Brooklyn Nine-Nine Review: Game Night / The Favor (Season 5 Episodes 10 and 11)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 5 Episode 10, “Game Night,” and Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 5 Episode 11, “The Favor,” bring me to tears. More than once. If we’re being honest, more than twice. For a 30-minute comedy, this is a particularly incredible feat.

“Game Night” and “The Favor” prove what I suspected based on the first nine episodes of this season: Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the most underrated show of 2017. 

The women of the 99 are the force that moves me to tears. Even when the women characters are paired with a male — such as when Gina (#WeFoundGina) discusses work/baby balance with Terry — the dialogue and characterization works to highlight and emphasize the woman’s development. The shes of the 99 surely shine on “Game Night” and “The Favor.”

Rosa Diaz in particular receives focus and attention as she comes out to the precinct and her parents as bisexual on “Game Day.”

At the top of the episode “Game Day” Rosa makes the announcement to the team: “I am bisexual.” She provides them a mere minute of questioning and makes it clear that then the window is closed and she doesn’t want to talk about it.

I adore this brilliant set-up for Brooklyn Nine-Nine to show how to make a sensitive moment like coming out hilarious, without making it at the expense of a marginalized group. 

Amy asks when Rosa knew. Rosa responds that Saved By the Bell helped her realize that she is bisexual, because she was attracted to both Zack Morris AND Lisa Turtle. Same, Rosa. Same.

Captain Holt asks why Rosa decided to tell them now. Rosa responds that she had come out to Boyle on Season 5 Episode 9 “99,” and she knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it to himself for very long.

Rosa doesn’t want to be the subject of gossip, so she came to the team with her news. This is yet another example of Rosa owning her experiences and identity and not being willing to let culture or others dictate who she is.

We then see Boyle unable to say “bye” without blabbering into an incoherent mess to explain he meant “bye” not “bi.”

As a sidenote, this questioning sequence highlights how adept Brooklyn Nine-Nine is at making every second count. Rather than just being about Rosa, her responses serve to richly showcase the other characters too. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine writing team is truly excellent.

There is not a single question about genitalia or any expression of doubt or discomfort among Rosa’s colleagues. I suggest that businesses across the country take note of how positively a person coming out at work can go.

Well, maybe not the part where Hitchcock asks if Rosa knows Anne Heche. Although, the answer is, without hesitation, “yes,” so perhaps it works.

The meat of “Game Night” is really Rosa coming out to her traditional parents. Danny Trejo and Olga Meredis as Mr. and Mrs. Diaz intimidate Rosa, and she ends up bringing Jake along for her coming out dinner so that she has support.

Jake as Rosa’s sounding board is a very effective construct, and it helps to provide a platform for Rosa’s emotional journey.

Mr. and Mrs. Trejo come to think that Jake and Rosa are dating. Even when they believe that Jake is engaged to another woman while still dating Rosa, they express relief that at least Rosa isn’t gay.

In response, Rosa angrily tells her parents that she is bisexual. The next day, Mr. and Mrs. Diaz invite Rosa to game night, so she believes that they must have come to accept that she is bisexual.

Game night thus becomes a symbol for acceptance on the episode, and it is what Rosa seeks from her parents.

Cue the tears.

Instead of acceptance, Rosa gets the response many bisexual people have heard: “It’s just a phase.”

Hearing this moves Rosa. Rosa wants her mom and dad to accept her for who she is. Insisting that she is simply going through a phase indicates that her parents don’t trust Rosa to know herself and that they need her to be in a particular kind of relationship for her to be good enough.

The lack of acceptance breaks Rosa’s heart. Cue more tears.

“Game Night” avoids the common habit of over dramatizing the divisions and disagreement within families by having Rosa remain emotional and contemplative, but never angsty or rigid.

Oscar Diaz comes to her and expresses his desire to love her for her, but that for now, acceptance is not quite on the table. It is an honest portrayal of how love and acceptance don’t always go hand-in-hand.

The 99 comes together to provide what Rosa’s parents aren’t quite ready to — game night. It is a touching reminder that, after six years with this squad, they are not just colleagues — they are family that accepts each other for who they are, without hesitation.

Captain Holt shares his wisdom with Rosa.

“Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better more interesting place.” — Captain Holt

I can’t believe it has taken this many words to get to a major highlight of the midseason finale: GINA LINETTI IS BACK!

Gina’s return is as glorious as any viewer could hope. Not only does she still scare the crap out of anatgonistic male officers, she also brings out the best reactions from her 99 squad. I may never stop laughing at the 99’s reaction to Gina dropping the news that the offending officer had pooped in the reflecting pool. How I have missed you, Gina. Please, never leave again.

Unless you need more maternity leave — in which case, take all the time you need, you goddess.

While “The Favor” packs less of a punch character development-wise, it does offer a chance for Rosa and Amy to team up.

It is powerful to see two Latina professionals working together without a hint of “spiciness” between them. Instead of competition or aggression, there is mutual respect and joy. Once again, Brooklyn Nine-Nine raises the bar for effective representation of underrepresented groups.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is doing sophisticated and groundbreaking things, but it is not talked about with the same gravity or respect as many other comedies. Season 5 is showing that it is not just binge-worthy — Brooklyn Nine-Nine is an award-worthy series.

What did you think of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine midseason finale? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on FOX.

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