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Reviews
9-1-1: Capsized (2024)
Mostly satisfying conclusion
Well, we finally made it to the end of the three episode premier. It was a solid episode. Once again Bathena are at the forefront and their relationship was reinforced through their trials. They really were the MVPs and were so adorable at the end with their burgers and libidos. Haha, may they never change.
I was a little disappointed by the "resolution" of the conflict between Hen and Chimney (and Buck and Eddie by association). The agreement that neither were wrong was amusing but there definitely seemed to be leftover animosity there. Once again, I hope they'll address it in a future episode.
Buck and Eddie didn't do much but their banter was cute and I love how they're always together this season.
Not a fan of the Tommy character or how they shoved him back in the show. It was a little weird. And just like it felt like they were trying to make Lucy Donato another Buck, Tommy felt like an attempt at half Buck, half Eddie. Kind of dopey a la Buck (the static attempt) and also dark and sassy a la Eddie (we're gonna die anyway). Anyway, the vibe between him and Buck was noted and I think all of the speculation about Buck's sexuality was correct and will be made clear in the next episode. I'm just really not interested in Tommy being around very long. Hopefully he's just a quick wake up call for Buck. I'm just truly very tired of all of these not great love interests being explored when you have Buddie right in front of you...such a potentially beautiful story if only they had the strength to go there.
Firefam moments at the end were sweet otherwise. I really, really wish the 118 was more involved in the big emergency. That was the biggest disappointment for me.
I'm looking forward to moving on to "normal" episodes now!
9-1-1: Rock the Boat (2024)
A nail biter of an episode!
They jumped immediately into the drama in this episode and never let up!
The pacing and filming in this episode was top notch. Very engrossing. I just can't get over the increase in quality compared to the show's last two seasons on Fox. Thank goodness Kristen Reidel is gone, and the restrictive network.
The characters all have their charm back. Little idiosyncrasies and ways of speaking that just feel so much more real and in character. The missing spark as returned!
As far as the individual storylines, it was of course, time for Bathena to shine and they definitely did. Angela Bassett and Peter Krause really got to flex their acting muscles and they didn't disappoint. Their emotion and honesty was touching and I really hope we continue to explore them more, especially Bobby.
The rest of the 118 had an interesting storyline as well, though I wish it hadn't been wrapped up so quickly! I didn't think that Chim, Buck, and Eddie betrayed Hen in the slightest, but I can also understand her feelings. I do hope she apologizes though because her reaction wasn't really called for (professionally or personally). I'm glad she had Karen to help ground her.
It was also great to see Hen interact with Maddie again, and I hope they keep integrating Maddie more with the other characters!
Hooray for no Marisol this week. Fingers crossed we're as lucky next week.
All in all, impressive! I'm definitely looking forward to the resolution next week and I hope the remainder of the season is equally enjoyable.
9-1-1: Pay It Forward (2023)
Expectations were in the ground, but the show managed to go even lower
Well, I hoped we'd get a great finale, but I kept my expectations very low. But wow...they were not low enough.
The good:
Bobby trying to corral his fire children to tell them the weather. Cute scene. Bathena finally taking their much deserved and overdue cruise. The rooftop meditating!
The BAD:
Everything else. I'd say "the end" but I have to make this review longer to publish it.
The big emergency was the only part of the episode I came in excited for. To say it was underwhelming is not enough. It was too fast and unfocused. There was no real time to build suspense and focus on each imperiled team member. The resolution after with their injuries was basically nonexistent. Bringing back the basketball guy from s2 could've been nice, but there wasn't enough emotional pay off.
Henren are always nice to see, but there's no coherence in this show anymore. They haven't mentioned them fostering for so long, all the kids running around was confusing at first. And then they're gonna get a baby! Yay..? Maybe show their journey with fostering through the season instead of bringing Denny's dad in for a storyline redux that diminished Henren being enough?
Madney didn't get much...Chim was miraculously fine though he was spurting blood like a geyser for quite a while. And apparently Buck never needs to congratulate or have even a conversation with his own sister about his engagement? Again poor writing and follow through.
Buck, Buck, Buck. Can't stand the circular nature of his character. We had an entire episode (or season, really) devoted to his growth and yet he's no better off? He jumps into a relationship with a random woman, accepts her right back after she rejects him, and carries on being the same old Buck. Yawn. It's insulting that the show is trying to shove this new relationship down our throats so fast with NO real development. Poor writing and follow through!
Eddie. :( He deserves so much better than Ana 2.0. I hope his interactions with Marisol were intended to be super cringe and teenager-ish to show he still isn't understanding what he's looking for. Again, insulting writing to stick him with a random woman we know nothing about in the very last episode. No emotional pay off for his journey this season (which was not fleshed out well enough at all, either). Chris was cute, as usual at least. But are we noticing a theme here? Poor writing and follow through!
The way the show crapped on all of their own setup for Buck to learn anything, or Buddie which would be so meaningful and different and fun, compared to this bland Ana and Taylor redux...it's such a missed opportunity.
But even leaving Buddie aside completely, the quality is just not there anymore. I won't be coming back for season 7. Officially done with this show.
9-1-1: Love Is in the Air (2023)
What can you even say at this point? The quality is so bad!
I debated about reviewing this episode because it's so bad I barely care anymore. Let's start with the good, I guess. It'll be short.
Eddie looked really good and Christopher was there. Chimney and Maddie finally did what we all knew they would and go engaged. Good for them I guess? Though nothing will actually change. Bathena are still wonderful, they better not mess with Bobby in the finale.
The emergency call with the couple where the husband had just passed away actually made me feel something (even if the set was incredible cheap to the point of being distracting).
Everything else? Throw it away. Buck's ridiculous dates and exes coming up. Kameron for some reason coming to Buck with her husband troubles. Does the woman have no friends or family? They get Buck's sperm and suddenly he's their therapist too? Not fun. Not okay. Doesn't make sense.
Buck and Eddie's stories are so repetitive and horrible to watch at this point. We don't need Eddie finding Ana 2.0. Which is exactly what that, Marisol, was it? Character at the very end was. I sincerely hope the show realizes that putting them together would be incredibly unsatisfying. I didn't see chemistry there, but I did see poor acting.
Buck just does the same thing over and over, so I won't go deeper into that.
All in all, the show needs a new boss, because this is truly bad television.
9-1-1: Lost and Found (2023)
Another sufficient episode
A very Chimney and Hen heavy episode, which was a good change of pace. We haven't seen much of their friendship lately, so it was definitely time to focus on them a bit.
Chimney had a big decision to make and is understandably scared and very torn. While I felt bad for him, the show did a good job mixing the serious discussions with more lighthearted moments between the fire fam. We left Chimney on a rather dejected and sad note, but it's clear good things are coming for him and Maddie. They're setting up perfectly for Maddie to find the ring and do a bunch of soul searching on her own, leading her, I hope, to proposing to Chimney instead of the other way around.
Now, for Hen and Buck's part in the story, let's first state what will be sadly necessary to say: It's okay for characters to disagree. It's okay for characters to take some time to understand things and change their view. It doesn't make any one a bad person!
Hen understandably was very worried for her best friend. She saw how much he suffered due to Maddie's struggles and let her protective side cloud her logical side. All she needed to come around was finally communicating with her best friend. She wasn't wrong to air her concerns, she just should've done so sooner. But, we'd all be better off with a friend as devoted as her.
Buck of course was on Maddie's side, as one would expect. He was understandably defensive of his sister in the face of Hen's criticism's. He knows how much Maddie has gone through and how hard she's fought to claw her way back from it. We'd all be better off with a sibling as devoted as Buck!
I'm glad to see Chimney and Maddie cared for by their loved ones to such a degree. It all worked out in the end because they all love each other and work through it. You love to see it!
Everything else was fine, the fire fam moments were funny and sometimes insightful. Ravi's younger sibling energy is good for the show and Eddie was funny and a delight as always. Also, Peter Krause's facial expressions are a highlight, when Maddie swooped into Bobby's office he was hilarious.
Emergencies, as always now, blah. Also I never want to see teeth (or stones) fall from someone's mouth again. Nightmare material indeed.
9-1-1: Death and Taxes (2023)
Never know what you're gonna get with this show...except Eddie and Chris will always save it
9-1-1 has been weird ever since Kristen Reidel took over. Bumps along the way with a new showrunner are expected, and I don't know how much of the trouble is her fault, Tim Minear IS still the boss boss, but...the quality of the show has been all over the place for a while. Half an episode is great and touching, the other half of it is a heaping mess. Some characters are handled well and in character, others are just all over the place.
Clearly they're going for cheaper emergencies in general, but I can't help but feel that they are really missing the mark. The emergencies have no heart and no intensity. Like, something can be low budget and still pull your heartstrings, but I haven't been feeling it on this show for a while now.
As far as individual character arcs in this episode...
Eddie and Christopher were, as always, at this point, the best part of the episode. They're pretty much the only aspect of the show that makes me really feel anything. I felt for Eddie so much (and kudos to Ryan Guzman whose acting has been very impressive)...he's been doing a lot of work to heal and move on. I hope he'll be truly happy soon. Buck's comment to him in the cemetery about Natalia being the one to truly see him must have hurt Eddie so much. As if he hasn't been by Buck's side for years at this point, seeing him for who he is, doing everything he can to be there for him. Even in that moment, Eddie's words for Buck were so much more meaningful and insightful than anything we saw from Natalia.
Now speaking of Natalia, and Buck. Wow. Do we really have to do this again? I went into the episode with an open mind about her, because I hope(d) she'd be a meaningful character that could help him come to see some truths he needs to accept. Maybe eventually that'll happen, if he see's what must have been obvious to everyone else: She's only interested in studying him. In learning about his "cool" death, which was anything but. I am so tired of Buck's storylines and pathetic love interests. I truly hoped after his death and his coma dream revelations we'd see some change for the better. But...more of the same. AGAIN. I really hope the writer's can pull this back by the end of the season and do something new and meaningful with him so this painful watch is worth something for once. And finally, I'm sorry, but the actress for Natalia was not very good and there truly was no chemistry. Hard to watch.
As for the other stories, Maddie and Chim were...there. I actually don't mind the idea of them getting married just for tax purposes because they already have a wonderful relationship and life and marriage is not needed to "prove" how in love you are or how committed. If this gives us some sweet moments and growth and maybe a fun party, I'm all for it.
Athena and Bobby were kind of filler in this episode for me, and it was boring, to be honest. I love them, but didn't love that storyline.
Overall, solid episode, I guess, but I'm always left a little unsatisfied and feeling as if something is missing from the show.
9-1-1: Tomorrow (2022)
This is the 9-1-1 we've been looking for
Alright. Let's jump right in!
The good:
There was so much to love in this episode. Getting to see Henren's backstory was wonderful and sweet and everything we've been wanting. Finding out it was devious matchmaker Chimney that pulled the strings? AMAZING. Everyone needs a friend like Chim.
It was great to have a true emergency with high stakes and, this sounds bad, but actual gore and casualties. It's felt a little fake and tame lately on calls, so this was a good, albeit stressful change.
I'm beyond relieved that Hen is staying with the 118. It was pretty obvious she would, but there was a tiny part of me that wasn't sure. I think if the show ends in couple of seasons, maybe they'll bring the med school thread back and Hen will still go that direction in the end, which would be satisfying.
Anyway, suffice to say, I loved seeing Henren's relationship from the start to where they are now. The devotion, strength, and love they have is just beautiful and it's so nice to see a lesbian relationship depicted in such a way.
The bad:
A seemingly small complaint, but it's actually significant; the picture of the 118 on Hen and Karen's photo board. They chose to cut Karen out of the picture from her own vow renewal (and Ravi, going along with the consistent erasure the show has been doing of his character) all so Lucy Donato would still be in full view? They're choosing to continue to remind us of and focus on a character that is universally disliked, all the while pretending Ravi doesn't exist (they seriously think he doesn't even deserve a *mention*?) and sidelining Karen in an episode about her. It's insulting and gross. Do they not get how awful those optics are?
9-1-1: Animal Instincts (2022)
Solid episode, but they're testing viewers patience and loyalty
Not sure how I feel about the direction the show is taking some of the characters. Let's start with what I loved about it:
First and foremost, I have to talk about the Diaz boys. Whenever they're featured, I'm going to love it. They bring so much heart to the show and out of all of the relationships portrayed, theirs is the most engaging and the one that keeps bringing me back to the show. They could never have enough of Eddie, and Chris being part of this story is a beautiful bonus when it happens. They're the best part of the episode by far.
I loved getting a little more Captain Hen, but I'm glad to see Bobby back with the 118. I loved that the straight up stole that dog, Hoover and now the Grant-Nash home will be a little less quiet.
All of the moments we're getting to see between the 118 again are so great. It really highlights what was missing in the last season.
Now for the bad.
Mostly, it revolves around Buck, for me (just like season5). He used to be one of my favorite characters, but since the end of season 4 the writer's just haven't been doing him justice. I understand that he has a lot of trauma, mostly stemming from his neglectful parents. Stuff like that doesn't just disappear and it can pop back up time and time again, even when you think you've come to terms with it. I don't mind a character having problems or regressing here and there, but Buck has gone to therapy (maybe is still going, according to Oliver), he has had an amazing support system for years; people that are always there for him, to comfort him, advise him, remind him of his value and place in their lives. It'd be really, really nice if there were more to show for that. Where is the growth? Aside from not sleeping around anymore, he's still rash, doesn't think things through, and doesn't know what he wants. He spirals frequently. A character's arc doesn't always have to be sunshine and rainbows, but if we're going to watch something difficult, it should at least be compelling (a la Eddie and Maddie's breakdown arcs last season). With Buck, I find myself wanting to skip scenes and just get on (over) with it already. Last season Taylor (and Lucy) made most of his screen time a chore (to put it nicely). I was thrilled they wouldn't be around anymore, but his storyline now is still a chore. A character like this cannot pull off the rash/insecure/lost forever; it becomes tedious and cheapens the bigger moments and relationships that should be promoting growth.
9-1-1: Let the Games Begin (2022)
Great ep for personal relationships, but beyond lackluster on the emergencies
It's one thing to not have a multi-episode disaster. It's another thing when the premier emergency is a crappy cgi blimp getting caught on pole and being over before the next commercial break.
Where was the drama, the suspense, the high stakes? Bobby warned Eddie what, four times, that the blimp was unstable and to hurry! Were we supposed to be worried? Because in the end all it took was a slightly bigger than normal step onto the ladder. It actually made me laugh.
The rest of the emergencies in the episode were so bland I zoned out.
But, the worst part of the episode, by far, was that waste of however many minutes with Lucy explaining her very desired absence. Bobby offering Interim Captain to her was beyond ridiculous. The idea that she has 10 yrs experience given her nonsensical reaction to saving a woman last season was absurd. She's just an awful character and I still don't understand what they're trying to do with her (while completely ignoring Ravi, who fans actually enjoy?). Just write her off and spare us all the misery.
The personal storylines in the episode were better, thank goodness. Maddie and Chimney finding their way back to each other right off the bat was a relief. I hope they get to have a happier time together this season.
I'm very interested to see where Hen's story goes. Seeing how shocked she was that Bobby viewed her and her skills so positively was honestly heartbreaking. I hope this experience might lead to her staying with the department and advancing there, instead of leaving to be a doctor (I just want her to stay on the show!).
Bobby and Athena were great, though I'm disappointed on their behalf that they won't get their honeymoon. I'm also concerned for Bobby and his sobriety still, given the obvious call out from Athena.
Buck was...Buck. I'm interested to see where they go with him because realistically, he won't be experienced enough to be a Captain for many years, so I'm not sure where this will lead.
Eddie, what can I say? It's such a relief to see him so healthy and happy. He deserves it. His scenes with Buck (and Chris) were so sweet and I'm excited to see more of that dynamic through the season.
9-1-1: Hero Complex (2022)
Disappointing penultimate episode
The main storyline in this episode, wrapping up the villainous paramedic Jonah's storyline was...underwhelming. It had long been predicted that he was evil, and they made it very clear in the previous episode and in the promotional material that he was. We already knew what he did, and how he did it. All we learned in this episode was what started him on this path, and that story was not very interesting either. So in the end, we basically got what we already knew we had, and in the process they turned Jonah so cartoonish and over the top that I couldn't take it seriously. I get that this is a drama, but the kidnapping and torturing was straight out of an extremely gratuitous fanfiction.
I love to see Hen and Chim's friendship, so the fact that they got a lot of time together was great. But the poor quality of the material they were given made didn't allow them to shine like they could have.
What I did love was getting more insight into Eddie's childhood and family dynamics. Eddie's storyline and Ryan Guzman's acting has definitely been THE highlight of this season. I wish they had spent more time on it in this episode, because it definitely felt rushed and they pointedly passed over problems Eddie had with his mother as well. They still didn't introduce us to Eddie's sisters, and randomly informed us that his grandmother had moved away from Los Angeles, which is a big deal given everything Eddie has been going through and that she was a big support for him. The writer's are continuing a bad theme of telling us important things instead of showing us and it feels cheap and lazy.
I'm exhausted by every bit of Buck and Taylor. I hope that her lying and clearly placing her career over his family will finally be enough for them to both end this mess of a relationship. If I never have to see her again after that it will be too soon.
Since one of the same writer's of this episode wrote the finale, and she has clear pacing problems and a strange fixation with crime, I'm a little worried that the finale will be a similar disappointment.
9-1-1: FOMO (2022)
Solid episode, they're slowly finding their way back
Tonight's episode was a good one. It felt very close to the 9-1-1 of old that everyone wants back so badly.
Kind of a filler, but had some important character parallels if you're paying attention.
I loved all of the Hen and Karen content. It was fun to see them have fun together and get decent screen time. I'm very excited for more of them, especially in finale, given the hints we've seen!
Maddie getting to experience a first with Jee-Yun was heartwarming, as was Chimney's reaction. They're gonna find their way back to each other sooner rather than later.
Eddie had minimal screen time but I loved his scenes. His big brother vibe with May was so enjoyable to watch and seeing him even a little healthier was wonderful. There were so many hints in the episode regarding his healing arc; I can't wait for the rest of the season to explore that more!
The negatives...they're still spending too much time setting up calls. Do we really need two minutes of set up for a lying influencer to fall in the sauna? No. The scenes with emergencies just feel off in general, which brings us to the next negative.
Lucy Donato is a character that never should have been. She doesn't vibe with the crew, her "quips" come off as rude. To bring her in and hype her up so much for her to just be...this? Ravi or even a background crew member with no name could've filled her shoes this season without taking the focus from main characters and wasting everyone's time. I hope she's gone by the end of the season.
9-1-1: Dumb Luck (2022)
Solid episode, but the show needs some major trimming
I loved seeing Chimney back at the 118, it was so good to see him working with Hen again.
The little moments between Chimney and Maddie showing us what we already knew, they're working their way back to each other, were nice to see. It'll be a satisfying end to their struggles when reunite (hopefully by the end of the season).
I'm thrilled with how well they're handling Eddie's story so far. I wish they'd flesh out some of these conversations a little more and not constantly cut away from them. They wasted so much time on side characters that should have been devoted to Maddie and Chim, Bobby and Athena or Eddie (and Christopher and Buck).
They really showcased how toxic Taylor and Buck are in a blink and you'll miss it scene (which was nice because I wish I could miss all of their scenes...) with a cheek peck and a nice (depressing) bit of quid pro quo. *Yikes*.
I'm glad that Jonah has left the station! That said, one down, one to go. Have to be honest, Lucy Donato is a stain on 5b. I can't get over how poorly she's being written and what an absolutely unfathomable amount of screen time they're wasting on her. Her scenes are boring and in this episode, mind-numbingly repetitive. And I'm sorry, but the actress playing her is just...not impressing me.
9-1-1: Fear-o-Phobia (2022)
It's still a big mess
They really tried in their 5b promotion to push the idea that the show was back to its former glory and felt like the 9-1-1 of old, but that is simply absolutely untrue.
I rate this episode 7 starts instead of 1 only for Eddie's story. It's such an important topic, and it deserves much, much more screen time than they're giving it. Ryan and Gavin continue to give amazing performances and are the only reason I'm sticking it out this long, constantly hoping for better.
Buck, a fan favorite, has been decimated in these last few episodes. Whatever Kristen Reidel is doing needs to be stopped. Tim Minear needs to take over or hire someone else or put his foot down more. I don't know. I just know as it stands? This is BAD. Buck has been turned from a loving, loyal, good man into a lying, selfish cheater. He hasn't learned anything from is cheating and lying as he has continued to lie in this episode.
Fans want to see the moments between their favorite MAIN characters. We want that apology scene between Eddie and Bobby. And between Chimney and Buck. We want that conversation with Christopher about the will. I don't care what Kristen imagined in her head. I want to see it on my screen. I want those scenes, not more irritating new characters constantly thrown in our faces.
Lucy Donato. What a HUGE mistake and letdown of a character. Her introduction did her absolutely no favors, and in this episode, the disappointment continues. Her jab at Chimney was uncalled for. Her commentary on calls was irritating to the extreme. The fact that her character will mostly revolve around Buck is gross. If they continue flirting through the season as stated in interviews while Buck is still with Taylor? Disgusting. And if they don't, she's still pointless.
Buck is the most connected to all of the other characters of anyone on this show. He gets far more screen time and connection than the others do already. WHY do we need a whole new character to show us anything about him? Explore the existing relationships that he has. It's enough and far more meaningful. But better yet, give some more significant damn time to Eddie and give him some connections outside of Buck.
This show is a mess. If Lucy is still around at the end of the season and Buck's character isn't somehow redeemed, I'm done.
9-1-1: Wrapped in Red (2021)
such missed opportunities
With many cast members gone, there should be ample time to focus on main characters and give them well fleshed out storylines. Instead, even the characters that are left are barely talking to each other. There is no flow this season. Storylines are fractured or forgotten.
Eddie and Christopher were wonderful in this episode (despite the sad storyline). We need more of them, consistently through the season. We need to see Buck with them, as those relationships are definitely one of the highlights of the show.
Instead, the writers have thrown away some of the best relationships in favor of what? Scene after awkward unpleasant scene of Buck & Taylor in his apartment or displaying over and over why they don't work together. It's too much and at this point is unbearable.
I sincerely hope the writer's and showrunner consider all of the ample negative feedback they've been getting from fans and fix this. It's just sad and exhausting at this point. People can only take so much.
9-1-1: Brawl in Cell Block 9-1-1 (2021)
Solid episode
After a lot of misses this season, this episode was a nice change. We got good screen time for the mains, which was nice. It's always a plus to have more time spent on the 118 rather than Athena/police, though there were still problematic copaganda aspects in this episode, unsurprisingly.
It was great to see more of Eddie again, I love his no nonsense attitude and seeing him with Christopher again was a treat, even if they totally dropped the ball on letting us know how Christopher handled Eddie's breakup with Ana, after making him a pivotal part of their relationship. More follow-up for everything Eddie (and Buck) has been going through is needed.
It was nice to have Hen's storyline addressed again, though I can't say I'm a fan of how they're inserting her medical school storyline into the show. I get that the show won't always be realistic, but meh. It's a step too far.
Taylor and Buck still felt off to me and I can never tell if it's just bad acting on Megan's part or if it's intentionally uncomfortable.
9-1-1: Peer Pressure (2021)
S5 a bust so far
I used to LOVE this show. This season has been pretty underwhelming so far.
This episode was all over the place with the dramatics.
Hen being unprofessional with Eddie.
Buck being unprofessional with Ravi.
Ravi one minute behaving as if this was his first day, but in the next scene, is calm and seasoned.
Buck jumps from being calm and understanding about things with Chimney & Maddie after talking with Eddie in the previous episode to being so worked up he thinks he has to leave his 118 fam?
Athena abusing her traumatized son (this Jeffrey storyline needs to END yesterday)?
And all the time spent on horrible Claudette? Dramatic and unnecessary waste of screentime.
Taylor's characterization is all over the place and her scenes with Buck don't feel organic.
Eddie's stories have been completely dropped.
I don't know what they think they're doing, but it's not working. I hope they get their act together.