New Girl/Brooklyn Nine Nine Crossover Plot Summaries:
Brooklyn Nine Nine: The nine nine is not taking well to the night shift. Jake (Andy Samberg) has to adjust to being back at the precinct and the changes that happened in his absence. While working a case, he commandeers a vehicle from Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel.)
New Girl: Everyone takes a trip to New York because Schmidt (Max Greenfield) is being honored at his high school. As Cece (Hannah Simone) attempts to deal with Schmidt’s mom, Jess (Deschanel) meets Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) and Gina (Chelsea Peretti) of the Nine Nine precinct.
The season premiere episodes of Brooklyn Nine Nine and New Girl, while spattered with truly hilarious moments, didn’t fully impress me. I wanted more of the nine nine and less of Florida in Brooklyn Nine Nine and less Jess-crushing-on-Nick…again in New Girl. The next two episodes of both shows proved why they have a spot on Marley’s Top 35: Half Hour Comedy list. The problems I had were addressed and I was appeased.
Brooklyn Nine Nine, like Park and Recreation before it, is a positive show. We are in an (depressing) era of television right now where comedys are caustic and unhappy. (#NotAllComedys ha, amiright. Some have laugh tracks) The comedy derives from a dark place, the idea that we all suck. Everyone is sarcastic, usually kind of mean or selfish. I don’t dislike these shows, You’re the Worst or Louie come to mind, but they don’t make the Top 35. New Girl, similarly, is positive at it’s core. Both shows rely on the relationships between its characters who ultimately like and care for one another.
For some unfathomable reason, Brooklyn Nine Nine and New Girl had two crossover episodes tonight. I’m not sure why. At first this really bothered me. Like I get why the superhero shows do it. It makes sense there. Long story short, I didn’t get an explanation and even after watching “Night Shift” and “Homecoming” could not come up with an answer myself. But no matter. This is mostly irrelevant but since it plagued me, I feel it’s only fair someone has to read about it.
Anyway, both episodes were hilarious. My roommate (it was my dad but roommate sounds cooler) asked if I could shut the door because I was laughing so much and too loudly. I believe I’ve said it in reviews before, but it is rare that I actually laugh out loud when I’m by myself. Even if I think the show is hysterical, I opt to remark to myself (in my head not out loud because that’s WEIRD) “that’s so funny” instead of, you know, laughing.
I think the best crossover interactions were between Jake (Samberg) and Jess. It was succinct and both characters were classic them. It was a good combination. The side plot lines were thin but not necessarily bad. With so much going on, there was only so much the other characters were going to be able to do. However Brooklyn Nine Nine, more than New Girl, was able to use the small amount of time they had for the other characters to move the overall season forward. If anything, neither show spent much time on the crossover, making me wonder yet again, why?
“Nightshift” and “Homecoming” were a very enjoyable hour of television and made me extremely overjoyed that TV season has begun in earnest. Though, I don’t see a reason to do another random crossover. Now if you’ll excuse me, my roommates (parents) are watching the first episode of Brooklyn Nine Nine and I’m going to rewatch it.
Brooklyn Nine Nine Rating: 9 out of 10
New Girl Rating: 7 out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 out of 10
