Collect round, 9-1-1: Lone Star Fanatics, as a result of we’re all on this collectively for higher and worse.
The issue is that the “worse” is going on tenfold, and nothing confirms that greater than what the sequence has completed for Tommy Vega on this remaining season.
How did we get right here? Inquiring minds would like to know.
Tommy Vega Was a Saving Grace of the Collection
Tommy Vega is that girl! I’ll argue to my grave that the very coronary heart of 9-1-1: Lone Star was Grace Ryder (and the sequence has suffered from her absence).
Nevertheless, Tommy Vega is a saving grace for the sequence.
It wasn’t till her arrival that the solid felt extra cohesive somewhat than separate factions of disjointed storylines that always revolved round solely two or three characters.
Tommy at all times served as a stable bridge between Owen and lots of the different characters, particularly a few of the youthful ones, and it’s by her that we acquired some stable character growth for a personality like Nancy.
Sadly, Careless Whispers, I imply Michelle, didn’t have fairly the identical impact on the sequence, and her precedence of fixating on her lacking sister not solely dominated numerous display screen time however wasn’t used to include different characters correctly.
With Tommy’s arrival, we had somebody who already had a pre-existing relationship with the Ryders, really devoted numerous time and vitality into not simply main the EMT providers however mentoring the opposite paramedics, and was an awesome equal for Owen.
Plus, it’s Gina freaking Torres. She alone comes along with her personal fanbase and clout, and he or she added one thing particular to the sequence, slotting into place and changing into this lacking piece to the equation we didn’t notice we would have liked.
Tommy Was One among 9-1-1: Lone Star’s Most Developed Characters
Tommy had a method of getting a substantial amount of focus with out essentially detracting from the opposite characters round her, which put her miles forward of Owen for the previous 5 seasons.
And so they established a stable background, a loving household, and nice character moments for her.
I’d argue Tommy was in all probability the most effective and most constantly developed characters.
So, why did they disrupt all of that within the remaining season?
The sequence tends to thrive on heartbreak.
Owen Strand has endured extra loss and ache than anyone man ought to ever should deal with. T.Okay. and Carlos have had some troubled experiences of their lives, and Judd’s background is so extremely darkish it’s wonderful he ever acquired out on the opposite aspect.
However even by 9-1-1: Lone Star’s requirements, they’ve taken it too far with Tommy Vega.
It was completely devastating when Charles died throughout 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 2 Episode 12. One minute, somebody is there, and the subsequent, they are often gone.
Life comes at us quick in that method, and the abruptness of this excellent, supportive, type man merely passing away of an aneurysm in the course of his lounge nonetheless sends chills down my backbone.
It was completely one of many sequence’ most devastating arcs so far, little question, however there was a tragic magnificence in it. Charles’ loss of life, whereas upsetting, felt significant.
Charles’ Loss of life, Whereas Tragic, Served Tommy’s Storyline, In contrast to Hers
Via his loss of life, the sequence continued to discover what it was like for a “middle-aged” girl who needed to begin her life over once more, enter a brand new part of her life that she wasn’t ready for, and work out tips on how to navigate it.
Tommy’s arc began along with her reentering the workforce once more after taking years off to boost her daughters. That alone was a compelling angle to discover for a girl, as these sometimes aren’t the kind of tales that sequence probe for them.
And she or he had all of the love and assist of her husband, who acknowledged that it was her time once more to move again into the workforce and choose up the mantle of her calling.
It was already an enormous however rewarding transition for her, after which actual life occurred rapidly, taking her assist community away from her tragically and leaving her to choose up the items another time.
The sequence delivered a gratifying journey for Tommy as she adjusted to life as a widowed working mother attempting to deal with her personal grief whereas tending to the grief of her daughters.
We noticed the mourning interval for her, and the sequence didn’t hesitate to highlight that. Her grieving was a course of that the sequence took strides in exploring whereas nonetheless juggling a few of the expectations of what the job demanded.
It resulted in some, at occasions, troubling arcs, like Tommy nonetheless having dinner along with her deceased husband or ultimately sleeping along with her husband’s youthful brother as they fought, made amends, and grieved collectively.
However even in spite of everything of that, it felt like a messy, chaotic, however earnest try to discover Tommy and what she confronted as life dealt her robust palms, and he or she tried to persevere.
Tommy’s Arc as a Lady Adapting to New Phases in Her Life Was Gratifying
Tommy approaching the courting scene felt like a pure subsequent step for her, and the introduction of Trevor introduced some issues however a way of hope and happiness.
It was rewarding that Tommy might be taught to place herself on the market and open her coronary heart to like once more regardless of her loss.
Tommy and Trevor grew to become as established and beloved a pair because the Ryders, Tarlos, Nancy, and Mateo. The sequence devoted numerous time to that pairing, and it felt like they have been on the quick monitor towards marriage.
Hell, it was throughout Tarlos’ Marriage ceremony that it felt set in stone that Tommy and Trevor can be strolling down the aisle subsequent.
The sequence devoted a lot time to exploring the issues and humor behind mixing two households, particularly as Trevor’s daughter typically plotted in opposition to Tommy at each flip.
Breaking Up Tommy and Trevor was a Disservice (And It Went Downhill From There)
All of it got here collectively somewhat properly, however then they threw a curveball at us after they determined that Tommy and Trevor must break up so Trevor might return to Kansas for the betterment of his daughter and ex-wife.
The Tommy and Trevor breakup throughout 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 Episode 4 was irritating, and it felt as in the event that they threw away all this nice character growth and a spotlight they poured into this relationship.
It was particularly irritating once we needed to think about that the sequence shedding Grace forward of its premiere meant we additionally missed out on the grounding power that was The Ryders.
However extra importantly, it grew to become clear that and not using a story arc that concerned Tommy discovering her fortunately ever after with Trevor, they didn’t know what extra they needed to do along with her.
And the consequence was one thing so extremely bleak, alienating, and heartbreaking that followers have been indignant since.
There was one thing lovely about what Tommy represented as a robust, resilient girl who had reentered the workforce, grew to become a widow, raised her kids on her personal, and located love once more.
Tommy’s Breast Most cancers Arc Didn’t Serve the Character or Any of Her Relationships Effectively
These developments for her character have been sufficient! The mentorship bonds she took up with Nancy and T.Okay. have been additionally extremely compelling and greater than satisfying to observe.
Giving Tommy breast most cancers felt like such a unnecessary colossal blow to her storyline. Charles’ loss of life, whereas tragic, at the least felt prefer it had some thought and which means to it.
Tommy’s breast most cancers and subsequent loss of life sentence really feel extra like tragedy porn for the sake of extolling fast, low-cost feelings out of the viewers.
We didn’t must see Tommy preventing by one other impediment life threw her method as a result of we’ve already seen her try this. She’s been doing it her total run on the sequence.
As an alternative, Tommy’s breast most cancers looks like a bat to the kneecaps for the character for shock worth, and he or she deserves so significantly better than this.
Certain, Gina Torres is phenomenal, and he or she’s elevated the hell out of this script along with her efficiency. I didn’t must see her capabilities by way of this heavy arc as a result of I already knew what she might do with one thing like this.
However not solely was this storyline unnecessary and merciless — there hasn’t even been sufficient time to provide it its due within the first place. It additionally falls fully aside when Tommy, as a rule, is an afterthought who takes a backseat due to all the opposite ridiculous storylines this season.
A Poorly Fleshed Out Most cancers Arc is a Disappointing Finish to a Nice Character
They didn’t even make Tommy’s most cancers a central storyline that deeply impacts the station and her household there. Exterior of Nancy, there was no consistency in depicting how everybody loves and cares about her and is taking care of her.
The arc fully decimates what we’ve at all times recognized and cherished about Tommy’s friendship with Judd by not having him a relentless determine in her darkest days as a result of he’s shrouded in darkness and battling his personal demons.
Tommy’s most cancers arc additionally pointedly illuminates how horrible Grace’s absence is on this present. Not solely are we pressured to see Tommy endure a devastating problem in and to her life, however we even have to simply accept that Grace wouldn’t discover a method again to her buddy to assist her.
Her most cancers disrupts the concept of the 126 as a household when the final time all of them made a stand for her was within the performative present in opposition to the council over her most cancers remedy funds.
Tommy’s most cancers arc separates her from the home and lots of the different characters, after which they depart her there at her dwelling, presumably dying after seeing her husband in a dream.
It’s not the best way you’d count on one of many sequence’ most formidable, advanced, and wealthy characters to bow out within the remaining season.
Even when we’re to consider that the ultimate moments of 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 Episode 11 have been simply Tommy making peace with dying and resting till one remaining push and actual goodbye, it’s nonetheless not one thing I can settle for for the character.
They disrupted her completely satisfied life, despatched the person who cared about her away with no different reference to how he could have reacted to this devastating information, left her principally alone, and had her dying.
There’s one thing unsatisfying about that for the character, even when she does miraculously get better from all of this. It’s a disappointing remaining arc for Tommy, and he or she deserves infinitely higher.
However don’t all of us?
Over to you, 9-1-1: Lone Star Fanatics. How are you feeling about Tommy’s destiny? Let’s hear it under!
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