Nine-Nine turns One-One (11)! - A Tribute

Joining college is a whole different and overwhelming experience is what I have always heard and finally did my turn come! After moving to Delhi and before my classes began in full swing, I found myself having quite a lot of time to kill and of course I did by opening my Netflix account and binge-watching episodes of my favorite show- the NBC sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine. This show is like a reliable source I can fall on when it has been a long day and all I want to do is sit and unwind.

While browsing the Internet lately, I discovered that on the 17th of September, it would be celebrating its 11th anniversary, which made me nostalgic about how I first came across this amazing sitcom.

Unlike most people, YouTube shorts (not Instagram reels) and word of mouth piqued my interest but I started watching it only after my 12th board exams and CUET entrance (because, let's face it, the job market is grim worldwide! Apparently (or I feel) , having a kick-ass academic record is like the golden ticket to survival in this hypercompetitive world.) Nevertheless, the moment I started the first episode, it was like a marathon. I finished seasons in days watching each episode back-to-back much to the annoyance and amusement of my mom and sister. It was the first time that I equally loved the protagonist along with the supporting characters in a work of fiction.

How can someone not laugh seeing this face?

All the characters had something to offer- Jake keeping his inner child alive, a sincere and equally sassy Amy, the mysterious Rosa, intriguing Gina, foodie Charles, the squad's favorite Sergeant Jeffords, the Scully and Hitchcock bromance and ultimately, the OG Raymond Holt (Rest in Peace Andre Braugher, you will always stay alive in our memories!). Being a fast and chaotic talker myself, I was happy to find someone like myself in Jake. But while I was enjoying the early seasons, I was afraid that like many American sitcoms, this too might fall the trap of being repetitive particularly after Jake and Amy begin dating but my God was I impressed with the makers for depicting a mature and well balanced relationship instead of an on-off relationship. But don't you think that as a workplace mockumentary, it relies on stereotypes to make the viewers laugh or make you cringe at a time when you were supposed to laugh. It deals matters of sensitivity with utmost care and doesn't try to force humor in it, something shows like Friends lacked and is able to find a unique balance between funny moments and heartfelt instances. It covers everything- from representation, social issues like police brutality and people's perception towards law enforcement officers to humor and that too different kinds of it- slapstick, adult humor and instances of intelligent comedy (shoutout to the 'I Want it That Way' scene!), all of them shown in a light and breezy manner.

It taught me to "Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool" my problems though I might be scared from within, staying true to myself even if it means constantly being made fun of by a "Jake" in my life, being quirky and confident in carrying yourself and your quirks (screw those you say otherwise) and sticking to your "squad" because its ultimately them who is going to help you out. I wished that this beautiful show never came to an end but it did and I am happy they did it before it became too boring. It started as something fresh and never lost its charm and I respect the makers for their decision. By staying active as a YouTube channel, it has a different emotion in itself. At first I used to laugh seeing the episodes for their content, now I reminisce the time when I saw it for the first time and the impact it had on me. Every Halloween, I might just put on any episode of the Halloween heist and laugh all over again on the same jokes. Now you can assume what place does this show hold in my heart if I have put it's poster as my phone's wallpaper and sort of recommend it to almost everyone.