"Beach House" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the American television police sitcom series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It is the 34th overall episode of the series and is written by Lakshmi Sundaram & David Phillips and directed by Tim Kirkby. It aired on Fox in the United States on January 4, 2015.
| "Beach House" | |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 12 |
| Directed by | Tim Kirkby |
| Written by | Lakshmi Sundaram & David Phillips |
| Featured music |
|
| Cinematography by | Giovani Lampassi |
| Editing by | Cortney Carrillo |
| Production code | 212 |
| Original air date | January 4, 2015 |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
The show revolves around the fictitious 99th precinct of the New York Police Department in Brooklyn and the officers and detectives that work in the precinct. Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) is an immature yet very talented detective in the precinct with an astounding record of crimes solved, putting him in a competition with fellow detective Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero). The precinct's status changes when the Captain is retiring and a new commanding officer, Cpt. Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher) is appointed as the newest Captain. This creates a conflict between Jake and Holt over their respective methods in the field. In the episode, Boyle invites the precinct on a detectives-only weekend at his ex-wife's beach house while he retains it. However, upon hearing that Holt has never gone to social events during his detective days due to his sexuality, Jake invites Holt to the house. However, due to Holt's nature, the weekend turns dull. Meanwhile, Boyle helps Rosa in her relationship with Marcus while Gina tries to know what happens to Amy after she drinks her sixth drink.
The episode was seen by an estimated 6.12 million household viewers and gained a 3.0/8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research, hitting series highs in 18-49 demo. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised Braugher's performance in the episode but Gina's and Amy's subplot received a mixed response.
Plot
Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) announces that as part of his divorce, he will get a beach house for a limited time and sets a detectives-only fun weekend, which everyone accepts. While talking to Holt (Andre Braugher), Jake (Andy Samberg) finds that he wasn't invited to social events during his days as detectives due to his race and sexuality. Feeling bad for him, he decides to invite Holt to the house, much to everyone's chagrin.
However, Holt's old fashioned manners end up causing the weekend to be boring, like refusing to gossip during dinner, walking on the beach for more than an hour during winter, turning off the hot water in a hot tub, and listening to recorder music. Jake suggests making two parties at the same time; one in the lower area of the house and another one with Holt with people switching places. However, Holt finds out and storms off, saddened. Jake talks to him and after a time, Holt returns to the party to play a game to decide if he said certain things or were made up.
During the weekend, Gina (Chelsea Peretti) tries to know which personality Amy (Melissa Fumero) becomes after a 6th drink. After getting her many drinks, she shows up in a sad state, which is unrelated to her energized aptitude. Boyle helps Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) with a texting situation in her relationship with Marcus (Nick Cannon).
Reception
Viewers
In its original American broadcast, "Beach House" was seen by an estimated 6.12 million household viewers and gained a 3.0/8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.[1] This was a massive 73% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 3.52 million viewers with a 1.5/4 in the 18-49 demographics.[2] This means that 3.0 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 8 percent of all households watching television at that time watched it. With these ratings, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was the second most watched show on FOX for the night, beating Bob's Burgers and Family Guy but behind The Simpsons, second on its timeslot and third for the night, behind The Simpsons, and Football Night in America.
Critical reviews
"Beach House" received positive reviews from critics. LaToya Ferguson of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "B" grade and wrote, "Wrapping this up, it's important to note that there's nothing inherently wrong with a show being 'too much of a sitcom' once in awhile (or even all of the time). As long as the goal of making the audience laugh is achieved, that’s sometimes all you really need from a sitcom. But Brooklyn Nine-Nine has shown itself to be a series that can do so much more, and that's where the need for it to be so much more comes from. Having the knowledge or at least faith that the show won't simply rely on such tropes on a regular basis is part of what prevents 'Beach House' from being a mess. (Also, it's pretty darn funny.) This is a show with writers and a cast that work too hard to even allow it to be a mess. 'Beach House' is fun, and you know what? Maybe that’s all that an episode needs to be right now coming off of hiatus."[3]
Allie Pape from Vulture gave the show a 3 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "But while the conflicts in 'Beach House' are feather-light, the episode has a fun, easygoing vibe that B99's frequent juggling of multiple plot threads often obviates. Vacation Terry's commitment to his fanny pack, what happens when Amy gets extra-drunk, and Scully and Hitchcock's desire to rope Holt into investing in an offshore casino are barely plotlines, but they fall nicely into the overarching sense of relaxation and play in the episode, and even when they don't necessarily go anywhere (I could have told you at minute four that Six-Drink Amy was a depressive, something even the show found so unfunny after all the hype that it didn't even bother to elaborate on it), it's a pleasant, meandering ride with plenty of good jokes to spare."[4]
Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "'Beach House' was yet another episode of the season where the four-act structure resulted in a super abrupt ending – Captain Holt and the detectives are finally enjoying each other's company, and then BOOM!, cut to the production company logos – but everything leading up to that was pretty terrific."[5] Andy Crump of Paste gave the episode an 8.9 and wrote, "It's such a great moment that its quick passing almost feels like a stumbling block. But, just as we accept the things Boyle, Terry, Gina, et al do as being in character, so too is Holt's reconciliation with Peralta a perfectly Holtish thing to do. And so 'Beach House' ends as it begins, with a terrific Braugher punchline delivered as only he could. Brooklyn Nine-Nine wasn't on break that long, but it's great to have it back; similarly, 'Beach House' isn’t a plot-pushing episode, but it's great to see so much attention placed on the characters. After all, they're what we tune in for week in and week out."[6]
References
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 7, 2015). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'The Simpsons', 'Madam Secretary', 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine', 'The Celebrity Apprentice', 'Bob's Burgers' & 'CSI' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 9, 2014). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Bob's Burgers' Adjusted Up; '60 Minutes' Adjusted Down + Final Football Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ Ferguson, LaToya (January 4, 2015). "Brooklyn Nine-Nine: "Beach House"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Pape, Allie (January 5, 2015). "Brooklyn Nine-Nine Recap: Knees in the Breeze". Vulture. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Sepinwall, Alan (January 4, 2015). "Review: 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' – "Beach House": Separate but equal parties". HitFix. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Crump, Andy (January 5, 2015). "Brooklyn Nine-Nine Review: "Beach House"". Paste. Retrieved November 7, 2018.