Brooklyn Nine-Nine
By Kari Croop,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Lighthearted cop comedy serves up laughs and diversity.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Community Reviews
Based on 46 parent reviews
Report this review
Report this review
What's the Story?
When a straight-laced captain (Andre Braugher) takes over command of Brooklyn's 99th precinct, the men and women of the BROOKLYN NINE-NINE line up to impress him -- but high-performing detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) isn't about to revamp his reputation for skirting the rules. Will this slapstick officer ever get serious and learn to respect authority?
Is It Any Good?
For anyone who's up to their eyeballs in dark, gritty crime dramas, this comedy feels like a breath of fresh air. Brooklyn Nine-Nine adds laughs to the largely predictable plots of police procedurals, much like Scrubs injected much-needed levity into the disease-ridden world of hospital drama. And it's an offbeat series, indeed, that would name a pair of newborn twins Cagney and Lacey. Braugher (the breakout star of the Emmy-winning cop drama Homicide: Life on the Street) is especially entertaining as the precinct's openly gay captain.
Do these cops make good role models? Surprisingly, yes. And since the tone is intentionally lighthearted, the sex, drugs, and violence that are so central to serious crime shows take a backseat to jokes about office shenanigans and interoffice dating. Samberg's SNL roots also lend themselves to comedic cameos from the likes of Fred Armisen and other familiar faces, which sounds like a recipe for good times.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Brooklyn Nine-Nine compares to popular crime dramas like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law & Order: SVU. What does it have in common with these serious series? What does it try to do differently?
How accurately does Brooklyn Nine-Nine portray the work environment of real-life police officers, particularly when it comes to women and gay men taking jobs in a historically straight-male profession? Does the use of comedy downplay the challenges those officers might face in the real world?
Do you think it's a good idea for detectives who work together to date each other? What are the risks of getting romantically involved with a colleague?
How do the characters in this show demonstrate communication, humility, and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 17, 2013
- Cast: Andre Braugher , Andy Samberg , Melissa Fumero
- Network: Fox
- Genre: Comedy
- Character Strengths: Communication , Humility , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-14
- Award: Golden Globe
- Last updated: June 5, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Comedy TV Shows for Teens
Best Sitcoms for Your Next Family Binge-Watch
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate