Seismic Shifts

I really don't understand what went through the showrunner's head in the last 5 episodes. A series of bad decisions that culminated in a terrible season finale (a season that wasn't going very well), where much of the episode was a waste of possibilities. Not giving Athenana a chance to process her husband's death is a choice, Buck showing feelings for Eddie is a choice, not showing Eddie talking to Chris at any point is a choice, the last two minutes of this episode with off-screen events were a choice. I really can't give a damn about any of them here because with each second I got a little more disappointed with the events. It's hard to get excited or want to watch season 9 when the showrunner seems to show no appreciation for the opinion of the audience that watches his show. This is something to think about, and perhaps 911 is going into a pit so deep that the sky can no longer be seen.

This was one of the more lackluster 9-1-1 finales: a generally lame emergency and very few good character moments. What happens with the 20 unfinished storylines now? The resolution with Chris and Eddie's relationship? The new captain? The pacing of the second half of season 8 felt both rushed and dragging already, full of off-putting characterizations, so I suppose this finale was fitting in some ways. I thought for a moment season 8 had found its groove, but I was sadly wrong. This will probably be my last season as a dedicated watcher, as I would rather remember the show for how well-developed and interesting it used to be. Unfortunately I see 9-1-1 going the way of Dexter and Glee, lasting one or two seasons past its natural end and leaving a sour taste in past fans' mouths.

The emergency was fine, nothing crazy but ok ig. Chimneys speech at the end was powerful and his reconciliation with Athena was nice. THAT being said, what a waste. ABC please fire your show runners and writers or at least scare them into writing better. You had the PERFECT set up for a great finale with 8x17, you did an insane press tour, and truly had the perfect setup for a great last episode. Instead you gave us nothing, that was so lame I can't even put it into words. You are taking these characters a certain way and then completely 180ing them. Does no one communicate about where each of the character arcs are going?? I mean you really messed up buck and eddies start for season 9 after such a perfect set up in the previous episode, what about the empty casket from 8x16, and most importantly BRING BACK PETER KRAUSE. I love this show but I cannot stress this enough, get your stuff together and write the way the show should be written!!

It's upsetting how clear this season was basically only outlined by the head writers and showrunners, given a greenlight and possibly a far to soon to manage deadline, and then churned out as last minute as possible.

Nearly every major arc from the beginning of the season involving a main character was not properly given time or resolve. The only exception possibly being Chimney, whom Kenneth Choi did another stellar job injecting emotion into. Every other character and their relationships were handwaved yet again.

Much of this season has felt wholly impersonal and a bit mean to both the cast and the fans. I'm leaving a season finale disheartened. For an episode titled seismic shifts, we are circled back yet again to status quo. Even the unexplained, seemingly unjust firing of a mainstay actor whom was adored on and behind the camera feels to be an afterthought. There has been and will never be closure on his death due to the circumstances that surround it. And that would be fine if the show was not pounding the pavement to move on as quickly as possible from any meaningful plot point it has had.

Overall I'm shocked at the variation in quality of season 8. How the showrunners have created a story so human and uplifting yet their goals seem to be aligned with how to remake your favorite movie of the week. And then churn out a script and cobble together footage then put it to screen, not caring how that comes across because the money was already made and spent, and the show is already renewed so we can just fix it later.

Well later won't come now, and if we as viewers do not see the work, then the issues don't feel fixed, they feel ignored and thrown away. Very bitter taste left in my mouth.

The entirety of season 8 was so inconsistent in quality, from beginning to end. The show running has to be the most inept man in terms of how to write a show and his writers are doing him no favors. The entire episode struggled to pick a single tone after throwing a ton of stuff. At first it had a feeling of the earlier seasons of 9-1-1 but as the episode progressed it felt more and more like they were trying to think of a satisfying way to wrap it up. This has been one of the most sorry excuses for an episode I've seen in a WHILE. My 3 stars are generous here because it could not possibly have been worse than the slop thrown at the screen and called an episode that was Lab Rats. It feels like the show does not want or feel like it has to have a continued direction because it only sees it's viewers as money. I'm so underwhelmed they couldn't even be bothered to center one of their character's actual big moments either. How are you going to side line every character and call this an exploration of grief. The only smart decision they made was not getting rid of any more of their cast.