BROOKLYN NINE-NINE 5x03 "Kicks"

Season 5's attempt to dial down the complex A,B,C-style stories of the prior seasons into just an A and B plot has shone through in the early few episodes, but it has its drawbacks, primarily that if one plot is exceptional and one is subpar, there's an equal fifty-fifty split in the enjoyment of the episode. Today, I think this equal split was more a product of the B-plot's needlessness than it actually being subpar, and I'll start there.

Pimento takes the break-up hard
Image: FOX

   In the B-plot, Rosa's unstable fiancée/boyfriend/partner Adrian Pimento returns from his farm in Argentina (where fans remember he hid out after Rosa intended to flee rather than be framed for bank robbery), but Rosa quickly becomes suspicious that something is amiss. What unfolds is a stakeout of Pimento's day, when Rosa imagines he is cheating on her. There's little to fault in the humour of this plot - be it Hitchcock's "creep kit", Terry's ceremonial tea sock or Pimento shrieking like a tortured animal while playing Hopscotch with children - but the sheer needlessness of the plot immediately strikes me as a second attempt to reset Rosa's love life (remember Marcus?) - for no apparent reason.

   I'm reminded of Iris and Reese's break-up in Person of Interest, and Sherlock and Fiona's break-up in Elementary: the former has more necessity backing it up but both, like Rosa and Pimento, are frustrating and/or pointless.

   Not only that, but Rosa's break-up with Pimento seems like a waste of potential. A character of his instability trying to assume a more conventional relationship could have been a grand arc for Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but instead Pimento's tenure has spanned just 8 episodes of the 32 between his first appearance and his (presumable) exit, inclusive. Whether we see him again remains to be seen (we never saw Marcus again), but whatever the catalyst for this sudden break-up plot, it's one that leaves a bad taste in my mouth, irregardless of its hilarity.

Jake is not thrilled to learn he has to be evaluated
Image: FOX

   In the meantime, the A-plot was simply impressive. Brooklyn Nine-Nine got back to basics with Jake and Rosa's release from jail, but the impact of that storyline remains prominent - at least with Jake. Perhaps it's a testament to Rosa's character that she can continue her life as if a short stint in prison was no real diversion, but Jake suffers in his assigned duty as a desk monkey. He cruises through a simple grand larceny case under Holt's watchful, evaluating eye, desperate to be reinstated to field duty, until he releases the culprit after a crisis of conscience he developed during his traumatic prison stay.

   This jeopardises his evaluation, which comes with the high perk of reinstatement if passed, but the disappointment of suspension if failed. But Brooklyn Nine-Nine has always been able to conclude its episodic plots in smart, meaningful ways and, despite passing his evaluation, Jake's eventual conclusion that he should spend more time at his desk before returning to the field was impressive on all fronts: plot, character and writing. On that last point, it's timely Jake has decided to remain benched for the near future, as it allows a smooth transition into next week's Hallowe'en episode.

RATING: 8/10

POINTS OF NOTE

• As a Clippers fan, I reject any and all reference to Steph Curry.
• Is anyone really missing Gina?
• Holt dramatically squatting is perfection. "This is my choice."
• WHO'S UP FOR HALLOWE'EN ROUND FIVE NEXT WEEK?

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE 5x04 "HalloVeen" PROMO