'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' Season 7 Episode 7 ends on a sentimental note as Holt mourns death of archnemesis Wuntch
When two people have spent all their lives hating and one-upping each other, the sudden demise of the other is only likely to create a void in the survivor’s life. Imagine how much the Joker would cry if Bruce Wayne were to die. Imagine what Ash Ketchum in ‘Pokemon’ would feel like if one day he gets the news that Jesse and James (and Meowth) of Team Rocket died trying to pull off one of their crazy bird-brained schemes? I’m sure Harry Potter would have felt a twinge of regret had Draco Malfoy died in the Battle at Hogwarts.
Episode 7 of ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ Season 7 takes us through that feeling. The episode begins with the news that Madeline Wuntch (Kyra Sedgwick) had died. Wuntch was responsible for messing around with former Captain Holt’s (Andre Braugher) career, and ultimately, demoting him to the post of a beat cop. Of course, Holt’s feelings -- his eventual true feelings -- about the news in the episode titled ‘Ding Dong’ are not immediately visible.
In Holt’s case, the five stages of grief -- denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance -- turn into four and instead of depression and anger, it is elation. He is overjoyed that his archnemesis is finally dead, much to Rosa’s (Stephanie Beatriz) mirth and enjoyment. In one scene Holt was literally shouting “Bagel! Bagel!” over and over as he tossed bagels to his fellow officers, celebrating Wuntch’s demise.
As Alan Spenwall of the Rolling Stone magazine points out, “It’s strange to think that, prior to ‘Ding Dong’, Kyra Sedgwick only played Madeline Wuntch about a dozen times over the run of this series. That’s how strong an impression she made in the role, and how memorable it was to see Captain Holt reduced to childish pettiness whenever his nemesis appeared.”
Even when Wuntch was not present, and she was not on the screen most of the time, the consequences of her actions were all too visible and easily felt throughout the show. Which explains how this could easily be called the end of an era for ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’.
Wading through a lot of trademark shenanigans, including a fake memorial service and more, when the episode reaches the moment of truth, when Holt has to give a speech for Wuntch (at her real memorial service), the usually cold and stoic captain has a rare sentimental moment.
“As many of you know, Madeline and I were bitter rivals, but I’ve come to realize that she held a special place in my life,” he said during the speech. “No one challenged me like she did, or made me feel as alive. Our relationship was like an epic chess match, and it’s hard to believe that she’ll never make another move.”
There is a lot of slapstick in ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. But once in a while, the show hits you with a poignant, emotional moment. And that’s always beautiful. And it always makes you think.
'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' Season 7 airs on Thursdays, at 8:30 pm only on NBC.
