From here on out, Brooklyn Nine-Nine had switched channels from FOX to NBC, and you might begin to notice a few changes. For some people, the show just isn't quite the same and this season is a massive step down from Season 5. For me, Season 6 is a strong if slightly uneven followup where B99 finally ditches the clunky dramatic arcs to focus entirely on comedy.
Season 6's main storyline is a continuation of the cliffhanger that ended Season 5, as Holt learns that he didn't make commissioner. He spends the season getting over his loss and fighting back against the new commissioner's policies, it's a simple but effective storyline. Aside from that, there are a few subplots like Terry becoming a lieutenant and Gina leaving, but otherwise, this season lacks the kind of story arcs you'd see during the Fox seasons. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has become much more episodic and experimental after its move to NBC, a change that I think is for the better. From an episode entirely focused around Hitchcock and Scully, to an episode that takes place in real time, to the four-part goodbye to Gina, it's apparent that Brooklyn Nine-Nine is more willing to change up its format, even if it doesn't always work. I also think it's worth noting that the characters can curse now that the show is on NBC, and you can tell that the showrunners are having a ton of fun with that change.
However, the varied lineup of episodes this season means that not all of them can be a hit, which is why I think Season 6 is so divisive. Particularly, the episodes that deal with more serious topics like He Said, She Said and Casecation were a bit on the clunky side (though that's not an NBC thing, this show always had that problem). I also think Gina's departure was handled a bit sloppily. While I actually really liked the episode when she left, having such an emotional goodbye only to bring her back near the end of the season felt like an odd choice. But while not everything worked, I'd much prefer B99 try new things because that's when we get some of the show's best episodes. Stuff like the Halloween heists, along with episodes like The Box, One Last Ride, and next season's Ransom play around with the show's formula to great result. While Season 6 might be one of the more uneven seasons of the show, I think its high points ranked as some of the highest in the series.
Speaking of which, these are the aforementioned high points:
Honeymoon: Easily one of the funniest episodes of the series, Honeymoon was an amazing start to Season 6 and gave me hope that the switch to NBC wouldn't dampen the show's quality. As sad as it was that Holt didn't make commissioner, seeing him act depressed all episode was hysterical, and the fact that he was trashing Jake and Amy's honeymoon seemed oddly perfect.
Four Movements: I never understood why people don't like this episode. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of Gina at all, but I think Four Movements did a good job of sending her off on a funny high note. It explores her relationships with the rest of the cast and feels like a perfectly tailored goodbye to the character (if only Return Of The King never happened).
Cinco De Mayo: With the shortened seasons airing during the springtime, Brooklyn Nine-Nine wasn't going to be able to do its Halloween specials anymore. It had to find a different excuse for the characters to have their heist competition, and Cinco De Mayo was just random enough for it to work. There isn't much else for me to say, just like HalloVeen, this episode is a manic caper that utilizes the entire cast and ends on an incredibly sweet note as Terry learns he made lieutenant.
Sicko/Suicide Squad: This was a pretty fun finale. Befitting the title, Jake and Holt assemble a crew of their rivals to take down Kelly, resulting in a better Suicide Squad story than the actual 2016 film. In all seriousness, though, it's a fun plan that brings back some of the show's side characters. It works, too, at least until Wuntch demotes Holt in a worryingly similar cliffhanger to the Season 2 finale.
Overall, Season 6 drops the drama and story arcs for a far more lighthearted and experimental season that I think works pretty well. While it can be uneven at times, this season does have some of the show's best episodes.
4/5 Stars
No comments:
Post a Comment