9-1-1 Recap: Full Lethal Weapon

As a seasoned viewer of 9-1-1 with a background in law enforcement and a deep appreciation for well-crafted narratives, this week’s episode left me feeling quite underwhelmed and somewhat disappointed. The Sparks storyline, in particular, felt like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the complexities of policing in today’s world.

If you’re going to call a 9-1-1 episode “Hotshots” — also the name of the TV show that Bobby worked on before he switched places with Gerrard — I think it should feel like an episode of that fictional series. Give me the beautiful heightened-reality absurdity, not the deeply unpleasant cop drama we get instead. While the return of Brad Torrance is meant to lighten the mood, the only real respite this week is Buck’s embrace of his new identity as a baker to distract from his heartbreak. As a wise woman once sang, “Mama, it’s amazing what baking can do.”

In the latest episode titled “Hotshots,” Athena reappears with a strong presence, donning an impressive undercover outfit consisting of thigh-high boots, a leopard coat, and a rather questionable wig. The setting is a jewelry store where she’s involved in a sting operation aimed at apprehending Flash Rob, a criminal who uses Discord to orchestrate flash mobs that perpetrate thefts. Flash Rob has been elusive, but Athena is determined to catch him and almost succeeds when she encounters him outside, recognizable by his distinctive neck tattoo. However, the chase ends prematurely as Athena strains her hamstring. Although she doesn’t explicitly say “I’m too old for this,” given the episode’s themes and later Lethal Weapon reference, it seems fitting that she might have thought it.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself gripped by an episode where chaos unfolded at Encino Studios, home to the filming of ‘Hotshots’. What initially sounded like a gruesome scene with Brad exclaiming, “It’s a bloody mess out there,” turned out to be something quite different – a stuntman unconsciously dangling from an aerial ladder. I must admit, the use of such dramatic language felt intentionally deceptive, even if it was meant in British slang.

Stepping back onto the legal terrain, I hobble into Captain Maynard’s office, bracing for two less-than-desirable tidbits: Flash Rob managed to slip through our fingers, and I’m now under the watchful eye of a probationary officer named Sparks. “I function best alone, not babysitting a greenhorn,” I grumble, but it seems even my witty retort can’t dissuade Maynard from teaming me up with a rookie. To my surprise, Sparks turns out to be quite the fan, reeling off several of my notable achievements, though oddly omitting the fact that I just landed a plane – it seems they have a short memory!

After teaming up for patrol duty, Athena engages in friendly dialogue with Sparks, who opens up about his decision to join law enforcement. His father was a swindler and an abusive alcoholic; one fateful night, the authorities were summoned but failed to act. Contrary to what one might expect, Sparks didn’t express a desire to reform policing as a result of this inaction. Instead, he reveals that the sight of the officers terrifying his father left an indelible impression on him, sparking a lifelong fascination with power. This revelation triggers a wave of concern in both Athena and me, given her training that portrays every street as teeming with potential threats such as cop-killers and drug dealers. I understand her need to keep Sparks vigilant, but this hypervigilance can lead to the endangerment of innocent civilians.

In simpler terms, Athena confides to Hen her reservations regarding Sparks’ aggressive demeanor. Their interactions always make for an interesting watch, but it’s clear where their story is heading that it becomes challenging to remain fully engaged. Athena instinctively suspects that Sparks joined law enforcement for selfish motives such as power, recognition, and control – trust your gut feeling! However, she simultaneously refuses to use a crutch for her injured hamstring and wonders if her dislike of Sparks stems from her own insecurities about not being able to keep up. It’s possible for two things to be true at the same time. Let’s get this individual off the streets as soon as possible.

Despite my attempts to be heard, it seems I’m falling on deaf ears, and that’s alright because Athena and Sparks are back on duty. Sparks stumbles upon some mysterious videos from the deep web, which depict Flash Rob in the rear of a delivery truck. This crucial evidence guides our officers straight to their prime suspect – Caleb Sandstrom, an employee at a shipping company. Now that we know Flash Rob is a clever play on words, let’s acknowledge its charm.

Ultimately, Athena decides to trust her gut feelings, warning Captain Maynard that Sparks has become as dangerous as the characters in “Lethal Weapon,” making him a definite risk. Although his actions were thrilling, they came at a high price. Unable to dismiss him due to the expense of training new officers, Maynard assigns Sparks to Officer Vargas, hoping this will resolve the issue. However, Athena’s concerns about Sparks become clear when she calls him out for his arrogance, telling him that he underestimates her speed, determination, and youth. It’s hard to believe that only Athena seems to recognize Sparks as a villainous figure.

Athena’s spouse’s predicament seems less like a constant countdown, but still artificially manufactured. Chief Simpson visits the 118 and mentions that the production team of Hotshots urgently needs Bobby back. Bobby is reluctant to leave his crew once more, but it’s not just a matter of choice – Hotshots provides substantial funding to the LAFD budget, making them difficult to dismiss outright. A possible resolution is for Bobby to undergo a transformation similar to “My Fair Lady,” where he becomes a more acceptable figure, enabling him to continue as the technical advisor on Hotshots, while allowing Bobby to maintain his position as captain of his firehouse.

It’s evident that things aren’t working out well, as Gerrard finds himself on the receiving end of Bobby’s blunt comment: “You can come off as quite rude.” Surprisingly, this sets Gerrard off and he starts crying. Despite his role as a technical advisor on Hotshots, Gerrard yearns for Brad’s approval. However, given Gerrard’s unpleasant demeanor, there doesn’t seem to be much hope in that regard. To attempt some resolution, Bobby offers to take Brad out (not exactly putting it that way) and praise the former captain of the 118. At an upscale bar, things quickly escalate when Bobby informs Brad he won’t be returning to Hotshots. Hurt by this news, Brad directs his anger towards a waitress (who is a fan), causing her to cry over adding an extra olive in his drink. The whole incident was so abrupt and excessive that I thought it might have been staged or perhaps part of a TV show like What Would You Do?, but it turns out Brad is just terrible. Bobby loses his cool and calls him an “entitled brat,” even threatening to fight him for being British. I had thought there was some bond between them, but it seems that’s not the case.

The resolution to the Sparks storyline is exactly what you’d expect. Sparks and Officer Vargas pull over a woman who identifies as a sovereign citizen and therefore refuses to comply. I really didn’t like the way 9-1-1 treated this whole thing as a joke, especially because it could not have been clearer where the scene was going. Even after Athena arrives and attempts to de-escalate, Sparks loses control when challenged and ends up shooting the woman because he grabbed his gun instead of his Taser. I don’t need to explain that this is a real thing that happens — or at least, a real defense used in these situations — and while the show is aware of the gravity of what Sparks does, it crossed a line for me. Sparks is an irrelevant one-off character, and his shooting of an unarmed woman with her daughter in the backseat exists solely to propel Athena’s arc forward, making the moment feel ugly and unnecessary.

In the ensuing scene, Athena is utilizing a crutch during a hearing intended to decide Sparks’ penalty. The woman he shot will live, but she’s expecting a substantial settlement, while Sparks faces assault with a deadly weapon charges. Maynard acknowledges his oversight in not heeding Athena, and Athena responds that she should have trusted her own instincts, given her advancing age. One might wonder if this tragic event could have been avoided if an unarmed woman hadn’t been shot in front of her child. Now, Athena expresses a desire to train another recruit because “the young ones could benefit from some direction,” which seems like a significant understatement considering the events we’ve just witnessed.

In the upcoming episode, it’s revealed that Bobby, who has gained fame following his arrest of Brad Torrance and was later featured on TMZ, will have an unwelcome guest: his least favorite actor. During their encounter, this actor says something to Bobby that strips him of any sense of entitlement, leaving Bobby irritated and unable to fully appreciate the line. In a plot twist unusual even for the series 9-1-1, Brad’s character has been written into a coma so he can join the 118 as a trainee under Bobby’s supervision. I must admit, I secretly hope that Brad suffers a severe injury in the next episode.

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I’ve been regretting my earlier expressions of disappointment over the abrupt ending of Brad’s story a few weeks ago, as it seemed there was more depth to his relationship with Bobby. However, I’m not particularly excited about exploring more of Brad’s character right now.

It’s not helpful that the episode portrays his character as transitioning from a subdued admirer into an unforgiving antagonist and then back again. While actors can be quite versatile, this feels more like poor scriptwriting to me. Similarly, Gerrard’s sudden display of strong emotions seems unnatural.

As a former police officer myself, I’ve seen both the good and the bad in law enforcement. So when it comes to TV shows like 9-1-1, I don’t expect them to take an ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards) approach, but I do hope for more nuance rather than blatant copaganda. That being said, I was genuinely frustrated by the “one bad apple” Sparks storyline and Athena’s mixed messaging throughout the series. At times, I find myself holding 9-1-1 to higher standards because I know that it has the potential to portray the complexities of policing in a more accurate and balanced way.

This week was incredibly busy, leaving little time for me to delve deeper into Buck’s baking endeavors. Whenever he feels like contacting Tommy, he takes up baking as a comforting strategy, which Bobby acknowledges is quite effective. Chimney advises Maddie not to dissuade him from this habit. “I adore his loaves,” Chimney says, and I completely understand since I too turned to stress-baking banana bread last week.

2024-11-15 05:54

9-1-1 Recap: Full Lethal Weapon

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