Season 1 - 22 episodes (2013-2014)
Season 2 - 23 episodes (2014-2015)
Season 3 - 23 episodes (2015-2016)
Season 4 - 22 episodes (2016-2017)
Season 5 - 22 episodes (2017-2018)
Season 6 - 18 episodes (2019)
Season 7 - 13 episodes (2020)
Season 8 - 10 episodes (2021)
Rent Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Dan Goor, Michael Schur
Starring: Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, Dirk Blocker, Joel McKinnon Miller
Rated: TV-14
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Plot
A workplace ensemble comedy following the exploits of Detective Jake Peralta and his diverse, lovable colleagues as they police the NYPD's 99th Precinct.
Verdict
It's an ensemble that uses all the characters so
well, and the simple setting lends itself well to comedy. This is such a funny and energetic show that starts strong and gets even better after the first season as we get to know the characters. The characters combined create a great comedic dynamic and the show uses them well. This revels in one liners, non sequiturs, and elaborate cover stories. Later seasons do shift to a Flanderization of characters, making
their traits more over the top. It's still good, but it often
goes for the easy laugh. The last two seasons do dip with the final season trying to do too much and feeling unfocused.
Watch It.
Review
This is a simple premise that's wildly funny. Most of the show occurs at the police station. It's a comedy, so it isn't realistic, but it plays on assumptions and how entertainment has portrayed the police. Everyone plays their part well and it's the interplay and cut aways that make this so humorous. Jake (Andy Samberg) is the class clown, selfish and ridiculous. He's a near one liner machine, but much of that is setup with Ray Holt's (Andre Braugher) steely seriousness. He's so serious and boring it often makes the joke. In the rare moments when he breaks from his typical demeanor, it's hilarious. Amy (Melissa Fumero) is the fastidious career focused cop that wants a promotion and is desperate for Holt's praise. Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) is tough and stoic. Doyle (Joe Lo Truglio) plays the eager to please pushover and Jake's enthusiastic best friend. Terry (Terry Crews) is the caring sergeant. Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller) are the frequently gross comic relief.
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| Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher play Jake Peralta, Raymond Holt |
Episodes revolve around whatever case they're working on or comes up. In season one Jake learns to be a team player and mature under Holt's leadership. He's always angling for the big case and quick to come up with a cover story for when he needs to go under cover. Terry might be the most normal of the group, pushing them to act better or protecting them as needed. Doyle overcomes his unrequited feelings for Rosa as Jake learns he has feelings for Amy. The first season also marks the start of the Halloween heist episodes and introduces the Pontiac Bandit Doug Judy (Craig Robinson). He and Jake form an unlikely friendship and Doug Judy's episodes are a lot of fun.
Season two's Halloween heist is even better. The show set this up episodes in advance. These episodes become a highlight of every season. This show is a one liner showcase and the series knows it, but it uses the characters to great effect. The reoccurring jokes hit a stride in the second season. Holt's jokes are always hilarious becomes he so rarely breaks character.
In season three Jake gives up a high profile arrest to help Holt. He's a lot less selfish than the Jake we first met. The Halloween heist episode is absolutely great and hilarious. Jake and Amy start dating and we meet Adrian Pimento (Jason Mantzoukas) who starts a plot line that runs into the finale.
By season four this is still a very funny show but the characters are flatter and more of a stereotype. The Halloween heist episode is also a let down, though that's because the previous seasons have been so good. This season does a lot of upending the status quo.
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| Chelsea Peretti, Stephanie Beatriz, Dirk Blocker, Joe Lo Truglio, Joel McKinnon Miller play Gina, Rosa, Hitchock, Boyle, Scully |
After season five, Fox canceled the show only for NBC to pick it up for three more seasons. I did really like episode fourteen's interrogation. Season six is still solid, but season seven feels like the show is running out of ideas and trying to change it up by bumping Holt down to patrol. I like Boyle's tough guy magic jacket episode. Debbie (Vanessa Bayer) was an odd character, which is strange in a show that's so ridiculous and over the top that she's not believable.
Season eight is the shortest season and a lot more serious. It tries to tackle the Corona Virus, George Floyd, and police brutality in just the first episode. This just isn't the show I watch to tackle issues. I'm sure part of it is that the show felt they needed to address it due to the setting. Holt's marriage falters and then we get into police harassment. I wondered why Rosa and Holt are split from the rest of the group so much this season. Could it be they weren't available due to other commitments? I miss the group being all together. The series does end well with another heist.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is so much fun. It's an easy watch and always hilarious. Few shows manage to be laugh out loud funny so often and consistently. While the show remains funny throughout, it's peak is the first four seasons. The only season that feels like it loses focus is the eighth season.
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