Eagleton has been absorbed into Pawnee, and Leslie has to integrate Eagleton's government workers into Pawnee's government departments. Each member of the Parks Department meets with his or her Eagleton counterpart. Ron meets Ron Dunn, whom he at first likes until he finds out Dunn is a vegan hippie. Donna meets Craig, a very intense and slightly crazy man. April meets Tynnyfer, a shallow unintelligent woman who April declares to be the "worst person" she's ever met. Tom thinks he is going to meet a guy named Eric, but it turns out to be a computer program called ERIC (Eagleton Reservation Information Center). Ann meets her counterpart, Evelyn. In addition, Jerry has come back to work. When he asks everyone to call him by his real name, April starts calling him Larry Gengurch, and the name sticks. With all of this, there are now too many employees, so Leslie has to cut some staff.
Chris and Ben relive their old auditing days together and demonstrate their amazing teamwork with their infamous good cop/bad cop routine: Chris gets everyone in a good mood in the lead up to Ben swooping in and hacking the situation with a machete. While they're excited to see Pawnee and Eagleton are merging to create a bigger, better city, Eagleton's government lost millions of taxpayer dollars, leaving Chris and Ben to clean up the obscene mess they have made.
Ann reveals to Leslie that she's considering moving away from Pawnee in the near future. The news does not sit well with Leslie, and she inevitably takes her frustration out on everyone else.
Tom, knowing that the ERIC program will no doubt replace him, makes sure Leslie thinks "Eric" is a terrible person by describing him as someone with a bad attitude, unreliable, and racist. Ron Dunn decides to leave and pursue a different path. April tricks Tynnyfer into going to Dwayne Wade's house. As for the other Eagleton workers, only Craig is competent, and when Donna realizes how passionate he is about his job, she offers to give it up for him. However, she's allowed to keep her job.
Having realized how selfish she was being with Ann's decision to move, Leslie agrees to sit down with Ann and talk things over.
Chris and Ben go out to dinner after a long day of auditing and sorting out the financial mess Eagleton left behind. Both of them eventually realize that their former life was never really that great, as they remember the times when after a long day of slashing budgets in a random town, they'd end up back in a crummy hotel and eating together in a sleazy bar, much like where they are right now. They agree that things are better now because they both have someone special in their lives. Chris then tells Ben that he and Ann are leaving Pawnee. Ben is sad about this but is happy for them.
Tropes
- Actual Pacifist: Ron Dunn, as evidenced by this exchange.Ron Dunn: Just remember, Ron - giving in to hate is like drinking saltwater. The thirst only grows worse.
Ron: Leslie, remove this man from my office before I commit an act of violence against him.
Ron Dunn: Whatever you do, I won't fight back. (gives the peace sign) - Doppelgänger: It's even the title of the episode. The Pawnee City Hall gang meets their counterparts after Pawnee annexes a broke Eagleton and everyone from the Eagleton government comes over. Hilariously, Ron's doppelganger is a sandal-wearing vegan.
- Fun with Acronyms: Tom's job is threatened by the implementation of a computer program, E.R.I.C.(Eagleton Reservation Information Center). Tom replaces it with T.O.M. (Townwide Organizational Matrix).
- It's All About Me: Leslie takes it very personally that Ann wants to leave town and starts taking it out on everyone.
- Job-Stealing Robot: The ERIC program is this to Tom, who decides to use it to his advantage without losing his own job.
- Malicious Misnaming: When Jerry returns from retirement, he asks his coworkers to start calling him by his real name. April declares his name is "Larry Gengurch" and it sticks.
- New-Age Retro Hippie: Ron Dunn is a nature-loving vegan with an affinity for astrology.
- No Indoor Voice: Craig Middlebrooks.
- One-Steve Limit: Averted with Ron Swanson and Ron Dunn.
- Sixth Ranger: Craig is the only member of the Eagleton Parks and Rec department to stay in Pawnee.
- Shadow Archetype: The eponymous Eagleton doppelgangers act as this to the Pawnee Parks and Rec employees. Ron Dunn, in particular, shares many similarities with Ron Swanson (a love for the outdoors, a stern and stoic demeanor, a magnificent mustache, and is a Terse Talker), as well as many differences (practices veganism, is into astrology, and abhors violence of any kind).
- Upper-Class Equestrian: The wealthy Eagletonians have a "Department of Dressage" as part of their government.Leslie: There are two Eagleton departments Pawnee does not have: The Department of Infinity Pool Design and the Department of Dressage, which I'm told is a fancy horse riding thing.
Eagleton Resident: It is horse dancing, madam! - Valley Girl: April's Eagleton Doppelganger, Tynnyfer. Also invoked by April who impersonates her, all for one big practical joke involving sending Tynnyfer to Dwyane Wade's house.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Ron calls out Leslie on the Loyalty Contracts and tells her that she has lost her mind as well for taking out her anger on Ann possibly leaving on everyone else.
