Watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine is like being caught up in a police chase with punchlines flying everywhere. What started out as a platform for one-man joke factory Andy Samberg has evolved into an ensemble comedy with a superbly varied cast of characters.
The initial premise of Samberg as hotshot maverick detective Jake Peralta being pulled into line by his new superior Captain Holt plays a lesser part as Brooklyn hit its stride in the second season. Despite the lovable Peralta confessing his desire to go all “romantic styles” with his super-professional partner Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) early on, more comically rewarding plots are emerging.
Detractors may have been shocked when Samberg won a Golden Globe for best comedy actor, and the show beat Girls and Modern Family to best TV comedy, but the more you watch it the funnier it gets.
Life at the 99th precinct is more akin to Cagney and Lacey than NCIS, from the 1970s-style opening credits to the withering looks the women dish out to their male colleagues. Captain Holt, played by Homicide: Life on the Street’s Andre Braugher, is the perfect antidote to Samberg’s puppyish humour. He’s a robot of a man, incapable of expressing emotion: he can even make an invitation to his own birthday party sound like a threat. “There is very little street parking, no gifts, no singing of Happy Birthday,” he says, with that deadpan face that does the work of a hundred quirky one-liners. “Should be fun.” But behind the tough facade lies a touching back story: he’s been openly gay in the force since the mid-80s and has taken his fair share of abuse. No wonder he has little room for sentiment. Or indeed slushy things like family photos. “If you love someone, you’ll remember what they look like,” he says.
Silliness abounds, too, whether it’s Detective Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) doing the Single Ladies dance joined by two cell-bound prostitutes or the ridiculous disguises employed when the force go undercover. “You look like a Boyz II Men Easter album,” deadpans Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), who’s typical of the sort of strong and sexy woman taking no, ahem, prisoners in the precinct.
These are characters who have been gifted with the best one-liners and allowed to blossom. Visually, Diaz’s style conjures up the spirit of Wendy and Lisa in Purple Rain. Always a good thing, especially when combined with lines like: “What kind of woman doesn’t have an axe?” She’s moody and mysterious, so much so that even Peralta, who claims to be a childhood friend, only knows three facts about her personal life.
Chelsea Peretti’s Gina is given full rein to explore her eccentricity and ego. All men are “at least 30% attracted” to her. “My mother cried the day I was born because she knew she’d never be prettier than me,” she states in a matter-of-fact way. Santiago’s uptight heroine plays the tame role, despite the team’s eagerness to find out what happens when she morphs into Six Drink Amy.
With a third season confirmed and guest appearances from Eva Longoria, Nick Cannon and Kid Cudi, who Peralta serenades in an attempt to annoy a confession out of him, Brooklyn’s game is stronger than ever. Like Samberg, it’s smart but goofy and a whole lot of fun.
