DISCLAIMER: This Brooklyn Nine-Nine recap of “The Therapist” contains more spoilers than the number of times Boyle has made a remark inadvertently sexual. Thankfully, he’s learning how to recognize this pattern in therapy. You’ve been warned. Proceed with caution.
Welcome back, Nine-Niners! Brooklyn Nine-Nine painted a positive picture of mental health awareness this week with “The Therapist.” This show has always been a champion of marginalized groups and a bastion of love. Now, we can add “mental health warriors” to the list. Kudos to the Brooklyn Nine-Nine Powers That Be for encouraging us to prioritize our mental health. In this episode, Boyle consults Jake on a missing persons case when a therapist reports his patient as such. Naturally, Jake being Jake, he’s reticent to trust the therapist. Meanwhile, Rosa is hesitant to introduce her girlfriend to Holt, since the latter can be quite judgmental. Amy tries to convince Terry that buying a book on how to steam up your bedroom life isn’t a bad thing. Although, Terry does know how to procreate. He’s got three kids, folks!
Alright, ready to delve into “The Therapist?” Just be sure to administer Terry his protein shakes every few hours. Terry gets cranky without his protein.
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We open with Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) bringing his best bud Jake (Andy Samberg) in on a missing persons case. A therapist is reporting that his patient Susan Buckley is missing. Jake doesn’t believe in therapy, and equates said therapist to Hannibal Lecter. Terry (Terry Crews) reveals that he attends regular therapy sessions to keep his mental health in check. Boyle admits he does the same – well, he attends couple’s counseling with his father. The most important couple of all is that of a parent and child.
Meanwhile, Holt (Andre Braugher) invites Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) and her girlfriend Jocelyn over to dinner. Kevin is cooking his famous rice. Rosa informs Holt that she’s not ready for anyone to meet Jocelyn yet. Holt counters that most of the squad has already met her, so why shouldn’t he be privy to the same? Rosa finally spills the beans – Holt is too judgmental. She’s afraid he’ll wrongfully judge Jocelyn solely over his one interaction with the latter. Fair enough.
Next, we see Amy (Melissa Fumero) bring a box to Terry’s desk. It was delivered to her floor by accident. Said box contains a book on how to spice up one’s married sex life. Oh, and an overabundance of protein powders. Terry retorts that he doesn’t need a book to tell him how to please his wife. Besides, we already have proof that he’s a baby making machine. Amy assures Terry that nobody will judge him for it, but the latter’s pride takes the driver’s seat.
Later, Boyle and Jake meet with the therapist, Dr. Tate (David Paymer) in Prospect Park. Tate reveals that he received a call from Susan’s husband James the night before. James sounded frantic and unstable. Tate also informs our pair that James has a history of mental instability. Suddenly, Jake and Boyle find Susan’s body nestled in the trees, and James appears to be on the lam. Time to pinpoint the culprit – Jakey stylez.
Meanwhile, Holt attempts to hold a conversation with Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller) free of judgement. Rosa bears witness to the interaction. Holt and Rosa cringe at Hitchcock and Scully’s weekend plans involving bath houses and creamy Wing Slutz sauces. Rosa puts the kibosh on Holt’s experiment for the sake of her stomach.
Next, Jake and Boyle meet with Dr. Tate outside the Buckleys’ apartment. The front door is ajar, but Jake and Boyle fail to find anyone inside. Not a chair out of place. Tate points out where the bathroom is, which sends Jake down the path of suspicion. He believes Tate murdered the couple. Tate was having an affair with Susan and didn’t want James to report it. See, he’s got a motive! However, Boyle still asserts that the proof’s in the pudding regarding James being the killer. Susan’s husband is mentally unstable, after all.
Later, Jake goes behind Boyle’s back and sneaks into Tate’s office. He discovers a notebook dedicated solely to Susan and James taped underneath the doctor’s desk. Bingpot! Unfortunately, Jake is almost caught red handed as he tries to discreetly exit Tate’s office. Jake ducks into the office across the corridor, only to run into another therapist (Anna Khaja). Jake fibs and claims he’s her next patient. She believes his name is Garrett, and Garrett believes he has multiple personality disorder. This is going to get weird.
Then, Rosa finally agrees to bring Jocelyn to dinner with Holt. They meet at their bar for some bites and beer. However, Holt discovers that Rosa hired an actress to play the role of her girlfriend. Holt is naturally hurt by the act, claiming that he thought his friendship with Rosa was sacred.
Meanwhile, Jake commences his session as Garrett. The therapist goes through a list of personalities that live within Garrett. She asks to speak with every one of them…and they all have international accents. Jake puts on his acting pants and attempts to wade through each one, even portraying a young British girl. And the Academy Award goes to Jake Peralta! However, he blows his cover when he starts spewing Morgan Freeman‘s lines from Shawshank Redemption. He hastily exits the therapist’s office. Poor Garrett – he’s going to get billed for a therapy session he didn’t even attend.
Later, we see Terry has plastered posters all over the office, asking the real owner of the sex book to step forward and claim it. However, Terry went overboard with the posters and their message – that Terry is a very capable lover and doesn’t need a book to help him pleasure his wife. Amy believes he’s overcompensating. Scully approaches Terry’s desk and claims the book is his. Problem solved! Then, we see Terry meet with Scully in the bathroom to retrieve the book. Evidently, Scully taking the book was all a ruse for Amy’s sake. Terry just needs some pointers, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Next, we see Jake get into his car with Tate’s book in hand. Suddenly, the doctor himself appears in Jake’s backsteat brandishing a gun. He forces Jake to drive to a remote location and admits that he murdered the Buckley couple. However, before pulling the trigger on Jake, Tate holds an impromptu therapy session with his future murder victim. Jake discovers that he always blamed himself for his parent’s divorce, and finds that he feels a sense of relief in unburdening his inner thoughts. Perhaps going to therapy wouldn’t be so bad after all. But once the hour is up, Tate resumes his murderer stance. Thankfully, Boyle appears out of the blue with a backup squad in tow. Jake discreetly texted Boyle for help. The doctor is carted away in handcuffs.
Then, Holt finally meets the real Jocelyn (Cameron Esposito) in the break room over vending machine snacks. He really takes a liking to Rosa’s girlfriend, especially after she jokes that she’s someone else. Rosa reveals that she was initially fearful of Holt meeting Jocelyn because she values his opinion. She thinks of Holt as a close confidante and mentor. And my heart grew three sizes on this day.
Meanwhile, Jake admits to Boyle that he plans on seeing a therapist. Dr. Tate’s last-minute session really opened up Jake’s eyes to the beauty of seeking help in nourishing one’s mental state. Boyle suggests a therapist that Jake will want “inside him.” Oh, Boyle. You and your inadvertent sexual phrasing.
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Now, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is equal amounts comedy and mushy gushy heart. This episode is proof of that. Jake’s fake therapy session as Garrett had me in stitches, and yet I was immensely touched when he decided to pursue therapy to aid him in his mental journey. This series is doing its part in raising mental health awareness and erasing the stigma of seeking help. We could use more voices in this arena. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. It’s okay to not be okay, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine once again tackles a hot-button topic with humor, grace and tact.
Do you think we’ll see more of Jocelyn? Will Holt and Kevin really eat all that rice the latter initially prepared for their dinner with Rosa and Jocelyn? Will Boyle overcome his habit of unintentional sexual phrasing? Join me next week as I recap Brooklyn Nine-Nine, here on Geek Girl Authority.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs Thursdays at 9pm on your NBC affiliate.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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