Per request, I have been summoned to review this show, please don't ask me about which evils have forced me into this as I'd rather not discuss it.
I’m a comedy person. If I'm scrolling through Netflix or wherever to find myself a movie or a TV show, nine times out of ten I’m going to choose the comedy genre. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a brilliant attempt at an immature style of comedy set within a serious environment. But unfortunately, you wouldn't know this based on the pilot episode of the series.
Although like every first episode it does qualify for doing what they're supposed to do, for example, illuminating how every episode is going to work or introducing your main characters and displaying their personality traits.
The show follows a different case per episode format like most police or detective shows do rather than just one long ongoing case throughout the season.
We’re immediately introduced to Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) who one could consider the main character. He's childish, doesn't take anything seriously but is the 99th precinct’s best detective.
He's joined by a whole host of fellow characters who each display their own identities, the best part of all this? The cast is fully immersed in the drama and not just used as side characters to Peralta. Each is eclectic and easy to relate to.
Rosa: Maybe it was just, like, that old person gunk. You know the way they’re always covered in gunk? Oldies are gross.
A personal favourite of mine is Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz). She’s tough, sarcastic and mysterious. If there’s any character you desperately need to know the backstory to just to solve some of the grey areas around them, it's Rosa, so hopefully, that comes up.This is one thing that Brooklyn Nine-Nine manages to achieve with their pilot episode. However, they didn't capture the full essence of what it is all about, instead, it feels very run of the mill comedy show.
The pilot creates tension between Jake and his new Captain, Ray Holt (Andre Braugher) and then dissolves the conflict between the two over the importance of a uniform by the end of it. It's a minor plot point at first until you realise how key it is to the character of Holt by the end who opens up to Jake about how he was an outcast for years due to him being openly gay.
Amy: I'd also like to apologise for my partner. His parents didn't give him enough attention.
It force feeds you clues towards a potential romantic storyline between Jake and his fellow detective Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) with numerous hints at sexual tension between the two, mostly from Jake, including competitiveness with an ongoing bet over who can accumulate the most arrests.All the while they're capturing a murderer who killed a luxurious food importer over $6,000 worth of ham. Yes, really.
Yet throughout I feel as if I've seen all of these things previously, nothing feels new. I understand the limited time frame as each episode is only at a maximum 23 minutes long, but come on. I need more than just relatable characters to be interested in a show and it just isn't here at first.
You'd assume that surely the comedy would be top notch if the plot is lacking then, right? Wrong. In fact, the only point I found humorous was the encounter between Detective Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) and the office administrator Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) as she gives him advice on taking Rosa on a date.
Gina: Oh yeah, just go on the internet and search for the phrase "I want to buy two movie tickets for a girl who doesn't like me"
This episode is a bad first impression for a good show. I'm fortunate enough to possess the knowledge that Brooklyn Nine-Nine picks up the pace after roughly episode four, but anyone who has only watched the pilot and nothing more would likely deem this show to be pretty bad which is unfortunate because it's not.
If you're one of the above people who has only watched episode one, do yourself a favour and give it another chance. I promise it does get better.
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