Not gonna lie, I haven’t been happy with this season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Yes, I’m happy to see my babies back in action. But the world has changed, making me wary of what I was going to get even before this season started. Then when it did, it went for big changes like Rosa leaving the force and Holt/Kevin having marital problems. And it just didn’t click with me because I wanted to see the same show that has comforted me for years and kept me afloat when nothing else has. I’m glad I held on until “Game of Boyles” and “Renewal.”
Both of these episodes…God…they made me cry and realize how important our dads are to me. They are the representation that I’ve always wanted to see on TV. And for the last 8 seasons we’ve been presented with a loving couple who worked, struggled, fought, and thrived in spite of the craziness of this world. I’m a bit ashamed that I didn’t see that when Holt and Kevin were having problems. If they could find their way back to each other when things were a little bit fumbled, then they could certainly find the way back to each other when it got really messy.
I was just so used to life before Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Holt and Kevin that I was worried that this show would follow others and end up with my favs parting ways cuz reasons. Thank God that didn’t happen. Instead, they went to therapy, they talked, and they had the moments that I’ve always dreamed about seeing when it comes to LGBTQ people and the community as a whole. Seriously, Kevin running to Holt will be forever seered into my mind as the single most cheesy and romantic thing that I have ever seen. That’s what love is and I want to see more of it long after Brooklyn Nine-Nine is over.
Then came “Renewal,” which, still being sensitive from a possibility of them breaking up, I doubted. I shouldn’t have. Kevin is Holt’s partner in life. He wants the best for him and also wants to share his life with Holt. And Holt loves Kevin and will do the hard work necessary to prove to his husband that nothing can tear them apart. This show proved that all with their words but also with their actions. Plus you know for a fact that Holt found Kevin in a suit hot. You saw his eyes. That was appreciation there for how fine his husband looked and how proud he was to stand by his side, now and forever.
You know who else absolutely broke me during “Renewal”? Jake and Amy. They’re married now and have a kid. Their lives are vastly different and the romance, love, and support is still there. There’s no unnecessary drama to keep them apart like throwing another love interest to the mix or having them lie to each other over the important things. They are partners, through and through, and will be at each others side no matter what and even if Jake keeps investing in garbage cryptocurrency that isn’t going to go anywhere, as is proved over and over again during the episode.
Any other show would’ve made Amy’s promotion about Jake. But not Brooklyn Nine-Nine. They showed Jake basically going, “Of course beautiful and math loving wife is going to take that job. Man, she’s gonna look great in that uniform. Please bring it home.” He supports his wife and her dreams because they are hers and he’s a baddie out to have her back no matter what. Also, major shout out to Amy Santiago for working day after day to make the change that our communities need and I hope and pray that there are more people like that in the world.
But back to Peraltiago. I cried when they were discussing what they were going to do WHEN Amy got the job. Crying because of how Jake looked at Amy like all the answers were in her eyes. And for him, they are. And crying because of how open someone like Amy is about her fears, especially as it shows how much she wants this and how truly complicated she is and how trusting her relationship with her husband is after all this time and after a kid. It’s beautiful, it matters, and it just goes to show you how well this show does when it comes to relationships and the bonds that hold us together.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s final episodes air next Thursday at 8/7c on NBC.
(Oh, wow. That hurt writing it and it hurt reading it.)
