9-1-1 Recap: Family Feud

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In my statement from last week, when I expressed confidence that the writers would conclude the season, I was anticipating another setback for myself. It’s reasonable to expect that the repercussions from Bobby’s death wouldn’t be resolved swiftly, and I applaud 9-1-1 for not hastening the resolution. However, the protracted conclusion results in a chaotic penultimate episode, as it attempts to weave together everyone’s ongoing emotional turmoil, a critical citywide emergency, and some incongruous humorous moments.

Even a poignant opening scene, depicting Buck reminiscing about a family dinner at the firehouse led by Bobby, followed by him sitting alone at the table, loses impact due to the fact that we recently had a flashback featuring Bobby last week, and his postmortem appearances have been more frequent than I anticipated. The scene does touch upon the theme of “Don’t Drink the Water,” which underscores that these characters are a family and they’re struggling without their core, but even this message is somewhat inconsistent.

It appears that Buck feels isolated, believing he’s on his own path, but it’s clear to everyone that he’s still grappling with Bobby’s demise. On the other hand, Eddie has been given a position with the El Paso Fire Department, yet remains in L.A., a fact that Hen and Karen notice. It seems this decision might be influenced by his concern for Buck, though it’s also significant that he still considers L.A. as home. In a twist, Buck seeks solace from Hot Priest, or Brian, who was Bobby’s confidant on the show in its early seasons. Buck expresses his inability to feel Bobby’s presence and wishes he could ask for advice if Bobby were still alive. Brian suggests that Buck can still communicate with him, leading to an emotional breakdown from Buck. He tells Bobby, “You were wrong. You said I’d be okay, and I’m not.” In a strange turn of events, Buck finds a potential sign from his late captain in the form of a 2.8 earthquake in North Hollywood.

Regarding the timing of the event, it’s quite precise, but unfortunately, it led to a fracture in L.A.’s Headworks Reservoir, allowing something undesirable to seep into the water. It’s surprising that a 2.8 earthquake could cause such damage in a city known for its earthquake-resistance. This incident is evident in the initial emergency of the week, involving a woman named Lorna who unpredictably started breathing fire during a routine root canal at her dentist’s office. You might recall Lorna from the season-three Christmas episode where she turned blue due to an overdose of benzocaine – an event that actually occurred! It’s uncertain why they decided to reintroduce her, possibly to highlight the misfortunes some people face with dental issues. The dentist is treated for his burns, and luckily, Hen manages to extract the melted bite guard along with Lorna’s tooth from her mouth. At least she avoids completing the root canal. Moreover, it’s crucial to note that the water appears to be flammable, though the reason behind this is still unclear.

In this episode, before addressing the pressing water issue, there’s an intense argument between Buck and Eddie – my least favorite part of the show. I don’t dislike characters having disagreements, as conflict often leads to growth, but this one feels unjustified. The root of the argument is that Buck is upset with Eddie for not informing him about the job in El Paso, implying that Eddie doesn’t believe he’d be happy for him. Eddie responds by suggesting that Buck would make it all about himself and his problems. This comment seems out of character, as they had resolved their issues before Eddie left, and it was actually Buck who supported and encouraged Eddie to stay in Texas with Christopher.

Eddie also feels hurt because he believes Buck hasn’t shown enough concern about the phone call he received regarding Bobby’s death. While I understand that this must have been difficult for Buck, it doesn’t compare to the traumatic experiences he went through in the lab. When Eddie questions whether he could have saved Bobby if he had been there, Buck wonders if he didn’t do everything possible. Eddie admits he doesn’t know because he wasn’t present. The argument feels particularly mean-spirited, especially given the family theme reminiscent of the Fast and Furious series – families may fight, but there’s an undercurrent of cruelty here that seems out of place.

The cause of the water problem has been determined as a result of an earthquake disturbing a gas pocket beneath the reservoir. The gas is methane, which can be dangerous and even explosive when heated or consumed. Therefore, Los Angeles residents are warned not to drink or boil their tap water. This situation is a major crisis that impacts millions of people, yet it doesn’t seem like enough attention is being given to it. Although it might sound absurd due to the water catching fire and exploding, it appears that the 118 emergency response team could be doing more. They are already handling one case related to water, as a woman named Erin accidentally set her bathroom on fire while trying to light candles for her bath. From the 911 dispatch, Maddie provided guidance on how to breathe air from the septic system (which she found unappealing), and later, Buck rescued her by coming through the skylight.

The main focus of this episode revolves around the rift within the family, so the bathtub fire takes a backseat to the drama unfolding between Hen and Karen, as well as Athena and Chimney. Upon her arrival, Athena finds herself in a dilemma with Hen, who is considering taking a promotion to become captain of the 118 (accept the job for goodness’ sake). When Chimney returns with the kids, an unexpected departure from Athena occurs, as she coldly dismisses him without a word. Their strained relationship from last week’s episode takes an even more dramatic turn, as I hadn’t anticipated Athena completely cutting off contact with him. Later, Karen goes to Athena’s residence in an attempt to mend their relationship, partly because the discord is taking a toll on Hen. Athena acknowledges that Bobby’s demise isn’t Chimney’s fault, but she can’t bring herself to interact with him without being reminded of her loss. Conversely, Chimney harbors guilt for surviving in Bobby’s place. Athena proposes keeping a professional distance and functioning as colleagues, which resembles the way Real Housewives discuss maintaining civil relations with someone they dislike. Karen attempts to tug at Athena’s heartstrings by presenting her with a framed photo from their wedding, reminding Athena that they are not simply co-workers—they are family.

Regarding family matters, Eddie acknowledges his past mistakes (a heartfelt apology would have been nice), and as a result, invites Christopher and his aunt Pepa to Buck’s for a reconciliatory meal. It is worth noting that in her private discussion with Buck, Pepa demonstrates more understanding than her nephew. She tells him, “Your captain was a good man. I can tell you miss him.” Buck admits that without Bobby at the heart of their group, everything feels off-balance. He’s correct in observing that everyone is growing apart, and I believe this theme could have been developed more thoughtfully. The use of symbolism, such as the flaming water, was not something I particularly enjoyed. However, this scene didn’t resonate with me either, as Pepa has not been a significant character in recent years, making her emotional connection to Buck seem somewhat forced. Still, if simple statements like “Life is change, love” are what Buck needs to hear, then I am on board with it.

The episode concludes with a nail-biting cliffhanger as Graham’s building detonates and begins collapsing while Athena watches in horror from her cruiser outside.

Call Log

I find it intriguing that they’ve reintroduced several secondary characters. It made me wonder if Lorna and Cart Cop were essential to the plot. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they’re back, but their inclusion seems to give the episode a scattered feel.

In this particular instance, the lighthearted elements seem discordant. Historically, 9-1-1 has excelled at blending serious life-or-death situations with humor. Yet, here, the humorous parts don’t quite gel with the gravity of the topics, particularly given Bobby’s recent demise.

• I would like to see the Grove’s fountain show with an added fire element, though.

It appears that not assuming the captain role may indeed suit her well in the current situation, but I’m eager to see her assume a broader leadership function in the upcoming season. Regardless of whether she becomes the captain of the 118, she could very well be the one who unites and guides them all.

Who will take over as the permanent captain from now on? Although Gerrard has stated that his current role is temporary, I’m concerned about his indications on feedback forms suggesting he might be seeking a long-term position.

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2025-05-09 05:00