It's the ascent of Terry Crews! Oh, and Samberg and the gang get up to all sorts of nonsense as well. But to focus on the important part: hey! Terry Crews!
While he didn't quite reach the A-game plot line I dream of seeing him in, Crews was finally given some substantial action. And it's action that bodes well. Thanks to this plot, I think Crews will finally emerge from the chrysalis of his desk gig, and lead the squad like the magnificent buff butterfly he is. It was glorious, a shimmering of biceps and tangents, and blessedly separate from the majority of the precinct clowns.
Those self-same precinct clowns--and I use that term with almost-affection--were off finding their rhythm, finally getting close as a team. They worked together to to defeat Dennis Duffy, a.k.a. "The Vulture," a case- and scene-stealing member of the Major Crimes unit. Dumb ol' Peralta was busy being a lone wolf who doesn't play by the rules, and lost the momentum to get a case wrapped up before the Vulture swooped in. Because he didn't work with the team. He didn't do teamwork. Once again, team is the theme.
His stupidity does not go unchecked, as his faults are rubbed in his face by the rest of the precinct and by always-perfectly-douchewaddish Duffy. Duffy mocks and slaps Peralta's "powder white ass," prompting Peralta to declare that "the worst thing that ever happened to [him]." Which in turn prompted me to roll my eyes at Peralta's perfectly charmed life. I don't know if things just always work out for him, or if he's just too self-absorbed to recognize bad things. His case record on the show might point to the former, but honestly? With the way he interacts with everyone, from poor second-fiddle Boyle to Santiago's trophy-status in his view, the tunnel vision of his life seems pretty clear. It's easy to live comfortably when you aren't concerned with other people's thoughts or feelings.
Luckily, the Crews storyline pulls focus away from Peralta's stunted socio-emotional growth. Gina and Holt prove to be evil geniuses as they trick Terry into getting re-certified for active duty. Gina's relentless advances (though who can blame her) are a delight, though Crews's filibustering after he learns of their scheme is the winner of the night. The arc of delaying time, relating the plot of Top Gun, and forgetting how to breathe is pure joy, with the mind bend of Crews's tough exterior versus his sensitive soul continuing to be the breakout star of the cast. More Crews, now and forever!
While he didn't quite reach the A-game plot line I dream of seeing him in, Crews was finally given some substantial action. And it's action that bodes well. Thanks to this plot, I think Crews will finally emerge from the chrysalis of his desk gig, and lead the squad like the magnificent buff butterfly he is. It was glorious, a shimmering of biceps and tangents, and blessedly separate from the majority of the precinct clowns.
Those self-same precinct clowns--and I use that term with almost-affection--were off finding their rhythm, finally getting close as a team. They worked together to to defeat Dennis Duffy, a.k.a. "The Vulture," a case- and scene-stealing member of the Major Crimes unit. Dumb ol' Peralta was busy being a lone wolf who doesn't play by the rules, and lost the momentum to get a case wrapped up before the Vulture swooped in. Because he didn't work with the team. He didn't do teamwork. Once again, team is the theme.
His stupidity does not go unchecked, as his faults are rubbed in his face by the rest of the precinct and by always-perfectly-douchewaddish Duffy. Duffy mocks and slaps Peralta's "powder white ass," prompting Peralta to declare that "the worst thing that ever happened to [him]." Which in turn prompted me to roll my eyes at Peralta's perfectly charmed life. I don't know if things just always work out for him, or if he's just too self-absorbed to recognize bad things. His case record on the show might point to the former, but honestly? With the way he interacts with everyone, from poor second-fiddle Boyle to Santiago's trophy-status in his view, the tunnel vision of his life seems pretty clear. It's easy to live comfortably when you aren't concerned with other people's thoughts or feelings.
Luckily, the Crews storyline pulls focus away from Peralta's stunted socio-emotional growth. Gina and Holt prove to be evil geniuses as they trick Terry into getting re-certified for active duty. Gina's relentless advances (though who can blame her) are a delight, though Crews's filibustering after he learns of their scheme is the winner of the night. The arc of delaying time, relating the plot of Top Gun, and forgetting how to breathe is pure joy, with the mind bend of Crews's tough exterior versus his sensitive soul continuing to be the breakout star of the cast. More Crews, now and forever!