911 – Don’t Drink the Water – Evaluation: Simply Unpredictable

Spoilers forward!

Wow!

Simply wow!

9-1-1 is simply unpredictable quality-wise. After final week’s episode left a bitter style in my mouth, I used to be ready to see tonight’s episode proceed the trainwreck. This didn’t occur, I’m glad to say. Don’t Drink the Water is so good that I nearly consider this present can discover a new manner once more. I’m nonetheless mad about Bobby, although — I nonetheless don’t like their current poor selections, not solely in the way in which he died but in addition how his funeral (and his sendoff) have been a secondary factor within the episode imagined to cope with the aftermath of all of it. Anyway, I nonetheless hope he’s returning — the factor about his physique being held for weeks, the way in which a last-minute twist within the finale about Bobby being alive may arrange new storylines for the following season with out undoing all of the modifications proposed right here… I digress. But when I feel there’s nonetheless hope for 9-1-1, Don’t Drink the Water is the one responsible.

There’s a lot taking place right here, and every little thing’s fascinating, and everyone seems to be concerned. And once I say everybody, it’s actually everybody — the ensemble is lastly displaying up for the ensemble present. We see Hen and Karen speaking to Eddie, which is nice — I’ve waited for an interplay between them for years, a scene that’s been lengthy overdue, not solely between Hen and Eddie, but in addition between Karen and Eddie, so seeing the three of them collectively having a dialog was so particular.

“Do not Drink the Water” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Tracie Thoms as Karen, Angela Bassett as Athena. Photograph: Christopher Willard/ABC © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.

Talking of Karen, she additionally has a solo scene with Athena — and it’s an incredible one, because it showcases how this story has been a couple of discovered household from the start, now that Athena is resentful of Chimney and might barely keep in the identical room as him. It’s an incredible battle, as a result of Athena and Chim are Hen’s finest associates, and with them at odds, Hen is on this terrible place — thus Karen’s intervention. I like Karen, and I like Tracie Thoms — it was nice to see her in such fascinating scenes with Aisha, Ryan, and Angela.

Buck and Eddie are additionally coping with their grief in their very own methods — whereas Buck is attempting to be there for everybody, he additionally tries to seek out consolation in faith, possibly in search of an indication from Bobby. In the meantime, Eddie feels responsible as a result of he was not there for Bobby’s final emergency — we see a fast flashback from when Eddie took the decision about Bobby’s loss of life, and it’s heartbreaking. Amid their pains, there’s one thing else between Buck and Eddie, and it’s a job supply Eddie obtained from the Texas firehouse. Eddie hides this information from Buck, however Buck discovers it anyway, and so they battle in the course of their kitchen in a wide ranging scene.

This results in an exquisite reconciliation later, with Eddie bringing Christopher and Aunt Pepa to elevate Buck’s spirit. Watching Chris and Buck’s reunion was one of many issues I used to be most excited to see this season, and it was simply pretty to have them lastly reunited, particularly with Pepa by their facet, having a pleasant heart-to-heart with Buck later.

“Do not Drink the Water” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Ryan Guzman as Eddie. Photograph: Christopher Willard/ABC © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.

Lastly, Hen thinks about the potential of changing into the brand new Captain of the 118 (and that’s one thing she discusses with each Athena and Chim), Chimney and Maddie are on the brink of have their second baby, and Athena, Harry, and Could focus on some issues about the home Athena’s ending. Have I discussed this episode additionally has some emergencies, and it additionally has Athena returning to work on a foolish case that rapidly turns into one thing a lot darker?

I’m amazed — there are nice episodes in these newer seasons, however this episode reminds a whole lot of the nice good occasions throughout seasons 2 and three, after they may write episodes that had every little thing, a number of characters from the primary forged being tremendously developed on the similar time, loopy emergencies, whimsy, comedy, drama… That is nearly like a return to kind, and placing this proper after no matter 816 was is mind-blowing. It seems like a distinct present. Kudos to writers Molly Inexperienced and James Leffler, they did nice! Essential plus: this episode options only some moments of Bobby onscreen, however every little thing right here is about him. Gone, however not forgotten; this time, we get to see the a number of methods grief can manifest for various folks, and it’s truly nice.

Anyway, this episode additionally offers with an earthquake that makes water change into fireplace (to place it actual easy), and every little thing ends with an explosion within the constructing Athena had simply left after coping with her case of the week, organising a giant emergency for the finale. I’ll hold my ideas to my post-finale assessment, however I’ll depart a few of my preliminary theories relating to how every little thing can go.

I feel they’re teasing two captain prospects in the intervening time, Hen, who’s been explicitly thought-about (however she doesn’t need it), and possibly Buck, due to how he’s the one who obtained the mission to maintain the others from Bobby. But, I feel Chimney is a powerful risk too, maybe the strongest, particularly with how this episode units the battle between Athena and him. They might make amends, and possibly Athena may give him her blessing. I may see it taking place.

I nonetheless haven’t given up on Bobby being alive, I’m ready till the final scene of the finale, simply to make sure. I wouldn’t be like this for another present, however in any case these years everyone knows that this firefighter present may positively stage a pretend loss of life for some episodes, then arrange some kind of Bobby Lives Once more for the following season opening. I may be improper, and relying on how every little thing goes within the finale, I’m nonetheless not sure about coming again for season 9, however I can’t lie, tonight gave me hope that every little thing can be okay regardless of no matter occurred a couple of weeks in the past.