JAKE
Oh Jake Peralta.
“Your tone sounds like bragging, but the words are just sad”
No sentence on the show has summed up the character so perfectly. It’s an episode where Jake keeps breaking things and himself while Terry and Boyle run after him both worried and exasperated. The episode allows for another great Andy Samberg showcase in both his broader comedy and his quieter moments. His physicality is on its A game as he grows increasingly more injured and his sounds of pain were fantastically timed and drawn out. Jake is a little obsessive with his work, this is something that’s been obvious since season one and this week he brings it to a new level as he puts himself in harm’s way.
He’s determined to catch his suspect and is only slowed down, pretty much stopped dead in his tracks, when he’s hit by an oncoming police car. It’s a hard hit and a nice visual gag.
The next scene in the hospital shines a light on a little more of his sensibility when he tells Terry why he hasn’t been taking any days off to heal. This only happens after Terry is about to give up on him. Jake tells them that back in his earlier days on the force he took a few days off while he was on a case and his suspect came out of hiding and two civilians died. It’s a tad dark for the show but it works because it doesn’t dwell too long on how somber it is. Terry tells him that if he keeps going this way he’ll be no use to anyone because he’ll be dead.
Jake’s alarmed “real talk” sums it all up nicely.
Advertisement
It’s rare that I love a lead male character so much since oftentimes it’s the supporting characters that are so much more interesting. The supporting players on the show are just as interesting and sometimes more so, Jake holds his ground as lead because he’s nothing what I’d expect and I’ve genuinely enjoyed his characterization so far this season. A little sad, a little over eager, and still playing up that Samberg, elastic charm.
A great episode to toss us back into the end of the season and I’m already sad that it’s ending so soon.
8/10
Advertisement
Advertisement
