Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Box
April 1, 2018 8:47 PM - Season 5, Episode 14 - Subscribe
Official Fox synopsis: "Jake embarks on an all-night long interrogation in order to elicit a confession out of a suspect (guest star Sterling K. Brown). But when Captain Holt skips the opera in order to stay back and help, the two cops clash over how to get him to talk."
Loved this bottle episode! And Captain Holt spelling his last name to his husband.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:50 AM on April 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 12:50 AM on April 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
I'm not sure I found this one quite as engaging as most people did, but I'd love to see more episodes like it where there's a single plot throughout, focusing on just two of the ensemble.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 3:34 AM on April 2, 2018
posted by InTheYear2017 at 3:34 AM on April 2, 2018
"Is it the one Bugs Bunny sings?"
"Yes."
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:00 AM on April 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
"Yes."
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:00 AM on April 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
I thought this was a little disturbing in how it seemed like they were determined to get this guy no matter what. It was good and funny and had a lot of funny lines but I also felt weirdly disturbed watching it.
I think the assumption that the episode makes is that we've been with these characters for long enough to implicitly trust their judgment, regardless of any skepticism we may have about real-world law enforcement. But I agree, at a few points early on it seemed like the writers might have been setting us up to realize that they had the wrong guy, and hypothetically that could have been really interesting too.
Ultimately, as a stripped down, comedically-tense three-hander for Samberg/Braugher/Brown (as well as a rare direct callback to Braugher's stint on Homicide) it did the job well. I appreciated the implication that perhaps Holt still has a lingering subconscious distrust of Jake, in that the suggestions he makes of plausible "dumb cop" behavior are all things that Jake has literally done on a weekly basis.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:34 AM on April 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
I think the assumption that the episode makes is that we've been with these characters for long enough to implicitly trust their judgment, regardless of any skepticism we may have about real-world law enforcement. But I agree, at a few points early on it seemed like the writers might have been setting us up to realize that they had the wrong guy, and hypothetically that could have been really interesting too.
Ultimately, as a stripped down, comedically-tense three-hander for Samberg/Braugher/Brown (as well as a rare direct callback to Braugher's stint on Homicide) it did the job well. I appreciated the implication that perhaps Holt still has a lingering subconscious distrust of Jake, in that the suggestions he makes of plausible "dumb cop" behavior are all things that Jake has literally done on a weekly basis.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:34 AM on April 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
I think Sterling Brown's contribution went a long way to making the episode enjoyable. His cool responses, his unflappability to Jake and Holt's attempts to crack him, and then, perhaps my favorite moment, when he dived into Jake's dental work. I agree with Strange Interlude, the second Holt stated that our suspect had done it, an implicit trust was established that this was not a case of the police harassing someone to confess (which does happen).
posted by Atreides at 11:18 AM on April 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Atreides at 11:18 AM on April 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Agreed on Brown. One of the recurring trends that we've seen with B99 is the tendency to cast well-known guest stars as villains, and then relegate them to brief walk-on bits where they turn up just long enough to menace our main characters and then get arrested; which is totally fine in terms of getting noteworthy stars on the show without asking too much of their time, but maybe not entirely satisfying on a dramatic level.
So it was nice to have SKB on screen and actively participating for 70% of the episode, and really getting under the characters' skins in a way that arc-length baddies like Figgis and Seamus Murphy didn't quite manage.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:32 PM on April 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
So it was nice to have SKB on screen and actively participating for 70% of the episode, and really getting under the characters' skins in a way that arc-length baddies like Figgis and Seamus Murphy didn't quite manage.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:32 PM on April 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
that was pretty damn great. Sterling K Brown really delivered!
posted by numaner at 12:32 PM on April 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by numaner at 12:32 PM on April 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Though I would STILL like to see a low-Jake episode.
posted by jeather at 4:31 PM on April 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by jeather at 4:31 PM on April 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
This is the episode of Homicide it is an homage to
posted by Mick at 4:58 PM on April 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Mick at 4:58 PM on April 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Though I would STILL like to see a low-Jake episode.
Would you settle for a Less Than Jake episode?
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:52 AM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Would you settle for a Less Than Jake episode?
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:52 AM on April 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
HONESTLY FLAWLESS THE END
truly holt's face when forced to admit that yes, it is in fact the opera that bugs bunny sings, truly it is the best of all faces
holt spelling his name for kevin is the new Sincerely, Raymond Holt on all my text messages
posted by poffin boffin at 4:32 PM on April 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
truly holt's face when forced to admit that yes, it is in fact the opera that bugs bunny sings, truly it is the best of all faces
holt spelling his name for kevin is the new Sincerely, Raymond Holt on all my text messages
posted by poffin boffin at 4:32 PM on April 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
This was great.
I loved the callbacks to "Homicide" and I loved it when Jake got to do the crazy intense Pembleton interrogating at the end. I'm pretty sure the soundtrack was doing Homicide callbacks too, they don't usually use that kind of intense subtle music on this show.
I thought this was a little disturbing in how it seemed like they were determined to get this guy no matter what.
I didn't feel this way, and it's not just because I trust the characters' instincts -- it's also because I've seen Jake turn 180 degrees, realize he has the wrong guy, and focus on a different suspect before. So I wouldn't have been surprised if that had happened here.
posted by mmoncur at 7:40 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
I loved the callbacks to "Homicide" and I loved it when Jake got to do the crazy intense Pembleton interrogating at the end. I'm pretty sure the soundtrack was doing Homicide callbacks too, they don't usually use that kind of intense subtle music on this show.
I thought this was a little disturbing in how it seemed like they were determined to get this guy no matter what.
I didn't feel this way, and it's not just because I trust the characters' instincts -- it's also because I've seen Jake turn 180 degrees, realize he has the wrong guy, and focus on a different suspect before. So I wouldn't have been surprised if that had happened here.
posted by mmoncur at 7:40 PM on April 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just rewatched, there are definitely some blatant Homicide hooks (single-note low strings ramping up in volume) in the soundtrack of this episode.
posted by mmoncur at 8:20 PM on April 3, 2018
posted by mmoncur at 8:20 PM on April 3, 2018
Seeing Braugher in the box gave my late-40s heart a warm feeling.
This is the episode of Homicide it is an homage to
I am super uncomfortable with the idea that Jake is a better detective & interrogator than Bayless.
That aside, I also really like what I feel like is B99's willingness to have complex human relationships complete with some of the contradictions that come with them. Holt unquestionably thinks Peralta isn't as smart as himself, and they didn't really shy away from the parts where that was brought up by Brown and the fact that it's not a really good feeling to explore this between the two of them. At the same time he respects Peralta's abilities and competence.
I compare that to the endless number of sitcom plots that have revolved around a situation where character A fails to unquestionably back up character B and they Are Wrong to do so and by the end they have come around to the right way of thinking and back up their friend/spouse/child unquestionably despite this disagreement. And I think, man I am gonna be bummed when this show wraps.
posted by phearlez at 10:51 AM on April 4, 2018
This is the episode of Homicide it is an homage to
I am super uncomfortable with the idea that Jake is a better detective & interrogator than Bayless.
That aside, I also really like what I feel like is B99's willingness to have complex human relationships complete with some of the contradictions that come with them. Holt unquestionably thinks Peralta isn't as smart as himself, and they didn't really shy away from the parts where that was brought up by Brown and the fact that it's not a really good feeling to explore this between the two of them. At the same time he respects Peralta's abilities and competence.
I compare that to the endless number of sitcom plots that have revolved around a situation where character A fails to unquestionably back up character B and they Are Wrong to do so and by the end they have come around to the right way of thinking and back up their friend/spouse/child unquestionably despite this disagreement. And I think, man I am gonna be bummed when this show wraps.
posted by phearlez at 10:51 AM on April 4, 2018
just a reminder that this is the Bugs Bunny opera and now I want to see Kevin being carried down a stair case on a fat white horse.
posted by numaner at 9:50 AM on April 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by numaner at 9:50 AM on April 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
This was the most entertaining B99 episode in a long time. I think any awkwardness about their attitudes and actions at the beginning is owed to the obvious Homocide homage.
While I still adore the show, they have turned Jake's goofiness up to 11 and it has really taken away from him as a character (it also just seems like lazy writing). They did a great job of keeping Jake within the bounds of the plot in this episode, and every time he veered into goofiness, it was clearly shown as an interrogation tactic.
posted by dry white toast at 6:37 PM on April 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
While I still adore the show, they have turned Jake's goofiness up to 11 and it has really taken away from him as a character (it also just seems like lazy writing). They did a great job of keeping Jake within the bounds of the plot in this episode, and every time he veered into goofiness, it was clearly shown as an interrogation tactic.
posted by dry white toast at 6:37 PM on April 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
It was great to see Frank Pembleton back in the box.
I am super uncomfortable with the idea that Jake is a better detective & interrogator than Bayless.
The Adena Watkins case was Bayliss's first as primary after coming to homicide by way of the mayor's (let's pretend it was Tommy Carcetti) protective detail. Peralta has been a major case detective for years.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 8:47 PM on April 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
I am super uncomfortable with the idea that Jake is a better detective & interrogator than Bayless.
The Adena Watkins case was Bayliss's first as primary after coming to homicide by way of the mayor's (let's pretend it was Tommy Carcetti) protective detail. Peralta has been a major case detective for years.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 8:47 PM on April 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
just a reminder that this is the Bugs Bunny opera
There's also this one. (CW: kinda racist rabbit)
posted by ActingTheGoat at 9:12 PM on April 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
There's also this one. (CW: kinda racist rabbit)
posted by ActingTheGoat at 9:12 PM on April 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
I thought this was a little disturbing in how it seemed like they were determined to get this guy no matter what. It was good and funny and had a lot of funny lines but I also felt weirdly disturbed watching it.
From the beginning Jake has been set up as someone who cares more about solving the puzzle than getting the collar. And though Holt can get swept up in this sort of thing he's also proven to be responsible. It's not true-life realistic, but the characters have built up trust.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:29 PM on October 20, 2019
From the beginning Jake has been set up as someone who cares more about solving the puzzle than getting the collar. And though Holt can get swept up in this sort of thing he's also proven to be responsible. It's not true-life realistic, but the characters have built up trust.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:29 PM on October 20, 2019
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posted by bleep at 9:59 PM on April 1, 2018 [2 favorites]