Top 5 Best Moments from the Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 8 Opener

When the Nine-Nine goes away to Captain Holt’s Lake House, Amy is nervous about Mac’s sleeping schedule. In typical Boyle fashion, Charles offers his unsolicited advice, citing the many nieces and nephews that he has helped raise. After finally letting up, Amy gives Boyle the opportunity to take care of Mac and it goes about as well as you would expect. Despite Charles’ many efforts to get back into the locked room, it’s left up to an enraged Amy to rescue her child. Amy forgives Boyle, but binds him to Mac’s service until college.

Amy has always strived to have a perfect relationship with her Captain, so when Holt makes small talk with her after she returns from maternity leave, she knows something is wrong. With the help of Terry…*cough* Scully’s...relationship book, she tries to repair the damage done to their dynamic. After many hilarious efforts fail, Captain Holt reveals that it’s not her, but him, that is the problem, revealing that he and Kevin have separated. This was an exceptionally tough year for someone in Holt’s position, and it was cathartic to see the character address it, while also stressing the importance of being there for the ones we love. Ramy (pronounced Ray-Me) forever!

With 2020 being the year that it was, Boyle tries to show the 99 how socially aware he’s become. Although his heart is in the right place, his execution is lacking, and borderline offensive. In trying to show how committed he is, he makes a series of mistakes that Terry capitalizes on. Terry gives a noteworthy lesson that it’s great to want to support oppressed communities and stand as an ally, but when it becomes performative, the meaning is lost. With more and more people becoming aware of racial injustices and engaging with activism for the first time, this episode reminds everyone to think about the most effective way to offer their support.

After the bombshell announcement of Holt and Kevin’s separation, Jake tries to get the two back together through an old-fashioned parent trap. After the gang agrees to go to Holt’s lake house, Perralta enacts a series of high jinxes to get Kevin and Holt to reconsider their relationship. The operation comes close, and we’re treated with a priceless bird-calling scene, but after a swarm of bees interrupts the plan, Kevin and Raymond get wind of it. Although the two love birds share a moment together, Kevin decides to leave the lake house. Holt is close to giving up on his marriage until Jake’s detective instincts kick in and save the day. We’re hoping to see Holt and Kevin back together soon...and a Cheddar cameo wouldn’t hurt either!



Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Textbook Villain
Textbook Excuses from a Textbook Bad Guy


Pantone Passion
Captain Holt and Kevin Have Their Own Love Language

Good Vibes Only
It’s Fine, She’s Not A Cop Anymore


Mommy Dearest
Not One Freudian Slip, But Two!


Innovation at it’s Finest
A Safe Way to Execute Any High Fives Your Heart Desires

Brooklyn Nine-Nine has never shied away from serious issues, so after the creators and stars revealed that Season 8 would be the last because of the demand for police reform and accountability, it was great to see them address the issue in Nine-Nine fashion. After Rosa quits to become a PI, Jake offers to help her with a case of police brutality, but his ulterior motives get in the way. Jake redeems himself by posing as a - very Jake - distraction so that Rosa can get evidence. After they hand over the video file, Jake is faced with the reality of his own system’s flaws. He comes to realize that like it or not, he is benefiting from a crooked institution, and is forced to ask himself some tough questions.