@icelandcurry I got your Ask but somehow Tumblr ate it!!!! :(
V. AIMMYARROWSHIGHâS CRITERIA FOR HALLOWEEN EPISODES
Does the Halloween element combine convincingly with the usual universe of the show (ex: Lizzie McGuire 2x09 âThose Freaky McGuiresâ is not good as a Halloween episode because it changes the rules of the Lizzie McGuire universe, whereas Community 2x06 âEpidemiologyâ is a GREAT Halloween episode because it manages to logically introduce zombies to the regular Community universe)?
Does the Halloween element advance the plot of the episode/series (ex: the reason Boy Meets World 5x17 âAnd Then There Was Shawnâ is literally the best Halloween episode ever made is that it uses the horror movie tropes it satirizes to provide a CRUCIAL turning-point to the plot of the show)?
Is the Halloween episode in the forefront enough that itâs clearly a holiday episode (ex: HAVING ONE JACK-OâLANTERN ON A DESK DOES NOT A HALLOWEEN SPECIAL MAKE, LAW & ORDER 16x03 âGHOSTSâ! You gotta go ALL-IN, like Bobâs Burgers 3x02 âFull Barsâ!)?
Does the Halloween theme balance well between spooky and warm-n-fuzzy (ex: Criminal Minds 11x21 âMr. Scratchâ is too fucking bleak, but Criminal Minds 12x06 âElliottâs Pondâ has a joyous/celebratory tone to the ending despite being a genuinely scary episode)?
Is it generally a well-written, acted, and designed episode of television (ex: Saved by the Bell! 3x26Â âMystery Weekendâ is seriously, not exaggerating, the worst thing Iâve ever watched in my life; Psych 1x15 âScary Sherry, Or Biancaâs Toastâ is a triumph of the medium)?
So. That said, of the B99 Halloween episodes:
Brooklyn Nine-Nine 1x06 âHalloweenâ
Yes, the show takes place in its usual universe, but turned up to 11 on the hijinx. It was the first episode that let Andy Samberg run wild with broad comedy and it works.
Yes, the Halloween element helps to continue developing the relationship between Jake and Holt, although it isnât as successful as other S1 episodes here (like âOld School,â a few episodes later).
Yes, itâs arguably the most Halloweeny of the B99 Halloween eps.
Yes, when is B99 NOT warm-and-fuzzy? Thereâs no spookiness here, though.
VERDICT: A good one, but not the BEST one.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine 2x04 âHalloween IIâ
Yes, same as above, but with the whole cast given the latitude usually reserved for Samberg -- it was awesome to see Rosa get in on the fun, and knowing from Stephanie Beatrizâs comedy that she felt comfortable, supported, and not exploited in her costume makes it all the better.
Yes, I actually think this episode does more for the Jake+Holt relationship than S1â˛s because it lets Holt be more fully-rounded as a character. The fact that the whole squad are on his side is awesome.
Yes, itâs slightly less Halloweeny but still obviously very Halloweeny.
VERDICT: This is the best one, IMO.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine 3x05 âHalloween IIIâ
YES, AMY! The show is able to build on the previous two seasonsâ Halloween episodes to entrench the âHalloween Heistâ into the culture of the â99, and that makes it totally convincing that Amy would act the way she does.
Yes, and I like that this episode is finally less about Jake+Holt and more about Amyâs relationship with both of them, together as male colleagues AND separately as her boyfriend and her boss, respectively. Since Jake/Amy makes Amy a bigger character in S3 than she was even as the female lead in S1-2, âHalloween IIIâ is an important episode for making it clear that the writers know she has to stand on her own as a character outside of her relationships with Jake and Holt.
(See above for the next three)
VERDICT: Depending on how much you like Jake/Amy, this is probably a tie with S1. Still a little less delightful overall than S2, in part because of the cold open, IMO.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine 4x05 âHalloween IVâ
This one is a little bit too broad in its zany comedy, IMO? It kind of throws out the entire idea that it takes place in a police station and is less âbelievableâ than the previous three.
Unlike the previous three Halloween episodes, this one doesnât build any relationships. I would say that it helps to build Charles+Holt, but IMO it isnât as strong as their squash team-up or their failed cooking lessons in that regard. ALTHOUGH I LOVE EVERY MOMENT OF ROSA+AMY AND THEIR BEING THE BABY-SITTERSâ CLUBS GIVES ME SO MUCH JOY.
(See above for the next three)
VERDICT: This is the weakest yet of the Halloween episodes, but to be totally frank, Iâm not as big a Gina fan as I am of the rest of the B99 characters, but it does get a +5 for having Cheddar. Cheddar always makes an episode better.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine 5x04 âHalloVeenâ
Honestly, this is the least Halloweeny of their Halloween episodes -- it pays off in the ending, but it ramps up to it so stealthily that it never feels like a âHalloween Heistâ episode. After four, that might be a welcome change to some viewers, but it kind of makes the heist element feel more random and less holiday-specific.
This is a seminal episode for the series, but Iâm not going to spoil why in case you havenât seen it.
HOWEVER, although that seminal moment *involves* the Halloween Heist, it doesnât at all feel like a Halloween episode -- Jake only wears a costume momentarily, as âOfamy,â and no one else wears a costume at all (except ::grits teeth:: Bill.) It could just as easily have been Jimmyjabs II as Halloween V, tbh.
Andy Sambergâs acting impresses me more in this episode than it ever has, and it has Cheddar, but I think Terry and Rosa have been really neglected this season and it doesnât feel different in this episode, either. I also do question why they put the Big Moment into the Halloween Heist if it wasnât going to be Halloweenish? Like, make 5x05 another Jake-and-Amy-are-competing-about-something-like-their-first-date-episode kinda thing and let one of the more secondary characters get a bite at the Heist apple -- Ginaâs gotten to win and Rosa hasnât? Really??
VERDICT: As a HALLOWEEN EPISODE, this isnât very strong, but as a SITCOM EPISODE IN GENERAL, itâs a very sweet and good one.
RANKING ORDER, BEST TO WORST: Halloween II, Halloween III, Halloween I, Halloween IV, HalloVeen.