Ron Swanson’s final story could have been one of manliness and independence, or perhaps a simple vision of he and Diane retired to a cabin in the woods, with young John Swanson chopping wood or fashioning a log into a life lesson. Instead, for the first time since we met this wonderful Parks and Recreation character seven seasons ago, Ron was lost and actually wanted Leslie’s help in choosing the next step in his life. Sure, it helped that Lucy Lawless was unavailable for the entire final season, but when you think about it, Ron finally letting Leslie into his life by allowing her to help him professionally and emotionally was the strongest step the character could take, and therefore it was the perfect ending.
But still, devoted fans of the series and especially diehard Swansonites wanted to at least see Ron in a true Highlander moment, battling the man who would eventually try to take his life and massive fortune in gold. Fortunately, as Nick Offerman told Entertainment Weekly, the man who portrayed this mustachioed scion of awesomeness can give us a better mental picture of what happened to Ron Swanson after we left him on that lake.
“I think he’s very curmudgeonly with the rangers but they grow to love him and understand him and to play by his rules,” he tells EW. “And I think that they maintain the most magnificent park in the country. And even though it’s a small park in Indiana, they begin to win awards for their stewardship.” That sounds lovely. And how does he ultimately expire? Is it at the hands of a mightier opponent—perhaps a grizzly bear or a younger, stronger park ranger? “I would very much admire to think that, first of all, Ron discovers what would be an impossibly rare grizzly bear in the state of Indiana,” he continues. “It must be the great-grandfather of the Midwestern grizzly line. They probably become friends first and patrol the woods together before they ultimately, at a ripe old age, decide on a murder-suicide. There are no weapons involved and it’s almost simultaneous, and in response to the bear’s grateful muttered growl, Ron replies, ‘I’ll see you on the other side, friend.’” (Via Entertainment Weekly)
Mother. Of. God. I take it all back. Everyone back to the set. Michael Schur, round up the gang and get the cameras rolling, because we need to see Ron and his grizzly friend immediately. If Saul Goodman can get a spin-off, then Ron-F*cking Swanson should, too. Especially if it involves a bear.
