S03.E16: House Mouses

[ElectricBoogaloo]

When Jake insults Hitchcock and Scully's work ethic in the precinct, they force their way into one of his cases in attempt to prove themselves. Meanwhile, Amy and Gina help Rosa conquer one of her biggest fears, and Holt and Boyle work a celebrity case.

[amensisterfriend]

I was very much in the mood for this show tonight, and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed Amy, Gina and Rosa working on their fears. Gina was genuinely enjoyable for me this week, which certainly isn't a given. I loved Amy as well, though that's slightly more of a given. She'd been a little too cutesy for me in a few episodes this season, but everything I love about her was on display this week---the intensity, helpfulness, and blend of sweetness and neuroses.  I really liked the Hitchcock and Scully storyline and seeing again what a goodhearted guy Jake is underneath the goofiness. And I really want to see more of the Boyle/Holt pairing---that's a potentially fantastic dynamic!  One of my favorites of the season, though I seem to say that about about half of this season's episodes :) 

[bosawks]

My mother always told me to never trust an oboist.

[VCRTracking]

"Chickpea! NOOOOOO!"

[formerlyfreedom]

I <3 Scully and Hitchcock. I just do.

[thuganomics85]

Jake definitely isn't the best choice for examples of healthy eating, but I am so with him about meat, cheese, and candy being the important food groups.  The entire cold opening was awesome.

 

It's been a while since Scully/Hitchcock got some focus, so this was a fun episode.  Loved that they accidentally landed a big case because Jake thought it was a typical "kid busted for weed" crime, and he and Terry had to try and bail them out.  And then they all get captured, only to escape thanks to Scully's sweating and Hitchcock's amazing ability to roll a chair up steps.  But it was fun seeing this foursome, and there were a lot of laugh-out loud moments, like Terry's offense over his undercover name being "Black Fred", and pretty much anything to do with "Operation Beans."

 

The Rosa/Amy/Gina trio was pretty fun too.  Gina's fear of business people is so in character, but probably one of my favorite moments of hers.  And, of course, I loved Amy freaking out to the point of threatening to kill Rosa if she locked her in the trunk again.  And just being so happy that they actually went along with her idea to face their fears.

 

I tend to enjoy it whenever Holt and Boyle get paired up, and tonight was no exception.  Of course, Holt would totally consider a oboist to be a celebrity.  Fanboying Holt was hilarious; I especially loved the weird giggle Andre Braugher did at times.  And, once again, Boyle shows that he is an awesome detective by figuring out it was the oboist all along.  

[Kanner]

Holt's "Oh John" was so funny.  I really love these characters and this show.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

"A stapler? Rubber bands? Kevin knows me so well." HA!

[Danny Franks]

Cold opens that mock Captain Holt affectionately will never get old. Of course he'd be delighted with stationary supplies. Even more delighted (probably) than Amy would be.

 

Speaking of, she continues to be utterly adorable. Her quietly pleased reaction to realising Rosa and Gina were going to go along with her idea was delightful, as was her excitement in finding out Rosa was scared of something she wasn't. And she was wonderful trying to overcome her fear but failing. Of course this is the sort of positive, character-building activity Amy would try to do. And yes, freaking out and threatening Rosa afterwards fits too. Amy can be pretty fierce when she's really pushed. Gina wasn't a complete ass the whole time, which makes her character slightly more bearable.

 

Holt being starstruck over the oboist was funny. It was obvious what the pay off was as soon as we saw Boyle's suspicions, but it was fun watching Boyle stand up to the captain about it. I wasn't expecting the final gag about classical musicians being so poor they steal stuff, so that got me. I like Holt and Boyle as a pairing, because it seems like they'd have so many interests in common, but when you delve into their characters, they come from very different places.

 

But I don't like Hitchcock and Scully taking up this much time. They should be very minor gags in any episode. And I'm usually a big advocate of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern style episodes. But I'm glad that it was made plain they still would have screwed up and been killed without Jake to think for them. No, Terry, they didn't do good.

[amensisterfriend]

I rewatched it already and just really liked all three plots! The Holt/Boyle/Oboist one was probably my very favorite, but it's close :)  

 

I wouldn't want Scully/Hitchcock to be a huge focus every week, but I really liked them and their storyline in last night's episode. I'm such a sucker for the storylines that give us actual crimes/detection/bad guys etc.---for me, this show is the most awesome when it's specifically a cop show comedy rather than just a workplace comedy. I liked how the gag about Hitchcock never getting out of his chair paid off when that very 'skill' turned out to be what helped them to escape. I'm really jealous of those new chairs that Scully and Hitchcock got, by the way. I would never get out of them either :) 

 

The really cool thing about this episode is that literally every character got a few great lines and moments, and everyone was quirky and amusing while still likable and relatable. 

 

Random note: I was actually thinking about how I prefer Gina's hair back in a ponytail..just as she yanked it off to reveal that it was just a wig and she would never ACTUALLY wear her hair that way :) 

[Mrs OldManBalls]

Cold opens that mock Captain Holt affectionately will never get old. Of course he'd be delighted with stationary supplies. Even more delighted (probably) than Amy would be.

 

I'm with the Captain on this one. I love me a new box of pens. Black ink. Medium point. 

[peeayebee]

Cold opens that mock Captain Holt affectionately will never get old. Of course he'd be delighted with stationary supplies. Even more delighted (probably) than Amy would be.

I don't know about that. There are some cool new binder clips in the supply closet that she's dying to see.

 

Great ep from top to bottom. I enjoyed all three plots.

 

Holt hugging the bag of rubber bands to his chest and saying that Kevin knows him so well was fantastic. Also great is that JAKE knows him so well.

 

Everything about Holt fanboying all over John William Weichelbraun was great. His giggling when John complimented him on his pronunciation made me very happy. 

 

John, remembering Holt at a concert: You were escorted out for gasping too loud.

 

Holt: I'm sure John – since I call him 'John' – I'm sure John would appreciate an update on the whereabouts of his oboe. Wouldn't you, John?

John: Yeah.

Holt: Well said, John. (to Boyle) Did you hear what John said?

 

Holt: Reed It and Weep. REED? With two E's? It's my favorite joke of all time.

 

I finally remembered who played John. Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus husband.

 

The ending with the classical musicians stealing in the break room was so good. "You've got everything, and we have nothing!" Savages.

 

The Scully/Hitchcock story was great, too. Their superpowers saving them all in the end was perfect. "It's not sticking because I'm so juicy!" But of course Scully tosses a loaded gun to Terry, who's still tied up. Oh, and I loved how Jake was still in character when they were caught. "Dagnabbit!"

 

Loved the Gina/Rosa/Amy story. I think my favorite part was about the business suit that Amy lent to Gina. "I wore that suit to prom."

 

Rosa: That was a wig?

Gina: You didn't think I'd put my actual hair in a ponytail? Are you insane?

[hendersonrocks]

Holt: Reed It and Weep. REED? With two E's? It's my favorite joke of all time.

 

I chortled. (It might be the former saxophonist in me.)

 

Great episode. I loved that Scully and Hitchcock had their moment of glory but by episode's end were back, asleep, in their chairs. All is right with the world.

[VCRTracking]

Also loved Gina having a wig because she didn't want to put her hair in a ponytail and Jake doing sort of a Matthew McConaughey impression when he pretended to be from the "Dallas Buyer's Club"!

[Traveller519]

The Holt-Boyle stuff was pretty plain to see how it would progress but still had some great moments. It was good to see Charles play straight to Holt's comedic attempts.

 

"He's already up there" cut to a very satisfied looking Hitchcok. Ha.

 

And all of Rosa's stuff about giving blood. "Why can't we just keep our blood in our bodies like normal people?"

 

I was trying to read the nameplate on Hitchcock's desk while Terry and Jake were standing over it, but it was just out of focus enough. First name's foiled!

[tennisgurl]

The stuff about classical musicians gave me serious Mozart in the Jungle flashbacks. 

 

Its been ages since we got a Scully and Hitchcock story, and this was a pretty entertaining one. Jakes mounting horror of their terrible cover stories, and then how he had to eventually use it, was hilarious. 

 

"STAB ME! STAB ME!" 

[iMonrey]

 

When Jake insults Hitchcock and Scully's work ethic in the precinct, they force their way into one of his cases in attempt to prove themselves.

 

Whaaaaaat? That's not what happened . . . at all. I was just commenting about this over in the New Girl forum - the synopses that Fox releases for their shows are so way off you have to wonder who the hell is even writing them. It's like someone FF'd thru the episode and thought they'd pieced together the story lines.

 

Nothing was funnier than Holt actually giggling - giggling! like a fangirl over the oboist. I'm not even sure that was in character for Holt but it had me in hysterics. I also liked the fact that despite all his foibles, Boyle is actually a pretty darn good detective, even on his own without Jake.

 

A hot dog with chocolate syrup? Ick.

Edited February 17, 2016 by iMonrey

[Kanner]

I loved the naming of the Chrises.

[Brandi Maxxxx]

I was trying to read the nameplate on Hitchcock's desk while Terry and Jake were standing over it, but it was just out of focus enough. First name's foiled!

It's Michael. ("That's a dumb name, but it's yours, and you should be proud of it because you are the greatest detective I've ever known.")

 

I loved the naming of the Chrises.

If Chris Pratt exists in B99's reality, what does this mean for Parks and Rec?

[Mama No Life]

"I'll apologize to you in HELL.  Actually I have no idea what this is about. Sorry for taking such a hard stance."

 

Never change Jake.

[teebax]

As a former oboist (still have mine but haven't played in years) I absolutely loved this episode. And if there are no famous oboists, there certainly should be! It takes talent to make that thing sound remotely good.

 

The stuff with Hitchcock and Sully didn't bother me. I was worried it might since they're characters I like in small doses, but it was handled well.

 

Holt continues to be my favorite current sitcom character. Braugher is killing it in this role.

[ChromaKelly]

I loved this one. It was everything I like about B99. Giggled uncontrollably at "He used their pet names!" Captain Raymond Hold and Dr. Kevin (Lastname), PhD.

I was wary of so much Hitchcock and Scully, but it worked very well. Gina talking to the business people cracked me up. I would feel like that too.

[April Bloodgate]

I loved this one. It was everything I like about B99. Giggled uncontrollably at "He used their pet names!" Captain Raymond Hold and Dr. Kevin (Lastname), PhD.

Cozner. His name is Kevin Cozner. hehe

[Scott]

I'm not sure if I should be pleased or embarrassed that I've also seen both Spellbound and Helvetica (although, unlike Amy, I've seen other movies since then).  

[tennisgurl]

 

If Chris Pratt exists in B99's reality, what does this mean for Parks and Rec?

I assume that, like in most fictional realities, there just happen to be random people among the population who just happen to look exactly like various famous actors, and everyone is just too polite to bring it up. Or something. Or maybe their Chris Pratt is a completely different guy than our Chris Pratt, he just has the same name. Or something. 

 

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CelebrityParadox

[DXD526]

Gina was great being creeped out by the business people. "That was a nightmare. I ate a Caesar salad wrap."

 

Great to see Brad Hall again! It took me half the episode, but I finally came up with his name. I'm old enough to remember him anchoring Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live.

 

Amy was extra hilarious and adorkable this week. Her reaction shots are sometimes funnier than her lines.

[peeayebee]

I'm not sure if I should be pleased or embarrassed that I've also seen both Spellbound and Helvetica (although, unlike Amy, I've seen other movies since then).  

Pleased! Me too. Both excellent movies.

[Mama No Life]

Gina was great being creeped out by the business people. "That was a nightmare. I ate a Caesar salad wrap."

 

Great to see Brad Hall again! It took me half the episode, but I finally came up with his name. I'm old enough to remember him anchoring Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live.

 

Amy was extra hilarious and adorkable this week. Her reaction shots are sometimes funnier than her lines.

Yes! Her reaction to Jake listing all of the Chris people was hilarious but easy to miss....

[NoWillToResist]

This was a great episode.

 

I totally predicted that Holt would love the stationery gift basket. Truthfully, I was a little jealous. I haven't been in school for...well, it's been a long time...but damn if I don't get a high when I see back to school displays of supplies in August! All those pristine notebooks, highlighters, post-its, pens and pencils, erasers...(nerd alert!)  ;)

 

And while this show has never suffered from crappy, one-note females, I loved that there was a storyline which involved the three main ladies and it was about facing their fears rather than something about men. It was so refreshing.