Myers-Briggs® Personality Types of Brooklyn Nine-Nine Characters

Summary

• Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a sitcom with unique characters, analyzing them through MBTI Personality Types adds depth and insight to their quirks.
• Characters like Adrian Pimento and Doug Judy embody traits of ENTP personalities, adding a layer of unpredictability and boldness to the show.
• Each character, from Terry Jeffords to Jake Peralta, brings a different MBTI personality type to the mix, contributing to the diverse dynamics in the workplace comedy.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a special sitcom that has its own silly brand of humor and some truly odd and charming characters in the ensemble, makes perfect sense to look at the Myers-Briggs® Personality Types of the group. The series follows the detectives and employees of the 99th Precinct in New York as they train and investigate different criminal activities. The show balances the workplace comedy aspects of the sitcom with the relationships of the characters.

While Andy Samberg is arguably the most well-known actor on the show and his character, Detective Jake Peralta, could be considered the protagonist of the show, it’s ultimately an ensemble series with some really great characters. Each character has a unique and well-developed personality that can be categorized into one of the 16 MBTI® personality types. While the validity of the MBTI® typing has been questioned, it often allows people to analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and can do the same for fictional characters.

MBTI® testing was adopted by the American Educational Testing Service in 1962, and it’s estimated that over 50 million people have taken the test since.

Adrian Pimento: ENTP

Adrian Pimento (Jason Mantzoukas) has appeared on Brooklyn Nine-Nine several times throughout the series from his time undercover to his relationship with Rosa Diaz. Pimento is a “stimulating and outspoken” character, which fits right in with the ENTP personality. ENTP is also often called the “debater” of the 16 personality traits. They are bold, not afraid to disagree with the majority, and usually quick-witted. They’re not intentionally disagreeable, but someone who is open to discussion.

All of that speaks to someone who could make for a great conversationalist, but also someone whose opinions could rub another character the wrong way. Pimento is also definitely “bored by routine” similar to the ENTP personality. He is an odd character even in the world of the Nine-Nine, and he’s always an unpredictable presence in any scene he appears in.

Doug Judy: ENTP

Doug Judy (Craig Robinson), also known as The Pontiac Bandit, is a small-time criminal who begins as Jake Peralta’s enemy as Jake tries to continuously catch him to no avail. The two eventually become close friends, however, thanks to a few cases that allow them to get to know one another beyond the crime being committed. Extroverted and an intuitive thinker, Doug Judy is a very creative criminal.

Judy is an “ingenious and alert” character making him similar to the ENTP personality, much like Pimento. He is always “resourceful in solving new and challenging problems” – especially when he’s evading Jake’s capture whether they’re in New York or on a cruise. Both characters share bold traits and the ability to think outside of the box, making it no surprise that they share the same MBTI® despite being so different from one another.

Keith “The Vulture” Pembroke: ESTJ

Keith Pembroke (Dean Winters), better known as The Vulture, works alongside the Nine-Nine, but he’s an antagonist. He’s known for swooping in at the final moments before a case is closed so that he can act like he did all the work and get all the kudos for a job well done. While that might make some think his MBTI® classification would be an undesirable one, that’s not true. When it comes to MBTI® personalities, traits can be viewed in both positive and negative lights, depending on the interpretation.

The Vulture is a “decisive” and “quick-moving” character who “focuses on getting results in the most efficient way possible” even though his means to get those results frustrate everyone he works with. The Vulture’s personality is very similar to the ESTJ personality, though there is some wiggle room. ESTJ is often known as someone who is a stickler for the rules. In the Vulture’s case, getting the job done could mean bending them.

Madeline Wuntch: ISTJ

Madeline Wuntch (Kyra Sedgwick) only appeared in a few episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but it’s clear that she has a very similar personality to her archenemy, Captain Raymond Holt. The two hilariously trade monotone insults back and forth, typically keeping their cool and professional demeanor despite their hatred for each other. Wuntch is a “practical” character who has “earned success by thoroughness and dependability,” just like a typical ISTJ personality.

ISTJs are known as the “logistician” are straightforward, not expecting any double talk or fine print. Wuntch loves “being organized” and is a “logical and responsible” character as well. Her position of authority within the police department also falls in line with her personality, as ISTJs are people who appreciate structure and hierarchy in a way that helps them logically progress through their work.

Roger Peralta: ESFP

Jake’s father, Roger Peralta (Bradley Whitford), only appeared in a episodes of the series, but his character is well-known nonetheless. While growing up, Jake hated his father for constantly cheating on his mother and always being away for his job as a pilot. While these actions had a negative impact on Jake’s life at the time, Roger lives his life to the fullest, so he would naturally be an extrovert and feeling personality type to start.

Roger Peralta is “outgoing” and definitely an “exuberant lover of life,” which is in line with the ESFP personality type. He “makes his job fun” as a pilot and loves to jump into the unknown. Traveling would be a natural extension of his interests, making his job a good fit for him, even if Jake missed his dad growing up.

Gina Linetti: ENTP

Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) is ditzy, incredibly opinionated, and thinks that the world (and the office) revolves around her. She loves to scheme and be silly, but she also notices everything and everyone around her. Her MBTI® would be ENTP, much like two of the other supporting characters who often make the audience laugh.

Gina definitely doesn’t like anything on the list of stressors for ENTPS: “deadlines” and “boring, mundane task work.” That last one makes for a strong case of irony since she works in admin at the 99th Precinct and is an assistant to Captain Holt as well. ENTPs are “outspoken” which describes Gina, who tells it how she sees it and is often insulting Amy and the other characters with her blunt comments. Her best zinger: “If Rosa had a twin, she would have eaten her in the womb.”

Michael Hitchcock: ISFJ

Michael Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Norm Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller) are the best of pals and are always referred to by their last names. It can be hard to think of them independently, since they are always in scenes together, and they’re both disinterested in working too hard. Hitchcock’s MBTI would have to be ISFJ or “Practical Helper.” While both Hitchcock and Scully don’t seem to care much about their lack of work ethic, they do care about the people that they work with.

ISFJs are “loyal” and fans know that Hitchcock and Scully do enjoy where they work, even if they don’t always show it. Working in law enforcement is actually a great spot for the personality type known as the “defender” because that sense of loyalty, camaraderie, and desire to protect others all come into play.

Kevin Cozner: ISTJ

Captain Raymond Holt’s husband Kevin Cozner (Marc Evan Jackson) is just as sweet and adorable as he is. They are basically exactly the same: serious people who don’t show their feelings. If someone wanted to learn how to adopt a better poker face, they could definitely ask these two for advice. When it comes to Kevin’s MBTI®, it would have to be ISTJ also known as the Responsible Realist.

The biggest difference between the ISTJs and the ISFJs is the former’s more careful approach to living their lives. They are thinkers instead of feelers in the MBTI® world (which is not to say they don’t have feelings, of course). Kevin sounds like all of the descriptors: he is “practical” and “factual” and also very “reserved.” Both Kevin and his husband win the fans over despite never being all that open with their thoughts and feelings.

Kate Peralta: ENTJ

Nasim Pedrad plays Kate, Jake’s half-sister, who is wild and, therefore, makes for great TV. In her episode, “DFW,” she has an unhealthy relationship with a guy named Kurt and gets in trouble at the airport twice. She even acts like there is glass at the restaurant where she, Jake, and Amy eat, proving that she schemes pretty much anytime.

Kate seems like a wild child who is up for anything, but since she often has something up her sleeve, her MBTI® seems to be ENTJ. If she wants something like a seat in business class on a plane, for example, she will figure out how to get it. Imagine what she could do if she tried harder or had a better work ethic. She is a “take charge” person and she also “prefers new challenges.”

Terry Jeffords: INFJ

Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) is sweet, emotional, and committed to living a healthy lifestyle (one that involves yogurt, of course). His MBTI® would be INFJ as he’s “quietly inspiring” and “sensitive.” Known as the “advocate” of the 16 personality types, INFJs are those who want to help, but don’t always want to be in the spotlight. They hold onto their principles, but they also great imaginations.

Terry is someone who strives to do the right thing, and he’s a great dad, husband, and friend. He is also someone who will “work with integrity” which is another descriptor of this personality type. Sometimes Terry fades into the background and isn’t open about what he wants and needs, like the fifth season episode when he hurts his back from yoga and is stuck in a room for hours.

Charles Boyle: ISFP

Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) is close friends with Jake and would do anything for him. He’s kind, caring, and a little bit strange. He has a great character arc and when he adopts a son named Nikolaj it’s really heartwarming. Charles’s MBTI® would be ISFP also known as a Versatile Supporter. These types “enjoy providing practical help or service to others” which is what Charles loves to do for his friends and coworkers.

Charles is also “gentle” and “trusting.” Of course, this personality type is also sometimes referred to as the “adventurer” because they so often like to do their own thing, not realizing that their own thing might be going against the grain. This is someone who isn’t afraid to be themselves and keeps an open mind while they’re helping out the people around them, which is exactly how oyle approaches his time at the Nine-Nine.

Rosa Diaz: INTP

The show wouldn’t be the same without Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz). She’s a fan-favorite character and the classic case of a tough character hiding a heart and a lot of feelings, but she makes this type of person feel very new and unique simply because fans love watching her so much. Rosa is intelligent and quick-witted and brings a lot to every case that she works on. Her MBTI® would be INTP since these types are called “detached” and “concise.”

INTPs are also called “logicians.” They take pride in being themselves and in knowing their own intelligence, but they aren’t the person who is going to engage with someone else simply to be polite. Chatting with strangers about the weather and other “small talk” is not up Rosa’s alley, either, and she likes to work on her own and just get on with her day.

Captain Raymond Holt: ISTJ

Like his husband Kevin, and funnily enough, like his nemesis Wuntch, Holt’s (Andre Braugher) MBTI® would have to be ISTJ. Holt can’t possibly imagine living in a world without “clearly defined systems and processes” as the official description says. That is honestly Holt’s worst nightmare. Much like Wuntch, he loves structure and understanding how to logically proceed through his work, whether that is proceeding through his everyday tasks or moving up ranks in the police force.

Holt is such a wonderful, charming character because, although he doesn’t often smile and has a strange sense of humor, meaning that he really doesn’t have one at all, he is also so caring. He wants the best for the other characters and does his best to be an example and a mentor to them. Holt doesn’t like “change” or “noise” or “uncertainty” (but he does like his incredibly cute Corgi named Cheddar).

Amy Santiago: ISTP

Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) is a bookworm who can’t help how dorky she is. She is so excited to go to work every day and can’t stop with the office supplies. It’s one of the things fans love about her character, and it’s even more adorable when she and Jake start dating and eventually get married, since they are polar opposites in their personality types.

Amy’s MBTI® would be ISTP as ISTPs “can remain calm while managing a crisis” which is exactly what Amy has done countless times. Her best, most shining moment is definitely the season five episode when the gang is in L.A. and they have to get Holt back to New York for a big interview. Everyone tells her that they want her to be her normal uptight self so she can get them out of the situation, and she passes with flying colors.

Jake Peralta: ENFJ

Jake is known as a very silly character who doesn’t act his age at all, but he’s such a nice guy that it’s easy to want to have fun right along with him. Jake’s MBTI® is ENFJ, which is also called the “protagonist.” They are creative optimists who tend to be in tune with the feelings of those around them.

Jake cares a lot about how well everyone at the 99th Precinct gets along, and he will do anything to save a character in trouble or solve a case. Although he might not see himself this way, Jake sounds a lot like this description: “As leaders, they tend to be adept at building consensus and inspiring others.” Jake is also “people-oriented” and “energetic.” He often seems like a kid who ate too much junk food and is now super hyper, but he’s always ready to do the right thing with all of that energy.

That’s why it’s fitting that Jake really is the protagonist of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine personality types.