Brooklyn Nine-Nine Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a cleverly written show with adorable characters and witty humor. It is one of the only shows that manages to weave together a case investigation with multiple subplots in an average runtime of 24 minutes. By doing just that, and creating a police procedural comedy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine sets itself apart.

The fantastic cast and character development throughout the series’ progression and the fact that the show manages to tackle many social issues with great care and maturity set it in a league of itself.

1. Quick Review

Brooklyn Nine-Nine highlights and tackles many social issues while remaining funny and weaving a plot in its fast-paced episodes. It is one of the best comedies on television with an exceptional collection of unique characters, portrayed by a diverse cast. The show focuses on themes of love, loyalty, and friendship while highlighting systematic racism and homophobia in society.

The writers of Brooklyn Nine-Nine do an exceptional job and manage to balance the police work with several parallel plots. The characters evolve and mature, and the show has many running gags and parallel storylines in the episodes.

2. Info & Watch Links

3. Is It Worth Watching?

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of those rare shows that will make you a better person by watching it. It separates the comedic moments from the serious and emotional ones, and all the dialogues remain effective. Led by Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has won two Emmys and two Golden Globes.

I. Plot

The series revolves around the detectives of the fictional 99th Precinct of the New York Police Department. The squad is led by the serious Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), the first openly gay, black Captain of the NYPD. His plans to turn the Nine-Nine into an efficient workforce are interrupted when he runs into Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg).

II. Cast & Characters

Every character in the Nine-Nine is multi-layered and multi-dimensional. They have come a long way, and their arcs have seen each of them evolve into better human beings. The writers use these characters to break stereotypes and bring social issues and injustices to the limelight.

Jake is a brilliant detective with a high rate of case clearances, but he is a maverick, and would instead follow his instincts rather than orders. He has a charming and immature boyish vibe and has a crush on his partner Det. Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero).

Despite his immature boyish nature, he never cracks offensive jokes and is a feminist, continually calling out bigotry and supporting women’s rights. He acknowledges that Amy is his equal and the better detective and is never opposed to learning and improving.

Amy is a nerdy, boss-pleasing type with a passion for organizing and planning stuff. She is Jake’s partner, but they are opposites and have different approaches to a case. Over the years, she has become more confident and overcoming the urge to please her peers.

RIP Snackie Chan | Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Her relationship with Jake is a complex and delicate romance that is depicted with maturity. Jake’s best friend, Det. Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) idolizes Jake and is willing to do anything to preserve their friendship.

He has an exotic taste in food and weird hobbies, which constantly disgust the squad. Charles has always had bad luck with women, but when he becomes a father, it brings out the brave, protective side.

His partner Det. Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) is a badass, no-nonsense, death-metal loving woman who drives a motorcycle. She manages to intimidate everyone on the squad, but underneath her tough exterior, she is a woman struggling to connect with her family and sexuality.

The Captain’s carefree, assistant Gina, has a passion for dancing and is obsessed with social media. She is extraordinarily narcissistic, and as the only civilian in the precinct, she manages to offer an outsider’s perspective to the squad’s investigations.

The squad reports to Sgt. Terry Jeffords, a muscular gentle giant, and is more afraid of his wife than any criminal. He is a family man and the father of two loving daughters and is the furthest thing from a traditionally macho hero, even though he is built like one.

Two obese paper-pushers, with a passion for eating anything round up the squad. Scully and Hitchcock are the oldest detectives on the squad, and they share a brotherly love and were the star detectives of the NYPD in their prime.

III. Social Commentary

Brooklyn Nine-Nine sheds light on many social issues and also portrays many different themes of friendship and love. The Captain’s sexuality by no means defines him, but his struggle to the top as a young, black, gay cop is highlighted through flashbacks.

He is in a relationship with a professor Kevin, and the show focuses on the idea that love is love, comparing their relationship with Amy and Jake.

The series doesn’t run from awkward moments and depicts Rosa coming out to her parents as bisexual, and how her parents aren’t supportive. While appearing to be the epitome of masculinity, Terry is a gentle, caring man whose world revolves around his daughters.

The relationship between Jake and Holt is one that takes longer to develop, but eventually, the Captain becomes a father figure to Jake. Jake’s traumatic childhood and his development as a person is a notable character arc.

4. Grade

5. Final Thoughts

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a show that tackles the problems around representation and diversity in Hollywood. It also manages to highlight the racism and homophobia in society, while supporting LGBTQ rights and characters. After doing all that, it still manages to remain funny and is a must-watch show for everyone.