Hey Nine-Niners, I can’t chat for long (unfortunately this finale coincides with moving house and a hiking trip for me), but can I just say -- I KNEW IT. Well, of course, we all knew it was coming. But it finally happened, and now everyone is free to descend into detailed conversations about it in the comment section. Yes, that’s right -- Jake and Amy’s romance finally took a step forward after some impromptu undercover work during a case. The detectives are forced to assume the roles of an engaged couple (the titular Johnny and Dora) while tailing a perp at a restaurant, and end up engaging in some unexpected lip locking in order to defer suspicion. Of course, this is after Jake admits to Amy that he still has feelings about her and they both try to act like totally platonic professionals, which ends up just being really awkward. Which makes the kiss more awkward, and the second kiss more awkward. There’s nothing like television timing to throw two people into a faux relationship right when they’re dealing with real relationship things -- that’s why we love it. After the heartbreaking news that Captain Holt is leaving the Nine-Nine, his son-figure and teacher’s pet/disciple find each other in the evidence locker -- and neither one seems particularly surprised to find the other one there. And guys, THEN THEY KISS. LIKE FOR REAL THIS TIME. Boom goes the dynamite.
I like that Jake doesn’t dance around the issue when Amy presses him about why he tried to get out of working with her on the case initially. This feels like a more adult move than playing coy, and also a very Jake move, as he seems to be pretty open by nature. It was a good decision to let Jake air his feelings at the start of the episode this time (compared with Jake’s reveal last year), which allows the story regarding those feelings to build throughout the episode, leading to another season-ending bold move: the Jake/Amy kiss in the evidence locker. (Which, by the way, they both totally go for at the same time).
Since the Jake and Amy stories have felt a little few and far between this season, I forgot how much fun they can be together. As a duo they always seem to soften each other out as characters -- Amy’s neuroses mellow out a tad, and Jake seems more like an immature adult than a child. Just in that last evidence locker sense alone, the two characters feel a little more grounded in reality than they can be in the heightened world of B99. Of course, this is only helped by the surrounding scenes, dealing with…
…Captain Holt leaving the Nine-Nine! After that goat Wuntch sprung her evil plan to promote Holt out of the Nine-Nine and into a desk job, Holt got to work. In this episode he recruits Sarge and Gina, his right hands, to help him blackmail Wuntch to stay in his post. Ever loyal, Sarge steals an entire filing cabinet while Gina talks to a security guard about bird watching. But their efforts prove to be in vain when Wuntch threatens to make some personnel changes in the Nine-Nine before the NYPD can authenticate whether the offending comment (blackmail material) was written by her or not. Holt takes one for his team and decides to go, and Gina, in an odd moment of caring, goes with him.
Holt’s final scene in the precinct as he says goodbye to the team and gets all choked up was some fantastic work by Mr. Andre Braugher. This is where the power of Holt’s normal robotic stoicism pays off -- whenever the façade does crack and the emotion gets through, it hits that much harder. It is a beautiful scene, and I sure hope to see Captain Holt back in the precinct where he belongs before long. That being said, I can’t wait to see who they bring in as the (interim?) captain.
A few last thoughts:
- Boyle is once again so supportive and just a fantastic friend to everyone. Not only is he Jake and Amy’s biggest cheerleader, but he helps Marcus to arrange the perfect surprise party for Rosa’a birthday -- a completely empty bar, excepting Marcus. Happy birthday Ro-Ro!
- There were a lot of great moments this episode, but when Hitchcock thinks that perhaps he’s going to be the new captain who is about to waltz out of the elevator? That one may have won the gold.
What did you think of the episode? Where do you think Jake and Amy will go from here? How long is Holt going to be gone? And who’s going to be the next captain of the Nine-Nine? What do you hope to see next season? Let us know below!
I'm still beyond upset Holt has to leave. It's always upsetting whenever a main character has to leave, but in an ensemble like this? And Gina going as well? What a crying shame! But hey, they could come back...I hope.
ReplyDeleteWe all know that while Holt may be out of the 99 for a while, Andre Braugher isn't going anywhere. They'll spend maybe a maximum of 5 episodes dealing with a way to get him back home. He did the robot voice for Jake. Pilot callbacks are a big Achilles heel for me. Gina following him was very touching, I'm gonna miss her in the precinct, too.
ReplyDeleteJake and Amy. OH BOY. I mean we knew it was coming from the spoilers and pics and clips. But in motion watching it all play out was so great. You're right. Jake confessing at the top of the episode and letting it all roll out from there was spectacular. Having Jake kiss Amy undercover then she for him a second time really brought those real moments to the surface. Their talk about meeting as Johnny and Dora, with their real Jake and Amy truths coming to light. "He makes me laugh." "There's really no one else's opinion who I care about more than hers." All the "professional" talk they try to smooth out the awkwardness goes out the window when it's just them in the evidence lockup. Which is also where in the s2 premiere he laid it out on the line, fitting their story in the finale takes place there.
Hat tip to Boyle ("Follow your hearts. And each other forever") and Rosa ("Call me if you grab each others' asses") for basically telling them to go for it. Their real kiss at the end was mutual, sweet and so raw. I love them so much and I think they'd be great together not only as partners but as a couple. They really need to just try it. Yeah it could go wrong. But it could also work out splendidly. So try for us, you nerds!
We all know Holt will be back. It will be really interesting and fun to see how he comes back and also gets his revenge on Wuntch.
ReplyDeleteFully agree about Holt's last scene. Great bit of acting. The stoic nature cracking up to reveal the underlying emotions was very well done by Andre Braugher.
Jake and Amy's story line and the way it ended was a perfect culmination of the slow burn over two seasons.
Such great acting in Holt's last scene. I was crying by the end of it.
ReplyDeleteThat episode was an emotional rollercoster.. love it, tho. Can't believe we gotta wait 4 months for more :/
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this finale and Holt saying goodbye was a tough one - fantastic acting. For some reason I thought of it as permanent and he would be gone from the show, but as soon as Gina left I can see this lasting a few episodes before they're back in the precinct. To echo Michael Schur's previous work, this reminds me of Jim going to work in the other Dunder Mifflin branch for a few episodes before that closed and had to move back.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recap/review.
ReplyDeleteSolid SOLID season finale. I think this episode may have been the turning point of my status of "casual viewer" to "full time viewer", because I honestly can't wait for next season.