(S01E04) Just when you start to think that virtually everyone around Leslie and Ann are depraved jackasses, you learn new things. We continued to expand our explorations of the cast this week. There appears to be more to Ron than he would have us believe. Sure, he wants to come across as this anti-government, gruff hardass, but there's a heart in there. And Ann's boyfriend Andy? Well, he absolutely blew me away this week.

There was a certain perception of Andy that had been developed over the past three weeks, and as a guy it was all too familiar. But tonight he showed another side of himself, and it was sweet to see that there's more to him than making a mess and making Ann do everything for him. He genuinely cares for her. And he really went out of his way to try and prove that.

The bath in the kiddie pool in the yard was a little disturbing, though not nearly as disturbing as when he rolled out of it and chased his neighbor down the street naked trying to get his boom box back. Still, I was impressed that Andy had this whole plan to hop up on painkillers and clean the entire house in appreciation for all Ann does for him. That's a stand-up thing to do.

Ron also proved himself a stand-up guy, defending Leslie to the ethics committee that was grilling her over the gift basket. Granted, if she violated a policy by opening a gift more than $25.00 in value, then there's valid reason to address the situation. Add to that the problem with 19-year old April drinking some of the wine from the basket and posting it on the pit project's social networking site, and you've got a real public situation just waiting to blow up.

So it was a valid thing to be concerned about, but the meeting was droning on and on and they did seem to be on the verge of making it into a big thing. Was that supposed to be a statement of a double standard because she's a woman, which seemed to be a theme tonight for Leslie (or is it that it's a theme every week?)? But Ron defended her and even stood in front of her to protect her. He was right in that she's probably never before broken a rule, so there wasn't a need to do much more than a small reprimand.

As we get to know more of these surrounding cast members, I'm enjoying the show more and more. Amy Poehler is settling into a nice groove with Leslie, but a character like that needs foils around her to bounce her craziness off of, and it's working better now that some of those personalities are getting better defended. Plus, it's nice to know that there's someone who might just genuinely have her back.