Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Episode 2.09 - The Road Trip - Review

Can we just give Brooklyn Nine-Nine a big round of applause for how they’ve been handling the Jake/Amy storyline this year? Seriously, very well done. It’s like skipping a stone across a pond -- it only touches down once in a while, then builds up to touch down again, until finally it sinks with a splash. And that splash is coming, in one way or another, but for now I’m really enjoying the sporadic glimpses into the slow-burning romantic tension between the two.

I knew this episode was coming for a while (due to promotional pictures), and couldn’t wait to see how it was going to all play out. I never would have guessed that Amy wanted to break up with Teddy but Jake invited him on a romantic/work getaway in upstate New York, and the closet was filled with puppets. That wouldn’t have been my first guess, but it was a great episode to watch.

The whole mess was started with really sweet intentions. Jake convinced Teddy to surprise Amy at a sweet B&B upstate, in order to add some spontaneity and romance into her relationship (albeit from him, not from Teddy). Amy said that Jake “poured blue soda all over [her] life,” which a fantastic way to describe the situation. His unique Jakeness ruined everything, but in a colorful and sweet way. So the relatively new couple had to put aside their romantic night to help a horrible liar keep tensions low with her boyfriend she was just about to dump. Not really the makings of a great night…

At dinner everything fell apart pretty quickly, as Sophia “pulled out all the stops” (slapped Jake), and Amy blurted out she was dumping Teddy. Since Teddy knew about Jake’s interest in his (newly) ex-girlfriend, he assumed that her own feelings for her coworker are probably the real cause of the split. Because even though Amy told him in quite blunt and unprepared language several times that he was just boring, he thinks it’s really something else going on. (Fair enough, Teddy, you may be onto something.) Jake liked Amy, and Amy kinda-sorta liked Jake. At least enough to get “confused” when it kept coming up. Although neither admitted any more recent feelings for each other, Jake is excited to bring up Amy’s past interest in him constantly. Maybe to the point of a car accident. Only in a sitcom does a prisoner transfer led to awkward relationship drama, sans dramatic roadside shootout.

Sophia’s character was exciting to watch in this episode, because she DIDN’T FREAK OUT. Thank the TV gods for that. It’s clear that her and Jake have a nice thing going -- after all, they’ve got a shared passion for oddities, like the Room of a Thousand Dolls. When she found out that Jake used to have a crush on Amy she was alright, and when Amy admitted that she might have liked Jake too, she was okay. The best part of this storyline is that her problem was Jake’s reaction to Amy’s confession. She wasn’t worried that they had liked each other, she was upset that he was so excited about it. Her concern is understandable! It’s justified! Hallelujah and praise the Almighty Cathode and Ray Tube!

Like Sophia mentioned, the whole thing feels a little high school. Jake “liked” Amy, and Amy kinda “liked” Jake back! OMG! But it’s really nice to have her admission out in the open. To go back to The Office relationship comparison chart, we’re now at the point where Jim’s dating Karen, and Pam makes a confession that she missed him. There’s some awkwardness between them, but not a ridiculous amount. Now we wait and see if Jake breaks up with Sophia after a big job interview, and then immediately starts dating Amy.

Back at the precinct Boyle tried to bond with Holt through his number one passion -- food. Holt, taking an incredibly survivalist approach to food, had no real interest in the nuance of cooking, just in how to make something for his husband. Of course, after their falling-out (of sorts), Holt read Boyle’s blog and understood the potential emotional significance of some meals. He not only learned about the power of food thanks to Boyle’s digital voice, but apparently mastered a croque-monsieur. (Which impressed me until I looked up what it was.) But still, nice effort Holt. A light story, but funny, and absolutely worth it for the scene of Boyle surprising Holt at an ATM machine. It’s a shame he switched banks…

While Holt and Boyle wasted away the day with scrambled egg lessons, Rosa tried desperately to interrogate a perp related to the Giggle Pig case. Unfortunately, she learned what all cold-havers learn -- it’s weirdly impossible to get things done when your head is full of…stuff. And doubly-impossible when you’re on some sort of cold medicine. Gina, being Gina, locks Rosa in a room so that Sarge can deal with the perp and Gina can avoid catching cholera or typhoid. I literally laughed out loud when Rosa finally woke up from her codeine-induced coma, and punched out the window by Gina’s head. Also, Rosa SMILED, guys! I like the idea that it takes some work to maintain her tough exterior, and when all of her energy is channeled into her immune system, she can’t cover up the part of her that feels. She IS human!

And the Emmy for Most Disorienting Shot on Network Television this year goes to…the POV shot down the autumnal road in upstate NY. Congratulations folks! (But honestly, was that jarring for anyone else?)

Line of the week, purely due to relevance: “Sophia does not care about the Cloud AT ALL” - Jake, re: Sophia sending naked photos.

Runner up, due to bumper sticker worthiness: “I want a sandwich. I make a sandwich. I eat a sandwich.” - Holt on his food policy.

Once again, some major props on a fantastic cold open.  I loved that Holt let Jake and Boyle have ten minutes to run around playing as longshoremen, though of course Twink Tucker messed it up.  Classic Twink.

What did you think of the episode? What’s going to happen with Jake and Sophia? Is Amy going to start smoking again now that she’s no longer with Teddy? Did she ever actually stop smoking? Will Holt surpass Boyle as precinct chef? Will Rosa ever smile again? Let us know your thoughts below!

About the Author - Kimberly

Kimberly is a big TV nerd - willing to talk any show, any time. Her tastes are various and sundry, but she’s got a soft spot for comedy. She currently writes the SpoilerTV reviews for Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and About a Boy.

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