Ninety-nine!
If you've spent any time with the 99th Precinct, you know that chant isn't just a rallying cry. It's a vibe. But there is a very specific weight to the Brooklyn 99 99 episode. Officially titled "99," it serves as the ninth episode of the fifth season and, more importantly, the 100th episode produced (though it aired as the 99th). It’s a milestone.
Most sitcoms use their big milestones to do something flashy, like a wedding or a massive guest star. Brooklyn Nine-Nine did something different. They put the squad in a van. They broke the van. Then they made everyone walk across Texas.
It's weirdly poetic.
What the Brooklyn 99 99 episode got right about found families
The plot is deceptively simple. The squad is in Los Angeles for a funeral—the former captain's, not that you’d remember McGinley for much more than being a placeholder—and they’re trying to get back to New York so Holt can interview for the Commissioner position. It’s a classic "race against time" trope. But Dan Goor and Michael Schur, the brains behind the operation, used this bottleneck to force every character to confront their own growth.
Holt is usually the North Star. In this episode, he's the one drifting.
While they’re stuck in a trailer in the middle of nowhere, we see the cracks. Holt is willing to miss his interview because he doesn't want to risk the safety of his team. It’s a reversal of the pilot episode where he was the rigid robot trying to whip these "children" into shape. Now? He'd sacrifice his lifelong dream for them.
Honestly, it’s kind of a tear-jerker if you aren't distracted by Charles Boyle’s obsession with a "cowboy" lifestyle.
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The Nakatomi Plaza moment we all waited for
You can’t talk about the Brooklyn 99 99 episode without talking about Die Hard. Jake Peralta’s entire personality is built on the foundation of John McClane. For 98 episodes, we heard about his desire to visit Nakatomi Plaza (the Fox Plaza building in Century City).
When they finally get there, it isn't the heroic moment Jake imagined.
He’s not swinging from a fire hose. He’s looking at a vent. He realizes that the reality of his hero worship doesn't measure up to the reality of the people standing next to him. This is a massive pivot for Jake. It signals his transition from the "talented kid" to the "mature detective" who eventually chooses fatherhood over the force in the series finale.
Why the Rosa Diaz subplot changed the show’s trajectory
While the guys are geeking out over 80s action movies, the 99th episode handles a massive character beat with incredible grace. This is the episode where Rosa Diaz officially comes out as bisexual to the squad.
It wasn't a "very special episode" feel. It was tucked into a conversation about Charles being nosy.
Stephanie Beatriz, who plays Rosa, has spoken openly about how important this was for her personally, especially since she is bisexual herself. The writers worked closely with her to make sure it didn't feel like a gimmick. By having Rosa come out during a stressful road trip, it felt grounded. It felt real. It wasn't about the plot; it was about the person.
The technical side of the 99th milestone
The production of this episode was actually a logistical headache. Filming a road trip episode usually means lots of green screens or a massive budget for locations. The crew had to make the outskirts of Los Angeles look like a desolate stretch of Texas and then somehow pivot back to the sleek lines of a New York precinct.
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- Director: Payman Benz
- Writer: David Phillips
- Aired: December 5, 2017
Interestingly, the episode features a cameo by Fred Armisen as Mlepnos (the "clay" is silent). His appearance is a callback to the pilot, acting as a bookend for the first 99 chapters of this story. It’s those little textures that make the Brooklyn 99 99 episode feel like a love letter to the fans who had been there since day one.
The stakes were higher than we realized
Back in 2017, the show was constantly on the bubble. Fans didn't know if Season 5 would be the last. There was this nervous energy in the air. This episode felt like a "just in case" finale. If the show had ended shortly after, the image of the squad walking down a deserted highway together would have been a perfect ending.
They weren't just characters. They were a unit.
The episode ends with Holt losing his chance at the interview—or so he thinks—only for the squad to reveal they've coordinated a way to get him there. It reinforces the theme that the 99 is a self-correcting organism. When one part fails, the others compensate.
How to revisit the 99th episode today
If you're going back to watch it, don't just look for the jokes. Look at the blocking. Look at how often the entire main cast is in the same frame. That’s rare for a sitcom. Usually, you have an A-plot, a B-plot, and maybe a C-plot that never intersect.
In "99," they are almost always together.
This creates a sense of claustrophobia that mirrors their emotional states. Amy is stressed about Holt. Terry is stressed about the food. Jake is stressed about his hero. It’s a pressure cooker.
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Actionable steps for the ultimate rewatch
To truly appreciate the Brooklyn 99 99 episode, you need to frame it correctly. Don't just jump into it cold.
First, go back and watch the Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1). Notice the distance between the characters. Notice how Holt treats Jake like a nuisance and how Rosa is an enigma wrapped in a leather jacket.
Next, watch "The Bet" (Season 1, Episode 13). This establishes the competitive nature that defines their bond.
Then, hit the 99th episode. The contrast is staggering. You’ll see that the show didn't just get funnier; it got deeper. The jokes about "The Full Bullpen" or Boyle’s food choices are the surface, but the 100th-produced episode is the soul.
Finally, check out the behind-the-scenes photos from the cast. On the day they filmed the Nakatomi Plaza scenes, the cast was genuinely emotional. Andy Samberg has mentioned in interviews that being at that building felt like a culmination of his own career goals, mirroring Jake’s journey.
If you want to dive deeper into the lore, look for the "99" script notes often shared by the writers on social media. They show just how many jokes were cut to make room for the emotional beats between Rosa and the team. It was a conscious choice to prioritize heart over humor, and that is exactly why the show survived a cancellation and moved to NBC later on.
The Brooklyn 99 99 episode isn't just another entry in a long-running sitcom. It's a testament to the idea that people can change, families can be built from scratch, and even the toughest captain needs a lift every now and then.