As one of the funniest shows on television, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has something for everyone: inappropriate jokes, deadpan humor, sarcasm, naivety and running gags. It also has a diverse cast of fleshed-out, complex characters who each bring something essential to the show. It can be difficult to choose a favorite, with each person having a hilarious moment almost every episode; however, some of the characters hit home-runs more often than others. Here is a list of each main character on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, ranked from worst to best.
8. Rosa Diaz
While Detective Rosa Diaz is definitely a funny character, sometimes her toughness can come across as contrived and a bit forced. Her character is one-dimensional at times; although, that's part of the humour.
The storyline about her bisexuality is well executed, and her character is developed beyond her sexuality. Her storyline with Adrian Pimento is also one of the best of the series and showcases the character's range of emotion. Plus, actress Stephanie Beatriz deserves a lot of credit since she appears to be the polar opposite of Rosa in real life; however, when it comes to characters on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, there's tough competition to be the best.
7. Terry Jeffords
Terry Jeffords is an amazing father, a dedicated detective and a lover of yogurt, all while appearing to be the toughest man anyone will ever meet. He is an interesting character, with much of his humor relying on the contrast of his soft personality to his bodybuilder physique.
Jeffords also brings a sense of sweetness to the show, especially when it comes to his love for his daughters. Jeffords definitely gets his moments to flex his humour muscles, but sometimes it feels like the writers could do more with this character.
6. Gina Linetti
Even though she's no longer a main cast member on the show, Gina Linetti definitely makes an impression during her run on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She is another character that evolves during her time on the show, moving from being an administrator at the precinct to becoming a social media star.
Gina certainly has some classic lines as well as great chemistry with the other characters, even when she's making fun of them. For instance, when she asks Amy if she made the cover of "hair pulled back magazine," it is a hysterical moment. It's only sometimes that Gina comes across as a bit annoying.
5. Hitchcock and Scully
These two move up to main-credit billing once Gina leaves the show, and they're deserving of the spot. The bumbling, lazy cops, who are constantly covered in crumbs, make for the perfect sidekicks to any of the main storyline jokes.
The writers use these two perfectly, never too much and never too little. There is always a hilarious one-liner about their health or one of them appearing without a shirt for no reason at all. Not to mention, their backstory of being beautiful and hardworking detectives in their youth is brilliant.
4. Amy Santiago
The hardworking, detail oriented and sometimes obsessive Amy Santiago is a well used and well written character. She acts as the perfect counterpart to Jake's wild antics, making their romantic storyline a fan favorite.
Her backstory of being the only daughter in a high achieving family of seven sons which leads to her obsession with success is well executed, especially with the introduction of her brother David, played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Her love of binders is charming, even if jokes about her organizational skills can be laid on a little thick. Still, she's a sweet character that fans are always rooting for.
3. Charles Boyle
The endlessly unfortunate, needy and naive Charles Boyle is one of the best crafted characters on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. His weird obsession with the most insane foods is just one of his bizarre traits that make the character so loveable.
His dynamic with his best friend Jake is precious, as is his relationship with his son and extended family. He's consistently outdoing himself when it comes to his antics, and fans are always wondering what piece of clothing he'll dig out of the lost and found next.
2. Jake Peralta
As the main character of the show, Jake Peralta is the center of almost every episode. Despite this, Peralta manages to be the lead character without becoming overbearing, unless that's the joke.
His complete inability to act like an adult is balanced perfectly with his amazing detective skills and dedication to being a police officer. It's also refreshing to see a main character of a series who seems to be genuinely a nice and decent person, particularly exemplified with his relationships with Amy and Charles.
1. Raymond Holt
Raymond Holt's deadpan humour is flawless, making him hands down the best character on the show. His robotic nature is the root of his character, but it also manages to come off as subtle. Many of his best lines could be considered throwaways, like referring to the championship belt won in a Halloween heist episode as a "cummerbund".
His relationship with his husband is precious, and he is another amazing LGBTQ+ character whose sexuality isn't the focus of their story, and it is also not handled in a stereotypical way. Plus, the show would be absolutely nothing without his dog, Cheddar.