Spoilers forward!
Seismic Shifts wraps up the eighth season of 9-1-1, carrying all its flaws and a few of its strengths. After a constructing collapses, Athena and the 118 come to rescue the day, coping with a number of emergencies concurrently. Typical 9-1-1, besides that this time we’re coping with Eddie and Christopher about to depart to Texas as soon as once more, with Buck prepared to depart the 118 as a result of Bobby and Eddie gained’t be there anymore, and naturally, with Chimney, Hen, and Ravi devastated as a result of their chief isn’t there to steer them.
Even with somewhat screentime, we get to care concerning the victims of this episode. And the emergency is fascinating as a result of the characters are all divided — Athena and Chim are trapped with two injured males, Buck and Ravi are trapped with one other one, in the meantime, Eddie decides to overlook the flight and comes to assist the workforce.
So we get to see Athena and Chim making amends after becoming a member of forces to avoid wasting folks (Chim is the one who does probably the most right here, and he shines so much), Eddie saving Buck, Ravi, the injured man with them, after which serving to save different folks, and so forth. It’s a pleasant episode within the sense that everyone is working collectively, and this collection is at its greatest when it remembers it’s an ensemble present.
Nevertheless, like many issues this season, the conclusion feels rushed and anticlimactic at instances; there are too many issues occurring with too little time for them to be correctly and satisfyingly wrapped up. There are hints of who often is the subsequent captain (Hen, Eddie, however particularly and extra visibly Chimney, all of them have their moments right here to perhaps make them choices for changing into captain within the subsequent season), there may be the battle between Chimney and Athena, there may be Eddie about to fly with Christopher again to Texas, there may be Buck that’s about to depart the 118, and naturally, there are the massive moments within the ending montage that actually may have been higher explored: Maddie giving beginning to their second little one, Hen and Karen formally adopting Mara, Buck in search of a brand new place to stay after Eddie and Christopher return to their home, Athena promoting the home that she constructed with Bobby throughout the season… All of that may be a lot, and every one in every of these occasions may have been explored throughout the previous episodes. Besides that every one of them gained a fast 2-minute montage in the long run.
“Seismic Shifts” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Angela Bassett as Athena. Picture: Ray Mickshaw/ABC © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.
All of this to say that I really feel that their plan to make use of Bobby’s dying to spice up storylines and switch the sport was not a very good transfer, by no means — nothing that we’ve been in these previous three episodes justifies killing Bobby. No storyline (those that resulted from Bobby’s absence, those that existed earlier than) was correctly handled; all of the alternatives for large, satisfying moments with the characters had been wasted, and all for what? For an additional large emergency that takes many of the screentime within the episode? Besides that this time, as an alternative of being on the sting of my seat, I used to be so assured nobody would die, not after Bobby simply died randomly. And even when someone died, I don’t know if they might make me care at this level.
So, in a means, very similar to this season, this finale was a wasted alternative. It had a couple of fulfilling moments, because it was a very good episode, however solely while you ignore context — if you happen to ignore that this can be a season finale that wraps up the three episode arc that sends off Bobby, if you happen to ignore each storyline sidelined so this large emergency can exist, then sure, this can be a good episode. Should you suppose an excessive amount of, although… Why do not we see Eddie selecting to remain for himself and for Christopher? Why do not we see Eddie and Chris speaking extra about these large choices that impression each of their lives? As a result of there is not any time to do all of that. The Madney being pregnant storyline was utterly forgotten and was simply there so they might title their child Robert. Buck’s bisexuality was by no means correctly developed, and the factor he is obtained occurring with Eddie by no means defined (however most likely simply baiting at this level, we will all say that). By the best way, it is vital to say the Buck and Eddie factor as a result of it is implicit that, other than clearly Bobby, Eddie’s departure is why Buck plans to depart the 118. Besides that, identical to Eddie shortly modifications his thoughts, so does Buck, and issues are by no means correctly developed between both of them. Hen and Karen did not even get a correct adoption storyline in these ultimate episodes, it was only a fast second, 5 seconds or so. What we gained instead of these tales? Unplanned storylines for shock worth and one of the unsatisfying goodbye arcs I’ve watched in tv. And unexplainable tragedy for no motive in any respect.
Typically, when a fundamental character dies, particularly when it’s an vital one like Bobby was — we get to see this dying getting used to spice up highly effective, nice storylines. Once more, dying in fiction will not be unusual, it occurs on a regular basis. It’s all about timing and execution — not solely of the dying itself, but in addition of what occurs subsequent. Right here, I’m not assured if those piloting the aircraft know what they wished to do after Bobby died, and I’m assured they don’t know what to do subsequent season with out Bobby. Additionally, can we discuss how merciless this season — particularly the previous few episodes — has been to Athena? Okay, I get it, some folks can solely write drama if their characters are going by means of hell each second of their lives, however the best way Athena (as a solo character) and Bathena (as the principle pairing of the present) have been handled is one thing else. The viewers loves some angst when it results in a satisfying payoff. The viewers often hates angst for the sake of it, or you understand, while you simply need to shock folks to shake issues up… So there’s that. Athena sells her new home she deliberate and constructed with Bobby and will get to observe a youthful couple shifting to it. Simply good.
“Seismic Shifts” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Kenneth Choi as Chimney. Picture: Christopher Willard/ABC © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.
By the best way, I really like the Chimney monologue on the finish. Kenneth Choi is fantastic in embodying these highly effective strains, and I all the time admire it when this present offers him an opportunity to shine. As I mentioned, this episode has nice moments, and that is one in every of them. Choi and Bassett are all nice of their roles this episode as they need to discover a option to work collectively. Have I discussed that Chiquita Fuller is again as Linda? I really like her, even when she seems just a bit. Terri Hoyos’ return as Aunt Pepa was additionally nice, I really like her too. And I don’t hate the montage in the long run utilizing Joel Ansett’s Tragedy Is Not the Finish — it’s a fantastic scene, and I’d be feeling far more emotional watching it if not for, you understand, the context of all of it.
All in all, this season finale fails to wrap up the whole lot satisfyingly, and it fails to arrange a future for this present in a means that may make folks even want to tune in for the following 18 episodes. It tries its greatest to honor Bobby, but it surely by no means reaches a degree that makes killing him justifiable. You already know while you see the entire image and go “oh, I didn’t get why they did what they did again then, however I get it now — after seeing the entire image, in fact that was the suitable transfer! Issues will probably be a lot extra fascinating now!?” Yeah, I don’t suppose anybody was saying this after watching this, which is a pity — Seismic Shifts scratches the floor of some fascinating themes with Chimney and Athena at instances, and as an entire affords a imaginative and prescient of the 118 as a household that’s lovely and poignant… Simply not sufficient to make the longer term look vibrant and fascinating and enjoyable so we get to be concerned with coming again sooner or later.
And you understand what’s humorous? Recently, I’ve talked to some individuals who watch and love this present, and lots of of them had been assured that one thing large would occur to justify all of this. Possibly Bobby could be again, perhaps he’d be trapped in a authorities lab being experimented on, perhaps this might all finish with an enormous change that might flip this present into one thing else… You possibly can name them delusional, however I feel they’re simply in denial {that a} present they love so unhealthy would provide you with such bizarre decisions of storytelling and not using a correct story deliberate. These theories had been an act of hope and kindness, a leap of religion that allowed some folks to proceed watching this present they beloved a lot, even when it turned to low-cost tips for shock worth. It is a wild factor that occurred — this present has a loyal fanbase, it is peaking in viewership, everyone was already speaking about it even earlier than Bobby died, it has so many fascinating characters with nice storylines to be explored… And but, even after a daring (silly, however daring) transfer, they resolve to take action little with the characters of their palms and the loyalty of their viewers. Peter Krause, you’re already missed a lot — all of us love and nonetheless mourn Bobby. And whereas this season ends with a music telling us that “this tragedy will not be the top of the story”, it’d as properly be for a lot of, many individuals. And in a means, for the present as an entire.
Be at liberty to depart a remark along with your impressions and theories.
And thanks for studying me this season! For everybody who’s studying weekly and leaving feedback, it has been a pleasure to share this house with you all. Even when I am not sure there’s one other season of 9-1-1 in me, I am grateful for this time with you! Take care!