex-wife Tammy 2, and Lucy Lawless playing Diane is just perfect from start to finish.

[@notimportant3932]

Lucy lawless!!! I love her facial expressions, she really is a great match to the ron swanson.

[@chrisarbour]

Diane: Yes officer, please get her out of those cuffs. I want this to be a fair fight. Me: Ummmmm it wouldn't be fair regardless, you're Xena the goddamn Warrior Princess.

[@ghosty918]

A fair fight is not one where each person has an equal chance of victory. A fair fight is one where neither is hindered or aided by an outside force allowing one to be defeated unfairly or claim such as a balm against the humiliation of defeat.

[@chrisarbour]

@@ghosty918 R/Woooooooooooooosh homeboy.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

She is not! XWP is a fictional character from another TV series, that actress Lucy Lawless got paid to play. That character does not exist in the P&R universe. Actress ≠ character, get it?

[@jmwoods190]

LOL Megan Mullally would've made such a solid female villain though

[@averma32]

This was such a fantastic casting choice.

[@erinryan4534]

When Andy wrote in chalk "Ron likes" my heart melted

[@ananyaupadhya1974]

ifkr, that should've been in this

[@zlozlozlo]

The history of Ron and Diane begins on the phone. You'd probably need a re-watch to notice it. After Chris creates the 311 line, Ron has two phone calls with Diane. In the first one he redirects her to the public works department. In the second one she tells him nobody's picking up there and he tells her someone will be there shortly.

[@dmitryhunter3239]

This a great example of Character Development.

[@uncreative5766]

I would find it hilarious if Jon's middle name was actually Redacted. It reminds me of How I Met Your Mother and when Barney told Marshall and Lily that Marvin's middle name should be Wait-For-It.

[@CordlessJet549]

I find it hilarious how terrified Tammy 2 is of Diane. When Diane threatens to fight her she instantly backs down its so funny

[@kacinema96]

How much you wanna bet that Baby Johns birth certificate literally says “Jonathan Middle Name Redacted Swanson”?

[@taytaos]

2:51, when Diane says " I want this to be a fair fight" gave such Xena vibes ❤

[@wolfsburgjetta2010]

"Oh ron cool baby." "Thank you Andrew" my favorite line

[@silver292]

Ron Swanson. The best arc in the whole series.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

I love how Diane emulates Ron's eye and eyebrow movements.

[@Z1pZ1p3r]

This is like the most grown up adorable couple I have ever seen on tv.

[@michelvanderlinden8363]

"I want this to be a fair fight" Cue the "LET THEM FIGHT" memes.

[@Vikinggirl1679]

Hah next thing Diane will pull out her chakrum and put the pinch on nasty Tammy lol (Xena fans know what I mean)

[@johnypanta6208]

Ron was the only man who could tame Xena: The Warrior Princess and Xena was the only woman who could tame Ron "The Man" Swanson. This couple is the best thing that happened in television history!!!

[@D1KHEAD808]

I need a Diane, like yesterday.

[@NeedlessExposition]

I think the best part isn’t just the fact that Ron wants to be with Diane but that he wants to be with the girls as well. That’s the very definition of a stepfather stepping up to be a father. Also April and Andy make the best faces with April’s “Oh God, my dad’s getting married” face and Andy’s “I’m gonna be a big brother!” face

[@patrickorourke41]

Ron and Diane are the real power couple of the series.

[@GrayNeko]

Ron Swanson is one of the best written characters in TV history. Pairing him with Lucy Lawless' Diane was INSPIRED! He'd met his match! Two little girls and a baby? Prince of Sparkle Mountain to the rescue! ^_^

[@kelly8497]

Diane is incredibly charming woman. I love her

[@Lucius_murrius]

One of the best couples in the entire film industry

[@Joe.Rogan.]

I have never watched a full episode of this show.. I just like Ron. And Andy of course.

[@charliehinde1701]

I brought some grout cleaner...I noticed you needed grout cleaner, so I brought that too

[@KingOfStopMotion]

"Why does that matter? Shut up!" LMAOOOOO

[@ArmyHumveeLaat]

This one will probably make me watch the whole series. Thank you

[@cp8603]

Xena the warrior princess meets her man. Haha!

[@dangleesack7617]

“Why would that matter... shut up” *next scene covered in princess makeup*

[@DoctorCVC]

2:49- Diane prepping to whip out some chakram and call upon her past life as a warrior princess.

[@sampson1582]

If only every wife would look at their husband the way Diane looks at Ron!

[@tommycochran1019]

Those kids are going to be the most no-nonsense adults ever. They will all be successful.

[@dayschange2]

You know, I had completely forgotten that Diane ever showed up again after the wedding episode.

[@shawnp6653]

Love the claymore on Ron's desk...

[@clikzip]

"this is the human piece of garbage Tammy, also my ex wife." Best introduction ever.

[@williamnguyen8663]

0:49 I love how the “shut up” sounds more comedic then stern

[@LeftyPem]

Unsurprisingly, it took Xena, warrior princess, to complete Ron Swanson’s character arc.

[@BlackDiamond2718]

Man I love how she is a match against Tammy and her strong personality is why he loves her. Plus I love her tammy joke about her middle name.

[@TrashPanda5150]

THAT'S SO WHOLESOME

[@tindalowos]

wholesome af, love that guy

[@tjwash5118]

My favorite TV couple of all time.

[@Nigelrathbone1]

Brilliant wedding reception idea - individual houses, everyone alone

[@PaleoalexPicturesLtd]

"Ho Ron, cool baby" gets me every time 😊

[@hadawaykyle]

I wish Parks and Rec always had smooth jazz in the background like this

[@w1ck3dz0d1ac]

Why can I just hear Andy in the background singing John Melencamps Jack and Diane with Ron's name...

[@michaelnorrish7536]

I love the look on Megan’s face when Lucy (Diane) says get her out of the cuffs so they can have a fair fight

[@yizhuolin3906]

well, Leslie is the one of my favorite in Parks and Rec she's got such a cool personality.

[@solidkingcobra]

3:08 so this where the memegif came from.

[@ChrisPB]

My favorite line is still the "Why would that matter? ....Shut up!" That's such a mood

[@gannondollins]

I love how this clip shows Andy gasping. It's funnier here cuz he has the wrong idea lol.

[@Rastaziom]

damn "piece of human garbage" gets me everytime such an amazing line :D

[@YiaMdj]

So wholesome

[@mikemantle]

I've heard the school system in the tunnels beneath Yucca mountain is adequate.

[@hotsauce4169]

"Oh Ron cool baby" 😭😭💀💀

[@isaaccervantes5955]

Middle name redacted still one of my fave lines !

[@breadboy56m50]

Nice vid

[@Jedimindset]

This man's mustache is legend!!!

[@jedics1]

'The reception will be held in each of our individual houses alone'....The only reception I would consider going to :)

[@SK-267]

Xena and Ron Swanson - A perfect match!

[@filthykevin860]

Tbf Ron's reaction to the tiara problem was pretty good

[@maevemallory2122]

Ron Swanson & XENA! love it

[@matesajben5274]

I think a Tammy one vs Diane could have been a hilarious. They should have used Tammy one more.

[@ballsdeep5491]

Ron and his 2 sons are the best combos

[@tedflanc1024]

I would've loved to have seen a scene with all five of them together. Maybe Diane with John or perhaps even the girls with their baby brother. At least we got to see a photo with all 3 kids!!!

[@Marc-Tea]

I love the almost child with a crush way Ron tells Andy to shut up

[@gordygohard]

The fact Diane and "Xena: Warrior Princess" are the same person makes perfect sense watching this

[@TragedysHalo]

4:33 wtf is that on Ron's belt?! A Nokia?! Like the first cell phone ever made?!

[@polashteens]

He needed to get off the grid, but could only be contacted by Diane and kids, hence that phone

[@sjferguson]

Definitely relationship goals. I love the two of them together ❤

[@RBweb24]

Everyone deserves that kind of relationship