DISCLAIMER: This recap of Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode “Lights Out” contains more spoilers than the number of times Jake references Die Hard. All the cool kids are doing it! You’ve been warned. Proceed with caution.
Welcome back, Nine-Niners! It’s that time again. We’ve reached the end of the season. “Lights Out” is definitely one of Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s more memorable installments because…wait for it…Peraltiago had a baby! His name is Mac Peralta after the legend himself – John McClane. Uncle Chi-Chi is over the moon right now, folks! Truth be told, this episode made me a mite emotional. I could chalk that up to the extended period of time I’ve spent sequestered indoors, but really I just have a soft spot for this show. Meanwhile, Holt and Terry choreographed the most epic hip-hop dance routine to sweep the nation. Oh, and remember Sergeant Peanutbutter? He goes by Lieutenant Peanutbutter these days.
Alright, ready to delve into “Lights Out?” Let’s get to it.
RELATED BROOKLYN NINE-NINE Recap: (S07E12) Ransom
Now, we open with the discovery that Amy (Melissa Fumero) is about to embark on her three-month maternity leave. She looks like she’s going to pop. Amid all the baby bedlam, we see the lights go out. Everywhere. There’s a city-wide power outage, and we can hear sounds of residents descending into total chaos. Just a normal day for the Nine-Nine crew. Meanwhile, Holt (Andre Braugher) and Terry (Terry Crews) are trapped in the elevator courtesy of said power outage. My worst nightmare come to fruition.
Next, since Holt and Terry are out of commission, that leaves Amy in charge. She orders police to monitor traffic outside and keep everything in check. Jake (Andy Samberg) and Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) join the outdoor surveillance efforts. They arrive on the scene of a car accident. The officer on site informs the pair that it appears the driver was intoxicated, as there’s a vodka bottle on the floor. Jake and Boyle take note of a trail of blood leading from the scene of the accident, so they decide to follow it.
Meanwhile, Amy nonchalantly informs Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) that her water broke some time ago. In fact, it occurred the day before. She starts experiencing contractions, and Rosa knows it’s go time. However, Amy refuses to go to the hospital until her contractions are three minutes apart. There’s a precinct to run! Speaking of power outage mayhem, madness, and malarkey; Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller) and Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) are in mourning. Now, quite a bit of the refrigerator’s contents will spoil due to lack of power. That is, unless our Wing Warriors consume everything before it expires. Can they do it? Well, if anyone can eat large quantities of food in a short amount of time, it’s the Wing Warriors.
Then, Jake and Boyle find the injured man from the car accident. They arrest him on drunk driving charges. While en route to the precinct, Rosa calls Jake and informs him that Amy will give birth soon. It’s happening! Jake kicks it into high-gear, but not before picking up a sweet elderly woman who’s seeking shelter until the power returns. Always a gentleman, that Jake. Unfortunately, the traffic gods are not on their side, and they’re stuck in a stand-still line of vehicles.
RELATED: Read all BROOKLYN NINE-NINE recaps here!
Later, we see the NYFD arrives to rescue Holt and Terry from the elevator. Our officers are not the biggest fans of firefighters, but sometimes one must set aside past grievances for the good of humankind. We see Terry is teaching Holt a hip-hop dance routine in order to assuage the latter’s fears. It’s utterly adorable.
Now, Jake and Boyle decide to take their elderly friend and perpetrator on foot, since roads are so congested. As they make their way to the precinct, they hear someone yelp from inside an apartment complex. Jake chains the felon outside and rescues a man within who fell down the stairs and has a concussion. Why not add more members to the precinct gang? Then, Jake is struck with his best idea to date – he coaxes the crew onto one of those bar trolleys. They crash a bachelorette party in the process. However, biking to the precinct on a mobile bar may prove to be faster than travel by car. And fun! Oh, and now the old woman is under arrest because she shot the felon in the leg. Remind me to never mess with her.
Suddenly, said felon lets slip that he wasn’t actually driving drunk – the vodka bottle was planted on purpose. The accident was also carefully orchestrated. Why? Because he wanted to knock out the power so his crew could simultaneously rob multiple banks. Clever. As a result, Jake’s trip to the precinct is prolonged (again) so he can catch the aforementioned bank robbers.
Next, after Jake and Boyle catch the criminals, the power is restored. Success! Terry and Holt are freed from elevator jail. Now, Amy’s contractions are too close together, so she won’t make it to the hospital in time to give birth. Time for a bullpen birth! We see that Scully and Hitchcock crafted a lovely birthing room chock full of essentials prime for relaxation – a cushioned gurney, candles, pillows, etc. Who needs a hospital? Amy’s in an immense amount of pain, especially since she didn’t take anything for labor pains. One of the firefighters stays behind to aid the birthing process. Holt and Terry put on the performance of the century to distract Amy from said pains. It’s a hip-hop routine so slick and sick that it puts all dancers to shame.
Meanwhile, Boyle volunteers to oversee the multiple criminals under arrest so Jake is free to be with Amy. He puts Jake atop the horse Lieutenant Peanutbutter – Boyle’s forever rival. Yes, the horse has been promoted, and he still outranks Boyle. Lieutenant Peanutbutter gallops through the streets while Jake holds on for dear life. Thankfully, Jake makes it to the birthing room just in time for Peraltiago’s son to make his grand debut. Yay!
Later, we see Jake and Amy are at the hospital cradling their newborn baby. My eyes are leaking, and it’s only because I’m cutting onions while watching this episode. Nothing more. We learn that Peraltiago’s child has been christened as Mac Peralta, in honor of Jake’s hero John McClane. A fitting tribute. Uncle Chi-Chi a.k.a. Boyle is elated to see his nephew. The rest of the Nine-Nine crew trickles in to ooh and ah over Mac. We’ve got Auntie Ro-Ro (Rosa). Uncle Ter-Bear? Uncle Dadptain? Uncles Scul-Scul and Hitch? I’ll work on their names during the impending hiatus.
RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: AMY SANTIAGO
What a finale! I’m so excited to see where Season 8 takes us. Will we pick up while Amy is on maternity leave? Or will the series find her returning to the precinct post-leave? Not to mention, I’m curious to see if the show will address post-partum depression, and if Amy will succumb to it. Speaking of Amy, Melissa Fumero is my episodic MVP. Her comedic timing was pitch perfect. I grew exhausted just watching her – I can only imagine how fatigued she felt performing all of that while actually pregnant. Brooklyn Nine-Nine seldom fails to make me smile, and it’s a godsend that this show is airing amid these disconcerting times.
What are your predictions for Season 8? I can’t think of any presently, but I’ll leave you all on this note: Lieutenant Peanutbutter is, once again, a national hero. He deserves to be police commissioner of the NYPD as far as I’m concerned.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been renewed for Season 8 and will (hopefully) air in 2021 on your NBC affiliate.
[email protected]
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.
- DOCTOR WHO Recap: (S02E06) The Interstellar Song Contest - May 17, 2025
- MURDERBOT Recap: (S01E02) Eye Contact - May 16, 2025
- MURDERBOT Series Premiere Recap: (S01E01) FreeCommerce - May 16, 2025
