I’ve been surprised at how often Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope has made my eyes misty this season:

That fragile look she gave Adam Scott’s Ben when she told him she was done steam-rolling people and asked him how he felt after baring her soul; Ethel reading aloud the transcript and hearing Ben say that losing his job was worth it because he loves Leslie; and Leslie’s friends (minus Jerry) announcing what roles they would take in her city-council campaign.

I’ve said it before, Liz Lemon used to be the character I related to most on TV, but now I’d much rather be a Leslie than a Liz. Leslie is appreciated and loved, and there’s never any question of whether she’s deserving.