9-1-1 Recap: No Tears Left to Cry

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We’re thrilled to be back with you! After a long break – during which the nation seemed to face some tough times and the finale of “9-1-1: Lone Star” was less than satisfying, both significant events – we’ve finally got “9-1-1” back in our lives. The episode titled “Sob Stories” is as good as the show has been since early November. Although it isn’t quite as dramatic as some of the series’ best moments, the more focused plot provides an excellent platform for the Buckley siblings to shine. Perhaps “9-1-1” is getting back on track with compelling character-driven stories that are balanced by the extraordinary events. Maybe I was just eagerly anticipating the return of the 118. In any case, I’m glad we’re together again.

The narrative begins with a 911 call (try not to feign surprise), as a heart-wrenching voice cries out for help to Maddie. “I simply want this to stop,” the voice begs, and Maddie senses potential self-harm or harm to another, a girl named Jayna, who is heard screaming through a gag in the background. It’s not a suicide; it’s a kidnapping — and Athena is rushing to the location they’ve tracked down. “I believed I could rescue her,” the voice laments, but they don’t want to be saved, the caller says, making the situation eerily chilling. (The unsettling nature of the conversation is amplified by the fact that the voice appears distorted, although this isn’t explicitly mentioned.) Maddie tries her best to empathize with the caller, telling him he’s not a monster and that she understands his pain, but she erroneously assures him that the police won’t find him if he lets Jayna go. When Athena arrives at the location, it’s an empty lot, and the caller realizes he’s been deceived. “You were mistaken, Maddie; I am a monster,” he says before ending the call.

This episode of 9-1-1 features one of the more intense cold openings yet, and Jennifer Love Hewitt delivers a compelling portrayal of Maddie’s heartrending distress (more on her later, as this is essentially her episode). After the harrowing ordeal of a kidnapper call, we shift to something seemingly less tense: a fire at an animal shelter. However, despite its initial calming effect, it’s still quite stressful. But rest assured, all the dogs manage to escape safely. For a brief moment, though, one of the most adorable puppies makes a dangerous dash into the flames. Luckily, Buck bravely leaps into action, disregarding Bobby’s orders and rescuing the little fellow just as the ceiling caves in. Bobby hardly seems upset — the dog, after all, is a model canine citizen. Unfortunately, the joy of the moment is short-lived when Buck realizes his newfound companion is being transported to a shelter where he’ll be euthanized unless adopted. If only there were someone, anyone, available to give him a home.

Regarding dogs, Athena is escorting Maddie to meet with detective Amber Braeburn, whom she refers to as having an uncanny nose for a case – much like a bloodhound. Braeburn doesn’t believe the 911 distress call was fabricated and commends Maddie for managing to communicate with the kidnapper, despite her self-blame over breaking his trust. They examine a call strikingly similar to the one they have now, dating back ten years and linked to a missing girl’s murder. Maddie has independently investigated and discovered another matching call in Portland, identifying Jayna as a runaway from Bakersfield. (Feel free to channel your inner internet detective, Reddit!) Given the scant clues at hand, it’s somewhat unexpected that Braeburn is so swiftly zeroing in on a suspect – a sex offender named Richard Bullock, residing at a hotel frequented by runaways. However, due to her aggressive pursuit of this individual, Bullock has lodged a complaint, making any further investigation without solid evidence considered harassment. “Well,” says Athena with a hint of mischief, “I’ve never been one to shy away from a little harassment,” she being a police officer known for her integrity.

It seems that Eddie is following through on his promise to depart Los Angeles for El Paso to be near Christopher. His lease agreement lasts a year, so he must locate a substitute tenant before moving, which he needs to accomplish swiftly as he’s already put money down on a new house in Texas. (I must admit, I’m taken aback by how quickly events are unfolding!) Buck offers his assistance to Eddie during meetings with potential renters, but their encounters don’t go smoothly. It’s unclear whether Buck is intentionally undermining Eddie by highlighting the drawbacks of the rental or if it’s an unconscious attempt to prevent him from leaving. Eddie finds this behavior problematic and asks Buck to leave. Unfortunately for Buck, he lingers just enough to overhear Eddie discussing with two more potential subletters about his move to Texas for personal reasons rather than work. “Los Angeles was the job opportunity,” he explains, “but I have no connections here. Everything that matters is in Texas.” Buck feels heartbroken, and truthfully, so do I.

To lift his spirits, Buck decides to keep the dog he saved, whom he names Blaze. However, Bobby isn’t pleased about having a dog at the firehouse, especially since Blaze isn’t even a Dalmatian. But Buck promises that he won’t bring him every day, just while they’re getting acquainted. He explains, “I don’t want him to think I’m an abandoner.” This comment is directed at Eddie. Eddie points out that Buck’s apartment doesn’t allow pets, and Buck responds by suggesting he might need to move, hinting at Eddie’s own plans to relocate. Despite the fact that Eddie had asked Buck not to reveal his departure plans yet, Buck has done so prematurely. This action backfires on him as the rest of the 118 team supports Eddie, with Bobby telling him he’s making the right decision and that he’s a good father. So it seems like Buck and Blaze will have to face the world together!

In another location, detective Athena is actively searching for Richard Bullock, the main suspect in the distressing 911 call kidnapping case. However, he’s not at the motel anymore. Instead, his ex-partner, Isabelle, provides some valuable clues – she had previously noticed him making advances towards underage girls and described him as someone who weeps excessively over the phone like a distraught woman. It seems Bullock fits the profile! Despite her reluctance to help the authorities (she referred to them as pigs), Isabelle appears convinced that this situation requires immediate attention upon seeing a photograph of Jayna. Not long after, Athena, Braeburn, and a SWAT team storm Bullock’s suspected hideout. Once more, he has disappeared, but they find some leftover evidence: traces of blood and Jayna’s identification card. It appears that Braeburn’s intuition was spot-on… or perhaps there are additional factors at play in this case.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but feel the tension as we find ourselves in yet another harrowing situation with Jayna still missing, and her kidnapper lurking in the shadows. The chilling voice on the phone once more reaches Maddie, revealing that not only did he overhear her conversation with Isabelle, but also that he’s kept Jayna alive longer than usual – a strange mix of good and bad news.

The authorities trace the call, but they’re hesitant about its authenticity, given the chaos surrounding the first call. The situation becomes even more precarious when the caller casually mentions the time it takes for someone to die after their throat is slit, hinting at Jayna’s impending fate. He even goes as far as to bring up Maddie’s daughter Jee-Yun, leaving us all wondering how he knows about her.

Desperate to save Jayna, Maddie takes a bold step and tries to appeal to the kidnapper’s humanity by urging him to end his own suffering and save Jayna by using the gun in his possession to “kill the beast.” She pleads for an end to the tears and instead seeks “peace” for all involved. The scene is intense, and you can feel John Lithgow’s (JLH) horror and disgust as Maddie hears the gunshot echo over the line.

In a chilling turn of events, Athena arrives at the scene to discover Bullock deceased from a fatal headshot. Jayna, fortunately unharmed, is found hiding in a closet. The mournful tones of Billie Eilish’s “when the party’s over” echo, perfectly encapsulating the grim atmosphere. I must confess, I was anxious that they would gloss over Maddie persuading someone to take their own life, as it saved Jayna’s life. However, in a moving portrayal, Maddie appears shattered when she confers with Athena and Braeburn. “I realize he wasn’t a good person,” she admits, “but the anguish in his voice – it was palpable, so genuine.” I must commend the writers of 9-1-1 for their courage in tackling such a profound narrative, and JLH, whose performance here leaves me even more eager for the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel this summer.

At the fire station, Maddie’s brother has been brooding over Eddie for some time. He eventually confides that he overheard Eddie mentioning a lack of ties in LA, to which he retorts, “I don’t need you either, since I have Blaze.” Just then, Blaze’s family arrives – his real name is Bingo and he had gone missing due to firework fright. As Buck bids farewell (tears welled up), he understands a crucial truth about family. Later that day, Buck visits Eddie to apologize, accompanied by Bobby, Hen, and Chimney for a farewell dinner. However, the significant moment is when Buck offers to be Eddie’s subletter, symbolizing his unwavering support for Eddie’s move – a development that seems almost predestined. Buck explains his happiness upon seeing Bingo reunited with his family, realizing that was where he belonged, much like how Eddie belongs with Christopher.

Buck’s sense of tranquility is unlikely to last long, as Maddie takes a fall to the ground, apparently attacked by an unidentified attacker while washing dishes. The masked kidnapper reveals their identity – none other than Detective Braeburn. This twist isn’t hard to predict; it seems odd to hire Abigail Spencer and not give her a meaty role to sink her teeth into. I suspect Braeburn is behind the unsettling crying phone calls, given the voice sounded so distorted. It also makes sense that she shot and killed Bullock for some reason, as the voice on those calls was distorted. I can’t wait to uncover why she orchestrated this entire scheme and what she means when she says, “You’re gonna be so mad at me” before drugging Maddie. (Beyond the obvious.) Primarily, though, I’m eager to see JLH continue to deliver outstanding performances.

Call Log

I made clear that Ryan Guzman’s departure from the show wouldn’t upset me unless it was confirmed, but now it looks like he might be leaving, doesn’t it? At this stage, it’s hard to imagine him staying, given his frequent mentions about Christopher flourishing in El Paso.

I understand your concerns about Buddie’s appearances in the recaps. However, it appears that the show is deliberately incorporating these scenes into the narrative, and dismissing the underlying meaning – whether it’s a nod to fans or a hint of future events – seems rather unwise to me. Don’t you believe that the writers are aware of how significant it is when Buck tells Eddie, “I didn’t mean to out you in front of Cap and everyone else”?

As a die-hard film fan, I couldn’t help but notice the obvious artificiality in that voice. It was more fake than Buck’s alter ego, Freddy Fakeman! Given Maddie’s stressful circumstances, I found it hard to believe no one else picked up on the fact that the voice sounded strikingly like someone speaking through a voice-altering device – maybe even a female voice!

Today I discovered that Dalmatians were traditionally housed in fire stations to soothe the nerves of the working horses. Kudos to 9-1-1 for consistently being an informative and engaging TV series!

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2025-03-07 07:10