Why Brooklyn Nine-Nine ended after season 8 (and there's no season 9)

It's disappointing when our favorite shows come to an end, but it's even more disappointing when you're binge-watching an older show for the first time and you don't know why it ended. Sometimes endings are planned, though more often than not, series end rather abruptly. No matter the case, we'll always want to know the reason behind a show's cancellation.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine's first four seasons began streaming on Netflix in late February 2024, allowing fans to once again catch up with the zaniest police precinct in New York. (Fictional, of course.) As diehard fans will know, Fox canceled the comedy after its fifth season, but NBC saved the series for three more seasons. All in all, there are eight seasons total.

But why did NBC decide to end Brooklyn Nine-Nine after season 8, and why wasn't there a season 9? Was the show ending due to ratings or was it a decision made by the creators? Here's why we know about the reasons behind the beloved sitcom coming to an end.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 9 didn't happen

In February 2021, NBC announced that Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 8 would be the final season of the series. The season had been renewed back in November 2019, which wound up being the shortened 10-episode final run. Season 8 aired over a year after season 7 due to delays caused by the pandemic.

The initial reason for the show's cancellation on Fox after season 5 was attributed to low ratings. Since the series was produced by Universal Television, maintaining the series on Fox, which doesn't have ties to NBCUniversal, likely wasn't paying off. The same scenario occurred with fellow Universal-produced series The Mindy Project on Fox a few years earlier.

As for the series ending after three seasons on NBC, the reasoning appears to based in wanting to give the series a proper sendoff rather than being abruptly canceled again. While the ratings were still on the softer side on NBC, the comedy was definitely one of the network's biggest half-hours just based on visibility. However, allowing it to go out on its own terms was necessary.

Here's part of co-creator and executive producer Dan Goor's statement in reaction to the final season news:

"Ending the show was a difficult decision, but ultimately, we felt it was the best way to honor the characters, the story and our viewers. I know some people will be disappointed it’s ending so soon, but honestly, I’m grateful it lasted this long. Title of my sex tape."

- Dan Goor, co-creator/executive producer

The final season tackled difficult subject matter such as the pandemic and police brutality, which Andy Samberg previously opened up about in a GQ profile ahead of season 8. Samberg told the magazine, “There's nothing funny about what we've been seeing from the police. It's not a laughing matter.” He also noted the season 8 would have to walk a tight rope between addressing these issues but still being the show fans love.

Surely, there are fans who would have wanted the show to come back for a ninth season, but after eight seasons and 153 episodes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine definitely accomplished what it set out to accomplish. All good things come to an end, and that's no different for this laugh-out-loud comedy. While it's no longer making new episodes, we can still binge-watch the series over and over again.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine seasons 1-4 are now available on Netflix.