Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s latest season has got some of the best-written episodes. The way it talks about police brutality, discrimination with impeccable humor just blows my mind. In fact, O’Sullivan’s character in Season 8 is the perfect blend of parody, satire, and sheer wit.
While watching the current season, I sort of started looking back at some of my favorite episodes throughout the show’s run. It’s pretty interesting to see how the show can showcase great depths of human behavior and emotion while also keeping the underlying tone utterly hysterical.
So next thing you know, here I am with the top 15 Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes so far! But before I start, here’s a small game (Title of Amy’s sex tape!) Let’s see if you can remember which episode it is by reading the title itself.
Also, every episode has a link at the end, so in case you want to relive it or refresh your memory, knock yourself out.
15 Young Hitchcock And Scully
Episode Name – Hitchcock & Scully | Season 6 Episode 2
An origin story for this duo had to be there. This episode definitely answered our question, “What happened to you guys?”
The episode begins with a couple of macho dapper-looking cops who are on an undercover mission. They are tall, strong, and can knock the air out of bad guys. Spoiler alert: They are young versions of Hitchcock and Scully.
In present-day, the case resurfaces, and just like the other characters, we’re taken back to the wild 1980s when Scully and Hitchcock were the OG studs who’d make you go “meow.”
14 When Jake Met Papa Santiago
Episode Name – Mr. Santiago | Season 4 Episode 7
Who thought Jake would fall in love with binders, post-its, color-coded bookmarks, and files. The things you do for love. It’s the classic meet the parents episode, but it’s Amy who is nervous this time. That’s an understatement because she’s hyperventilating.
What makes the episode much more chaotic, messy, and a laughing riot is that everybody from the precinct will be at Amy’s place. When it comes to 99, everybody messes up just at the perfect time.
Victor Santiago is a little uptight who arranges money in his wallet in order of their serial numbers. Well, a Jake Vs. Victor scenario is a must-watch for everyone.
13 The Final Ploy Of Madeline Wuntch
Episode Name – Ding Dong | Season 7 Episode 7
There were more twists in this episode than all M Night Shyamalan’s movies combined. Actually, leave out The Sixth Sense (that was too good) just like Raymond Holt should’ve.
Madeline Wuntch, who is a part-time cop and full-time AntiHolt propagandist (HoltHater was too basic), tries to ruin Holt’s career from her grave. I guess Holt’s in grave danger (#SorryNotSorry).
What happens when two people know each other too much and still try to outwit the other? That’s what this episode brings out. Madeline Wuntch goes to ridiculous limits to bring down Holt and to make us laugh. You know what they say, the ghosts of your past never leave you.
12 99 Meets The Vulture
Episode Name – The Vulture | Season 1 Episode 5
Before you utterly hate him and cuss him in your mind, you have to admit, he does a pretty good job of making you hate him. The first season gave us some impeccable episodes that surrounded so many work-related stereotypes.
Colleagues who take credit for your work was one amongst them. Right from the moment The Vulture swoops in, the heat’s turned on in the 99. He’s one of those villains who doesn’t have a catchphrase but honestly great demeanor.
I’m not saying he’s good-looking, but he could be pretty charming if not for the innate sexism he’s born with. Well, why don’t you just find out?
11 The Annual Beach House Party
Episode Name – Beach House | Season 2 Episode 12
You can’t always chill with your boss because you sort of has to bitch about them. It’s an employee’s right. But what if your boss wants to chill with you?
Jake invites Captain Holt to the Detectives Only Getaway (DOG) annual beach party where all precinct members have a great weekend and nobody talks shop. However, with the Captain around, they feel they can’t be themselves. Luckily we’ve got the six drink Amy keeping it cool and Jake to save the day – just like always.
P.S. You’ve also got one of the best cold opens of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Don’t miss it.
10 Charles’ Bachelor Party
Episode Name – Bachelor/ette Party | Season 5 Episode 19
I like calling Charles’ bachelor party because he was invested in it way more than Jake, Terry, and Captain Holt. The over-the-top treasure hunt adventure is classic Charles, but it quickly becomes a real adventure.
Charles’ antiques never fail to make me laugh. Literally, NEVER. If you thought they were hilarious, wait till you see his bachelor party go sideways that he had planned for ten years. I just have one thought though, did he like to update the plan as tech progressed.
Never mind. I shouldn’t be trying to find logic in Charles’ plans. You shouldn’t either because it is as crazy as it gets.
9 Amy Loves The Puzzle Master
Episode Name – The Puzzle Master | Season 5 Episode 15
There’s no cuter site than Jake getting jealous of someone because Amy likes them, except when it is Captain Holt.
In the long list of people Amy worships, this time, we saw the puzzle master, who is also a fashion model. Jake and I both wished he knew that before inviting him to solve the case of an arsonist who loves crossword puzzles.
It’s borderline obsessive but mostly cute because Jake does learn to be okay with it and secure with himself. Or does he?
8 Jake Turns Into A Prisoner
Episode Name – The Big House Part 1 & 2 | Season 5 Episode 1 and 2
It’s not an escape plan situation with Jake because he is just too nice for a prison. In fact, he’s nice enough to become friends with a cannibal prisoner. Nope, it’s not as cool as The Silence of the Lambs, but it’s pretty hilarious.
There are many firsts in this duology of episodes. The first time we see Jake high. The first time we see Jake with a beard. The first time we see Jake become friends with a criminal. Scratch that. It’s the second time. Is it just me, or is there a pattern here?
Either way, Jake and his adventures in prison are as clumsy as Charles with a muffin. It’s a treat to watch Jake in orange, and honestly, he makes prison look like a children’s theme park whose theme is prisons. That sounds dark.
7 Jake And Holt Head To Florida
Episode Name – Coral Palms Part 1, 2, and 3 | Season 4 Episode 1, 2, and 3
It should be a crime to make the witness protection program look so cool. Jake and Captain Holt are stuck in Florida for their safety and have developed their own quirks over few months.
Jake with his golden hair, Holt with his jogs with the ladies; it’s all pretty bling and vibrant out there. Needless to say, there’s a Jake V Holt situation because they both think they’re too smart for the others, but of course, more serious things or rather people are approaching their safe place.
P.S. You’d love to see Jake and Amy see each other again, and yes, Charles will be there too. He is everywhere, and honestly, I love it.
6 A Yarn Of Tales In The Jimmy Jab Games
Episode Name – The Jimmy Jab Games | Season 2 Episode 3
What is life without a little bit of fun, right? With this episode, we’re entering some of the most entertaining and smartly written episodes of the show so far.
I know the Halloween Heist is the showstopper episode of every season, but the Jimmy Jab games are almost equally good as that episode.
Here’s why it’s one of my favorite episodes. It ties in Jake trying to move on from Amy, Holt, and Wuntch’s rivalry and the risk of Charles and Gina’s FWB secret coming out in the open. That’s a long sentence. Let me take a breath. As I said, it’s so well written it balances it all out and makes us laugh our asses off.
5 Jake And Amy’s Worst (Best) Date
Episode Name – The Bet | Season 1 Episode 13
‘It’s all about volume’ – Title of Amy’s Sex Tape. I guess that’s when Jake fell for Amy when trying to catch nuts with her mouth. That should be the title of Amy’s Sex Tape.
Jake didn’t plan the rooftop stakeout date, but he chose it over midnight at Time’s Square in the end. The best part about this episode wasn’t even the cute couple vibes but the gags.
Right from the $1 ring to the Titanic dance, Jake’s suit + shorts outfit, and of course the stripper, it is all slapstick humor, and there’s not too much wit in the jokes. But they just go so well with Jake’s persona that we are all in.
4 PB & J Meet For The First Time
Episode Name – The Pontiac Bandit | Season 1 Episode 12
The Pontiac Bandit Jake Peralta’s friendship has a fan following of its own. The premise of a cop and a criminal might not seem absurd, but the things they do sure are.
The chemistry between the two actors is so good, and the characters gel so well that even Charles Boyle is jealous of Judy.
We’ve seen an appearance from this character every season, but the first season remains my favorite. Not because it was the funniest, but the narrative was the most unpredictable back then, and it kept you hooked. There were lesser gags, but the story was fresh.
In a way, this episode just sets the tone for other recurring appearances, and it just got funnier with every season.
P.S. Watch season 8, and you’ll love the way the writers brought closure to PB & J’s relationship.
3 Jake Peralta: Amazing Detective/Genius
Episode Name – Halloween | Season 1 Episode 6
The Halloween heist had to be in the top 3, and yes, the OG heist is legit the best. Not because Jake won (A little because Jake won), but it’s again about the unpredictability. At every point, you didn’t know what would happen, and the surprise twist was worth the wait.
I think the twist in the tale is a simple trope that B99 uses pretty well. Don’t worry. I’m not going to get into too many details and let you catch the episode yourself.
P.S. Got to say the best part about the episode was Jake’s Shakespearean speech.
2 Sullivan And The Good Ones
Episode Name – The Good Ones | Season 8 Episode 1
The latest season began with tackling police brutality and racism against the black community. The way they’ve done it is pretty well-thought-out and even slightly steers away from the classic 99 tropes.
Episode one is probably one of the best-written episodes that is filled with just enough gags that add to the seriousness of the issue and carry forward the narrative. Check this episode out not because it is about a sensitive issue but because of the impeccable way it tackles it.
It will definitely be one of the episodes that I’ll remember for a long time.
1 The Interrogation With Three Hot Damns
Episode Name – The Box | Season 5 Episode 14
The Interrogation episode called ‘The Box’ is the best-written episode on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The episode surrounds Holt and Jake trying to get a confession from a criminal against a ticking clock.
If you remember, this episode has only one plotline and just three characters – Captain Holt, Jake, and the dentist (who, by the way, gave a chilling performance. Like literal chills).
I know the plot sounds like an intense police drama, and that’s exactly what this episode is with a few fleeting moments of chuckles. This episode just like the #2 episode on this list showed that the writers can really turn the heat on any time they wanted.
Can we just say noine-noine! Before we binge-watch all episodes.
Shh. Not a doctor.
About Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is an American police procedural comedy television series created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur.
The show stars Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, Stephanie Beatriz as Rosa Diaz, Terry Crews as Terry Jeffords, Melissa Fumero as Amy Santiago, Joe Lo Truglio as Charles Boyle, Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti, Andre Braugher as Captain Holt, Dirk Blocker as Michael Hitchcock, and Joel McKinnon Miller as Norm Scully.
Braugher has been nominated four times for the Primetime Emmy Award and has twice won the Critics’ Choice Television Award. The show has also received a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series portrayal of LGBTQ+ people.
The series revolves around Jake Peralta, a talented but immature NYPD detective in Brooklyn’s fictional 99th Precinct, who often comes into conflict with his commanding officer, the serious and stern Captain Raymond Holt.
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