Marvelous Geeks

In a myriad of ways, Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s “The Last Day” is a love letter to the friendships that were established in this series. It is a love letter to every memory, every heist, every laugh, every tear, every failed attempt, and every single person that has ever made an impact, Gina Linetti and Michael Hitchcock, included.

One final heist to mark Jake Peralta’s goodbye would not have been complete without the two surprises, and one final heist would not have been as chaotic as it was if it weren’t for the team ultimately showing each other just how much they care through the ridiculous “betrayals.” Because that’s what the heists always came down to, glory for one, but a promise to all. Win or lose, that was never the sole purpose. It was instead a showcase of the fact that the bonds solidified between the 99th Precinct are forever.

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I don’t know who’s waited for this emotional exchange between Holt and Jake in “The Last Day” more, us, Jake Peralta or Amy Santiago. A scene that ended up being so much more than what I could have ever imagined too.

In the end, they rubbed off on each other quite a bit—title of their sex movie. No words. None. When were introduced to Holt and Jake’s dynamic in the Pilot, it became perfectly clear then that they’d both have monumental impact on one another. And what Brooklyn Nine-Nine has done best is developed this so brilliantly, the beauty is found in the subtlety. Jake’s issues with his own father was a catalyst he needed to work with throughout his journey, but his relationship with Holt was paved through mutual respect and understanding.

In trying to gain Holt’s respect, Jake Peralta grew as a stronger character and an even better person. And it all happened without him ever knowing they’d come to this place.

It’s why this moment between Holt and Jake in “The Last Day” works so well because Jake wasn’t looking to hear this right now. This decision to leave the police force was the one thing he needed to do not for accolades or praise, but because he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, it’s what he wanted for his own son. His own life. And coming to this understanding with Amy is what makes Holt’s words feel that much more achingly cathartic because when Jake says, “I wasn’t expect to get so emotional,” he means it with utmost sincerity.

He means it because both Jake and Amy have grown significantly as people because of the respect they’ve seen in Holt.

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Cool cool cool cool, it’s the 99 day. September 9 will forever be remembered as so. Brooklyn Nine-Nine might be ending soon, but it’s the show that deserves celebrations yearly and that will likely be the case as its one of the most bingeable shows to exist. When a show has too many amazing episodes to choose from, it’s the ultimate showcase of excellence, and that is most certainly the case with Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Season 5, Episode 9: “99”

While season five has a number of fantastic episodes like “Jake and Amy”, and “The Box”, the reality is, I don’t think I can write about their friendships enough. I’m not strong enough. And “99” beautifully encapsulates what makes the series so unique, and it does with raw, human moments that I firmly believe could melt even Scrooge’s heart.

When the team learns that Holt’s been the one sabotaging his own interview for commissioner, he finally reveals the deal he made to get Jake and Rosa out of prison, essentially solidifying that he is “Daptain.” In every sense of the word, “99” showcases that the precinct is home. It gives Amy the platform to show off her organizational skills fiercely under “The Final Countdown,” it gives Jake the platform to not only geek over Die Hard sets, but to learn how loved he truly is, it gives Rosa the platform to come out and feel good about it, it gives Terry mints, and it gives Holt hope in the fact that he wouldn’t deal with the aftermath of the deal alone. It reminds Holt that this is his family, his lifelong team. It’s a long, beautiful way from the Pilot. It does all this in an episode that had me laughing out loud from beginning to end. Jake’s “take my picture with it” is a mood. I think we’d all definitely do the same if someone ever let us near the Brooklyn Nine-Nine set.

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine has always been the show to take stands because it mattered, and never because it was performative. This show didn’t choose diversity to check off boxes and get brownie points, but because celebrating humanity in a way that was authentic was always its priority.

And thereby, Brooklyn Nine-Nine couldn’t ignore the atrocities against Black men and women in 2020 (along with the systemic racism long before that). It couldn’t ignore the fact that as police officers, they are part of the problem and needed to make their understanding clear. While there is very little I can speak on as a white woman,“The Good Ones” does an incredible job of revealing that the show cares about getting this right.

Sure, not at all police officers are part of the problem, but the corruption within the institution is everyone’s problem. The systemic racism in this country is on all of us. It starts from the ground up and it starts with having difficult conversations. It starts by looking within and that’s precisely what “The Good Ones” and “The Lake House” does.

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine at its core has always been about the friendships—you could spend pages just listing every incredible thing they’ve each done for each other, and the ways they’ve been there for one another. (And yes, someday I actually will.) But in “Show Me Going,” it’s not just about the lengths they’re willing to go forward each other, it’s about how they’re going to help themselves in the process too.

After learning that there’s an active shooter situation that Rosa is on call during, the squad panics at the thought of their losing their friend, and the helplessness the situation has ultimately put them in. And when Jake decides he can no longer standby doing nothing physically, Holt tells him to help his team emotionally, implying that it’s not something that comes easy to him otherwise he’d be the one to do so. But Jake initially refuses and states that he’s going in to physically help Rosa instead, only to show up with pizza later asking the team to share their emotions.

On any other show (except Ted Lasso), a moment like this might not have worked as well because it wouldn’t match the series’ tone. Except from day one Brooklyn Nine-Nine has made it clear that emotions matter and they matter tremendously.

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April 1-7 “The Box” | Brooklyn Nine-Nine

It’s been another stellar week into Spring TV with a sweet episode of When Calls the Heart, a gorgeous display of marriage on Madam Secretary, a meme-filled hysterical half hour of Black-ish, a haunting episode of The Americans, and an incredibly relatable episode of Superstore. (Especially for those of us who are multi-lingual!) But from the moment this week’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine concluded, I knew it’d be the most exquisite thing I’d watch all week.

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