Originally written March 26, 2014

I didn’t start watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine until it won its Golden Globe for Best Comedy, and so then I looked into it and remembered that it was a show I actually did think looked good but forgot to watch. So I decided to check out an episode, and then watched the next 12 or 13 in the following week. It immediately hooked me, and now that its full 22 episode first season is over, I can confidently say it is without a doubt my favorite new show that I’ve seen in the 2013-2014 season.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a comedy centering around a cast of detectives working at a Brooklyn precinct. There’s Jake Peralta (played by Andy Samberg), the top detective at the precinct who only has trouble following authority, and is basically the “class clown” of the precinct. Amy Santiago (played by Melissa Fumero) is Peralta’s friendly competition, and is trying to get to the top more by being a stickler for rules and kind of being the “teacher’s pet” to the captain. Charles Boyle (played by Joe Lo Truglio) is kind of the everyman of the crew, being the most awkward and lovable of the cast. Rosa Diaz (played by Stephanie Beatriz) is the aggressive detective with anger problems. Gina Linetti (played by Chelsea Peretti) is the secretary, and has this huge sarcastic, mean-spirited kind of humor about her. The Sergeant is Terry Jeffords (played by Terry Crews), who is the “big teddy bear” of the gang, being this big, muscular guy who is soft and sensitive about things.

The series starts off with a new captain coming into the precinct. The old captain let everyone do whatever they wanted, which was the best thing for Peralta. Now the new captain, Ray Holt (played by Andre Braugher) is a tough-as-nails, no-nonsense, serious guy who won’t let Peralta get away with anything. Andre Braugher does an amazing job playing this guy, because if Holt didn’t have the right actor, he wouldn’t work. But Braugher is hilarious in the role, being able to deliver such funny lines in such a stoic, monotone voice. Probably my favorite thing about the show is the Peralta/Holt dynamic, because they just work off each other so well with their conflicting personalities.

In general though, the reason the series works so well is because of its great cast of characters. I think that’s the most important thing for any sitcom, and it rings so true here. When you have all of these different personalities working off of each other and put them in situations that let their differences shine through, there’s just some amazing comedic moments to be had. The jokes themselves are hilarious, as there’s some really great writing here, but it’s the delivery and chemistry from the actors that takes it home.

The show utilizes its cast and the concept of a comedy cop show to its maximum potential, offering some truly standout episodes with some great storylines to them. The show gives a lot of quotable lines, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve laughed at the jokes, which is obviously the most important thing for a comedy. There are a few episodes that are a little less memorable, but even at its worst Brooklyn Nine-Nine does manage to deliver some laughs. I’m very close to giving this first season a perfect score, but I mostly feel like it needed a few moments to find its footing. However, I will say if Brooklyn Nine-Nine manages to keep its upward momentum in the second season, it could very well reach the level of perfect comedy series for me. Regardless, this is an absolutely hilarious new comedy series, and you’re missing out if you’re not watching it.

4.5/5