Brooklyn 99's Avengers Heist Episode: Every Marvel Reference Explained
The latest Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode not only featured the return of the precinct's annual heist, but saw it themed around Marvel — with ample references to the MCU. Created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur, the workplace sitcom follows the adventures and misadventures of New York's 99th police precinct. Starring Andy Samberg as Detective Jake Peralta, the show originally debuted on Fox and ran for five seasons. The show was subsequently canceled by the network. Fortunately, a passionate outcry from fans paid off and NBC resurrected the show for a sixth and seventh season. Now in the middle of airing the latter, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been renewed for season 8.
The popular comedy also stars Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, and Joe Lo Truglio as Jake's fellow officers Rosa Diaz, Terry Jeffords, Amy Santiago, and Charles Boyle, respectively. Though the group is usually overseen by Captain Raymond Holt, he was demoted in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 7 finale by his nemesis Madeline Wuntch. The development has done little to hinder the traditional hijinks, however. That goes double for the annual competition known as the Halloween Heist. Debuting in Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 1, the contest began life as a simple bet between Jake and Holt. Over the years, however, the Nine-Nine's shenanigans have increasingly expanded to include the rest of the precinct, extremely convoluted plots, and a number of recurring characters, like Charles' doppelganger: Bill.
That level of escalation only continued in Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 7, episode 11, "Valloweaster." With Holt, Jake, and Amy continuing their traditional argument over who reigns as the true two-time heist winner, they and the rest of the squad gathered for battle over a new prize. This time, Jake revealed that prize to be a replica of the infinity gauntlet worn by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame — well, almost. Declaring an official replica as being too expensive, Jake had opted for a Russian eBay rip-off, "the infinitude gobbler worn by Thabu in The Avengerboys."
Regardless, the gang pursued the corresponding "infinitude gems" with the same level of gusto and betrayal in order to become this year's ultimate human/genius. That was far from the only reference to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the wider Marvel canon, however. A full summary can be seen below:
- The squad's latest contest being centered on infinity stones is a direct play of The Avengers' self-titled "time heist."
- The balloon hanging on the window looks like the Reality Stone in shape and color.
- According to Holt, Cheddar was labeled a "thicc king," which is just one of the many meme-worthy nicknames given to Thanos online.
- One of the costumed bunnies jumps off the roof while being pursued in a fashion similar to Hawkeye in The Avengers.
- Jake trains himself to be able to navigate the bullpen without the use of sight, replicating Daredevil's unique abilities.
- The stones in the heist were guarded by Bill, similar to how each stone in the MCU was initially guarded by a specific individual (like Red Skull) or group (like the Nova Corps).
- Jake refers to Bill as Sentry. While not in the MCU as of yet, Sentry is the name of a Marvel superhero — the once lonely, middle-aged alter-ego of which Bill shares several traits.
- Amy manipulates Jake using X-Men: Days of Future Past so that he and Captain Holt would work together akin to Professor X and Magneto.
- Cheddar the dog gets an Iron Man-style hero's entrance set to a rock music theme.
- Jake refers to Terry as a "big, strong brute" — a description more than matching that is attributed to Hulk.
- Captain Holt arrogantly declares that everyone else should just bow down to him, similar to Loki's famous demand for people to kneel in The Avengers. Equally, Holt is immediately met by those who comply and those who resist.
- The episode utilizes dramatic time-jumps akin to that between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame (albeit months rather than years).
- In Avengers: Endgame, the team had to revisit painful scenes of the past. Rosa had to endure the same (repeatedly locked in the bathroom with Scully).
- Bill's life mysteriously (and continually) spirals, prompting a decline in hygiene and appearance similar to that experienced by Thor.
- Jake is seen relaying his issues to somebody not actually a therapist, matching Tony Stark treating Bruce Banner as such in Iron Man 3.
- Rosa is revealed to be hiding under the couch Jake is laying on, similar to Rocket Raccoon hiding under the one Jane Foster rests on in Avengers: Endgame.
- Each of Terry's smoothies matched a color from an MCU Infinity Stone.
- The vests on the bunny suits have a pattern also resembling the Infinity Stones.
- Though declaring himself retired, Terry still takes part in the heist — similar to Hawkeye still contributing in Captain America: Civil War despite his own retirement.
- Rosa cuts off the filing cabinet handle in a move equated to cutting off her team-mate's hand. Several hands have been severed in the Marvel Universe, including Loki seeming to cut off Thor's when they teamed up in Thor: The Dark World.
- Rosa surreptitiously swapped the gems out under competitor's noses as part of her victory gambits. Tony Stark used a similar move against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.
- Rosa's victory pose after her building jump is very much out of Iron Man's fireworks-laden entrance repertoire.
The episode culminated with Rosa Diaz emerging victorious for the first time. The development in a Marvel-centric episode will no doubt be somewhat of a bittersweet substitute for Beatriz having to miss out on playing the MCU's She-Hulk. Never one for half measures, however, Rosa's scheme saw her claim an individual victory for the Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Easter branches of the contest. As a result, she became the first official three-time heist winner. Celebrating with her crown, Rosa immediately sowed the seeds for discord between the squad, fuelling their arguments over what her victories meant for their places in the Halloween heist hierarchy. With Rosa flashing a rare smile, even the likes of Loki would have been proud. Though some may feel that the format of the heist episodes might be a little played out at this point, the table seems set for even more extremes in season 8. That may even be an understatement given that Captain Holt even considers cutting off an opponent's hand to be fair game now.
In terms of the Marvel references, most actually proved extremely subtle and buried within the aesthetic of the episode. That will no doubt prove surprising for many fans, especially from a show that has previously worn its pop culture references overtly on its sleeve. After all, Brooklyn Nine-Nine literally has its own villainous character called The Vulture — and once turned an episode into an outright Die Hard homage. Regardless, it will no doubt have proved an effective way of making this heist episode a tad fresher than most and contribute to keeping Brooklyn Nine-Nine worth rewatching for years to come.