Sitcoms were never the same after FRIENDS and Brooklyn 99 came out. Revolutionizing what it means to watch comedy on television, shows like these have constructed themselves to be iconic in ways unimaginable to many. From the friends they made along the way to the families that they turned into, each show holds significance in ways the audience never imagined resonating themselves with before.
From settings that became signature to those shows alone to catchphrases that are used to date, each show holds a purpose in ways that not only bring joy into one’s life but also hope. For FRIENDS and Brooklyn 99, there is one theme in particular that returns time and again. Although the Halloween Heist episodes are the highlight of the latter, the Thanksgiving episodes are no less. For the former as well, each has its most significant Thanksgiving episode.
FRIENDS: The One Where Underdog Gets Away
Season 1 Episode 9, The One Where Underdog Gets Away, is FRIENDS’ first take at a Thanksgiving episode. Although the theme becomes a seasonal ritual, it is this episode where the entirety of the idea first begins. Thanksgiving is not just a day of gratitude but also of family. To incorporate such ideas, the show also touched on those topics. Despite almost everyone being ecstatic about the holiday, there is one who is not very fond of it; Chandler.
Trauma is an ongoing friend for many of the characters in the show, one that may be a silent member of the group. For Chandler, Thanksgiving unlocks a memory for him that he would rather keep locked up, one of his parents announcing their divorce to him. The cruel irony of a family announcing its bond breaking on a day that is exactly about the opposite of it stands as a mockery in front of Matthew Perry‘s character.
At the same time, Monica goes about trying to maintain her calm in an attempt to have the perfect Thanksgiving. The episode has its ups and downs but the end of it, the concept that reveals itself is that family is not limited to blood alone. It is these six people who form a family without even realizing it. It is about how things in the world may be both good and bad but it is the present and the people around them that makes everything so perfect. Whether it is a burnt turkey or a bad memory.
Brooklyn 99: Two Turkeys
In the case of Brooklyn 99, although the first Thanksgiving episode had a charm of its own, it is Season 5 Episode 7, Two Turkeys. The entire series is based on the trope of found family. From Jake and Amy to Jake and Captain Holt, there is a relationship between each character that expresses a bond unlike any other. Jake’s hatred for Thanksgiving stands somewhat similar to that of Chandler’s. They both have tainted images of what a family should be. One filled with loneliness and loathsome dinners. The most iconic episode of the holiday is where Amy’s parents come to meet Jake’s parents.
It just so happens to be the last Thanksgiving episode of the series as well. Two families on the opposite ends of the spectrum come face to face for the sake of their children. Jake’s rather questionable father and Amy’s somewhat stoic family are nowhere near on common grounds. However, it takes things to another level when the holiday also becomes a bonding experience for two completely different kinds of families. Not only does it show how growth works in various settings but it also adds humor to that.
Chaos ensues on other ends as well when Captain Holt seems to lose his pie. This, surprisingly enough, gives Hitchcock and Scully their moment to shine. The episode tackles themes relating to acceptance, differences, and growth. It perfectly visualizes Jake’s love for Amy and gives him an opportunity to prove his feelings in front of those who doubt him.
Also Read: Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Chelsea Peretti Originally Wanted a Role That Was Gina’s Polar Opposite
So Which is Better?
While both episodes have strong foundations, each deals with Thanksgiving in its own way. FRIENDS and Brooklyn 99 both bring one factor to light, families aren’t always happy and smooth. This is what creates relatablity to a manifold level. To some, it is just a holiday while to others it is an entire day to celebrate your loved ones. It is also to be noted that for Andy Samberg‘s show, it is the Halloween Heists that stand out the most when it comes to holiday-themed episodes.
Despite it all, Brooklyn 99 represents the course of how families evolve through their differences. Whether it is about the blood they are bound by or the love that far exceeds anything physical that can define their status as a family. It balances humor with topics that are serious in their own manner.
In the wise words of Charles Boyle, “Gobble gobble…gobble.”
