Despite the ace work of the two aforementioned actors, “The Mole” is a rather lackluster episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Although its problems are minor, they do add up. Beyond the painful moment when Amy and Jake walk into Gina’s apartment, there is an extended scene of product placement right beforehand that really didn’t need to exist (except, of course, for that product placement). One should credit whoever wrote in that the Volkswagen should be Amy’s car, though, considering how her obsessive need to follow the rules sounds like she would want to own a German-engineered ride.
Beyond Das Auto, the task force subplot is rather brief. The “silent disco” that Rosa and Terry attend to scope out drug dealers and suppliers was a bizarre concept that brought out a big laugh, so why did it need to be introduced with such expository slag in an earlier scene? Once we get down to finding out the identity of one of the Giggle Pig dealers, the reveal is obvious and the follow-up interrogation too short to make much of an impact on this recurring story’s relevance on the show. As per many of the other crimes that have come the precinct’s way this season, the show is not that interested in actual police work.
Meanwhile, a lot of the comedic setups do not work with the same rate of success as prior episodes. When Cpt. Holt slaps Jake, the moment could have used another take – the hand was nowhere near the character’s face when the slap sound effect came on. Also, Lt. Miller’s insistence on nodding because he detests germs and won’t shake somebody’s hand was not that inspired. As it suggested that a man who wants to really dig deep into police files would not want to get his hands dirty, his identity as Wuntch’s accomplice was not much of a surprise. Plus, given Bakkedahl’s fierce work on Veep, one would’ve hoped for more sharp one-liners headed his way, although the writers did have to ration some of the jokes for Braugher and recurring guest Kyra Sedgwick.
“I have a flare for the dramatic,” Holt says at the end of “The Mole.” And, thank goodness. For an episode that lacks the spark and the zip of other half-hours, Braugher was game to take Wuntch out for lunch and make the viewer’s time worthwhile. His Shakespearean profile is refreshing, although it is clear that the writers are saving their juiciest material for his character to drink.
