What do you get when you put two black men, one of whom is openly gay, two Latina women, and a group of useless white men in a room together? Surprisingly—and thankfully—not an offensive joke. Instead you get a majority of the cast of characters on the show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a comedic show on FOX following a colorful cast of detectives through their dangerous and sometimes absurd lives in the NYPD.
I’ll admit, typically procedural cop shows don’t tickle my fancy. I get bored by the overused tropes and the dime-a-dozen white male lead—a stoic, intelligent man who would do anything for the job. So when my friend started raving about this show about detectives in the NYPD, I didn’t really pay much attention. When she mentioned that this show excelled in the diversity of its characters, I started to listen up.
Here’s a quick rundown of the characters.
First, the main character is detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg). He’s an accomplished detective in the NYPD, but arguably the most immature character on the show. His favorite movie is Die Hard, and despite some shining moments of seriousness every once in a while, most everything is a joke to him. Then there is his best friend, Charles Boyle (Joe Lou Truglio), a dedicated foodie who more or less worships Jake. Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) is the competitive, self-motivated, rule-orientated office mate who loves to kiss up to the boss. Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) is the second-in-command, a committed father of two little girls and a big fan of yogurt. Then there is Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), a cold, closed-off and serious detective on the force. Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) is the dance-enthusiast secretary for the department who is rarely seen without her phone in hand. Finally, there is the stoic captain of the department, Ray Holt (Andre Braugher) who is an openly gay man and is incredibly difficult to read. Together, these people, along with a few other minor characters, make up the NYPD’s ninety-ninth precinct.
Going into the show, I was worried. You don’t see such a diverse cast of characters very often, and when you do, the writing room often falls on stereotypes to manage it all (with few notable exceptions). This show not only avoids stereotypes, but also actively works to avoid them. The people of color in this show are presented as unique, with their own individual personalities and quirks that make them their own selves. The top two ranking individuals in this show’s precinct are black men, as well. The women are not flat, but rather show depths of character that rival that of the leading men. They do their job just as well as the men do—sometimes better—and are not afraid to speak up about it. The one gay main character, however, is where I am most impressed.
Captain Ray Holt is a comically serious man, who claims he is laughing when his expression looks more along the lines of incredibly angry or displeased. He has a long-running feud with another high-ranking officer in the NYPD, and he frequently and hilariously struggles with Jake Peralta’s childish antics. Though his tough exterior doesn’t show it, he cares a great deal for his squad. On top of that, he has a narrative of being an openly gay, black man in the NYPD in the eighties, and the show does not shy away from the fact that he was harassed and discriminated against throughout his career. He is a multi-faceted and deep character, and not once does he fall into the stereotypes associated with gay men. There is no need when writers are able to craft such a nuanced, fascinating, and funny character as Holt.
On top of the stellar representation of gender, race, and sexuality is a funny, light-hearted show that draws you in with its genuine comedy and frequently complex murder mysteries. If any of that interests you, I could not suggest this show more.
Also, the show airs on FOX on Sundays at 8:30. Thought you’d want to know.
Image Credit: CityTV, Are They Old Enough, LA Times