Inside the blink of an eye fixed, 9-1-1 Season 8 rolled out its first half, leaving us in that lowly hiatus interval till the present returns in late winter subsequent yr.
Coming off a shortened 9-1-1 Season 7, the sequence launched with one other three-part opening catastrophe, which, by all accounts, was a rousing success. Then, it settled again into some character-focused storylines to shut out the season.
However whereas the opening hour had everybody buzzing, subsequent hours had been extra hit and miss, with some tales being speedrun via, beloved characters being sidelined at instances, and disjointed storylines leaving us pissed off.
Even with some missteps, the season has had some nice moments and continues to be one of the crucial riveting sequence on tv.
We’re reviewing the primary eight hours of this season and providing some superlatives as we consider the great and the not-so-good.
Don’t get me improper, there was a lot to love about what the present has put collectively, however they’ve additionally left a lot to be desired.
It’s a great factor we nonetheless have ten episodes left this season!
Finest Episode – “Closing Method”
9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 3 was the final act of the opening catastrophe arc, with Athena flying a airplane and attempting to land it efficiently in Los Angeles with each single odd towards her.
The airplane was careening towards the town, and people tasked with serving to her had just about given up on a profitable touchdown and had been taking a look at the most effective locations she may land the airplane to restrict the quantity of casualties on the bottom.
It’s a great factor Athena is married to Bobby Nash as a result of he wasn’t about to let his love down. Quickly sufficient, he shut down an LA freeway to make sure Athena had sufficient room to land that airplane and save many lives.
In some ways, it’s a quintessential 9-1-1 episode, which means Bathena was on the forefront. Whereas the motion was entrance and heart, some splendidly understated character moments remained.
One second, you had been on the sting of your seat, and the following, you had been sniffling again tears as a result of, over three brief hours, everybody on that airplane had turn into household.
There was additionally the breathtaking shot of an enormous airplane heading proper for Bobby Nash, who was perched on the highest of a firetruck, trying his spouse immediately within the eyes because the nostril of the plane stopped proper in entrance of his face.
Does it get any extra romantic than that?
It was a gorgeous showcase hour for Angela Bassett and Peter Krause, who are sometimes given rather a lot to do throughout these large opening emergencies and ship each single time.
That is 9-1-1 at its finest — balls to the wall, fascinating, and stuffed with coronary heart.
Finest Episode – Honorable Point out – “Confessions”
Whereas “Closing Method” was an episode heavy on the motion, 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 6 was all concerning the characters, with a couple of minor emergencies combined in.
And if the massive, flashy episodes are a staple of the sequence, then these sorts of hours are as properly.
After being sidelined for a lot of the season, we lastly received a peek into what was happening with Madney, with the pair discussing the potential for increasing their household.
The couple was trustworthy about their fears, and the hour ended with Maddie telling her husband she was pregnant, which prompted a mighty large “AWW” from me!
It was additionally the primary hour that illuminated Eddie’s plight, significantly his guilt about all the pieces that transpired with Christopher and his transfer to El Paso to reside together with his grandparents.
Eddie’s wrestle to permit himself pleasure culminated in a picture-perfect dance round the home in his tighty whiteys a la Dangerous Enterprise.
It allowed Ryan Guzman to channel Eddie’s internal chaos right into a enjoyable dance routine that ought to hopefully spur him on to the following a part of his character’s journey.
This episode additionally had the most effective closing photographs within the historical past of 9-1-1, with without end finest good friend Buck coming over to commiserate with him after Tommy Kinard unceremoniously dumped him.
Buck was reeling from one thing sudden, and Eddie was sweaty and barely confused however all the time welcoming to Buck.
The 2 didn’t share any phrases as a result of none had been wanted. Simply the sheer act of being collectively was sufficient.
9-1-1 retains you in your toes; this episode was an incredible instance.
Worst Episode – “Wannabes”
The issue with 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 8 wasn’t a lot the episode itself however the truth that it was our final impression for 3 lengthy months.
Brad Torrence has been a gentle presence all through the season to date, and he’s been okay. Admittedly, the Hotshots storyline labored a lot better as a car for Bobby to have his personal storyline outdoors of being on the 118.
Nonetheless, Brad’s presence was by no means really a difficulty till it began to really feel like he might have overstayed his welcome. Instantly, the midseason finale grew to become a showcase to wrap up Brad’s story, which was positive on the floor however left the episode missing in some ways.
We had no Maddie in any way, with Hen and Chimney sidelined but once more. Whereas Athena’s case was okay, it was a one-and-done case that might not transfer her ahead and did nothing for the season at massive.
And all of this stuff are okay. Typically, you have got episodes that aren’t essentially the most thrilling, however contemplating the magnitude of this one being the final episode of the yr, it didn’t depart us with a lot to chew on outdoors of Eddie’s potential transfer.
That’s a big-ish cliffhanger in its personal proper, however we received little time with Eddie due to the period of time spent on actually all the pieces else.
I waited for one thing greater than the Brad present, however it by no means got here.
Missed Alternative – Every thing Eddie Diaz
Whereas Eddie’s dance was undoubtedly a spotlight of the primary half, contemplating the place we left Eddie on the finish of 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 10, the sequence hasn’t explored a lot past Eddie lacking his son and in the end deciding he was going to maneuver to El Paso in a choice with little build-up.
Eddie has had a really sophisticated relationship together with his mother and father, his childhood, and his relationship with Shannon, all of which have contributed to the place he’s discovered himself in. But, we haven’t seen him actually addressing any of it.
Eddie and Christopher wanted to unpack what occurred with doppelganger Kim. Hopefully, that may come within the second half, however to date, that occasion has but to be explored, and Eddie has not labored via a lot of something.
It’s not as if we haven’t seen any of Eddie, as we’ve gotten glimpses right here and there, like when he stepped in with the daddy of the harm cheerleader and the aforementioned dance sequence and his journey to confession.
However it’s all been very stop-and-go, making it really feel disconnected at finest.
I’ll fortunately eat my phrases if the second half delivers on this storyline and provides it the time and area it deserves, however contemplating the place issues had been left, Eddie’s story hasn’t had almost sufficient focus up to now.
9-1-1 is an ensemble present, with understandably many transferring elements each week, however Eddie’s story deserves a much bigger highlight.
Missed Alternative – Honorable Point out – The Bathena Home Search
Bathena wants a spot to reside, and after a promising begin, we’ve seen little motion of their seek for the proper dwelling.
I’ve advocated for a enjoyable twist on the standard home search (Home Hunters meets Bathena detectives), but when that’s not within the playing cards, we desperately want them to make some headway quickly!
Bathena deserves a brand new dwelling and a brand new begin in one thing with each of their fingerprints.
Most Heartbreaking Second – Denny Will get Harm
The Wilson household wants a rattling break.
And look, you might say that for lots of people on 9-1-1 as a result of drama IS the secret in spite of everything, however coming off an intense courtroom battle throughout 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 4 to return Mara to her dwelling, nobody was ready for Denny’s life to be in peril throughout an evening of trick-or-treating.
The hour was a somber one for Henren basically, with the couple not totally on the identical web page about Hen engaged on the Halloween vacation. And whereas Hen in the end labored on the vacation, it was the 118 that was on the scene to assist Denny, who was hit by a automotive and pinned to a home.
It was contact and go for some time as Denny fought for his life, with each of his mother and father by his facet, and in the end, his life was saved by the efforts of his mother and father and the 118 household.
It was distressing to look at younger Denny struggle for his life. Though there was a cheerful ending, it was nonetheless an unlucky second for a household that has been via a lot.
Right here’s hoping they let the Wilsons have some extra lighthearted moments to shut out this season.
Most The Irritating Storyline – Gerrard’s Flip As A Comic
I feel I can confidently say that nobody was significantly enthusiastic about having Captain Vincent Gerrard again on the 118. Nonetheless, as soon as he made his return, it grew to become about how lengthy the 118 must take care of the bigoted captain.
Properly, the reply to that might be not too lengthy, however in returning to the 118, a curious resolution was made to show Gerrard right into a curmudgeonly older man who received starstruck round a TV star and simply wanted a little bit nudge from a great man Bobby to be a little bit nicer and palatable at work.
The present principally requested us to overlook the Gerrard we beforehand met (as if that was doable) and introduced this new model of Gerrard, who fumbled round and received the foolish background music when he did one thing “humorous.”
It was a really odd alternative, although, it grew to become obvious early within the season there was a bigger plan for Gerrard, and to suit that plan, Gerrard wanted to be introduced in a sure manner.
However Gerrard was not a great particular person. He was deplorable to Hen and Chimney, and it was disappointing to see that this was not solely by no means addressed but additionally turned him right into a cranky man who was merely misunderstood.
Character Who Wants A Hug (And Ahead Progress) – Eddie Diaz
To be honest right here, everybody may use a hug.
However principally, everybody has gotten a hug this season! Bobby and Brad received to hug it out. The Wilsons had a stunning reunion as soon as Mara got here dwelling.
Plus, Buck, Maddie, and Chimney gave us a stunning hug after he congratulated them on their being pregnant!
It felt like everybody had been getting a hug aside from Eddie.
He’s desperately wanted a agency, two-handed hug for a minute now. One which he can sink into, take a deep breath, and chill out into for a minute.
We’re all hoping he’ll get that hug when he and his son lastly reunite, whether or not in Texas or California, however he may additionally use a stunning embrace and present of affection within the interim.
Lacking In Motion – Maddie Han
This season has felt very devoid of Maddie.
Sure, she has been there answering calls, and he or she and Chimney stepped in to assist with Mara, however that was a narrative with the Wilson household on the forefront.
“Confessions” had a wonderful plot about increasing their household, and it was a pleasant look into each Chimney and Maddie’s mindsets about having one other baby. Nonetheless, outdoors of that, there haven’t been any tales with Maddie out entrance.
Maddie is the hyperlink on the name heart, which hasn’t lessened, however once we’ve seen her outdoors of it this season, it’s primarily felt in service to others. We want Maddie again within the driver’s seat of her story (and Chimney, too, for that matter!)
Now, that appears poised to vary with the sneak peek for the sequence return in March 2025 displaying Maddie probably in peril, so that they’ll be rectifying the problems (although why does she need to be in ache?), however that doesn’t negate her lacking presence all through the primary eight hours.
Total Ideas
9-1-1 Season 8 has had a variety of vibrant spots, however there’s all the time room for extra.
The opening emergency was its peak, however there have been strong installments sprinkled all through and the beginning of some good tales as properly.
Bathena’s (temporary) house-hunting journey was enjoyable, and the reunification of the Wilson household was primary on many individuals’s lists to resolve as shortly as doable.
Madney’s being pregnant journey has solely simply begun, as has Eddie’s journey to work on himself and, in the end, his relationship together with his son.
Buck received cursed, after which his relationship got here to an finish. Individuals have a variety of emotions about this, however one factor’s for certain: it ought to set him as much as proceed his journey, which is just a great factor.
Even when the midseason finale fell a little bit flat, it’s good to know that some tales have been wrapped up, which means there’s loads of time to dive into the non-public tales of the mains we’ve come to adore.
These first eight get a strong B. And a really optimistic angle about what’s come.
Now it’s your flip to let me know within the feedback what you’ve thought concerning the first half of 9-1-1 Season 8!
9-1-1 Season 8 returns to ABC on March 6, 2025.
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