If you’re a fan of Brooklyn Nine-Nine then you understand why Halloween is the best holiday of the year….it’s time for the HEIST. With seven heists to choose from, it’s hard to narrow down the best one to watch this Halloween night, so I did the work for you. I watched all seven and ranked them from “just okay” to “chef’s kiss” and everything in between.
Just Okay: S1. E6 “Halloween”
Don’t get me wrong, there are no bad episodes of Brooklyn 99, but in terms of Halloween heists this one’s my least favourite. It’s only the sixth episode of the entire franchise, which could play a role in its last place ranking, but mainly I placed it here because I found it rather blah. Yes, it introduces the idea of the Halloween heists, but since at this point it’s only really between Jake and Holt, we don’t get to see much planning and teamwork, or at least until the end when Jake reveals how he did it. While Jake ultimately wins and is declared the “Ultimate Detective/Genius” the episode falls short of the podium.
Getting Better: S6. E16 “Cinco de Mayo”
Nothing kicks off a Halloween heist episode like a mariachi band and Hitchcock in a poncho. After Terry realizes he can only win the heist with time to plan, he fakes a gas explosion, forcing the heist to be postponed to Cinco de Mayo. However, using their sharp detective skills, everyone else starts planning for a postponed heist, as they figure it will happen on the day of Terry’s exam. This episode was OK. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It’s definitely worth the watch, but it’s hardly a front-runner.
A Turning Point: S2. E4 “Halloween II”
While the second Halloween heist is better than the first, it is still too early in the series to be declared a winner. The stakes are low and not much is on the line at this point. With the team backing up Holt to prank Jake, the odds are unfair and Jake never really stands a chance against the newly declared “Best Detective/Genius”.
Now We’re Talking: S3. E5 “Halloween III”
This is the episode where Amy girl bosses just a little bit too close to the sun. Chosen by neither Jake nor Holt, Amy decides that she doesn’t need to be on a team to win. She is going to win the heist on her own. With a tie between Holt and Jake on the line, nobody suspects Amy to be playing, ultimately leading her to victory. The “Queen of the 99” tricks the teams into thinking the other has the crown the whole time, allowing her the time and space to steal out for herself. Girl. Power.
This is Quality TV: S4.E5 “Halloween IV”
In true heist spirit, this episode kicks off with a big announcement of the heist and a fight over the past winners. With a three-way tie between Holt, Amy and Jake, this year is crucial in determining the champion of champions. The teams are AMAZING. Holt and Boyle. Rosa and Amy. Jake and Gina. Between Gina losing her two front teeth while rollerblading in a “Gina knows best” sweater and the countless number of “Title of your sex tape” jokes, this episode is jam-packed with laughs. Coming in at the number two spot, it’s a heist to remember.
The First Loser: S7. E11 “Valloweaster”
If you were wondering when Rosa was going to take the crown…the time has FINALLY come. Taking place over the course of three holidays, the squad fights for the “Infinitude Gobbler”. With one of the best winner reveals in heist history, Rosa stumps the gang not once, not twice, but three times before finally becoming an official heist winner.
Chef’s Kiss: S5. E4 “HalloVeen”
If this isn’t at the top of your heist podium, then you clearly don’t have emotions. After a well-fought battle for the cummerbund, it turns out that Jake had altered it to propose to Amy. While it takes away from the spookiness of the Halloween heist, as a true fan of the show, I can’t imagine him proposing in any other way. To top it off, this episode has one of the best opening skits of any tv show in history, with Holt, Amy and Jake all waking up in bed together…
I hope all of you Brooklyn Nine-Nine fans enjoyed my ranking. Happy Halloween Heist!!