What can one say that could possibly do justice to the character of Charles Boyle? Somehow, he manages to be one of the most endearing and most irritating characters on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He has a tremendously good heart, and he seems to genuinely love and care about his coworkers (most especially Jake). He’s also relentlessly optimistic, determined to weather the many challenges that are thrown his way, though of course he’s also prone to bouts of depression and self-pity.
During his time on the show, there have been more than a few times where his antics have encouraged the viewer to feel sorry for him, as well as a few where they’ve been encouraged to hate him.
Felt Bad: When Gina’s Mom Broke Up With His Dad
It’s probably not surprising that Boyle has a very strong relationship to his father (played by none other than Stephen Root). It’s also not surprising that somehow his dad and Gina’s mom would end up together (after all, she was played by the inimitable Sandra Bernhard). Unfortunately, theirs was a romance that was doomed to failure, and it was easy to feel sorry for Charles when he saw the emotional toll that this was taking on his beloved dad.
Hated Him: When He Almost Ruined Jake’s Bachelor Party
Oh, Charles. He’s a good guy, and he genuinely loves Jake as a best friend and a brother. Unfortunately, he sometimes lets his enthusiasm get the best of him, as when he plans an elaborate scavenger hunt for Jake’s bachelor party. Somehow, he seemed to forget that this entire affair was a celebration of Jake’s impending wedding, and so he did things that he, Charles, would enjoy. It probably wouldn’t have been nearly as bad if he also hadn’t yelled at Jake for not participating in it.
Felt Bad: When Jake Abandoned Him For His Old Partner
For the most part, Jake is as good a friend to Charles as Charles is to him. However, there have been a few times in the course of the series where Jake seems to forget just how Charles is to him. Perhaps most notably, there was the time that Jake basically threw him aside to reunite with his former partner.
The fact that the guy turned out to be a bad cop just makes Jake’s betrayal sting all the more.
Hated Him: When He Abuses Holt About His Lack Of Cooking Ability
One of the more notable aspects of Charles Boyle’s personality is his love of cooking. In fact, he rightly considers himself something of an expert at it. It’s unsurprising, then, that when Captain Holt wanted to impress Kevin, he sought out Boyle’s advice on how to cook him a fine meal. Unfortunately, Boyle acts like a bit of a jerk, relentlessly harassing Holt and trying to make him feel bad about his method. Good thing for Holt that he actually turns out to be a natural chef.
Felt Bad: When Eleanor Destroys His Sperm
Due to an unfortunate accident, Boyle has been rendered sterile, reliant on several vials of frozen sperm for his efforts to produce a child. The downside is that the vials happen to be in the custody of his ex Eleanor, definitely one of the most unpleasant and malicious characters to have ever appeared in the show. It’s easy to feel sorry for Charles as he attempts to build a new life with Genevieve only to have his efforts thwarted by the selfish Eleanor.
Hated Him: His Almost Complete Lack Of Boundaries
It’s absolutely not surprising that, given Charles’ membership in the strange Boyle family, that he would have a signature lack of ability to respect other people’s boundaries. This is most clearly observable in his constant hovering over Jake and Amy as they begin dating and, later, when they are trying to get pregnant. While his concern for their well-being is understandable, it’d sure be nice if he didn’t take things into the realm of the creepy.
Felt Bad: Sergeant Peanut Butter
Sometimes, it just seems like Charles can’t win. That is certainly the case with his constant competition with one Sergeant Peanut Butter. While it would be to be expected that he might be a little put out that another policeman gets more recognition than he does, the fact that it’s a horse of all things just adds insult to an already significant injury.
One can’t help but feel sorry for a man who is constantly upstaged by a horse.
Hated Him: When He Tells Jake He’s Worried That Marrying Amy Will Take Jake Away From Him
As the series progresses, it’s pretty clear that Charles feels a stronger bond with Charles than he does any other member of the precinct. Unfortunately, this means that he sometimes sees anyone who interferes with their relationship to be something of a threat, and this includes Amy. Most viewers probably felt a little annoyed, if not downright angry, with Boyle when he expressed his fears that Jake’s marriage would mean that they would have less time with one another.
Felt Bad: When Jake Was Being Mean About Nikolaj
Despite his child-like demeanor, Jake manages to be a competent, and sometimes even brilliant, policeman. However, this sometimes leads him to do some things that aren’t always great for his friendships, such as when he grew resentful over Charles’ attention to his new son Nikolaj because it was distracting from a case. It was particularly difficult for Charles, as he felt himself pulled between his best friend and his son. Sometimes, it seems, even Jake can be a jerk.
Hated Him: When He And Gina Decided To Break Up Their Parents
When Gina’s and Boyle’s parents started dating, neither of them seemed particularly okay with this decision. Given their own complicated romantic history, this makes sense. However, what painted them both in a particularly negative light was their attempts to get their parents to break up, despite the fact that the two of them were clearly sharing something special. Sometimes, both Charles and Gina really need to learn how to just mind their own business and let others run their own lives.