For this week’s post, I wanted to try something different. Instead of my usual review format, I wanted to write an opinion piece on a show that’s very dear to me: Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

In case you’re unaware, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is an American sitcom set in the 99th police precinct in Brooklyn and follows the immature but talented detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and his equally dysfunctional colleagues, as they solve cases, as well as engage in all sorts of mischief. Among those colleagues are:

Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), Jake’s loyal and goofy best friend

Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Jake’s competitive and over-achieving partner

Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), the tough-as-nails and temperamental co-worker

Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews), the sergeant of the precinct, whose physically intimidating body masks his soft nature

Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti), the egotistical and sarcastic administrator and Jake’s childhood friend

Commander Ray Holt (Andre Braugher), Jake’s deadpan and no-nonsense boss who takes over the precinct

So, why is Brooklyn Nine-Nine the best sitcom on television? Well, here are a few reasons:

The jokes are laugh-out loud funny, without being at anyone’s expense

I like offensive humour as much as the next person. South Park and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are both hilarious shows in their own right. But it’s always nice when a show like Brooklyn Nine-Nine can be legitimately hilarious without having to resort to laughing at others. The goofy, good-hearted jokes are complimented by sharp characterisation and brilliant editing (particularly the various ‘cutaways’).

It’s progressive AF without making a big deal out it

One of the reasons why Brooklyn Nine-Nine has become so beloved by fans, other than the fact that it’s funny AF, is for its progressiveness. Amongst the main characters are two Latinas (Amy and Rosa) and two African-Americans (Terry and Ray), none of whose backgrounds are the butt of any joke, nor are they simply token characters. Furthermore, Captain Ray Holt is revealed to be gay, in the opening episode, but this never used as a key characteristic. We don’t ever recognize Holt as ‘the gay one’ but rather as the hilariously deadpan Captain, whose stoic-nature is often the highlight of many episodes.

Andy Samberg is an absolute treasure

Although the entire cast is fabulous, and are key components to what makes the show great, Andy Samberg, who’s also a producer, is the real deal in this. Samberg brings so much energy to the role of Jake Peralta and strikes the perfect balance between being incredibly immature whilst still being a genuinely smart cop. As the protagonist of the show, a lot rides on Samberg to make the jokes and relationships with his co-workers’ work, and he absolutely nails it. God bless Andy Samberg!

There are many other reasons why Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the best sitcom, and if you need more convincing check out one of the all-time great sitcom intros below: