So, you’ve got a free weekend coming up. You’ve decided to kick back and relax, maybe make some popcorn, and watch … what? You could sit back and watch a movie or two, even though movies end in just a few short hours and you need to kill a whole day. So, maybe a tv show then? What’s it going to be? Do you need something light and funny, that will make you forget about all the tests you had this week? Smart. You could just re-watch "Friends" I suppose, but let’s be honest. You’ve seen it a million times. It ended fourteen years ago. Maybe you need something a little bit newer.
Well, luckily for you, I have the perfect tv show for you to start. Fox first released their comedy hit "Brooklyn 99" in 2013, and it’s still going strong. People absolutely love it, and here’s why.
1. Everybody loves a good cop show …
It’s true. Murder, vandalism, and the mafia … what more could you possibly want? The show centers around Jake Peralta, a talented detective in New York’s 99th precinct, and you get to follow him along on his many cases. Filled with plot twists and dramatic foot chases, you’ll never be bored watching this.
2. … and everybody needs a good laugh.
I mean, it is a comedy show. And not only that, but it’s a damn good one, too. Season 1 impressed fans and critics alike, and "Rotten Tomatoes" gave it an 88%. By season 2, this had jumped to 100%. It uses the same hilarious one-camera filling technique that "Parks and Recreation" was famous for.
3. It’s not afraid to approach controversial topics.
It’s hard to find a police show that doesn’t paint cops in a good light, but "Brooklyn 99" manages to get down to the bottom of current issues. It covers topics that most shows shy away from, like police brutality, racial profiling, and gender inequality.
4. It also features a diverse cast.
To quote Jake Peralta himself, “So, I'd just like to say I am happy to be here with my family. My super weird family with two black dads, and two Latina daughters, and two white sons, and ... Gina.” The show has been highly praised for its ability to represent people from all backgrounds. The police captain on the show, Raymond Holt, is a black and gay man, and he’s shown in a happy, healthy relationship with his husband. Rosa Diaz, another one of the show’s detectives, is a bisexual woman who we get to see pursue relationships with both women and men. Jake, another character from the show, is Jewish and grew up without a father figure. Amy Santiago, yet another of the show’s witty characters, is Cuban-American and grew up in a household of boys. The list goes on and on.
5. It has a famous cast.
The main character is played by SNL’s Andy Samberg, and Terry Jeffords, another brilliant cop on the show, is played by none other than Terry Crews – actor, artist, activist, TIME person of the year, AND former NLF player. (Talk about an impressive resume!)
6. You’ll be quoting it for days.
I mean, can anything top character Gina Linetti’s “The English language can not fully capture the depth and complexity of my thoughts, so I'm incorporating emojis into my speech to better express myself. Winky face."?
7. The cold opens are phenomenal.
8. It has the perfect runtime.
Episodes are just over twenty minutes long – perfect to catch between classes or while eating a slice of pizza.
9. It makes you feel good.
It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. What can I say? The characters clearly care for each other and are always bringing each other up and supporting them. As one of my personal favorite characters, Charles Boyle, would agree, there’s nothing more important than friendship, and "Brooklyn 99" sure hits the nail on the head with that one.
Happy watching!
