Jake's optimism was high as the episode began, and understandably so, as he had compiled a whiteboard of information about the two families - including shared topics of conversation - which he revealed to Amy in the squad meeting room, believing it would help navigate any undesirable scenarios. (We all knew that wouldn't last.)
This scene was notable for the way it subverted Brooklyn Nine-Nine's standard plot introductions: often, any investigation-based plotline is set up during one of Holt's squad meetings, while character-driven subplots open independently of the meeting room (and usually in the bullpen), but "Two Turkeys" flipped that by having Jake's A-plot commence in the meeting room while Holt's investigation into his missing pie was opened in the bullpen (more on that later). This scene was also notable for Amy proving how she wasn't controlling by wiping away the word "controlling" while kissing Jake. When Amy's quirks are used correctly, they make punchlines just that strong.
However, when the quirks of the Santiagos and the quirks of the Peraltas mesh, they make for some truly brilliant moments. Jake and Amy's concern that both fathers would spiral into an unceasing competition over a trivial matter was proved valid when Roger and Victor began competing for the most impressive toast or who could offer the engaged couple the better gift, the insults growing steadily more ridiculous until their wives joined in and began battling over whose partner's sexual prowess was more noteworthy. (However, perhaps it's because I've witnessed Katey Sagal play a very broad-minded, sexually active and potty-mouthed woman on Sons of Anarchy that I found her almost timid assertion that Roger was "good at sex"to be a belly-laugh to match any other in this episode.) And Jake and Amy being drawn into an argument over whose parents were winning the competition they had toiled to avoid was not only characteristic, but on the same level in terms of hilarity.
This storyline culminated in a battle between Roger and Victor over who could carve their turkey more impressively, a battle that saw Roger accidentally cut off this thumb. A trip to the hospital and a few home truths later about how little pilots require the use of their thumbs and everything was fixed, figuratively and literally. Roger's thumb was reattached, Victor's stand against a lazy receptionist reunited the families and Jake and Amy could feel like the dysfunctional Thanksgiving meal had gone well after all.
Everything about this storyline was trope-laden and formulaic, but the writing of it - and some star performances from Jimmy Smits and Katey Sagal - lifted it high out of the reach of such criticisms.
But the B-plot was arguably even better. A Thanksgiving pie bought by Holt and Kevin is stolen from his office, prompting Holt to initiate a full-scale investigation into his primary suspects, Rosa, Terry and Charles. He demands alibis for their whereabouts when the pie went missing, but comes to the conclusion after discovering they all lied that the trio worked together to steal his pie; instead, the scene in which he exposes their alibis as false gives plenty of logical explanations for each character's activity during the time of theft window.
Of course Charles would be devastated Nikolaj (Nee-kolaj) doesn't share his love of food; of course Terry would be scrambling to find a present for his daughter's birthday; of course Rosa would hide her plans to see a Minions musical with her family behind the much tougher falsehood of a solo motorbike trip. These are all things we could believe of these characters as things they would wish to hide.
For the way that it drew on some of the primary characteristics of the three suspects as ammunition for some brilliant punchlines about their recent activities without needing these punchlines to be anything more than that, this is the standout scene from this B-plot. The finest moment, however, wasn't a punchline but Rosa reminding us once again that she hasn't yet dealt with her traumatic prison experience: it's just exceptional character continuity.
But for all that the investigation into Holt's missing pie was Holt's storyline, this was Scully and Hitchcock's time to shine. The pair displayed an astonishing knowledge of food that Holt called upon to identify the culprit, proving in a manner more startling and unique than any before that they are more than capable of matching any main character in the art of detection. I'm a fan of anything that elevates Scully and Hitchcock from scene-closing gags, and this was a perfect blend of elevation and scene-closing gags - more than enough for their inclusion to satisfy me.
In the end, it's revealed that the thief was actually Kevin, and that he binned the pie due to a long-concealed hatred. It's always a treat to see Holt's husband in an episode, because he always validates the punchlines Holt regularly makes about his marriage - and the pair have an odd but brilliant deadpan chemistry ("The two of us, driving in silence, looking at the barren trees. I didn't want to lose that") that morphs into a heartfelt plot resolution.
"Two Turkeys" was an excellent episode. It was as Brooklyn Nine-Nine as you would expect, beginning badly and descending into utter chaos, but in some ways it thought outside of the box to achieve both plots' success. And, five seasons in, that's exactly how you keep things fresh and interesting.
RATING: 9/10
POINTS OF NOTE
- Tommy Gobbler
- "Alib-lies"
- Andre Braugher is going to get all the praise because it's Andre Braugher and he always gets all the praise, so here's to Dirk Blocker and Joel McKinnon Miller, the true MVPs of this episode.
