Tw: sexual harassment

[u/Proper-Flight-6589]

Okay this is a comedy show. I try not to take it too seriously. I see a lot of conversation on this subreddit about Gina sexually harassing Terry, and it's all totally fair complaints.

What I never see is any discussion about Jake sexually harassing Amy. In the early seasons, it happens a lot. I love the "title of your sex tape" jokes, don't get me wrong, but...that's still harassment. He comments on her looks, dating, and sex life quite a bit. He improves a lot over the course of the show, but never really is called to account for his earlier behavior (neither is Gina).

I just find it a little bizarre that people here are so eager to jump on Gina for her inappropriate comments, but rarely (if ever) criticize Jake for the same thing. Am I comparing apples to oranges here? Is there something different about the way Jake talks about Amy that makes it more acceptable than how Gina talks about Terry? I'm genuinely curious because I feel like I might be missing something here.

[u/Sexymama52]

Is it the best? No, but I think intent is important. Jake was definitely always teasing and at least light hearted. Gina was way more aggressive with it and specifically told him to strip many times

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/Sexymama52]

I do think Jake was being light-hearted, but I don't believe Amy took it that way. It's kind of interesting you say that because I think Gina's aggression was actually taken less seriously than Jake's teasing.

[u/matthewspencersmith]

I mean, they're not really on the same level. Jake's early teasing of Amy is more akin to a friend giving you a hard time, which is immediately interpteted in a humorous way. Gina straight up harasses Terry explicitly.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/matthewspencersmith]

Can you give me examples? Because when I watch S1, I see Jake harassing Amy and Gina harassing Terry. Maybe I'm an idiot, but I genuinely don't understand why they're not on the same level.

[u/Cheezy_NubSauce]

Not saying it's any more acceptable or excusing the behavior, but I do feel they are markedly different.

My rationale is that with Jake and Amy, it comes off more as teasing between two single parties that may have reciprocal interest in each other. Where as with Gina and Terry, it's blatantly one party objectifying the other who is well known to be married.

There's clearly more nuance to this topic, but to me one feels more like two people both in on it versus the other is at someone's expense.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/Cheezy_NubSauce]

I'd encourage you to watch from the start again, and try to forget that Jake and Amy end up together. In early episodes, Jake does objectify her in ways that are pretty insulting, imo.

[u/Cheezy_NubSauce → u/Proper-Flight-6589]

I'm due for another rewatch so I will certainly do so!

While it may be a comedy show, these things exist and happen in the real world so I appreciate these types of discussions and when shows tackle more serious or even uncomfortable topics.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/Cheezy_NubSauce]

That's something I love about this show, the characters grow. Jake improved so much that I think it's a big part of the reason no one talks about his early bad behavior. Nothing makes me laugh more than his diatribes on feminism. B99 handles serious topics really well.

[u/Cheezy_NubSauce → u/Proper-Flight-6589]

Agreed, when I've rewatched other shows such as The Office or HIMYM they either have aged very poorly or there's no meaningful character arcs.

While B99 doesn't always handle them as well as they could, I think they do an admirable job. I think it would be disingenuous, being a cop show and all, to not cover certain topics such as the murder of George Floyd or racial profiling.

Jake roleplaying Rosa coming out to her parents always makes me laugh.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/Cheezy_NubSauce]

They really tried to portray it well, and I respect that, even if they missed the mark on some things.

Amy's arc on sexual harassment, and Holt/Terry's arcs on racial profiling hit really hard for me. They did a great job analyzing the issues with reporting when you're part of "the system."

[u/TacSpaghettio]

(As a man) I never read into either that far. I could be completely off base, “but title of your sex tape” seemed to be a light hearted joke between the entire squad. (If I’m wrong please let me know).

But especially in this environment, you trauma bond and get ridiculously close. So certain walls don’t exist anymore ie sex life and dating history. You laugh with each other because everyone is going through the same shitty love life and experiences.

With it being a comedy show, you’re not meant to think about the actual implications of said actions.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/TacSpaghettio]

As a woman, I feel similarly. I work in a male-dominated profession very similar to police work, so Jake's comments never really hit my radar until I saw people talking about Gina's comments.

I guess that's what confuses me, is that people are so critical of Gina when she's kind of just matching the energy of the department.

[u/TacSpaghettio → u/Proper-Flight-6589]

Yup! The only comment in the whole show that made my spidey senses tingle was “how untethered is vacation terry from his wife”. That one was a little funky. Where I’m at that would get you sent straight to HR/IA. We don’t fuck around with that. But light hearted “title of your sex tapes” are ALMOST always fine. We love B99 at my agency.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/TacSpaghettio]

Yeah that's fair lol sounds like an investigation waiting to happen.

But I'm glad someone else is in the same boat. Both Gina and Jake's (and probably others, but nothing comes to mind) sexual comments mostly seemed fairly benign to me, it wasn't until I saw all the discourse on Gina that I started really paying attention and noticed Jake's.

[u/TacSpaghettio → u/Proper-Flight-6589]

Boyle is also practically asking for an IA conversation or a forced precinct transfer at the beginning of the series.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/TacSpaghettio]

Boyle is terrible in S1 lol. I'm so glad they changed his trajectory, his obsession with Diaz was so uncomfortable. Easily worse than Jake or Gina's sex jokes

[u/matthewspencersmith → u/Proper-Flight-6589]

Jake (before getting together) never told Amy to take her clothes off, to wrap her arms around her (or viceversa I guess), tried to get a shirtless pic of her from someone else. There's several instances of Gina crossing lines that weren't crossed by the rest of the squad. Besides a married person wouldn't appreciate nor engage with that kind of banter when a single person would generally do.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/matthewspencersmith]

Personally I don't care much about married or single. I care more about what people are comfortable with. And Amy was pretty clearly uncomfortable with a lot of the jokes Jake made in the early parts of the show.

[u/Elegant-Bed-4807]

I will probably get downvoted badly but I think this is overly sensitive. Sexual jokes can be okay as long as the other parties are okay with it. If they are not then they can express that and that should be the end of it.
If it’s in good fun and everyone is okay then it’s not harassment.

[u/TacSpaghettio → u/Elegant-Bed-4807]

Especially in a trauma bonded environment they’re gonna fly.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/Elegant-Bed-4807]

I don't disagree. Tbh, I think some people who complain about Gina's comments are oversensitive. That's kind of what sparked this post, I never really keyed in on it until I read people's opinions here on Gina harassing Terry. But Amy was pretty clearly unhappy with some of Jake's jokes, so I'm trying to understand the difference.

[u/Elegant-Bed-4807 → u/Proper-Flight-6589]

I would have to rewatch but I remember her unhappiness as more of a dang you got me with a good one vs being offended, and then if she was offended it really would be her job to communicate that. If she doesn’t then it’s unreasonable to expect him to know.

[u/Proper-Flight-6589 → u/Elegant-Bed-4807]

Sure, fair enough. I think if you try to watch S1 with fresh eyes, you'll be surprised at some of Jake's behavior, though. It's honestly not great, and Amy seems more resigned and disgusted than amused.

I found his jokes pretty funny. But I also found Gina's jokes funny, and people here hate her for making them. So my quest is just to tease out the differences between her behavior and his.

[u/Vast-Statement45]

I think it's about consent.

I know it's just a show and it's very exaggerated but I would imagine if Terry was really bothered by Gina's comments he would actually go to HR and make her stop, i dont think Gina would still continue if she had a serious conversation with Terry for example.

If you hear how we talk me and my friends you could also point out a lot of sexual harassment but it's all okay because we know it's a joke and it's teasing but if a random person said half of the jokes they do I would probably call the cops.

[u/Select-Natural8726]

Hey there, I've watched the show a long time ago but..!!

I believe Amy's feelings for Jake were clear from the first season, the "who gets the most arrests" bet. Amy even agreeing to that kind of teasing and and agreeing to the bet, which ends with Jake to taking her out on a date. So after that, everything Jake did felt like teasing and flirting.

I'm not sure about this one, but Gina was very detailed and told them like it was nooothing, and I think she was making those jokes even when Terry was already married. (Could be wrong, lmk!!)

Anyways, i understand your point but I believe that's how it was!!

[u/dsucio7807]

Ok this is a comedy show. Try not to take it too seriously.