Top 35 Shows of 2013: No 23 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
My wife was murdered by a man in a yellow sweater! It’s the one case I can’t solve!
Comedies often struggle in their first seasons but thanks to his years of experience on The Officeand Parks and Recreation Mike Schur has managed to avoid the usual problems and Brooklyn Nine-Nine is having a strong freshman year.
I had my doubts when it came to the show because of the presence of Andy Samberg a man that you either love or hate but somehow over the course of the last couple of months I’ve managed to tolerate, hell occasionally even like his character Detective Jake Peralta. Pairing Peralta with Andre Braugher’s Captain Holt is a trick the show keeps coming back to because it works so well. Holt sees something in Peralta and in turn Peralta respects his boss and their friendship and working relationship is becoming oddly touching. Peralta may be a manchild but they have slowly turned him into a rounded character and you can understand why the rest of the Precinct tolerates and hell even likes him
The real strength of Brooklyn Nine-Nine is more than just the brilliant dead-pan reaction of Holt and his odd couple pairing with Peralta, it is with the supporting cast that Brooklyn really shines. I don’t think I will ever tire of Terry Crews Sergeant Terry Jeffords speaking about himself in third person or being anxious at doing his job, I love Detective Amy Santiago and her little victory dances when she gets Holt’s approval, Gina is just so weird at times and pairing her with different characters is a treasure trove of comedy. As the show hits the mid-season we are getting great material for everyone, Detective Charles Boyle and his obsession with food, Detective Rosa Diaz becoming more than just an angry cop.
I hope to spend many seasons with this show getting to know the characters, getting silly flashbacks to Holt’s 1980s days, wondering if Boyle ever has a chance with Rosa and just embracing the madness.
Comedy shows being this good so early on is something so rare that I’m just happy to enjoy the ride.
Favourite Episodes: The Vulture / Thanksgiving
