Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Jake and Sophia, (2.6) - TV Review

Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 2, Episode 6, “Jake and Sophia”

November 9th, 2014, 8:30 PM, FOX

Love messes everything up for everyone in this week’s B99. Unlucky-in-recent-love Jake, with Terry’s encouragement, approaches an attractive stranger in a bar - but their resultant one-night stand quickly turns sour when he realizes she’s the defense attorney for a diamond thief he and Terry have been trying to put behind bars for ages. This forces Jake and Sophia to behave maturely before the judge, but when the defense’s case proves stronger than anticipated, Jake cannot hold his peace, not can he stop himself from rallying the squad to strengthen the state’s. Meanwhile, Gina and Charles try to stick to their break-up vow but the conclusion to their friends with benefits relationship runs into a big snag when they realize their pre-booked couples’ weekend package is non-refundable, causing them to fight over the arrangements and manipulate Holt into requesting that the other work overtime – but the people who end up sharing the room proves a shock to the audience and Boyle and Gina both. And last but not least, Rosa and Amy try to have Scully removed as union rep, but as election time arrives Amy is promoted against her wishes into the political arena by Rosa to battle Scully (and Hitchcock) for supremacy – and soon Rosa and Amy are fighting over Amy’s reluctance to step up and lead.

“Jake and Sophia” provides another solid half hour of entertainment, though it’s slightly weaker than last week’s edition, it still readily and thoroughly entertains.

The most interesting addition to the show is Eva Longoria, who’s generally known for her more dramatic (and soapy) roles. Here as the intellectual but goofy Sophia, she cuts an interesting comedic figure – I sort of want to see her in a sitcom, now that she’s done a vehicle better than the cinematic bomb Over Her Dead Body. Her chemistry with Samberg projects less heat than Samberg’s connection with Fumero does, which I suppose is the point, but still Jake and Sophia come off as a couple of kids having fun, which makes the temporary connection fun to watch play out. Longoria’s Sophia will reoccur for the next few episodes, which I’m sure will give us time to watch the chemistry between these two properly evolve – the show’s already leaps and bounds away from the lazy humor of other, lesser shows in portraying them. And I’m ever so pleased that they’re building on the Terry and Jake friendship – it was fun to see them hang out together outside of work.

Meanwhile, Amy takes a foray into politics, and ultimately the story turns into a lovely teaching moment between she and Holt. It’s truly wonderful to see their relationship take center stage after we’ve had so much focus on the Ray/Jake connection. Both cops are his mentorees, and when she show chooses to spread the wealth in that respect it really shines.

Holt pops up in the Gina and Boyle conflict, undeniably the weakest part of the episode but one that still manages to radiate humor. There are plenty of good one-liners here, but one feels as if the Charles/Gina relationship could have been milled for laughs for an even longer time than the quarter-season they were given. Perhaps there will be more of them, later on.

“Jake and Sophia” gives us lots of well-written, fast-paced humor, and some really strong character moments. They’re keeping the Jake/Amy stuff at a low boil this season, wisely so, and continuing to keep every character pinging off every other character.

The Roundup

• Theories when Amy’s late to work: her alarm clock died (Terry), Taken in her sleep (Boyle), Tucked herself into bed too tight and got stuck (Rosa), Fell into a dimension where she’s suddenly interesting (Gina), stuck in line at the bank (Holt), and slipped through a subway grate and is having terrible sex with a mole man (Jake). Holt ends up being correct.
• Apparently Rosa’s friends are even more closed-off than Rosa.
• All Terry did on his first date with his wife was talk about meatloaf.
• Things Charles and Gina left at each other’s apartments: Gina’s stuff: A sound of Ibiza sleep CD, 70 phone chargers and an empty jar labeled ‘fire spirit’ that’s not empty. Charles’ stuff isn’t listed, but seems to contain cooking equipment.


• Lows in Charles’ life: can’t stop thinking about Jake’s junk when he reveals he’s slept with Sophia, even when Jake begs him not to.


• We get another flashback to Holt’s struggle through the ranks of the force in this episode.


• Gina’s full first name is Regina.


• Boyle’s dad is portrayed by journeyman actor Stephen Root of Office Space fame (who might be best known to Fox Sunday viewers as the voice of Bill Dauterive from King of the Hill), and Gina’s mom is played by actress and singer Sandra Bernhard from Roseanne.


• Next Week: Jake tries to keep the squad’s spirits up when the whole force is stuck inside the precinct on Thanksgiving during a “Lockdown.”