Continuing my full rewatch of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, I watched "The Tagger". This episode, while not as strong as the pilot, in my opinion, definitely does a better job planting this shows' roots as a memorable sitcom.
I think that the best thing this show has going for it is the growing and evolving relationship between Holt and Peralta, and this episode is the first of many of their semi-team-up episodes. I still think Jake is quite unlikeable in this episode, but it doesn't hinder the episode's quality. The writers know how overconfident he is, and make sure that his coworkers (especially Holt) let him know.
The plot of this episode is nothing special, but it's for the best. I think if this show came out of the pilot guns blazing, it would have been much worse recieved. Like Community (one of my favourite sitcoms), it takes its time to get gradually more ridiculous. Additionally, the plain and simple assignments mixed which hide a more sinister plot (in this case, the cop rivalry between Jake and commissioner Podolski) are a recurring theme in B99, so I think that having the second episode be one of those is a good choice.
Where this episode faults is in the B-Plot. Charles and Gina are very unlikable in this episode, keeping their obnoxious traits from the pilot. I'm glad Rosa wasn't as one-dimensional as she was previously, at least. However, her positives are greatly outweighed, I believe, by Charles' overwhelming cowardliness and Gina's...well, straight up bullying. I'm not the biggest fan of Charles x Rosa storyline in the early half of this season, and I can't wait until the storyline comes to a close.
Solid jokes, a pretty basic plot, and an overall better, more colorful vibe than the pilot. This should be the base level of quality for all B99 episodes, and I'm happy to say that it only gets better from here.
Next time: CRIMINAL PETE DAVIDSON
Best Joke: That's the butt.
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