1 Brooklyn 99 Jake Friendship Perfectly Mirrors Real Life

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is filled with beautiful friendships between the main gang, but one of Jake Peralta’s fictional bonds has deep roots in real life.

A key character friendship in Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a perfect reflection of real life. Between the hilarity, hijinks and Halloween heists, the core of Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the friendships between main characters of the NYPD’s 99th precinct. Each pairing among Brooklyn’s Nine-Nine lead group has its own flavor – whether that be Jake’s enviable buddy friendship with Boyle, the “two dads disappointed with their unruly children” vibe between Captain Holt and Terry, or the gradual thawing of relations between Rosa and Amy. These unique friendships are the most vital ingredient in Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s sitcom soup.

One of the most unique relationships in Brooklyn Nine-Nine is between Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta and Chelsea Peretti’s Gina Linetti. Every other main Brooklyn 99 character first met Jake on the job – his beloved Boyle included. Jake and Gina, however, were childhood friends long before they wound up working in the same police precinct, and this adds a totally different dimension to Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Not only do Jake and Gina understand each other on a deeper level, their childhood callbacks send an uplifting message about youthful friendships surviving the transition into adulthood.

Related: Brooklyn 99: Why Chelsea Peretti’s Gina Left The Show

Jake & Gina’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine Friendship Mirrors Real Life

Just as Jake Peralta and Gina Linetti were friends long before working for the NYPD, Andy Samberg and Chelsea Peretti were friends long before Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Peretti has shared images of herself and Samberg together during their elementary school days on social media. The Brooklyn 99 Gina actress has also elaborated on her history with Andy Samberg during a 2014 interview on Conan, admitting she had a crush on Samberg and would call his house in the days before emojis and social media.

The real life relationship between Andy Samberg and Chelsea Peretti does not stretch quite as far back as it does for their Brooklyn Nine-Nine counterparts. Samberg and Peretti met in elementary school, whereas Gina remembers visits to Jake’s Nana’s house in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Nevertheless, that two elementary school friends would both end up working on the same sitcom, and that their friendship would then be reflected through their characters, is a strangely fascinating and unlikely situation.

Jake & Gina’s Real Life Foundation Improves Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Jake Peralta and Gina Linetti are not the foundation of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Far more often, the sitcom focuses on its Jake and Amy marriage, Jake’s friendship with Boyle, or the repressed paternal nightmare between Jake and Captain Holt. Gina, on the other hand, is a law unto herself, regularly interjecting with offbeat humor, but also striking up touching bonds with the likes of Boyle. Consequently, Jake and Gina share precious little time onscreen alone together.

When Samberg and Peretti do join forces in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, however, their characters interact with such effortless ease. Brooklyn Nine-Nine creates an unspoken familiarity between Jake and Gina, conveying the characters’ long pre-NYPD history without any spoken confirmation. This intangible quality can almost certainly be attributed to the real-world connection between actors. Samberg may not have acknowledged Peretti’s teenage crush, but the pair have a sweet chemistry that feels warmly genuine in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Not only does this make Jake and Gina’s relationship more compelling, it helps sell how these very different personalities can actually be lifelong friends.

More: Why Is Hitchcock Barely In Brooklyn 99 Season 8 (& Why Facetime?)