<P> Scott first appeared in Parks and Recreation starting in the penultimate second - season episode, "The Master Plan", the same episode Rob Lowe joined the regular cast as Chris Traeger . The idea of a character trying to rebuild a government career following a humiliating public failure was one of the original ideas for the protagonist of Parks and Recreation . The idea was ultimately abandoned in favor of Leslie Knope's character, but those early ideas were ultimately incorporated into Ben Wyatt . Ben's role as a state auditor, and Pawnee's subsequent budget problems, were conceived from global economic crisis and news reports about government services getting shut down around the country . Scott described his character as "someone who jumped in on a moving train" in trying to integrate with the other characters . Ben was expected to become a love interest for Leslie Knope from his earliest conception . In addition to the growing relationship between Leslie and Ben, one of the biggest story arcs for season three was Ben's growing love of the city of Pawnee, which coincided with his romantic feelings for Leslie . Schur described Ben's character as one who never had a firm sense of home due to the excessive amount of traveling with his job, but who gradually grew to appreciate Pawnee due to the optimism and enthusiasm Leslie has for her job . </P> <P> The character received extremely positive reviews from critics and audiences alike . </P> <P> Alan Sepinwall of HitFix called Scott one of the "rare but special" actors who can be both "the sane and deadpan center of the madness, but can also go convincingly, amusingly mad". New York Daily News writer David Hinckley praised Scott's addition to the Parks and Recreation cast, claiming he "gets more of a character here than he does on Starz's entertaining Party Down and makes the best of it". Scott received particular praise for his performance in "Media Blitz", in which his awkward and panicked responses to media inquiries about his past led to what reviewers considered more outwardly comedic opportunities for the character, compared to his usual straight man role . Several reviewers mentioned that Ben Wyatt closely resembled Scott's character on Party Down, Henry Pollard . Ben's character is a politician who found great success at a young age, then suffered a downfall . Henry's character is an actor who became a caterer after his acting career declined . Scott himself has said that he feels they are "vastly different characters and circumstances ." </P>

When do ben and leslie get back together