Holt is wary when Wuntch lets Jake work his dream case, worried that she is setting him up to fail. Back at the precinct, Amy, Rosa and Gina help Terry host a field trip for a local magnet school.
The introduction of Wuntch this season has been fantastic because she has been a new foil for Captain Holt. She was someone who understood his sense of humor and mannerisms and equally matched them. The political maneuvering between them has been quite entertaining this season. And yet, it is also starting to feel like the same kind of war every single time. The actions of Wuntch psych Holt out to the point that he overanalyzes the situation and her motivations. It's because of how his past dealings with this person who he sees as the devil that he is this way. He has a right to be paranoid because Wuntch is always trying to stir up some chaos for him. Their feud has meaning. But the twist at episode's end may suggest it is progressing forward and not continuing to exist in the same level it has been for the majority of the past year.Both Holt and Wuntch have gotten wins in this feud this season. He and Rosa successfully led a special task forces to take a dangerous drug off the streets while she used him to get an even bigger promotion at the precinct. She is keeping a watchful eye over everything that is happening at the precinct. That's not just meant figuratively any more. She literally had a picture hanged in the briefing room deliberately placed so that she would always be looking down at people. It helps keep her presence constantly felt at the precinct while also being out of view enough that the picture won't be seen at all times.
However, this ongoing feud gets in the way of Jake solving one of the biggest cases of his career so far. Sure, it's weird and a tad reckless with how willing he is to celebrate another murder in his investigation. But his general excitement towards the case is what's fueling his every action. He sees this as the case that can finally provide him with a helicopter and the means to act out his favorite actions movies. Holt isn't willing to put up with his childish antics - even more than usual - because of his obsession over what Wuntch is planing in giving the precinct this massive case and unlimited resources. It's that struggle that comprises the bulk of the main story as Holt doesn't want to give Wuntch anything to use against him while he is overseeing this case.
And yet, the episode is at its most fun when Holt decides to stop thinking about Wuntch and just give in to the details of the case. It comes at a particularly low point for the investigation - as Jake, Charles and Holt just used a helicopter to travel to upstate New York just to find another dead body. However, it's thrilling because it's Jake telling Holt what his priority needs to be right now. All the stuff happening with Wuntch is administrative back-and-forth. It is something that he has to deal with as captain of the precinct. And yet, Holt was invigorated in getting this promotion in the first place because he would be able to make a difference on the streets of New York just like he did back in his prime detective years. As flashbacks have proven, he is capable of being fun and cool when it comes to investigating crimes. He may look at Jake in disdain for every childish thing that he does. But he also goes along with it all in the end because it's important to catch this killer and the money he stole all those years ago.
Of course, it is all just setting up the final reveal that Wuntch plans on using this successful arrest to promote Holt to an administrative desk job. This episode does enough work to make that final moment between the two characters worth it. Holt does enjoy being out in the field. He is an effective commander too. But he had a lot of fun with Jake and Charles on this case. And now, Wuntch is threatening to take all of that away from him. Holt is at his most defeated when he stands absolutely still. And that's the exact headspace he is in at episode's end standing in front of the large pile of money they've just recovered. It is devastating to Holt personally but it is such a strong and twisted comedic beat to end the episode on that continues to give value to the big Holt-Wuntch feud.
Some more thoughts:
- "The Chopper" was written by Tricia McAlpin & David Phillips and directed by Phil Traill.
- The subplot featuring the rest of the detectives isn't as strong as the main story. It largely centers around Terry trying to look good for an administrator of an elite magnet school that he wants his twins to get accepted into. Amy, Rosa and Gina mess it up for him before getting things back on track in the end. There were humorous moments - like how easily Gina understood the various pre-tweens - but the substance was as strong as it could have been.
- The opening tag features the detectives placing bets on who could get Gina to look up from her phone. All have solid or at least humorous attempts: Jake starting a dance party, Charles unable to do anything, Amy faking the death of a former president, Rosa using an air horn. But ultimately, it was Terry who used the internet to his advantage despite the turmoil it would create at home for him.
- Velvet thunder really was the best call sign. And thus, it belonged to Captain Holt.
- The running joke about people saying "Bing-pot" wasn't that great except for the amusement Jake and Charles had when Holt said it in the end.
- Charles and those pants are just not a good combination as he found out while trying to maneuver around in them.
