Brooklyn Nine-Nine Review: Ticking Clocks (Season 6 Episode 14)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6 Episode 14, “Ticking Clocks,” is a quick and tasty snack, that primes our appetite for the final four episodes of the season.
Melissa Fumero as Amy Santiago is once again the highlight and heartbeat of the episode. Even when she is phoning it in, Amy Santiago is an unstoppable force.
For some reason, the entire idea of Amy getting dental work done, only to ditch out because of her FOMOW is endlessly entertaining.
I think it has to do with the bib.
That little bib, perfectly intact and without any yuck on it (Sergeant Santiago would never have bloody gums! Her dental game is far too effective for that) is a comforting and funny prop that manages to make Amy’s storyline fresh.
Also, hallelujah, I really like Hitchcock and Scully on “Ticking Clocks!” The countdowns parallel is really clever and works well to highlight what is funny about the bumbling pair, without crossing any lines.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is wise to stick with the food-related storylines for Hitchcock and Scully because the sex-related jokes are just not funny.
I especially adore the final shot of the episode where we get several seconds of silence as Hitchcock and Scully peacefully at lasagna. It gets funnier and funnier as each second passes and nothing happens but eating.
Weird and brilliant, Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s M.O.
Just like the ticking clocks that set the plot, the pace on the episode is fast and frantic. I like this change of pace, especially after the emotionally rich bottle episode Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6 Episode 12, “Casecation.”
The thirty-minute show benefits from being able to flex and stretch from episode to episode.
Even if there are a couple slower or more boring episodes, like last week’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6 Episode 13, “The Bimbo,” we know that a different vibe is going to be headed our way soon, so we stay very engaged in the program.
Even though the plot is at a sprint, the emotional beats on the episode don’t feel rushed.
Rosa’s fight to save her relationship with Jocelyn manages to be rich and meaningful, even though it’s a very small part of the episode, time-wise.
We get a sense of Jocelyn’s character, their way of relating as a couple, and, importantly, how Rosa has developed as a character over the last couple of seasons.
That is darn impressive for one small part of a short episode.
Even as all that character work is happening, Rosa is also making us laugh with her dark humor truth bombs.
ROSA: It’s weak and humiliating to love someone. I lied to make myself sound strong and normal.
I love the resolution of Jocelyn and Rosa’s almost break-up. Sometimes I want the sappy and happy ending. I cheer as I hear Rosa admit her feelings and follow-through on her promise to prioritize her girlfriend.
Rosa deserves it.
The world is a dark place. It feels good to feel joy, wrapped in sardonic and sometimes psychotic packaging on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Stray Thoughts
- Rosa’s make-up on this season is fire.
- Sean Astin as Sergeant Knox is another testament to the great guest star power this show has. He nails it!
- Jake wants Amy to send him flowers. I’m dead. This ship is everything.
- The opener where Jake can read the very subtle details of Captain Holt’s face is all the right kinds of charming.
- Yes, I WILL be using FOMOW in my day-to-day life now. Thanks for asking.
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.