According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.92 million household viewers and gained a 0.9/4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Jake decides to sneak Kevin to the New York Public Library so he can continue his research, and to avoid further straining his relationship with Holt.
In its original American broadcast, "Safe House" was seen by an estimated 1.92 million household viewers and gained a 0.9/4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.
With these ratings, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was the second highest rated show on FOX for the night, beating The Last Man on Earth, Bob's Burgers and The Simpsons but behind Family Guy, fourth on its timeslot and tenth for the night, behind America's Funniest Home Videos, NCIS: Los Angeles, Family Guy, Genius Junior, Instinct, Little Big Shots, 60 Minutes, American Idol, and an NCAA Tournament game.
Club gave the episode a "C" grade and wrote, "There's no problem with Brooklyn Nine-Nine taking a comedic approach to such a dark or serious subject, because that is the entire point of the series.
)"[3] Alan Sepinwall of Uproxx wrote, "But if 'Safe House' was a familiar type of Brooklyn episode, it was an incredibly well-executed and funny example of that type, layering one ridiculous idea on top of another and managing to give most of the ensemble at least one good spotlight moment even as the bulk of the episode remained focused on Jake, Holt, and Kevin.