This whole room is a bleep-ing Dutch oven. —Scully, 2019
The last time we had a Hitchcock and Scully episode was in season 3, with House Mouses (S03E16). In that episode, the two are given a drug case by Jake, that winds up with them being captured and Hitchcock using his chair-rolling skills to escape.
This time, we get to see the two at an earlier period in their lives, when they were the studs of the nine-nine, busting bad guys and closing cases like there was nothing to it. It was a charming cold open, especially for someone like me who had no idea what the episode was about (I didn’t know it was titled ‘Hitchcock & Scully’ until later).
The story, however, follows a formulaic path when Hitchcock and Scully come under investigation from Internal Affairs for one of their old cases. The predictable outcome of the plot (they stole money and gave it to their informer) was made doubly frustrating by Charles’ subplot involving Nikolaj’s stepbrother (who is clearly an old man) and his bullheadedness in not seeing it; even Charles is not that stupid. Even the B story involving Terry and the other ‘upstairs people’ (read: Rosa) against the ‘downstairs people’ (just Amy) is uninspiring, drawing parallels to apparent racism. (“Some of my best friends are downstairs people.” No, Terry, I don’t think so.) This show has handled racism well in the episode ‘Moo Moo‘ tackling the lofty topic with finesse and grace, so, to see Terry deliver a line like that did undercut the humour.
That being said, humour is still prevalent in this episode. Hitchcock and Scully are given enough to do (and so is Rosa!), with their gross humour leading the charge here, as well as a few choice lines from Scully that sell this otherwise-alright episode of the escapades of the nine-nine. A lot of the gags stem from the contrast of Hitchcock and Scully, then and now, and works, most of the time. The bit about them going to check in on their CI in Wing Sluts was sweet and unexpected in a plot filled with predictability, and that’s a moment I enjoyed.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is known for good comedy, and that is what they deliver here, but they’re also known for telling good stories and upending the norm every once in a while, so it was disappointing to see them go down a predictable road in terms of story. Yet, they do not disappoint as much, balancing out the predictable story with witty dialogue and visual gags.
A few points to end on:
- Damn, I know I’ve been saying this pretty much the whole time, but those two were good-looking. It’s a shame Wing Sluts did that to them, but I’m certain they live with no regrets.
- “You bet your nips, skidmark.”
- “Why do you keep saying hoots? Is this forever?” “I pray not.” Ah, Rosa, glad to see you appropriately utilised.
TAV Rating
B
The Average Viewer 