Brooklyn Nine-Nine Review: The Puzzle Master (Season 5 Episode 15)

Please excuse me while I gush about Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 5 Episode 15, “The Puzzle Master,” for 1,000 words.

First though, a plea to FOX. Renew Brooklyn Nine-Nine! This show gives us the heartfelt nerdy diverse representation that so many of us viewers have yearned for our entire lives.

Now, on to the gush.

Captain Holt and Gina are the most all-around entertaining pair on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Their connection defies logic, but wow, does it work.

Gina accompanies Holt to an event where he aims to take down the dinosaurs with his “yousteroid.”

The very fact that Captain Holt recognizes that he can learn from work-avoidant Gina, confirms Holt would be amazing as Commissioner.

Leadership is, after all, more about how you can elevate your team, not lord over them. Captain Holt exemplifies the balance of discipline and humility. I love his character!

I have missed Gina so much, and even though her screen time remains relatively brief, she makes the most of her moments.

Captain Holt and Gina do a sneaky victory dance when they solidify their master takedown plan, and it brings to my knees in a full-on giggle fit.

Captain Holt nearly Nae Naes in his hip heavy moves. It is so silly but somehow it isn’t out of character for the super-serious Holt.

Amy Santiago’s bird-like celebration dance is flamboyant and funky. I wish I could have seen even more of it! Let’s hope it makes a triumphant return at the wedding.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine does that. Every single character gets to have fun. No one is too set into a singular identity that they can’t goof.

What a wonderful gift.

In the same 30-minute program, Captain Holt’s example of being an ally makes me sob — I’m talking several streams of tears!

Captain Holt learns that his new rival Olivia Crawford (played brilliantly by Allison Tollman) doesn’t have a chance because the review board sees her as a politically correct pity candidate.

He could go in many directions with this information. But Holt does not hesitate.

He stands up and refuses to benefit from a system that is not able to provide true opportunity to all people.

He doesn’t become friends with Crawford. It’s not about being likable.

Captain Holt refuses to take part in an unethical system, and in doing so, he shows us how every person can be an ally. Each person can control their willingness to take part in contests that unfairly benefit some groups over others.

It reminds me of the words of Audre Lorde: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”

Captain Holt’s boycott is inspiring and provides a victorious, emotional moment on “The Puzzle Master.”

My only request for future episodes is MORE GINA! Really — more Gina, please.

The main story on “The Puzzle Master” centers on a different victory: Amy Santiago is becoming a sergeant!

I love that it is Santiago’s career that is the focus of the season, rather than leading man Jake Peralta’s.

So often, men are shown as ambitious leaders on cop shows. Women, on the other hand, are often shown as supportive of those men.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine vanquishes those gender norms with its thoughtful, funny, and authentic development of Amy Santiago.

It is a nice wink-wink to the fandom that Santiago’s last case is all about crossword puzzles. At the end of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 5 Episode 4,”HalloVeen,” Peralta shares that he knew Santiago was the one when she finds an error in the crossword puzzle she’s doing.

He loves her intellect and tenacity the most, and it makes my feminist heart grow three sizes.

Peraltiago’s last case together gets derailed by Jake’s jealousy over the puzzle master who is brought in to help the team catch the arsonist.

The puzzle master is played by Melissa Fumero’s husband, David Fumero, and it is a joy upon a joy to see Jake jealous of his on-screen fiance’s real-life husband.

The jealousy stuff is less compelling than seeing the characters interacting with each other and work out the anagram-laden puzzle.

The Peraltiago storyline hits its emotional mark when Jake finally admits his great fear: Amy will leave him for someone who is as smart as she is.

Listen, again: This is the break from traditional gender norms that I need in my ships right now!

We are used to toxic masculinity informing what makes a man jealous of another man — strength and power. Jake would say, “I’m afraid of you leaving me for someone who can protect you better than me.”

There is no way that would make sense for Jake’s character on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Jake recognizes Amy’s brain as her most attractive part. He sees her as smarter than him and loves her for it. He is most threatened by someone who can match her intellect.

This representation is incredibly important, as it sends the resounding message that all genders have equal access to being characterized as smart, nerdy, ambitious, and kind.

This empowering message is given in the most Brooklyn Nine-Nine way: in a series of pop culture references, zany antics, tender moments between friends, and self-deprecating jokes (my favorite is the misunderstanding of bicycle crunches).

The C-plot on “The Puzzle Master” brings Terry, Rosa, Hitchcock and Scully together to fight over a new car.

Terry’s butt-clenching tell is a delightful bit and a definite laugh-out-loud part of the episode.

More gush-worthy than the glute display is the way that Rosa translates the intel she gets to learn how Terry cheated into insight about his value as a colleague.

Rosa is letting the precinct into her heart. When she notices Terry’s thoughtful and kind actions and expresses to him how she feels, it is as big of a hug as Terry is likely to ever get from Rosa.

Rosa sincerely praising her friends is a rarity, which I think makes it all the more touching.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a family.

Each week, they invite us to get to know them even more deeply, and it is such a privilege to be in on the jokes, the history, and the future of this inspiring found family.

What did you think of this episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs Sundays at 8:30/7:30c on FOX.

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