'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' Review/Recap: "The Pontiac Bandit Returns"

Marcela Lima ’18 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

When a Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode starts out with Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) in Santa suit, you know it’s going to be a good episode. What made it even better was the addition of comedian and actor Craig Robinson as Doug Judy, a.k.a. the Pontiac Bandit, a thief who escaped from Peralta and Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz).
Throughout this season, the show has been introducing some wonderful guest stars, and each brings their own interesting spin to the show, and specifically, to Peralta’s transformation. Ed Helms’ character from two weeks ago brought out the more competitive and rebellious side of Peralta. Eva Longoria’s recurring role as Peralta’s girlfriend introduced Peralta’s sensitive and apologetic side. These stars’ contributions within Peralta’s personal transformation throughout the course of the show demonstrates the maturing nature of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Though we are always exposed to the immature and childish behaviors and attitudes of the 99th precinct, the addition of these guest stars is bringing out different aspects of the characters’ personalities, and Craig Robinson as Doug Judy is no different.
Naturally, Jake Peralta is a child-like and juvenile detective. Doug Judy’s addition to the plot shows Peralta’s ability to be serious and put his focus on catching the criminal. But before Peralta can celebrate his victory of finally arresting him, Judy negotiates a deal with the Captain (Andre Braugher). He will give them intel on the “Giggle Pig” ecstasy case if they let him go.

It’s exciting to see how Judy connects with and charms almost every character, even Rosa. Because Rosa’s such a tough nut to crack, it’s surprising to experience Judy’s ability to weaken her stone-cold gaze and plow through her headstrong and stubborn tendencies.
Judy’s character is a complex one: he acts and carries himself as if he were an innocent, normal man. On the outside, the audience can’t even distinguish him from any of the other officers (in regards to his mannerisms, how he speaks, and the way he communicates with others). If we weren’t told that he was car-robbing criminal, we never would have guessed.
In the middle of a heist in which Peralta is negotiating with the boss of the “Giggle Pig” operation, Doug escapes in a garbage truck. Demonstrating that his real goal is to catch the bigger criminal, Peralta goes after the boss, Tito. Judy’s character demonstrates Peralta’s subtle and growing transformation from juvenile to more goal-oriented and serious.

Of course, Peralta is furious that, once again, he has allowed the bad guy to escape from his hands. The last exchange between Peralta and Diaz in the episode demonstrates again how Peralta is becoming more and more mature as the episodes go on. Instead of focusing on his own personal vendettas (catching Judy), he solved the “Giggle Pig” case for Diaz. The old Peralta would have acted on impulse and gone after Judy. Surprisingly, this new Peralta is caring and empathetic.
While we see a characteristically happy ending from this episode of Brookyln Nine-Nine, we also see Peralta’s transformation. Though the detective is growing into a more mature version of himself, he never loses the ability to demonstrate his more juvenile and child-like side, and that’s the Peralta we know and love.
Overall Episode Grade: B+