Hey everyone! Before I get into this recap + thoughts, I have an announcement to make: I've decided to structure my blog by reviewing one show per week, because so many of my shows have premiered already and I don't possibly have the time to do episode by episode thoughts like last year. This means that for whatever show I review that week, I will recap all the episodes that have aired by then, and first up is my newest comfort show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
After binge watching B99 over the summer, I eagerly awaited the premiere of its fifth season, and it didn't disappoint. Let's get into it!
Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows the daily lives of Brooklyn's 99th police precinct, and perfectly combines genuinely funny humor with speaking out about social justice issues. If you want to escape the angst and inconsistent writing of whatever drama/fantasy/action show you're currently watching, B99 is the place to do it.
Since Jake and Rosa were wrongly framed for robbing banks by dirty cop
From a cannibal to knife-wielding gang members, Jake meets all kinds of people in prison. He finds himself stuck between two sides, making deals with both a notorious illegal good distributor and the corrupt prison warden just to keep himself alive. It's important that Jake begins to see the dark side of police work - of the poor conditions some of the prisoners must face, and how the life of a wrongly accused defendant would unfairly rot away. Since B99 is primarily a comedy, Jake's trauma is downplayed, but obvious all the same. Some of the humor worked, such as when Romero accepts Jake into his gang only because Jake had previously advised him to sprinkle some uncooked ramen noodles as garnish for the soup. Other times, the supposed hilarity of the scene fell flat: There's one memorable moment where Jake repeatedly suffers physical beatings in the hopes of firing an unethical guard (And this is to save the guard's life, instead of letting Romero kill him!). While I guess it was meant to be funny, it just seemed like it was poking fun at police brutality.
On the bright side, Jake and Amy's relationship is still going as strong as ever. One of my favorite parts about Peraltiago is that the two just love each other - accepting of relatively unimportant character flaws but actively working to improve on the more serious ones, and vowing to always be there for each other. I appreciate how their love for each other is obvious and naturally worked into the scenes - not necessarily the main drama or storyline episode after episode, but enough for the fans to be content. (Looking at the Arrow writers here - I love Olicity to death, but so much relationship drama could've been prevented. I still have war flashbacks.) In fact, all Jake wanted was a cell phone so he could talk to Amy, and she vows to bust him out as soon as possible.
Rosa is also dealing with some serious trauma, but Rosa being Rosa effectively puts up her "I don't care about anything" facade. Terry and Holt try their best to accommodate her, but all Rosa wants is to be treated like her pre-prison self. The rare moments where Rosa actually gets emotional are so important, and we must protect her.
Luckily, the prison arc doesn't last for long, since a third party source divulges that Lt. Hawkins hides the jewels inside the pigs. Rosa doesn't have to murder Hawkins and gain yet another life sentence, but the two aren't quite back to normal. Jake is mature enough to realize he isn't quite ready to go back into the field. Rosa takes out her anger in typical Rosa fashion, cutting a hole in the break room table with a knife. She also breaks up with Pimento (finally!). Pimento was okay, I guess, but everyone and their mother wants Rosa to date a girl. Even Stephanie Beatriz, the bisexual legend we cherish but don't deserve, is down for this concept. MAKE IT HAPPEN, WRITERS!
And of course, what is a B99 season without a Halloween heist episode? With four winners now - Jake, Holt, Amy and Gina - everyone has been eagerly awaiting the heist and making plans since literally last year. This year's item to steal is a
After persuading the Boyle look-alike back to his side with an offer of an eight thousand grand investment (is the show going to acknowledge the consequences of signing those contracts though?), Jake steals Amy's safe, but Amy discovers this before Jake can claim his prize. Excitedly, she pulls out the cummerbund, ready to be hailed as the best detective of the precinct, until she reads the actual words engraved on it: Amy Santiago, will you marry me?
Stunned, Amy turns around to see Jake down on one knee, and of course she says yes (!!!!!). I literally screamed and jumped up and down in giddiness as I watched what I have dubbed The Scene, and I think we can agree that we are all Boyle, who promptly faints out of happiness when he discovers the engagement. Honestly, that was the best, most creative marriage proposal ever. Every other ship out there better step their game up. I am so, so excited for Peraltiago's married future, full of fluff and endless love, and after all they've been through, they deserve this so much. Of course, I know it won't be all fun and games, but let me just appreciate this, okay?
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is that rare show that is consistent with the characters' actions, motives and personalities, and actually builds on previous storylines and developments instead of conveniently forgetting about them. Watching each episode is just plain fun, even the "darker" ones. Jake can be his silly, dorky self, while also being a proud feminist and LGBTQ+ ally. Amy and Rosa bring much needed, positive Latina representation, and Holt does the same with gay black men. Everyone is lovable in their own way, even Hitchcock and Scully, the most useless members of the precinct; it also helps that the B99 cast are pure and amazing in real life, and constantly speak out about social issues. I'm really excited to be watching this season as it airs, and can't wait to see where the Nine-Nine go next - and what iconic quotes they'll drop on us as well.
See you next time with a recap of The Flash!
Extras that didn't make it in:
- Terry being tricked into eating at least 3 GPS trackers was brilliant.
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