Det. Amy Santiago: The Competitor

[David T. Cole]

Is she's NewsRadio's Lisa reborn? Signs point to yes.

[Tara Ariano]

I forget who was just saying that Melissa Fumero can't act, but whoever it was, I disagree! She's getting more interesting with each episode.

[David T. Cole]

It was our spy friend.

[TravisNelson76]

It just occurred to me that Santiago looks like (and has mannerisms like) a grown-up version of Hillary from Trophy Wife.  Except, of course, for the fact that Diane would NEVER let Hillary become a cop.

[Tara Ariano]

Since we're here: I wrote her an online dating profile.

[thuganomics85]

Yay, character threads!

I have to say that Amy Santiago has quickly become one of my favorite female characters on TV.  I just find her so adorable, hilarious, charming, and intelligent.  And while she can be over-the-top at times, this being a sitcom and all, I actually find her surprisingly relate-able, because she just comes off like someone who truly wants to be the best and succeed, and just tries too hard at times.  But, thankfully, it's done in a hilarious way!

And, Melissa Fumero is not only insanely gorgeous, but a great actress, in my opinion. I love her facial expressions, how she changes her voice during certain scenarios, and her willingness to do goofy, physical humor too.  Overall, a great find for this show.

[Danny Franks]

Yay, character threads!

I have to say that Amy Santiago has quickly become one of my favorite female characters on TV.  I just find her so adorable, hilarious, charming, and intelligent.  And while she can be over-the-top at times, this being a sitcom and all, I actually find her surprisingly relate-able, because she just comes off like someone who truly wants to be the best and succeed, and just tries too hard at times.  But, thankfully, it's done in a hilarious way!

And, Melissa Fumero is not only insanely gorgeous, but a great actress, in my opinion. I love her facial expressions, how she changes her voice during certain scenarios, and her willingness to do goofy, physical humor too.  Overall, a great find for this show.

She's perfection. All the things you say she is, and more. I don't know if the writers knew how funny Melissa Fumero was when they cast her, but they certainly figured it out quickly.

Amy could so easily be the girl everyone dislikes. On the show and in the audience, she could be considered tiresome and dour and no fun, thanks to the fact that she's the prim, buttoned-up partner to a goofball. But I think they've always done so well to keep her from drifting into a place where she seems truly disapproving of Jake.

She doesn't spoil Jake's fun. Amy is fun, she's just fun on a more controlled, appropriate scale. After all, she was voted "most appropriate" in her high school yearbook.

And yes, Melissa's facial expressions are a delight. Whether she's pretending to be a vulture or whether she's stuffing her face with cheeseburgers, she looks completely adorable.

[Kromm]

She's perfection. All the things you say she is, and more. I don't know if the writers knew how funny Melissa Fumero was when they cast her, but they certainly figured it out quickly.

Amy could so easily be the girl everyone dislikes. On the show and in the audience, she could be considered tiresome and dour and no fun, thanks to the fact that she's the prim, buttoned-up partner to a goofball. But I think they've always done so well to keep her from drifting into a place where she seems truly disapproving of Jake.

She doesn't spoil Jake's fun. Amy is fun, she's just fun on a more controlled, appropriate scale. After all, she was voted "most appropriate" in her high school yearbook.

And yes, Melissa's facial expressions are a delight. Whether she's pretending to be a vulture or whether she's stuffing her face with cheeseburgers, she looks completely adorable.

I thought she was adorable from the first.  The show got on board, just like they realized that Holt had to be funnier to work, Jake less actively annoying and disrespectful, Boyle needed more to do, and Terry just needed to be on screen a LOT more.

When she was pathetic, it was like the way a puppy begs for attention more than how some annoying girl in class makes everyone hate her for being a teacher's pet.  Because unlike that theoretical little girl she failed (Teacher didn't let her be a pet), and so we could see it as both funny and sincere--maybe a little sad too but we also got to see her perseverance as well as her doubts.

S2 is going to be a tough character transition for her.  They need a new gimmick other than being needy for Holt's approval, but without falling into overt romantic cliches of her pining for Jake while he's undercover (which she can--but it needs to be subtle).  In the forefront we need to see her continue to fail at stuff and continue to persevere but then make it work in the end.  

Or one idea I just had would be for her to take on some of Jake's personality quirks/role while he's undercover.  Kind of unconsciously, and maybe be in denial about it.

[cko]

Adoring Santiago. Her expression and gestures with the maintenance dude in the storage facility when they were staking out--well, whoever it was--had me laughing long after the scene ended.

And, of course: "I will make better mouth."

[Danny Franks]

 

Or one idea I just had would be for her to take on some of Jake's personality quirks/role while he's undercover.  Kind of unconsciously, and maybe be in denial about it.

That would be a lot of fun, I think. If they did it subtly, with her being just a bit more of a rebel to compensate for Jake's absence. And they even set it up a bit with her behaviour in the finale, and Holt asking, "what is going on with you?" in that hilarious, 'disappointed dad' way. 

Maybe even have her try to come up with the occasional cover story, only for it to be kind of rubbish and simplistic, where she can't think of a backstory for the character she's just created.

[NoWillToResist]

I'm still trying to recover from the fact that she told Holt that she thought that Jake was right and Holt was wrong. Loved that she looked like she was having a panic attack while doing it, but was determined to see it through. Aw.

Love her. I truly can't think of anything that I don't like about the character...

[thuganomics85]

 

I'm still trying to recover from the fact that she told Holt that she thought that Jake was right and Holt was wrong. Loved that she looked like she was having a panic attack while doing it, but was determined to see it through. Aw.

"Sir, I'm Amy Santiago and I have something to say!  I think you're wrong!  I think Detective Peralta is on to something and you should let him pursue it.  I"m Amy Santiago and I'm done talking!

That honestly, might have been one of my favorite moments of the first season.  Her delivery and facial expressions just made the entire thing hilarious and amazing to watch (added bonus of Jake and even Holt look stunned at what they just heard.)

I also loved the time she lied to Holt about needing the weekend off, and she kept slipping into song lyrics. 

[Danny Franks]

I think one of the first times I realised that this girl was all the best things in the world, was when she listed "uses proper punctuation in texts" as a pro for dating someone. Because she's right! It is important, and I imagine that it would hurt her very soul to type, for example, 'Im going 2 b l8' and send it to someone. As it should hurt anyone's soul.

[Cleromanticon]

Santiago has more in common with Peralta than she thinks.  She doesn't make up undercover characters when none are called for, but if the situation does call for a character she can be nearly as ridiculous as Peralta is, and she riffs off of him incredibly well. Nobody jumps into roleplaying with Peralta was quickly and easily as Santiago does, not even Boyle, who tends to just repeat whatever Peralta is doing. We first saw her do it in The Bet, "No, I know we're lost. I think he's an idiot!" and then again in Charges & Specs.  "I heard a pop! I heard a pop! Is that bad? OH, I LIVE TO DANCE!"

[Vikitty]

I absolutely love Santiago. She's sweet, she's spunky, and everything she does seems sincere even if it makes her come off as a suckup or a kissass by the other characters. I love that she can be tough when the situation calls for it but she can also play along with the antics of Jake and her other coworkers.

I have a lot of Santiago/Peralta feels, which I've already spilled in their ship thread, but I cannot wait to see what her answer to Jake is when the show comes off from hiatus.

[Toaster Strudel]

My favorite part of this character is her unabashed, yet always unsuccessful attempts to suck up to Holt.  I hope she keeps trying and failing!  It makes for great comedy.

[amensisterfriend]

Somewhere along the way Amy Santiago has become one of my favorite current TV characters. She's really flawed in amusing, interesting ways, but rootable and lovable anyway (which is a surprisingly tough task for many shows these days, which tend to write many of their characters as either blandly, dully perfect or too exaggeratedly horrible to relate to and enjoy!) She's such a vivid, well-defined character, and the actress is so ideally cast for this role. I love her dynamics with Holt, Rosa and, much to my surprise, Jake. I love all the non-Gina characters on this show, but it's Amy and Holt who are the special standouts for me.  

[wingster55]

I love her. I don't have anything to say but that...she joins the ranks of my all time favorite female tv characters (next to Leslie Knope, Lindsay Weir and Chloe Sullivan)

[Danny Franks]

Speaking for myself, I know my perception changed.  I rewatched the first season this summer and was so surprised by the difference in how I saw Amy.  The first scene in the pilot where Amy is reacting to Jake's goofiness in the electronics store, initially I felt like Amy was being condescending and impatient with Jake; on second viewing I could see humor and indulgence in her eyes as Jake was quoting Donnie Brasco.  It was wonderful.

 

From the Jake & Sophia thread.

 

I went back and watched the first episode again, with this in mind. I think that scene of them in the electronics store plays up to expectations, in that viewers will think Amy must be a stick in the mud, condescending killjoy, because Jake is a goofy slacker. At first, I thought that's what Amy was going to be as well.

 

But when I watch the scene of him talking through the bear, I agree that she looks more than a little indulgent, and trying to fight a smile as he does it. Amy enjoys Jake's goofiness, and only tries to get him to settle down when it's actually affecting their work. It's only when the joking gets sexual that she decides to walk away, which is typical of Amy, throughout the first season and a quarter. But it's cool that she doesn't kill Jake's fun, and that definitely ties in with the showrunners saying they didn't like the 'killjoy woman' stereotype.

 

And her sighing "you got lucky" about Jake finding the nanny-cam showed a bit of Amy's typical petulance at being beaten at anything. And then she's a suck up to Holt, right from the off as well. So it seems like Amy's character was pretty well formed, right from the start of the show. She's gotten funnier, as the writers and Melissa have figured out how to get laughs out of her, but she's still decidedly Amy.

 

They did drop the "she's always trying to prove she's tough" bit, but I don't mind that. It seems like the show just decided that she is tough, and if she needs to be written taking down a perp, then that's what she'll do.

 

But I did notice that she seems very into Jake in the pilot. The already mentioned scene of her indulgently letting him talk to her through the bear, the later scene where he talks about rabbi talk turning him on, and she kind if smirks to herself, and I reckon "have fun with your files" is probably the most sexual innuendo-laden line they've given her. So they scaled back on that stuff, which was wise because it let them really establish the friendship.

[NoWillToResist]

that viewers will think Amy must be a stick in the mud, condescending killjoy, because Jake is a goofy slacker. At first, I thought that's what Amy was going to be as well.

 

But when I watch the scene of him talking through the bear, I agree that she looks more than a little indulgent, and trying to fight a smile as he does it. Amy enjoys Jake's goofiness, and only tries to get him to settle down when it's actually affecting their work.

 

I was really pleased that in the Internal Affairs episode, Amy was immediately worried about Jake getting in trouble for taking files home. If she were a true brown-noser, goody two-shoes, she probably would have tattled on Jake because he would have deserved it for breaking the rules. But instead, they had her be a friend whose focus was on helping Jake and covering up his screw up, which I adored.

 

I also thought it was lovely that she was the one Jake approached. He trusted her inherent goodness and their friendship enough to know that, even though she wouldn't have approved of what he'd done, she'd still help him. Awww. :)

[Dancingjaneway]

Amy is one of those characters that can kill a show if not written properly. This show has done a great job of keeping her a perfect balance of crazy and sane. One of the best things the writers did was have her take part in the jimmy jab games. It was a great way show that she was a part of the team and that she could let loose as well. I also like that she isn't just there to be Jakes romantic endgame.

[thuganomics85]

Drunk Amy might be my new favorite character.  As I said in the episode thread, I enjoyed all of the "stages", but I certainly loved Fourth Drink Perverted Amy.  Although, Fifth Drink Overconfident Amy certainly was a contender as well.

 

As much as I enjoy almost all the cast, I continue to think that Melissa Fumero is the secret gem of this show, and is really becoming one of my favorites.

[NutmegsDad]

I wouldn't be surprised if, in a season or three, we actually find out that Amy *does* have a sex tape out there, and that its title either underwhelms Jake or is better than all his suggestions.

Edited February 24, 2015 by NutmegsDad

[wingster55]

The lack of Amy is bugging. She's supposed to be third lead of the show (based on opening credits). 

And it's funny after featuring the main couple a lot in the previous Mike Schur shows, it's disappointing that Jake and Amy aren't given that same respect. It's almost as though there's a difference between the two couples. Qwhite interesting. 

[biakbiak]

10 minutes ago, wingster55 said:

The lack of Amy is bugging. She's supposed to be third lead of the show (based on opening credits). 

The opening credits are Andy first and Andre last because those are the two prominent positions and then everyone else is in alphabetical order.

[wingster55]

5 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

The opening credits are Andy first and Andre last because those are the two prominent positions and then everyone else is in alphabetical order.

Sorry, I wasn't clear...I didn't mean the order of names...I meant the characters walking together at the end. Jake in the middle immediately surrounded by Holt and Amy. I always saw them as the main 3. Holt is most comfortable with them over any of the other detectives (with the exception of Terry), and they've been shown together frequently, starting with the pilot.

But the last two season it hasn't been so. In fact...have we even seen a Holt and Amy story this year?

[biakbiak]

2 minutes ago, wingster55 said:

.I meant the characters walking together at the end. Jake in the middle immediately surrounded by Holt and Amy. I always saw them as the main

That doesn't mean she is the third lead and no one on the shows staff has ever suggested it was anything but an ensemble led by Andy and Andre.

Edited March 26, 2018 by biakbiak

[Rinaldo]

When Amy and Jake got together, the forum prediction-specialists were worried that it was going to become The Jake and Amy Show. It didn't. So now there are complaints that they're not featured enough. They can't win.

This is, in terms of its premise, a police show (and, as has just been pointed out, an ensemble show). There's room for looks into the characters' personal lives, but only to a limited extent. 

[wingster55]

An analysis of the first few seasons, who had the most plots, who interacted with Jake the most (albeit after Holt) leads me to the conclusion of her being "third lead". 

1 minute ago, Rinaldo said:

When Amy and Jake got together, the forum prediction-specialists were worried that it was going to become The Jake and Amy Show. It didn't. So now there are complaints that they're not featured enough. They can't win.

There is such a thing as a middleground. How many stories have they had this season? 

And I also brought up Amy and Holt. Her mentor...they haven't had any stories this season IIRC.  

5 minutes ago, Rinaldo said:

This is, in terms of its premise, a police show (and, as has just been pointed out, an ensemble show). There's room for looks into the characters' personal lives, but only to a limited extent. 

Like Rosa's coming out? Holt's relationship with Kevin?

Amy took her exam...why haven't we heard more about that? That impacts the squad, and would place Amy in a leadership role. That would be very interesting to see I think. 

[biakbiak]

33 minutes ago, wingster55 said:

There is such a thing as a middleground. How many stories have they had this season? 

Three of the 13 have been focused on their relationship heir engangenent, the Thanksgiving episode, and the episode about their wedding planning and the Vulture, plus scenes sprinkled throughout otger eps which I find to be just enough. The episode after next focuses on Jack and Amy working a case and I imagine tgeir will be something about the wedding at the end of the season.

Edited March 26, 2018 by biakbiak

[wingster55]

The Thanksgiving ep had them but not about them..it was about the parents. (Also isn't 'it a bit messed up that Jake's had more on-screen time with Amy's dad than she has? She hasn't had a one on one scene with his mom). 

Next ep is about Jake's cousin I thought. 

This doesn't explain why you're ignoring the other points I'm making about Amy. 

[biakbiak]

10 minutes ago, wingster55 said:

The Thanksgiving ep had them but not about them..it was about the parents. (Also isn't 'it a bit messed up that Jake's had more on-screen time with Amy's dad than she has? She hasn't had a one on one scene with his mom). 

Next ep is about Jake's cousin I thought. 

This doesn't explain why you're ignoring the other points I'm making about Amy. 

To each there own, an episode devoted to there family's meeting is a Jake and Amy centric episode to me.

The next episode is a bottle ep with just Jake, Holt and Sterling K zbrowm, the one after that is called The Puzzle Master and the main story according to the synopsis is Jake and Amy working a case.

I responded to the points I wanted to respond to.

[DMK]

Is that Melissa Fumero I keep seeing in a Dial commercial?