The Water, and Stereotypes, is Breaking
In the 2020 Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode “Lights Out”, Amy Santiago takes over operations at the precinct to handle the massive power outage across Brooklyn — all while in the midst of childbirth. In taking such a difficult task under her own responsibility, she shows viewers that women are indeed strong and persevering people that are capable of being successful leaders through any obstacles in the way. Let’s take a closer look at just how brave Santiago’s actions really were, and how exactly she shows us the power of women.
Throughout the beginning of the episode, we see that Amy Santiago sits in the shadows of her male coworkers, specifically her husband Jake Peralta. In the opening scene, Santiago is congratulated by all of her coworkers on her upcoming maternity leave, but the attention is still focused on Jake. Scully makes a joke asking if he can take maternity leave as well, but Jake answers it with a joke of his own while Amy remains silent. Just seconds later, a power outage occurs and we quickly see Jake leading the group in investigating, even though Amy is the higher-ranking officer. Still, we soon learn that two men, Captain Ray Holt and Lieutenant Terry Jeffords still rank above her. Not even five minutes into the episode, and viewers already get the message that the man is always the one in charge — even the lower-ranking officer takes action over Amy. Clearly, gender trumps ranking in the precinct. Santiago is an essential character in the episode’s plot from the beginning, considering her pregnant status and soon-to-come maternity leave, but she is given just one or two lines before anything even happens. She is instead forced to sit behind her male coworkers’ higher rank and husband’s male leader trope: large ego, desire to be at the center of attention, and constant humor. Viewers quickly see a reinforcement of the norm that women are constantly struggling to move out from beneath a man’s shadow of power and control.
That shortly changes once a power outage strikes Brooklyn. Amy uses tremendous leadership skills to bring the precinct together as they battle the problem. “As the highest ranking officer not trapped in a box, I’ll take charge,” she says. To that, though, Boyle tries to push her back down. He uses the facts that her shift is over and she is now on maternity leave as justification to keep her out of power, but she firmly objects. She quickly and sternly gives orders to Boyle as well as her own husband, who makes a sexual joke claiming he may be “turned on” by her sudden taking of charge. To that, of course, Santiago scolds him, “I said hurry!”, to which he does. Almost instantaneously, Amy Santiago has taken multiple actions that change the reinforcement of the norm that women should be beneath men in ranking of power to a cultural transmission that women can take power and lead the way through times of struggle. Not only does she take over as the lead, but she also uses that position to order and almost overpower the men trying to keep her down. This takes shape in her display of leadership skills: attacking the problem head-on and maintaining focus, for example. Amy is not just a temporary replacement for the two officers above her; she is the embodiment of female power and leadership. Viewers quickly receive the assurance that, as Santiago is capable and in fact should be a leader of the precinct, women in turn can take the same actions in all aspects of life.
Furthermore, Amy Santiago adds to her display of power as she repeatedly demonstrates strength and perseverance as obstacles get in the way. Specifically, Amy battles the sudden arrival of her child while still refusing to back down from the fiasco of the power outage. As those beneath her continue to fight crime and save the city in their own subplots, Amy’s water suddenly breaks. Any other woman would stop, drop everything, and rush to the hospital, but not Amy. She brushes the alarming sign of an arriving child off as if it were something common and instead continues to lead the way. Her condition worsens as she begins to experience intense pain and contractions. Still, she hides these and continues to dish out orders until the power outage is finally resolved. In seeing Amy remain courageous, positive, and confident amidst such a nerve-wracking, pressuring, and anxious time, viewers see just how strong and persevering many women can be. If Amy can take responsibility over the precinct while on the verge of childbirth, any woman can do anything. Here, Amy teaches viewers the cultural transmission that such characteristics are not only essential to be a leader, but also to be a woman in general.
As a whole, Amy’s character arc in this episode of the show — from stuck in the shadow of her male coworkers to powerful and persevering leader of the entire precinct — sends the message to viewers that women can very well lead many in times of trouble, especially when strength and courage are demanded. When Santiago’s ability to rise to the occasion mixes with her extreme vigor and persistence, the cultural transmission is clear and bold. Amy put the very birth of a child to the side in order to get the job done, showing the world just how capable and robust women really can be.
At the end of the day, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is indeed another piece of positive and effective media. Regardless of your personal opinions on the show, it is evident that the correct messages are being sent. With the plot used in the episode, the show heavily focuses on an issue in society and the workplace (men above and controlling of women) and gives viewers a strong example of how that issue can be overcome and just how possible it really is. In a world where women are constantly patronized and defeated, it is important that messages such as these are sent to set examples to women everywhere that they really can be superior leaders like Amy Santiago.
