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"Serve & Protect"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 14
Directed byMichael Schur
Written by
Cinematography byGiovani Lampassi
Editing byJeremy Reuben
Production code414
Original air dateApril 18, 2017 (2017-04-18)
Running time22 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Audit" 		Next →
"The Last Ride"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 4
List of episodes

"Serve & Protect" is the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of the American television police sitcom series Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the 82nd overall episode of the series. The episode was written by Andrew Guest & Alexis Wilkinson and directed by co-creator Michael Schur. It aired on Fox in the United States on April 18, 2017.

The show revolves around the fictitious 99th precinct of the New York Police Department in Brooklyn and the officers and detectives that work in the precinct. In the episode, Jake and Rosa investigate the case where a laptop was stolen on the set of their favorite show Serve & Protect; which clouds Jake's judgment. Meanwhile, Holt and Boyle resort to blackmail in order to avoid getting the precinct shut down; while Gina and Amy try to see why Terry angered Veronica.

The episode was seen by an estimated 1.91 million household viewers and gained a 0.7/3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised the writing and Fillion's guest performance.

Plot

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While the precinct is still undergoing the audit, Jake (Andy Samberg) and Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) are assigned a case where a laptop belonging to star actress Cassie Sinclair (Kelly Sullivan) was stolen on the set of the crime show Serve & Protect; their favorite show.

On the set, Jake is enthralled with the producers. Executive producer Gary Lurmax (Greg Germann) offers him a consulting producer role in the show, with Jake accepting the offer and ruling out Lurmax as a suspect in his enthusiasm. Rosa believes the latter to be clouding her partner's judgement. Jake and Rosa also have to deal with actor Mark Devereaux (Nathan Fillion), an avid method actor who perpetually stays in-character as a dramatised detective and contaminates evidence with his fingerprints. Rosa finds evidence that Lurmax stole the computer by checking footage of him breaking into Sinclair's RV; she and Jake confront him. However, Lurmax explains that he broke into it because Sinclair was experiencing an addiction to painkillers - he was stealing the pills to help her recover. Jake attempts to salvage his position as consulting producer and Rosa repents on the spot, but Lurmax rejects their efforts. While discussing the case, Rosa admits that she fears the two of them will not be friends anymore if the precinct shuts down, but Jake reassures her that will not happen. Later, they arrest Devereaux, finding the laptop in his car and deducing that he stole it to humiliate Sinclair; whose character was going to have her own spin-off show. Days later, the show creates the "Jake Peralta" character in retaliation: a pervert who is shot multiple times by Sinclair's character. Despite the negative portrayal of himself, the real Jake is still enthusiastic that they named a character after him.

Meanwhile, fearing that Veronica (Kimberly Hebert Gregory) will use her revenge for the audit, Holt (Andre Braugher) and Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) decide to blackmail Deputy Commissioner Grayson (Steven M. Gagnon) after seeing him with his mistress. However, at the last minute, they decide that they're breaking their own morals and leave. Gina (Chelsea Peretti) and Amy (Melissa Fumero) interrogate Terry (Terry Crews) to find why he drove Veronica mad. Despite Terry saying he was nice throughout, they eventually figure out that Terry intended to break up with her over a year before the break-up occurred but stayed in the relationship out of pity after her mother died. He apologizes to her, and asks her not to forgive him but not to punish the precinct. She accepts the apology but admits that she already sent a bad report about the precinct.

Reception

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Viewers

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In its original American broadcast, "Serve & Protect" was seen by an estimated 1.91 million household viewers and gained a 0.7/3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.[1] This was steady in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 1.91 million viewers with a 0.7/3 in the 18-49 demographics.[2] This means that 0.7 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 3 percent of all households watching television at that time watched it. With these ratings, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was the second highest rated show on FOX for the night, behind Prison Break, fifth on its timeslot and thirteenth for the night, behind two episodes of Trial & Error, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Imaginary Mary, Prison Break, Fresh Off the Boat, NCIS: New Orleans, Bull, American Housewife, The Middle, NCIS, and The Voice.

Critical reviews

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"Serve & Protect" received positive reviews from critics. LaToya Ferguson of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "The immediate reminder of Veronica Hopkins' personal vendetta against the Nine-Nine isn't a good opening look for the episode though. But it at least ends up being an outlier for the episode, as 'Serve & Protect' isn't just 'The Audit, Part Two.' In fact, this episode steps away from the shenanigans of 'The Audit,' though it's still focused on the Nine-Nine preventing a gross abuse of authority."[3]

Alan Sepinwall of Uproxx wrote, "It's odd: Nathan Fillion's TV career essentially began with the sitcom Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place, where he was a late addition to the cast and very quickly became that show's go-to player, and his two most famous roles on Firefly and Castle drew heavily on his ability to be funny in a dramatic context. Yet when he's popped up on sitcoms lately, they haven't really known what to do with him(*). Community largely wasted both of his appearances as Greendale's head custodian, and this episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine doesn't seem to have an idea beyond getting him to spoof his role on Castle."[4] Andy Crump of Paste gave the episode a 8.1 and wrote, "The result is still a solid half-hour of sitcom fare with an emotional coda about the other thing that Brooklyn Nine-Nine does really well: Character relationships. Coming from Rosa, an admission of fear that the end of the 9-9 would mean the end of her friendship with Jake is a huge deal, and this, most likely, is why their story enjoys prime real estate in 'Serve and Protect.' It’d just be nice if a little more of that real estate could have been ceded to the other characters, too. (At least the credit sequence is worth all the build-up.)"[5]

References

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Serve & Protect

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from Grokipedia
"Serve & Protect" is the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of the American television sitcom series . The episode is the 72nd overall episode of the series. It was written by series co-creator from by Goor & Luke Del Tredici, and directed by Del Tredici. It originally aired on on April 18, 2017. The episode focuses on the Nine-Nine precinct undergoing an by Terry's ex-girlfriend, while Jake and Rosa investigate a at the set of their favorite cop show, leading to distractions and humorous mishaps. Guest stars include as action star Mark Devereaux. The episode received positive reviews for its meta-commentary on police procedurals and comedic guest appearances.

Synopsis

Investigation subplot

The investigation subplot centers on a burglary at the set of Serve & Protect, a long-running fictional police procedural television series. A laptop belonging to actress Cassie Sinclair is stolen from her trailer, prompting the Nine-Nine detectives to take on the case. Detectives Jake Peralta and Rosa Diaz are assigned to the investigation, but their enthusiasm quickly turns into overinvestment as avid fans of the show, which they have followed religiously. Jake's fandom leads him to improvise by adopting mannerisms from the series' detective character during suspect questioning, blurring the lines between their real police work and the show's dramatized version. This meta layer highlights their distraction from the precinct's own audit challenges, though they remain committed to solving the case. Executive producer Gary Lurmax charms Jake by offering him a consulting producer role and provides behind-the-scenes access. Key interactions unfold through interviews with central figures on the set. Sinclair, portrayed as struggling with addiction to painkillers—a issue the production has long covered up—cooperates but expresses concern over the laptop's sensitive contents. Guest star Mark Devereaux, played by and embodying the show's charismatic lead detective Cole Tracker, engages in playful banter that further fuels Jake's excitement but yields little initial progress. Rosa suspects Lurmax after footage shows him entering Sinclair's trailer, but he reveals he was stealing her painkillers to aid her recovery. The investigation reveals that Devereaux stole the , motivated by jealousy over Sinclair's potential spin-off, intending to expose compromising material on her addiction. Jake and Rosa find the in Devereaux's trunk and arrest him. In retaliation, the show's writers create a villainous character named Jake Peralta, a pervert shot by Sinclair's character in a later episode. This outcome allows Jake and Rosa to return their focus to the precinct, albeit with newfound appreciation for the complexities behind their favorite on-screen cop stories.

Audit subplot

The audit subplot in "Serve & Protect" centers on the escalating administrative scrutiny of the 99th precinct, spearheaded by Veronica Hopkins, Jeffords' ex-girlfriend from their relationship. Veronica assumes control of the following the departure of Wells, Santiago's ex-boyfriend, with her actions fueled by a deep-seated from insensitive 18 months after her mother's , during a period when he dated her out of . This personal animosity transforms the routine evaluation into a high-stakes vendetta, endangering the precinct's funding and very existence amid citywide efforts to consolidate underutilized departments. Gina Linetti and Amy Santiago spearhead the precinct's preparations, sifting through old photographs and anecdotal stories to expose the origins of Veronica's , revealing the pity-driven of Terry's past relationship with her. Their efforts reveal a tangled that amplifies the team's unease, as the audit's findings could trigger severe budget reductions or outright closure of the 99th, forcing everyone to navigate a minefield of compliance and morale. Meanwhile, the subplot underscores internal dynamics, with Jake Peralta and Rosa Diaz largely sidelined by their fixation on a burglary at the set of their beloved detective series. Veronica's overly critical demeanor exacerbates the pressure, often laced with pointed references to Terry's bodybuilding from their shared past. Captain Raymond Holt and Charles Boyle counter by traveling to the Poconos to appeal to Deputy Commissioner Grayson, compiling potential blackmail material such as his unsuccessful novels but ultimately rejecting underhanded methods to uphold Holt's principles. This approach highlights the leadership's desperation to safeguard their unit, blending humor with the raw tension of potential institutional downfall. The subplot culminates with Terry apologizing to Veronica for the timing and of their ; she accepts the apology but confirms her negative report has already been submitted, leaving lingering uncertainty and intensifying stress across the 99th. Originating in the prior episode "The Audit," this arc builds on initial evaluations, emphasizing themes of revenge-driven bureaucracy and resilient camaraderie.

Cast

Regular cast

The regular cast of the episode "Serve & Protect" includes the established portraying the 99th precinct's key personnel, all of whom appear to highlight the team's dynamics under pressure from an impending precinct .
ActorCharacterRole Description
Jake Peralta excited about the case.
Stephanie BeatrizTough partnering with Jake.
Jeffords dealing with personal during .
Melissa FumeroAmbitious assisting with prep.
Joe Lo TruglioCharles BoyleLoyal aiding Holt in strategy.
Andre BraugherRaymond HoltPrecinct captain confronting the auditor.
Chelsea PerettiGina LinettiAdministrator uncovering motives.
These portrayals emphasize the precinct's collaborative yet quirky interpersonal relationships amid the audit's tension.

Guest cast

The guest cast for the "Serve & Protect" episode features several actors portraying characters central to the episode's dual plotlines involving a fictional cop show set and the ongoing precinct audit. guest stars as Mark Devereaux, the charismatic lead actor in the in-universe detective series Serve & Protect, where he plays a ; this role serves as a to Fillion's in cop genre shows like Castle, poking fun at procedural tropes through his character's overly dramatic performance during the on-set burglary investigation. Greg Germann appears as Gary Lurmax, of Serve & Protect who steals painkillers from actress's RV recovery, initially misleading the investigation and adding layers of to Jake and Rosa's case. Kimberly Hébert Gregory reprises as Veronica , Terry Jeffords' ex-girlfriend and a ruthless NYPD with a personal vendetta, seeking revenge by scrutinizing the 99th Precinct's operations more harshly than necessary. Kelly Sullivan plays Cassie Sinclair, the female lead actress in Serve & Protect whose substance abuse issues are concealed by the production team, intersecting with the burglary subplot as her erratic behavior draws suspicion. Minor guest roles include Steven M. Gagnon as Deputy Commissioner Grayson, who appears briefly in the audit storyline as a high-ranking official whose personal indiscretions become a point of leverage for Holt and Boyle. Diana Lu portrays Mattingly, a production assistant on the Serve & Protect set who assists Jake and Rosa during their investigation, while Jesse Mackey has a cameo as the "Pervert," a quirky background character spotted lurking on the set.

Production

Writing and development

The episode "Serve & Protect" was written by and Alexis Wilkinson, who continued the season's ongoing precinct-saving arc initiated in the prior episode, "The Audit," where an external threatens the Nine-Nine's future. The script employs dual plots to blend humor and tension: in the primary storyline, Jake Peralta and investigate a theft on the set of a fictional also titled Serve & Protect, allowing for a meta parody of cop show conventions such as over-the-top action sequences and consultant-actor dynamics, with Jake's fandom for the genre providing fan service through his excited reactions to the tropes. The secondary audit subplot escalates the stakes as Terry Jeffords' ex-girlfriend takes over the , prompting the squad to employ unorthodox tactics like blackmail to preserve the precinct, drawing from real-world procedural elements like bureaucratic oversight while satirizing law enforcement hierarchies. Central themes explore professionalism versus personal in policing, evident in Jake and Rosa's differing approaches to the case—Jake's intuitive hunches clashing with Rosa's methodical style—and the squad's ethical compromises during the , underscoring biases in both investigative and administrative contexts. The writing emphasizes ensemble interplay, particularly in the scenes featuring Holt and Boyle's comedic alongside , while guest Nathan Fillion's portrayal of the egotistical lead actor Mark Devereaux integrates satirical dialogue spoofing procedural personas, enhancing the without major structural changes to the narrative.

Direction and filming

The episode "Serve & Protect" was directed by Michael Schur, the co-creator of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, marking one of his limited directorial contributions to the series; his other credit on the show is the season 3 premiere "New Captain." Schur's involvement behind the camera allowed for a seamless integration of the show's signature humor with the episode's unique premise, emphasizing satirical elements without overshadowing the narrative flow. Filming adhered to Brooklyn Nine-Nine's established , a characteristic of contemporary network sitcoms that enables , cinematic movement and precise comedic blocking. This approach was particularly effective in capturing quick cuts during the parody sequences on the set of the fictional procedural show, enhancing timing for sight gags and overlaps. Improvised moments, a hallmark of the series' production, were incorporated into Jake Peralta's enthusiastic interactions with the guest , contributing to the organic feel of his fanboy arc. Principal photography occurred at CBS Studio Center in Los Angeles, California, the primary production hub for the series. Soundstages there housed the constructed studio set for "Serve & Protect," designed to lampoon typical procedural aesthetics with exaggerated dramatic lighting, prop-heavy crime scenes, and artificial intensity. In contrast, the precinct-based audit scenes utilized familiar interior sets to maintain continuity with the show's established environment. The episode was shot as part of season 4's production, which ran from late 2016 into early 2017 ahead of its April 2017 airdate. Schur's direction underscored the episode's meta-humor, deftly blurring the boundaries between the over-the-top "action" of the in-universe TV show and the precinct's genuine investigation, thereby satirizing cop drama tropes while advancing the plot. This technique amplified the comedic contrast between scripted and real-world policing, with the set serving as a visual and thematic bridge to the story's dual subplots.

Reception

Viewership

"Serve & Protect" premiered on Fox on April 18, 2017, as the 14th episode of the show's fourth season. The episode garnered 1.91 million total viewers and achieved a Nielsen rating of 0.7 in the 18-49 demographic, ranking fourth in its timeslot behind The Voice on NBC, NCIS on CBS, and The Middle on ABC. This performance reflected a dip from the fall 2016 episodes, which averaged around 4.4 million viewers, largely due to mid-season scheduling adjustments that placed the series in a challenging Tuesday night slot following its earlier fall run. Despite the decline, the episode retained a dedicated core audience, consistent with the show's pattern of holding steady among key demographics amid network shifts. Following Fox's cancellation of Brooklyn Nine-Nine after its fifth season in May 2018, "Serve & Protect" and other episodes became available for streaming on platforms and Peacock, where the series continued for three additional seasons starting in 2019.

Critical response

The episode "Serve & Protect" received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its meta-parody of the television cop and the strong ensemble chemistry among the cast. Reviewers highlighted the episode's humorous take on the contrasts between fictional police procedurals and real law enforcement, noting how it effectively satirizes tropes like the glamorous detective star while underscoring the precinct's integrity amid bureaucratic threats. Individual reviews were strong, though aggregate scores like those on are not typically compiled for standalone episodes of comedic series. LaToya Ferguson of commended the writing for balancing the multiple subplots, particularly the Jake and Rosa investigation on the "Serve & Protect" set, which she described as driven by " and ’s back and forth in their dueling approaches to the case." She also praised Nathan Fillion's cameo as the self-absorbed Mark Devereaux for adding layers of mutual exasperation and humor to the A-plot, while appreciating the rare effective team-up between Holt and Boyle as a highlight of character dynamics. In contrast, Telltale TV's rated the 3 out of 5, acknowledging the , meta A-plot featuring Fillion's "obnoxious TV " but critiquing the B-plot involving the as bland and low on action, with the squad's worries feeling underdeveloped. Critics frequently lauded Fillion's for its self-aware spoof of the cocky cop , with of Uproxx noting that the was " for spoofing his '' " despite , emphasizing his comedic range in portraying an overconfident performer who blurs lines between and . The drew mixed responses; some viewed it as filler that diluted the episode's focus, while others appreciated the Holt-Boyle interactions for providing subtle character growth, such as Holt to Boyle's unconventional suggestions during their scheme. The episode's thematic commentary on cop tropes versus authentic police work was seen as a sharp, optimistic to ongoing precinct , though no major awards were given for it following its 2017 airing.
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