- Leslie: There were many kinds of Greek goddesses. Some were lovers, some were warriors... and some were tricksters!
When Leslie tells Ben about the art show at the community center, Chris comes in and tells Ben he has set him up on a date. Ben seems reluctant to go out with this woman, and Leslie questions Chris about his rule against co-workers dating. Chris says it's not a problem here because she works in a different department. Leslie later laments to Ann about her feelings for Ben and Chris' rule against them dating, feeling powerless.
Meanwhile, now that he is staying in Pawnee permanently, Ben decides to move out of the motel where he has been staying in. Andy and April offer him a spare room in their house since Burly moved out and left the house to them. When he arrives, Ben is appalled at the condition of their house. Although the two have been living by themselves for only a week, the house is a complete mess with no everyday items like plates or utensils available. Ben decides to take it upon himself to teach the young couple how to properly live like adults. Andy is excited to learn, but April is nowhere near as enthusiastic.
Ron makes a short opening speech at the art show. When Leslie and her friends see the painting that Jerry has entered, Leslie is thrilled – the painting is of a topless female centaur hunting a deer, and Jerry subconsciously made her look like Leslie. Tom, however, is appalled – the painting includes a cherub that looks like a fat naked baby that has his face.
The next day, Chris calls Leslie to his office. He is meeting with Marcia Langman, who opposes the painting because of its nudity and "animal porn". She wants the painting destroyed and an apology from the department. Chris promises to find a solution. After Marcia leaves, Chris warns Leslie that though he does not oppose this kind of art, it's inappropriate for a government office.
Leslie goes on the news program "Ya' Heard? with Perd" to rouse public support for the painting by portraying it as a depiction of a powerful woman. However, she is undermined when reporter Perd Hapley also has Pawnee porn star Brandi Maxxxx on, who defends the painting by comparing it to pornography.
Chris scolds Leslie for appearing on Perd's show. Later, he brings together a meeting of the Pawnee Public Arts Commission to rule on whether the painting is acceptable. At the meeting, Tom speaks out against the painting. Leslie gives an impassioned speech about the value of art, while Marcia makes snide comments. Despite Leslie's eloquent defense, the commission fears the nudity is offensive and decides to destroy it instead of risking a public backlash. Marcia tries to arrange the burning of the painting, and she refuses when Leslie suggests she just keep it for herself. Undeterred, Leslie steals the painting and runs away.
With Ben's help, April and Andy clean up their house. Ben then gives them an advance on next month's rent and a shopping list, sending them to Bed, Bath & Beyond to buy some household necessities. As they shop, April and Andy fill up their cart with stuff from the "As Seen on TV" section. As they're about to go through the checkout line with their cart full of things not on Ben's list, Andy realizes they should put it back and get the items on the list. April, however, is resistant, as she's afraid of growing up because she does not want them to become boring, but Andy assures her they do not have to change themselves but can still be more responsible.
Leslie takes the painting to April and Andy's house and sees Ben is there, telling her that he's moved in. She explains the situation of the painting. She gets a call from Chris, angrily demanding Leslie bring the painting to city hall the next day to be destroyed. Leslie asks for Ben's advice and he tells her she shouldn't offend people. April and Andy come home and give their opinions on the painting. After Leslie leaves, Andy shoots Ben with a toy gun that shoots out marshmallows.
The next morning, Leslie tells Jerry that she's turning the painting over to Marcia. Jerry is surprised and disappointed because he didn't think Leslie would give in. She then has an idea. When Marcia shows up, Leslie shows her the painting. The centaur's top half has been changed to Tom's. Marcia leaves, deciding the painting is no longer obscene. It turns out that Leslie had Jerry make another painting, and she can still keep the one with herself as a centaur.
Chris congratulates Leslie for solving the problem. He asks Ben about his date, but Ben says he doesn't like her. Later, Ben crosses paths with Andy, who thanks Ben for helping him and April get dishes and silverware and reveals he knows Ben likes Leslie, which he approves of.
Tropes:
- Ambiguously Bi: When looking at the painting of the topless female centaur that resembles Leslie, Andy states that he would "totally hit that". April agrees with him.
- Braids of Action: A variation - the centaur in Jerry's painting is a hunter and has a small braid crown in her hair. Leslie wears her own hair in that style after becoming inspired by it.
- Call-Back: Ben refers to April and Andy's wedding when he sees the mess in their house:Ben: I was just here, like, three weeks ago for your wedding.
- Comically Missing the Point: Andy looks at the backside of the painting, thinking it's the front:Andy: I like it. It's very simple.
- Double Standard: Exploited by Leslie and Jerry; making the painting a shirtless male centaur means the Moral Guardians no longer think it's obscene.
- Freudian Slip: Of a sort - Jerry subconsciously made the centaur goddess in his painting look like Leslie because he thought of her when drawing a strong and badass woman. Meanwhile, he made a chubby cherub that resembles Tom, possibly as a way of getting back for all the times Tom made fun of him.
- Gilligan Cut: Ben gives words of encouragement to April and Andy for their shopping trip, then reveals his true feelings:Ben: I have complete faith in you. (later to the camera) There's like, a 30% chance they'll both die.
- Growing Up Sucks: April doesn't want to buy the "boring adult stuff" that Ben sent her and Andy to get (such as basic bathroom and kitchen supplies) because she doesn't want to become a "boring adult". Andy reassures her that they can become more responsible without losing their sense of fun and spontaneous nature.
- Has a Type: At the beginning of the episode, Chris sets Ben up on a date with a tall attractive brunette, as Ben often goes for them. Though with his interest in the blonde and petite Leslie, it's not exclusive.
- It's All About Me: Leslie twice shuts Jerry down when he wants to defend his own painting:
- When Chris calls Leslie to his office:
Jerry: Leslie, should I go too?Leslie: This isn't about you, Jerry.Jerry: It's my painting.- When Leslie defends the painting:
Jerry: Thank you, Leslie.Leslie: Stand down, Jerry, this isn't your fight. - It's Not Porn, It's Art: The painting of the centaur that looks like Leslie has her nude breasts on full display, inciting the offenses of Marcia Langman.
- Manchild: Andy and April's immaturity is on full display in their living situation, with Ben taking it upon himself to teach them how to be adults by helping them buy real plates and silverware and open a bank account.
- Self-Deprecation: Jerry tells Leslie that letting Marcia burn the painting is something he probably would've done and didn't expect her to give in.
- Shipper on Deck: Andy can tell quickly that Ben and Leslie like each other and states his approval for them to get together.
- Take a Third Option: Twice.
- When April says she doesn't want to buy a bunch of "boring adult stuff and become a boring adult", Andy assures her that they can still be responsible while still being fun at the same time. They buy the kitchen and bathroom supplies as well as the toy gun that shoots out marshmallows.
- Leslie finds a way to get Marcia Langman off her back and still keep the centaur painting for herself by getting Jerry to make a duplicate painting but with Tom as the centaur and passing it off as a paint-over.
- Trash of the Titans: April and Andy's place is a complete and utter mess until Ben kicks them into high gear. They've only been living alone for one week.
- You Keep Using That Word: Andy thinks it's cute that April doesn't clean and they eat off frisbees with one plastic fork between them. Ben even lampshades it.Ben: Do you even know what 'cute' means?!
