All 4 Christmas Episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Ranked

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Though Brooklyn Nine-Nine ran for eight seasons and 153 episodes on Fox and NBC (from 2013 to 2021), it only featured four Christmas episodes. However, those episodes are consistently among the funniest in the show’s history. The series, which followed the detectives of Brooklyn’s 99th precinct, was critically acclaimed for its humor, its positive portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters, and its thoughtful look at issues in modern policing. It skillfully balanced serious topics with lighthearted comedy, especially during the holiday season.

Halloween was a frequent tradition on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and the team often celebrated Thanksgiving together. However, Christmas was only featured in four episodes across the show’s eight seasons. Seasons 1 through 4 included Christmas episodes, but season 5 skipped it in its mid-season finale, and the later seasons (6, 7, and 8) were shorter and aired earlier in the year. Though those four Brooklyn Nine-Nine Christmas episodes were excellent, it’s still fun to debate which ones stand out the most.

4) “Captain Latvia” (Season 4, Episode 10)

The tenth episode of Season 4, titled “Captain Latvia,” aired on December 13, 2016, and was the last Christmas episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The main storyline followed Jake Peralta and Charles Boyle as they tried to find a rare “Captain Latvia” toy for Boyle’s son, a quest that unexpectedly led them to the Latvian mafia. While this plot wasn’t particularly strong, it did have some amusing scenes, like when Boyle impressively broke mugs with his hands. Meanwhile, the rest of the team’s subplot – their attempt to win the annual Christmas singing competition against the MTA – was a highlight, culminating in a touching conclusion.

3) “Christmas” (Season 1, Episode 11)

The first Christmas episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, simply called “Christmas,” premiered on December 3, 2013. While it touched on the holiday season, the episode mainly revolved around Captain Holt (played by Andre Braugher, who received an Emmy nomination for this performance) receiving death threats and Peralta being tasked with protecting him. The episode deepened the relationship between Peralta and Holt, and famously ended with Boyle taking two bullets in the rear to save Rosa Diaz.

2) “The Pontiac Bandit Returns” (Season 2, Episode 10)

The tenth episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s second season featured the return of Craig Robinson as Doug Judy, also known as the Pontiac Bandit. After being apprehended by Peralta while disguised as Santa, Judy joins forces with the Nine-Nine to capture Tito Ruiz (Luis Moncada), the leader of the Giggle Pig operation. The episode also included charming side stories: Boyle and Gina Linetti attending a gift exchange with their parents, who are now dating, and Amy Santiago crafting a gift for Holt that leads her to uncover an error in one of his past cases. These elements combined to make “The Pontiac Bandit Returns,” which aired on December 7, 2014, a standout episode of the series.

1) “Yippie Kayak” (Season 3, Episode 10)

Though all of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Christmas episodes are good, the Season 3 installment, “Yippie Kayak,” which first aired on December 13, 2015, is generally considered the best. The episode throws Peralta into a real-life version of Die Hard when a department store comes under attack right before Christmas, leaving him, Gina, and Boyle – whom he forgot to get a present for – trapped inside. Packed with action, humor, and suspense, and highlighting the strengths of every character, including Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) and the Vulture (Dean Winters), “Yippie Kayak” was a critical success and is often ranked as one of the show’s best episodes.

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2025-12-22 00:40