Terry Crews and Joe Lo Truglio talk masculinity on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is well known for tackling big-picture issues, and one area where it truly shines is in its portrayal of its male characters. Here’s what Terry Crews and Joe Lo Truglio had to say about the show’s take on masculinity.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of those series that can simultaneously make viewers fall over laughing, while also forcing them to reconsider societal norms and question the bigger picture. The series has been praised for its unflinching honesty when it comes to tackling serious issues, and it’s been known to challenge harmful stereotypes over the course of its six-season run.

And one area where Brooklyn Nine-Nine truly shines is in its portrayal of its male characters, many of whom defy society’s beliefs surrounding masculinity and what it means to “be a man.” The men on the series cover a wide range of masculine and feminine traits, and none of them are ever ashamed to demonstrate the latter.

At San Diego Comic-Con, Culturess spoke with Terry Crews and Joe Lo Truglio, who play Terry Jeffords and Charles Boyle on the show, respectively. The actors shared their perspectives about the show’s diversity, honing in on its take on masculinity. Crews agreed that Brooklyn Nine-Nine does a good job of spotlighting these issues, expressing that he’s proud to be part of the cast.

“You know, entertainment doesn’t solve problems,” Crews said. “It highlights them. It puts the shine on them. It lifts it up. It says, ‘This is the problem, but it’s up to you to fix it.’ But it doesn’t solve it. And a lot of times people are like, ‘We have an example of a good guy on there, and now the problem’s over.’ No, it’s not. But what happens is, you now have an example.”

Crews’ points about representation feel spot on, particularly when you consider how seeing something repeatedly can normalize it. Seeing more realistic characters on television allows viewers to accept themselves as real, well-rounded  people, whereas unrealistic portrayals of things like masculinity can make fans feel like they need to strive to achieve an often impossible standard.

And, of course, the more realistic the characters, the more viewers will be able to relate to the series overall. Crews emphasized that point, adding, “And when I look at the different kinds of masculinity that we show, I just think it opens it up to so many people, you know?”

Truglio agreed with Crews before diving deeper into the masculinity of his own character. After all, Boyle is probably the member of the 99th precinct who defies society’s views of what’s traditionally masculine the most, and it’s refreshing to see that play out onscreen.

“It’s important to show that affection doesn’t have to always be sexual,” Truglio explained. “It’s important to show that adoration doesn’t have to be a weakness, especially with straight men to other straight men. I love that the characters have never shied away from Boyle’s just enthusiasm for friendship and connection. It’s a testament to their courage.”

And while the characters do often attempt to tone down Boyle’s enthusiasm, the fact that he unabashedly gets excited about things like dressing up for Halloween and spending time with his family and friends showcases a confidence in himself that most of us would be lucky to have.

“The line is here, and he always goes over it,” Crews added in regard to Boyle. And that’s exactly what we need to see on television: more characters willing to see that line drawn by society and step right over it. And, like Boyle, we need to see that those characters can be admired and loved by the people around them regardless.