With all of the running gags and "Die Hard" references, NBC's "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" still finds the time to be serious, bringing to light social and political issues. The show's writing tackles real-life problems that everyone can relate to or see something similar happening in their community or on the news. However, it can all feel a little too real sometimes.
Life mimics art.
1. When Terry met his hero and he wasn't all that he cracked up to be
Not only did author DC Parlov, Little Terry's hero, not write the personal letter to him that inspired him to make himself a better Terry, but Parlov also conspired with another writer to steal the other's book for insurance money. He also slept with his assistant's wife (Jake commenting how the assistant's son looks exactly like Parlov) which made him a pretty crappy guy in general.
2. Anytime Jake brings up the trauma caused by his dad leaving
After a good amount of time experiencing trauma, one just accepts their mannerisms and/or mental thoughts as the norm. This is the case with Jake Peralta, whose father was regularly unfaithful to his mother and eventually left. For instance, he doesn't like Thanksgiving because he sat at home watching football, eating non-traditional Thanksgiving food because his mom was always working. Thankfully, Jake has found a father figure in Captain Holt, calling him Dad or a mixture of Captain/Dad on more than one occasion.
3. Rosa coming out as bisexual to the squad and her parents
Rosa came out to the squad first and then to her parents who originally thought she was going through a phase and would end up marrying a man. Her father came to the precinct and informed Rosa that he loves her for who she is but her mother still had trouble accepting the fact. Jake, being the great friend he is, organized Game Night at Rosa's apartment since she couldn't experience it anymore normally with her parents. However, Rosa's mom seems to be more tolerant but it is unknown how much and if the Diaz family continued their Game Night.
4. Charles and Genevieve unable to have children
Boyle was so excited to be a father and could not acquire his sperm because of his ex-wife. Personally, I believe this is for couples who experience trouble trying to have kids even though it may be not the scenario of your ex-wife having legal ownership of your last sperm count. Genevieve also ended up being unable to conceive children even with a sperm donor and they ended up adopting Nikolaj.
5. Captain Holt as a black gay cop
Being a gay black man is hard enough today but imagine it in the 80s and being on the police force. Captain Raymond Holt regularly speaks of how his colleagues tormented him. One time he even mentioned that on his first day as a police officer, another officer had asked if he were there to turn himself in based solely on the color of his skin. He also founded the African-American Gay and Lesbian New York City Policeman's Association or the AAGLNYCPA for short. Yas, queen. Holt had believed that Madeline Wuntch had a personal vendetta against him for refusing her sexual advances but it is revealed that this is not the case and Wuntch actually respects his sexuality.
6. Amy admitting that she was sexually assaulted in the workplace
Jake and Amy get assigned to a case that involved a woman being sexually assaulted at work by her boss and as a result, she whacked him in the penile regions with a golf club. It quickly escalates into a "he said, she said" situation. Amy admits that she had experienced sexual assault on her way to becoming a detective.
7. Jake and Rosa getting thrown into jail for the fault of dirty cops
Sometimes the justice system just doesn't get it right and the wrong people end up serving the time. Jake and Rosa ended up getting arrested for robbing a multitude of banks whilst undercover when it reality, it was Melanie Hawkins and her team. Unable to come up with any evidence to prove their innocence, they are both found guilty.
8. Dirty cops
As stated above, Melanie Hawkins was a dirty cop who used her task forces to complete a string of bank robberies. However, there is also Stevie Schillens who planted drugs at an apartment. As they are not frequent in the show, it's crazy to think about how many unethical cops are at large in real cities.
9. When Terry was the victim of racial profiling
This episode really got to me. Terry got stopped outside of his house bending down to pick up his daughter's stuffed animal toy because he did not look like he was from his neighborhood. The officer was forceful even when Terry was cooperative and tried to explain that he was also a cop. The cop, Maldack, ended up searching his name and let Terry go. Later, Maldack said he was only sorry for not realizing Terry was a sergeant earlier and not because of his racial profiling. He worried for his young twin daughters who would most likely not have the protection of being on the force later on in life. Unfortunately, IRL, many situations do not end as smoothly as this one did leading to the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" portrays people of color and in the LGBTQ+ in power but they do it so if they're actual people who you grow to love and laugh at and not just the "first black openly captain" or the "Latina sergeant." The writers make sure that the message is still being sent while adding in a few jokes or uncomfortable moments to lighten the mood. To the Nine-Nine!
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