DISCLAIMER: This Brooklyn Nine-Nine recap of “Ticking Clocks” contains more spoilers than the number of times Jake exclaims “Mama Maglione!” on a daily basis. He’s in a perpetual state of surprise, that one. You’ve been warned. Proceed with caution. 

Welcome back, Nine-Niners! Brooklyn Nine-Nine blessed us with another guest appearance featuring a Guardian of the Nine-Nine – the inimitable Sean Astin. First Lin-Manuel Miranda, now Astin. My fingers and toes are crossed that we’ll see Mark Hamill and Seth Meyers in the near future, thus rounding out our Guardian squad. Make it so, Brooklyn Nine-Nine Powers That Be! 

Alright, ready to delve into “Ticking Clocks?” Just be sure to keep the microwave free for Hitchcock and Scully. They have a lengthy and cheesy date with Mama Maglione’s lasagna that can’t be missed. 

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We open with Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller) setting the microwave clock for their Mama Maglione’s lasagna. Jake (Andy Samberg) can’t believe that our pair would utilize the bullpen’s only microwave for a lasagna that takes 21 minutes to cook, but you can’t hurry perfection. However, our favorite sitting champs realize that one vital side dish is missing – garlic bread. Once they discover the freezer is bereft of said garlic bread, the hunt is on to purchase it before the lasagna finishes cooking. Can they do it? Yes, they can – especially if food is involved. 

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE — “Ticking Clocks” Episode 615 — Pictured: (l-r) Dirk Blocker as Michael Hitchcock, Joel McKinnon Miller as Norm Scully — (Photo by: John P. Fleenor/NBC)

Next, Jake finds Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) appearing more tense than usual at her desk. Since the internet is down, she’s unable to purchase flowers to be sent to her girlfriend Jocelyn’s room while the latter is out of town. Jake and Rosa pop in to Holt’s (Andre Braugher) office, where our captain is working closely in tandem with an IT expert named Sergeant Knox (Sean Astin) to pinpoint the reason for the precinct’s internet problems. Holt is also more tense than  normal. We learn that a hacker is behind the internet issues. Knox urges Holt to wipe out the server so the hacker will be deterred.

However, Holt refuses, citing that erasure of the server will clear evidence for hundreds of open cases. This could result in criminals walking free. Thus, Holt orders his crew to track down the hacker and bring them to justice. Knox claims they only have 15 minutes to do so. That’s when we learn the hacker is inside the building. Holt mobilizes his team and urges them to cover every inch in search of the perpetrator. He also places the precinct on lockdown. Time is of the essence, y’all! 

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE — “Ticking Clocks” Episode 615 — Pictured: (l-r) Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, Melissa Fumero as Amy Santiago, Terry Crews as Terry Jeffords, Joe Lo Truglio as Charles Boyle, Andre Braugher as Ray Holt, Sean Astin as as Sergeant Knox — (Photo by: John P. Fleenor/NBC)

Meanwhile, Amy (Melissa Fumero) video calls Jake from the dentist. She’s on her way to the precinct, claiming she was already privy of the lockdown. Amy will be damned if she misses a single second of the action. Dental hygiene can wait! Next, Jocelyn (Cameron Esposito) arrives at the bullpen and reveals that she wishes to break up with Rosa. Uh oh. A wrench has been thrown, people. A wrench shaped like a person. Jocelyn cites that Rosa is always “on the job” and too busy for her. Jocelyn understands that Rosa’s job is incredibly vital for community safety, but she needs more than that. Rosa urges Jocelyn to wait so she can explain herself. Jocelyn gives Rosa ten minutes, and if the latter doesn’t return within that time frame she’s embarking on her trip solo. Time is of the essence…again!

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Then, we see Terry (Terry Crews) and Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) are tasked with scouring the precinct floors in search of the hacker. Terry has increasing self-esteem issues due to a group of sorority sisters in the holding cell for physically fighting one another. Sorority sisters are brutal, so I don’t blame Terry for feeling self-conscious. 

Meanwhile, time is of the essence for Hitchcock and Scully as well. They’re at the store purchasing garlic bread. Our duo phones Holt and Jake at the precinct for an update on the status of their lasagna. Neither of them has useful answers for Hitchcock and Scully and dammit, time is of the essence! It’s Mama Maglione’s, you guys! 

Later, while Jake and Rosa are hunting down the hacker, the latter reveals that she plans on begging Jocelyn to take her back. Well, that’s half of the plan, at least. She’ll beseech for her girlfriend’s forgiveness and then later down the road she’ll dump Jocelyn. Rosa is never the dumpee. She’s the dumper. Jake isn’t on board with this plan, but Rosa is as stubborn as they come. 

Next, our team converges in Holt’s office for updates. Knox insists they wipe the server before the hacker can do more damage. Jake ensures Amy’s involvement in the case while the latter runs through the streets of Brooklyn en route to the precinct. Amy is suffering from the worst case of FOMO this world has ever seen. Suddenly, all of the holding cell doors on every floor open automatically – proof that the hacker is steadily growing more powerful by the second. 

Then, our team scrambles to track down the hacker while holding cell inmates roam free. It’s utter chaos. Rosa has a heart-to-heart with a sorority girl who’s trapped herself in the copier room. Rosa admits that she sincerely loves Jocelyn, but loving someone is a weakness that she’s not willing to admit. Jake and the random sorority girl encourage Rosa to fight for Jocelyn, fight to keep what she loves. You go, Rosa! Next, Rosa catches Jocelyn leaving the precinct despite the lockdown status. Jocelyn claims that it’s clear to her that Rosa’s job is more crucial than anything. However, Rosa chases Jocelyn outside and begs the latter to take her back. Simultaneously, we see Amy bursting through the precinct doors. 

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE — “Ticking Clocks” Episode 615 — Pictured: (l-r) Sean Astin as as Sergeant Knox, Andre Braugher as Ray Holt, Joe Lo Truglio as Charles Boyle, Melissa Fumero as Amy Santiago, Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, Terry Crews as Terry Jeffords — (Photo by: John P. Fleenor/NBC)

Now, everyone reconvenes their meeting in Holt’s office, Amy included. We learn that the hacker is in Room 103, on the first floor. Holt orders his team to make haste for said room. Our crew bursts into 103 guns brandished. Unfortunately, not a soul can be found. That’s when Jake makes a shocking revelation – the hacker is hiding in plain sight. The hacker is Sergeant Knox. Jake sends Holt a discreet text warning him of Knox’s hacking.

However, by the time the team arrives at the bullpen, Knox is leading Holt outside at gunpoint. He orders everyone within to put their hands up and their guns down. Suddenly, the alarm goes off signifying that the microwave is overheating. Knox is temporarily distracted, so Jake utilizes this moment to knock the former off his feet. Terry pins the hacker down and throws him in holding with the now recaptured sorority sisters. He’s being thrown into a pack of bloodthirsty, “made by daddy’s money” wolves. 

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE — “Ticking Clocks” Episode 615 — Pictured: (l-r) Stephanie Beatriz as Rosa Diaz, Cameron Esposito as Jocelyn Pryce — (Photo by: John P. Fleenor/NBC)

Later, Rosa and Jocelyn resurface at the bullpen. Jocelyn missed her flight to stay with Rosa, especially since the latter put aside her work to declare her love for her girlfriend. Holt is not entirely happy with this, but I am. It’s about time that our girl found true happiness with someone she loves. Jake finds Hitchcock and Scully in despair regarding their overly burnt garlic bread. Nary a soft spot can be found to salvage amid the crispy, blackened bread! Jake suggests they eat lasagna without garlic bread. It’s so crazy it might actually work. Hitchcock and Scully try out his suggestion for size, and find themselves satisfied with just the lasagna by itself. Everyone wins. 

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I’m so tickled for Rosa and her willingness to succumb to love. This is immense character growth for her, and one thing I love about Brooklyn Nine-Nine is its ability to deliver fleshed out, multifaceted characters. It really is a comedy with oodles and oodles of heart, which can be a rarity in today’s comedic TV landscape. We want more than laughs – we want a TV family with which we can vicariously experience life’s ups and downs. This show’s desire to make sure marginalized groups receive their much-deserved spotlight is admirable. Love is love is love is love, baby. 

Nine-Niners, join me next week as I continue recapping Brooklyn Nine-Nine, here on Geek Girl Authority. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs Thursdays at 8pm on your NBC affiliate. 

 

 

 

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