The eighth season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine will be the last. Paaaaain.
Last month, it was announced that Brooklyn Nine-Nine's eighth season would be the last. We're not crying, you are.
Although the news no doubt saddened fans around the world, their reasons were clear: they wanted to be conscious of issues surrounding the institutional racism that remains rife within law enforcement, rewrite scripts and "use [this opportunity] in the best way possible."
Now, after having taken steps back to reassess the situation and ensure to end things on as profound and fulfilling a way possible, it was confirmed that season eight of Brooklyn Nine-Nine had started filming thanks to an Instagram post from Melissa Fumero.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNYBzathXM0/
For those not in the know, Fumero plays Amy Santiago, one of the central characters in the ensemble and who has herself been the subject of episodes that have tackled serious issues. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has never been one to shy away from the tough topics.
The show's #MeToo episode entitled, 'He Said, She Said' deals with issues surrounding the struggles of several members of the female cast, covering everything from sexual assault to everyday gender struggle in the workplace.
It's brilliantly uncomfortable - as it should be - and everyone should watch it.
The same goes for the episode 'Moo Moo', in which Terry Crew's character, Terry Jeffords, is racially profiled when retrieving his daughters' blankie from the street late at night.
He is arrested by a white officer in his own neighbourhood, right outside his home, and the cop in question only apologises when he realises he's a cop.
From there, both Terry and Captain Holt - played by Andre Braugher, whose life experiences as a gay Black detective have been examined throughout the show - have to come to terms with the horrific ordeal.
Once again, it's powerful, educational and worth showing anyone who still doesn't understand how deep this stuff goes.
B99's main protagonist is Jake Peralta, played by Andy Samberg: the comedic heavyweight who got his start on SNL.
Samberg not only stars in the show but has also written and produced on other projects since the beginning.
When asked by Variety about how the show is going to adapt after high-profile incidents of racially fuelled police crime, he had this to say:
"The challenge is going to be being honest about what is going on in the world and not shying away from the fact that there are serious problems, and also not punishing viewers who like our show and care about our characters.
"Our country is going through a hard time. It’s been going through this. I’ve been hearing about this in rap music for 30 years. We’ve been told if we wanted to listen. It’s been happening. What the show is going to do is further the conversation.”
He went on to say that not only does he consider doing this last season properly part of everyone's responsibility, but that he believes the "characters need to examine their roles in the world. They’re going to be forced to look in the mirror and see who they’re complicit with. We have a decent track record of addressing social issues.”
The love for the show is clear - so much so that after it was cancelled, it took them no longer than 31 hours to get in back on the air.
As Samberg mentions, it continues to tackle the serious stuff just as well as it does its comedy and we're going to miss it.
Nevertheless, the eighth and final season of Brookly Nine-Nine looks set to be its most important yet and we can't wait.
We're ready for one last ride (title of your sex tape), are you? Nine-Niiiiine!
