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Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a funny police sitcom that followed the lives of the detectives and their captain in the fictional 99th precinct of Brooklyn, New York. Led by the stoic yet at times unexpectedly funny, Captain Raymond Holt (the late but brilliant Andre Braugher) and the goofy but talented Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), the show has been praised for its witty humor, diverse cast, and bold approach to serious issues. It’s been a fan favorite since its first episode and was even saved from being canceled because of the overwhelming protest of fans on social media (even Guillermo del Toro tweeted about it!). For that, fans have been thankful to NBC for giving the show a second chance and to wrap it up on its terms (take that, Fox!)
Why Brooklyn Nine-Nine Isn’t Your Average Police Procedural TV Show
There are different reasons why Brooklyn Nine-Nine stands out among its contemporaries:
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Isn’t Just for Laughs
The show isn’t just for laughs, it’s not afraid to discuss important and serious issues, including racial discrimination, gender inequality, sexual harassment, and even police brutality, particularly in the light of the George Floyd protests.
The Diverse Cast
Aside from Captain Holt and Detective Peralta, the show’s cast also included Detectives Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Sergeant Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews), Joe Lo Truglio (Charles Boyle), Michael Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker), and Norm Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller). Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti), as Holt’s assistant completed the casting.
Beatriz was initially concerned she wouldn’t be cast after Fumero, as both are Latina. She recalled thinking, “There’s no way that they’re going to keep both of us.” Fortunately, the show’s producers were more focused on the actresses’ abilities instead of their background, which gave us the entertaining dynamic between Santiago and Diaz.
Aside from being racially inclusive, the show also stood out for portraying LGBTQ+ characters.
The Cold Opens
Brooklyn Nine-Nine has funny and memorable cold opens, and if you ask any fan to pick a favorite, they’ll have a hard time trying to pick one. However, most would agree that the iconic “I Want It That Way” cold open is included in their top 5.
Check out this cold open below—this 60-second clip would probably convince you to binge-watch the show!
Other notable cold opens include:
- Season 3, Episode 10: Santiago Gets Holt a Present
Captain Holt told his detectives that he had a no-gift policy, but this did not deter Santiago from trying to give him one. She thought she was smart by leaving the gift on Holt’s desk with the words “Open Me.” Turns out, you can’t just leave an anonymous box on a police captain’s desk without him suspecting it’s a bomb.
- Season 6, Episode 2: Hotshots Hitchcock and Scully
While Hitchcock and Scully are usually seen as the lazy, paper-pushing detectives of the precinct, this episode gives us a flashback to their glory days. In 1986, they were the precinct’s top dogs, and when Peralta and Boyle spot their old photo, all they can say is, “Meow!”
Binge-worthy Plotlines
With engaging story arcs and superb character development, especially that of Jake Peralta, who started the show as a man-child and ended it as a (spoiler alert!) responsible husband and father, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a show you can binge-watch and rewatch without getting bored.
The Opening Song
I dare you not to hum the opening song every time you see some references to the show.
Little People Collector
Play with miniature versions of Holt, Peralta, Diaz and Jeffords! These figurines are a must-have for B99 die-hard fans who miss the funny antics of the cast. Sergeant Jeffords even has his tiny cup of yogurt in one hand!
Birthday Card
Aah… Captain Holt and his legendary one-liners! Fans of the show will appreciate this card featuring the always stoic Captain Holt who never fails to deliver a hilariously deadpan line that completely contradicts his expressionless face.
50 Pieces Stickers
Stick ‘em anywhere and show everyone you’re a true fan! These waterproof stickers include the show’s cast, their catchphrases, and other references fans will surely get.
Title of Your S*x Tape Decals
There’s a running joke on the show between Peralta and Santiago (that’s just how Jake flirts!) where he turns her comments into “title of your sex tape” jokes until it hilariously ends with Santiago’s quip and Peralta realizes it’s now the title of their sex tape.
Wood Coasters
These wooden coasters featuring some of the show’s characters and their memorable lines from the show are the perfect gift for a fan. The coasters include Jake Peralta, Captain Holt, Sergeant Terry Jeffords, Rosa Diaz, Gina Linetti, and Cheddar the Dog. It even comes with a holder to keep all the coasters together.
Signed Autograph Picture
This 16”x12” framed signed autograph picture is up for grabs. Hurry or I’ll beat you to it.
Cool, cool, cool Shirt
This shirt features one of Jake Peralta’s iconic catchphrases and comes in different colors and men’s and women’s sizes.
Amazing Detective/Genius Shirt
The gang has a yearly competition every Halloween on who will be the year’s ultimate human/genius. Purchase this shirt and be the Halloween Heist winner every year.
1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
If your friend who is a B99 fan needs to be entertained for a couple of hours (to forget there are no new episodes to binge-watch), give them this 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of the cast.