"Into the Woods" is the sixth episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's third season.
Realizing that Terry is stressed out due to work and taking care of his wife and daughters, Jake and Charles decide to take their sergeant out for a guy's weekend at a cabin in the woods. Things quickly go from bad to worse.
Back at the precinct, Holt discerns that Rosa is preparing to breakup with Marcus and takes it upon himself to coach her through the process to try and make it easier on his nephew. Unfortunately, neither of them knows how a normal human is supposed to react in such circumstances.
Also, Amy thinks she can retool a childhood invention and make it applicable to police work. She asks Gina to help her with the pitch. Hilarity ensues.
This episode provides examples of:
- Bedsheet Ladder: Jake escapes from the sinkhole by making a rope out of his clothes.
- The Blind Leading the Blind: Captain Holt is possibly not the best person for Rosa to consult on how to break up with her boyfriend while still respecting and effectively negotiating his emotions.
- Dumped via Text Message: Discussed. Rosa Diaz plans to break up with Marcus who is her superior's nephew. Captain Holt and Rosa are both stoic, no-nonsense people and they discuss the break-up strategy (only because Holt sensed something is off). They agree that a text will be fine. Holt later talks about it with his husband who tells him they are both "sociopaths". Rosa agrees to break up with Marcus in person.Holt: Listen, I know I probably shouldn't get involved, but Marcus is my nephew, and I hope you'll let him down gently.Rosa: Don't worry. I don't want things to be awkward. I'm gonna send him a text while he's sleeping that says, "We're done."Holt: Clear. Accurate. But do you feel like it's enough?Rosa: "We're done. Good-bye."Holt: Yes. That should do it.
- Dynamic Entry: The Cold Open is Jake going through a window during a bust. Terry chews him out for doing such an unnecessarily dangerous thing when he could have just gone through the door with the other officers, as it meant more paperwork for him.
- From Bad to Worse: Neither Jake nor Charles properly prepared for their weekend camping trip. Not only did they not buy food (buying lots of fireworks instead), they had no idea that the cabin is a rundown shack called "Stinkpuddle Manor" by the Health Department. Not to mention the countless sinkholes in the vicinity...
- Gargle Blaster: The Chinese whiskey Jake bought is awful but it gets the guys drunk.
- Hidden Depths: Rosa is genuinely insecure about the prospect of her finding love and happiness in a relationship.
- Implausible Deniability: During her break-up, Rosa denies attempting to flee out of a window... after Marcus catches her half-way through the window.
- Madness Mantra: Boyle had been told by a psychic that he would die in a pit, so when he falls into a sinkhole, he keeps telling himself "It's a hole, not a pit! It's a hole, not a pit!..."
- Mood Whiplash: After an episode filled with the usual antics, Holt and Rosa have a genuine heart-to-heart regarding Rosa's insecurities in relationships.
- My Eyes Are Leaking: Rosa and Holt are surprised when they both break down in tears.
- Sherlock Scan: Holt discovers that Rosa is about to breakup with Marcus by reading subtle cues in her behavior.Holt: Your shoulders tightened when he said "baby". Your nostrils flared when I asked what was going on with the two of you. And you have saag paneer on your sleeve which, given your aversion to Indian cuisine suggests you let him choose the restaurant. Why would you do that?
Rosa: Kindness.
Holt: Pity! You're about to break up with him!
Rosa: Damn! You are good.
Holt: Mmmhmm. - Heroic Comedic Sociopath: Holt and Rosa demonstrate that neither of them knows the first thing about human emotion. Kevin labels the two of them sociopaths.Holt: I told Kevin about how I approved of your strategy for breaking up with Marcus, and he said that we were quote, sociopaths, unquote.
Rosa: So you're gonna leave him? - Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Jake ziplines between two buildings and crashes through a window purely for the cool-factor. Terry later berates him for it because unnecessary property damage only results in more paperwork for his supervisor (read: Terry).
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: Lampshaded:Jake: ... So I smashed through the window, feet first, there's glass everywhere, and I say "Hey there. Sorry for droppin' in."
[Gina and Rosa chuckle in appreciation]
Jake: And the best part is there was nothing on my cheek.
Amy: That's a weird detail to throw in there.
Jake: You're a weird detail to throw in there. - What the Hell, Hero?: Terry calls Jake out on his antics, because they usually mean someone else has to clean up his messes.
