Brooklyn Nine-Nine Review: The Honeypot (Season 6 Episode 7)
The B-plot outshines the A-plot on the silly and sweet Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6 Episode 7, “The Honeypot,” but the pacing is just right and the balanced characterization hits the spot.
Gina is impossible to replace, so the attempts are sure to be full of laughs and groans. “The Honeypot,” smartly starts us off on a hopefully recurring bit where Captain Holt brings in new people to try and fill Gina’s role.
The possibilities are endless!
Karan Soni as the triple crossing spy Gordon Lundt is a great use of guest talent. It is nice that Gina can be somewhat included on the episode, even in her clear absence. As a huge Gina fan, I am willing to take the tiniest of scraps.
The ridiculous monotone flirting between Captain Holt and Honeypot is cute. It’s never very serious (Captain Holt mentions Kevin at every turn) so it stays firmly planted in the sweet and charming place that it belongs.
It is genuinely endearing to see all the different varieties of attraction, flirting, and beauty that Brooklyn Nine-Nine validates. I truly love the consistent stereotype-busting representation on the show.
Even though it is charming and sweet, the A-plot doesn’t provide the barrel of laughs that the B-plot does.
I want far more of organizer Amy and her Munkensmat. Like all of the best stories on the show, the joke piece is really just a gloss that makes the process of getting to know the characters shinier.
This is true of the Munkensmat story on “The Honeypot.”
From the “Marie Kondo turned up to 11” approach Amy takes to de-cluttering the precinct, we learn a few compelling and important things about Terry. Terry put his dream of becoming a lieutenant aside in order to devote himself to fatherhood. But, he still holds the dream close to him in the form of a pair of fancy suspenders.
It is not typical that we get to spend sincere time with Terry. Usually, his character serves to anchor or elucidate the more dramatic features of the other team members.
On this episode, we get to spend more time delving into what Terry wants and how he has been holding up over the past few years.
It is a joy.
It is also really special that we get a storyline about a father who is struggling to balance his personal career goals with his obligations at home. Terry also hides his struggle and pain for the good of the precinct. That type of sacrifical care is almost always attributed to women characters.
It is remarkable that Terry has these nuanced and anti-toxic masculinity traits. It’s even more remarkable how subtly and gently these bias-busting portrayals are delivered on the show.
Terry’s story is so powerful and important it should be given the A-plot on the episode.
Melissa Fumero is consistently knocking it out of the park on Season 6, and this episode is no exception. Her take on Amy Santiago proves, again and again, that women characters can be dynamic, funny, and tender, even when they are shown in platonic relationships.
In other words, Amy is just as compelling of a character when she is interacting with Terry, Boyle, and Rosa, as when she is interacting with Jake.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine shows us how to develop a beloved OTP, without centering a show around an OTP.
After the very special Rosa and Jake focused Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6 Episode 6, “The Crime Scene,” it feels like the exact right time for the whole 99 to be back together and in a familiar rhythm.
Stray Thoughts
- Rosa going full Katniss on the trash bags is my favorite moment on the episode. Iconic.
- I love all the pop culture reference on the episode. Case in point, Captain Holt’s “Don’t roll your eyes at me, Daria.”
- Captain Holt is dashing with a mustache.
- Terry is a treasure that we don’t deserve. I hope that the show continues to discover more about him.
- Rosa should pick the hatchet. It so clearly brings her joy.
- I have not forgotten about Jocelyn. I can’t wait to meet her!
- I hope we get a new Gina-replacement every episode for the rest of the season.
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 Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.