Don't Drink the Water

Those who say we haven't moved forward with the plot are wrong. I want to clarify something: WE NEEDED TO SEE THE GRIEF. The fact that everything felt so bland in the last episode (which I still can't stand, just like I can't stand that Bobby is dead) is what made me appreciate this one even more. Seeing the emotions, the anger, the fear, the PAIN that cuts deep: Buck and Eddie hurt each other, Athena and Chimney hurt each other. And each one finds different ways to cope with the grief. It's part of the plot to finally see how the relationships change between them, if they move backward or forward, if they choose to stay or part ways. Beautiful, thank you.

After the last few weeks, my expectations for this episode were extremely low but i just got win after win tonight. Characters interacting with multiple people and in different locations, good pacing, good writing, not too much focus on the calls, AND eddie whew haven't smiled like this in a month

this is what happens when you don't spend the entire episode focusing on an emergency and actually remembering who your characters actually are and writing them correctly. Tonight is an example of how an ensemble show should be written. Not choosing to focus on one or two characters but choosing to take time and include every one of them because that right there is what makes 9-1-1 the show that it is.

The stark contrast from the last two episodes (especially the last episode) to this one is crazy.

The last two episodes had focus in all the wrong places, sloppy writing, characters feeling so out of character, poor directing choices, unnecessary action and side plots, and more.

This episode felt like it had a strong balance of the ensemble cast that was lacking previously, the focus on side characters did not overstay their welcome, all of the main characters had memorable moments that felt in-character and a part of their own personal larger arcs, etc.

We got to see the importance of their family dynamic (one of the biggest draws of the show, and so horribly lacking in the previous two episodes), and the storylines felt like they had a strong balance between work/calls and their personal lives.

THIS felt more like a classic 9-1-1 episode than anything we've seen in a while. Please bring these writers back, please fire whoever worked on the last two episodes.

The directing in this episode was also a standout. The cut from Buck's memory/daydream to the empty station table, the fight between Buck and Eddie in the kitchen, Eddie receiving the phone call... all so wonderfully shot and directed.

That goes double for the acting this episode. The acting was incredible last week and it was amazing to see that continue this week as well. Oliver Stark and Ryan Guzman especially brought the emotion, matching the performances of Angela Bassett and Kenneth Choi from last week.

This episode compared to the previous two shows perfectly how this show does best not when shoving two-part emergencies at us, or focusing on random side characters, or overdone cop plot lines, or unnecessary action sequences- it does best when it balances the ensemble cast in all their storylines, drives home the found family dynamic, gives us some goofy calls balanced with true emotion, and gives us HEART.

The difference between this week's episode and the last two has astounded me.

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 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.