Netflix has released the final season of Brooklyn 99, a comedy debuted in 2013 that captured the hearts of its viewers. And for good reason: it is one of the best sitcoms of the decade, with its quirky humor and its cast of unforgettable characters.
That’s it, it’s over: Jake Peralta will no longer be able to be scolded by Captain Holt for yet another of his nonsense. In eight seasons, Brooklyn 99 will have given us moments of laughter, joy, tears, but also important performances on the small screen. The series, now available in full on Netflix, but also on Canal + from 25 euros per month, ended with an eighth and final season which perfectly concludes this office comedy in a police station.
This latest burst of episodes, largely influenced by the Covid pandemic and the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in the United States in 2020, is more current than ever, despite some clumsiness. Whether you are already followers of Brooklyn 99 or not, we strongly advise you to catch up on this cuddly series, which puts balm in the heart as much as it will make you laugh at its most stupid jokes.
For his merry band with perfect chemistry
For this eighth and final season, you will have to say goodbye to a gallery of characters as funny as they are endearing. In this police station, you will inevitably fall under the spell of Terry, the beefy man who “loves love”, Captain Holt and his mono-facial expression, Amy and her obsession with lists or Rosa, the policewoman badass of the group.
Of course, there is also and above all Jake Peralta, played by Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live), a brilliant cop, but stupid on the edges, who solves every case in extremis. But the “hero” of the series, despite an astonishing evolution over the 8 seasons, is not necessarily the most exciting to follow. It is rather the alchemy between this perfectly chosen cast and essentially their coherent progression that will keep you in suspense with each episode.
For his recurring gags that have become iconic
The band of colleagues wouldn’t be complete without the presence of other characters who show up from time to time, like Kevin, Holt’s husband or Doug Judy, the car thief who ties a bromance with Jack. All these protagonists complement each other in an absolutely hilarious and singular dynamic, giving rise to recurring intrigues that we love to find in each season.
With his quirky humor, Brooklyn 99 knew how to impose his improbable style, by staging the exploits of Holt and Kevin’s dog, the fabulous Cheddar, or the famous Halloween heists, which are always pretexts for the most excessive gags and the most touching scenes. The investigations carried out by our favorite characters in each episode also include their share of improbable situations, often accompanied by a “Title of your sex tape! »improvised by Jake. Brooklyn 99 isn’t always smart, but she still manages to make us laugh regardless of the season.
For its important themes
The cast of Brooklyn 99 is one of the major assets of the series: not only are all the actors absolutely formidable in their respective roles, but above all, the group is of a diversity rarely seen on television. Admittedly, Jake remains the white man who saves every situation, but it is rare to highlight so many black, Latino or LGBTQIA+ characters in a single series.
Rosa is thus one of the first bisexual women honored on the small screen and the treatment of her coming out has been particularly welcomed by those concerned. Captain Holt, on the other hand, regularly mentions to his teammates his complicated history of joining the force as a black, gay man. And for a partially aired program in the Trump era, the encore was clearly not too much.
But also his errors of judgment
But Brooklyn 99 is unfortunately not perfect, despite its important protagonists, with complex psychology. The series thus too often broadcasts grossophobic sequences, through the treatment of the characters of Hitchcock and Scully. For such a progressive and feminist sitcom, it is still a shame to reinforce other discriminations, which are just as serious.
Brooklyn 99 has also been criticized for highlighting the police as an ever-benevolent institution. In its eighth season, the comedy takes a slippery slope and finally chooses to address the issue of police violence (after 8 seasons, it was time). However, the series regularly brilliantly tackled subjects like racism or homophobia. But on this season, Brooklyn 99 clearly lacks subtlety and finds its ass caught between two chairs leaving us with questionable morals: the police make mistakes, but some are good people, nonetheless.
Nevertheless, Brooklyn 99 remains one of the most important comedies of recent years and was one of the last “classic” format sitcoms still in circulation. By leaving our hearts empty, it also takes with it a whole genre of television that is gradually dying out. But Jake, Holt, Rosa, Amy and the others bow gracefully in a touching finale and we will always continue to shout with them: Long live the 99!
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