Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Main Characters' Story Arcs, Ranked
The last thing that would come to anyone's mind when the conversation of cop shows comes up is something comedic, which is precisely what makes the premise of Brooklyn Nine-Nine so utterly unique and compelling. The way Jake Peralta and the gang solve cases in the most insane manner makes for some truly entertaining television that no fan of good sitcoms should ever miss out on.
While there are several elements of Brooklyn Nine-Nine that help elevate the show's quality to an entirely different level, there's still no denying the fact that it's ultimately the characters who are the beating heart of the series. Their individual stories don't end up feeling out of place at all and make for some truly memorable moments. However, most fans would agree that some characters have had a lot more development than others, which is why they are considered favorites. Just look at these examples for instance...
8 Michael Hitchcock & Norm Scully
Given the fact that both Hitchcock and Scully end up being the two most useless people on the force and ruin any situation that they are part of, it's only reasonable to class them as one person.
While it's true that both Hitchcock and Scully might have been hotshots back in their younger days, who definitely kicked some butt whenever they got the opportunity to do so, age finally caught up to them in the worst manner possible. Now they are just used for comedic relief.
7 Gina Linetti
Gina could have been an interesting character at one point, but it must be said that her personality is a bit too haughty and one-note for any substantial change to really affect her character.
The fact that she disappears from season 5 onwards ultimately helps the show as opposed to pulling it back, which is a testament to the fact that maybe her character had gotten stagnant due to the lack of any real character development for what felt like ages.
6 Terry Jeffords
A gym head who never fails to either flex his muscles or brag about his daughters, Terry Jeffords is easily one of the most wholesome members of the entire cast and someone that fans can easily look up to. It's easy to see how much Terry Crews channels his inner self for this role.
That being said, one can't deny that Terry's motivations never really change throughout the show. He's a family man who's remained the same for the majority of the show without any worries. If anything, the fact that he barely faces any problems in his job and rants about missing his daughters growing up is somewhat farcical.
5 Charles Boyle
At a glance, Boyle might seem like an extremely irritating character due to his nosey personality and a tendency to stick around in unwanted situations for way too long. However, peeling behind this initial layer will reveal a genuinely complex character who tackles a ton of things in life with stride.
The fact that he decided to adopt a child and raise him with Genenieve without any second thoughts is a testament to just how dedicated he really is when it comes to doing the right thing. Considering he also jumped in front of a bullet to protect one of his friends proves how selfless he could be too. This is more than enough to salvage Boyle's character in the eyes of a ton of people.
4 Amy Santiago
While any character who might be a perfectionist can be somewhat overbearing to the audience, there's still no denying the fact that Amy Santiago is still an extremely lovable character whose quirks definitely play a huge role in shaping her overall character.
It certainly helps that her relationship with Jake helps both individuals grow into even more complete characters who manage to tackle the problems of married life in stride, with little to no issues plaguing them in the way.
3 Raymond Holt
The new Captain of the Nine-Nine was initially met with a ton of hostility from the long-time workers in the department, who didn't want their code of conduct to be questioned in the workplace. So, it's ultimately amazing that someone as tightly-wound as Raymond Hold would end up being one of the greatest characters on the show by a country mile.
His no-nonsense attitude and dry wit end up being a consistent highlight across the series. The writers should also be commended for the deft manner in which various facets of his character are used to address and challenge actual real-world issues within and outside the police department.
2 Rosa Diaz
For someone who might seem like nothing more than the "bad cop" of the precinct, it's amazing how Rosa's character has been woven, to the point where she's easily one of the highlights of the show. Her police work is commendable... but that's just a small part of the bigger picture that is Rosa Diaz.
The manner in which the topic of her sexuality is addressed is in very good taste and marks a huge step for her character as well. The subsequent interactions she has with her parents and co-workers about this also point out the real issues that most members of the LGBT community face, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine should definitely be commended for tackling these issues without sacrificing the essence of their show.
1 Jake Peralta
It would be impossible to talk about compelling character arcs in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and not mention an absolute standout in this regard who — conveniently enough — is also the main character of the show.
Abandonment issues, the need for a father figure, and being supportive of a spouse who does better in her career are all heavy-handed issues that most serious shows tend to get very wrong. So, the fact that Brooklyn Nine-Nine managed to address all these issues and more through Jake Peralta in a respectful manner is a testament to just how amazing this character really is.
Of course, it helps that his goofy personality certainly brings the comedic chops of the show to an entirely different level as well.