TV Recap: Brooklyn Nine-Nine - "The Jimmy Jab Games"

The Golden Globe-winning comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine returns for a second season of hilarity and crime. After an impressive first season that chronicled one of the best new ensembles solving problems and forming unexpected relationships, the series is back to tackle bigger things. Will it be as great as the first season? Stay tuned every Wednesday for the recap on that week's episode to find out through interesting tidbits including the best jokes and what the crew is up to that week.

Left to right: Andre Braugher and Terry Crews

Crime of the Week: Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) and Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) attend an important meeting with Wunch (Kyra Sedgwick) involving their recent arresting records.

Left to right: Andy Samberg and Melissa Fumero

Peralta Problem: During an annual tournament of the Jimmy Jab Games, Peralta (Andy Samberg) realizes that he's still in love with Santiago (Melissa Fumero).

Stephanie Beatriz

Subplot of the Week: With Holt gone for the day, the precinct decides to take part in the Jimmy Jab Games featuring an array of bizarre challenges.

Kyra Sedgwick

Best Joke: The increasing tension between Wunch and Holt has become quite an infectious aspect of the past few episodes. Their taunting is rather fun. However, Andre Braugher delivers a great deadpan realization that Wunch sounds like lunch while also being unable to understand the basic functions of basketball.

Left to right: Beatriz and Fumero

Culprit: None.

Resolution: Santiago wins the Jimmy Jab Games. Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) convinces Peralta that he still has feelings for Santiago. Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) gets some important files back from Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker). Jeffords talks to Holt about how his humor isn't all that great. Holt finds the games in progress when he returns, but chooses to ignore them.

Verdict: Maybe it is because it's such a simple and familiar episode, but I came away not entirely enjoying it. Yes, the games were creative, but this overall feels like filler. The Peralta/Santiago story feels familiar and even the idea of holding a competition isn't all that fresh. Yes, there's plenty of great gimmicks that make Brooklyn Nine-Nine a reliable source for jokes. Also, Holt is great with Jeffords. However, it just felt so straightforward in a way that didn't reflect the series at its greatest, but at its calmest. It is fine, though not one of my favorites of the season to date.

Rating: 3 out of 5