Don't Drink the Water

This was the best ep in the back end of season 8!

After the last three eps I was genuinely mad about the way the show was handling storylines. But this EP brought back every thing I love about the show in the first place; the genuine connection between the 118, the calls, the callbacks of past calls, A Chris-Buck, Buckley-Daiz family reunion. Finally!!!

A few familiar faces I've been dearly missing for the entire season (Linda and Pepa) ...

It even dealt with grief in a way I wished last episode was coherent enough to do. The Chimney-Athena tension is intriguing to say the least. And with them tripped in the final I can't wait to see what will come of it.

Everything was perfect this episode. (Almost...If only Bobby was still here but alas...)

This is exactly what I want from an episode of 9-1-1.

Filled with joy, humour, grief and emotion, this was a VAST improvement over the previous dreadful episode. Credit to the acting and especially the writing of Molly Green and James Leffler, it feels like they truly understand these characters and what they mean to each other and honestly they should take over when big decisions need to be made. Loved seeing the characters, especially Maddie and Eddie talk about the impact Bobby has had on them, Hen and Karen's interactions and Buck and Eddie stealing the show with their undeniable chemistry.

If the finale is anything like the penultimate episode, we are in for a treat and i cannot wait to see how 911 closes out a tumultuous season 8.

After two painful episodes, "Don't Drink the Water" bursts in like a defibrillator to the chest, jolting the series back to life. The emotional fallout from Bobby's death finally lands - and lands hard. Eddie's grief comes to a head in a gut-wrenching confrontation with Buck, intercut with a flashback that absolutely floored me. It's hands-down Ryan Guzman's best work all season - raw, vulnerable, and completely arresting.

The episode nails what this show used to do effortlessly: balance chaos, comedy, and character. Screen time is actually used wisely (a miracle!) with side characters returning to their rightful place - providing comic relief rather than dragging us through one-off plotlines destined for the memory hole.

And let's talk about that finale setup - Athena being sent out twice to the same call? Deliciously subtle. It's the kind of slow-burn tease that proves this show can still play the long game when it wants to.

Even the pacing felt like a fever dream of peak 9-1-1, packed with emotional tension and just the right amount of shocking moments. Every beat felt earned - well, almost every beat. The only misfire? This creeping setup for Buck as captain. If Bobby's really gone, Hen is the only character who has earned that title. Giving it to Buck would feel like undeserved.

Still, "Don't Drink the Water" is a triumph. It reminded me why I fell in love with this chaotic, heartfelt, wildly over-the-top show in the first place. If this is how we're heading into the finale, count me all the way in.

This episode genuinely felt like 9-1-1 again. They balanced personal storylines with the emergencies perfectly. Let the personal stories take front and center and then let the crazy emergencies add to it. This is what 9-1-1 was meant to be! I've been watching for years and truly, this episode is such a return to form for them. Hope this is continued into the finale. Still weird that this show can have such good episodes and then you get something like 8:16. Like how can this episode be so well done and the episode that is saying "goodbye" to Bobby so poorly done. Anyways, great episode. Definitely one of the best of the season and the direction was so well done.

This might actually be one of my favorite episodes. I'm obviously still very upset about Bobby and will never be okay with that but it's nice to finally see some real grief within the characters. For a long time now things just happen and then an episode or two they are completely fine again. No dealing with grief, no talking, nothing really. This episode finally gives us what we've been wanting. We want to see how the characters feel because we feel it too. The acting from all of the cast was absolutely outstanding. I love this cast so much and I'm so happy we get to see them in new situations and broader emotions. Yes we've seen them sad in seasons long ago but this is refreshing to see. Again I really want Bobby back and it will never be the same but this episode way ecceeded my expectations. Very excited for season 9!