BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (S7E1) “Manhunter”: The Squad Returns For Another Noice Premiere

It’s been far too long since we’ve caught up with the members of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine squad. The once-cancelled comedy has been given new life on NBC and fortunately has not lost any of its magic and charm. This network show has proven to be one of the most consistently entertaining comedies on the air, keeping the jokes fresh while evolving and enhancing the character dynamics we’ve all come to know and love. If this premiere is any indication of how the season will be overall, we’re in for another wildly funny and emotionally satisfying set of episodes.

A New Dynamic

In this season premiere, Jake (Andy Samberg) is tasked with maintaining a crime scene while trying to locate the shooter of the victim with the assistance of newly demoted Captain Holt (Andre Braugher). Meanwhile, Amy (Melissa Fumero) is struggling with a personal crisis and seeks the aid of Santiago (Stephanie Beatriz).

One of the most exciting developments toward the tail-end of season six was the demotion of Captain Holt. It left him in a position where he would be under the command of Jake and his fellow police officers. I was eager to see how this new dynamic would play out in the premiere and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Easily the best relationship on the show is between Jake and Holt. Their father/son relationship is warm, symbiotic, and also incredibly funny. It was especially effective seeing Jake struggle to treat him like an underling and reluctantly letting him help out on the case out of pity. This is a situation where the development of their relationship perfectly comes into play, neither knowing how to treat the other differently out of respect and love. Fortunately, they’re both able to not only adjust to their new positions of power, but also solve the case in the process.

Another dynamic that I continue to love is the one between Jake and Boyle (Joe Lo). Their friendship has not only evolved and matured, but they always seem to bring out the best and worst in one another. Watching Boyle sing a theme song for Jake as he tried to piece together the evidence at the crime scene to form a theory was particularly entertaining and absolutely on point for their friendship. However, it was even more entertaining to watch Boyle turn on his overprotective mode when Holt was overstepping, trying to pry the case away from Jake and solve it himself. Boyle has always been a little too protective of Jake, but it’s a testament to Truglio’s performance that he always makes this quality come off as endearing rather than creepy. He’s the ride or die friend we all wish we could have, but he’s also the friend you need to sometimes keep in check.

Amy Has A Scare

Elsewhere, Amy is struggling with a pregnancy scare and Santiago is there to comfort and support her. These two characters have always been considerably different, but Fumero and Beatriz have helped earn the validity of their friendship. Santiago never used to be the kind of character that would buy a wide assortment of pregnancy tests for a friend, but her walls have been broken down so effectively that this action doesn’t feel out of character and instead shows her unspoken growth. This storyline would’ve also faltered if Amy and Jake didn’t feel like such a rock-solid couple. The prospect of them having a child is loaded with not only comedic potential, but the emotional variety as well. I for one would love to see them have a child while solving crimes for the precinct.

The only part of this B-plot that felt a little undercooked was Terry’s (Terry Crews) paranoia that Amy and Santiago were ridiculing him behind his back while they were dealing with the looming pregnancy test. Terry has always been a slightly insecure character, a characteristic that has always been wonderfully ironic given his physique and talent, but it felt a little over the top here and didn’t quite work the way it was intended. The jokes mostly fell flat and it seemed like an inorganic way of involving him in the episode.

Final Thoughts

Brooklyn Nine-Nine continues to prove why it’s one of the best comedies currently on television. The jokes remain sharp, the characters are as colorful as ever and their respective stories continue to branch out into new and exciting territory. This is a show that refuses to remain complacent or stagnant and as a result, it has become one of the most progressive and refreshing shows on the air. If you haven’t started watching this show yet, I implore you to give it a chance and thank yourself later.

If you’ve been a huge fan of the show, did you enjoy this premiere? If you haven’t watched yet, are you more willing to give it a chance now? Let me know in the comment section below!

Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs Thursdays at 8:30pm on NBC.