9-1-1: Season 1/ Episode 2 “Let Go” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

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9-1-1 keeps the drama high but can it find some heart amongst the sensationalism?

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Network
FOX
Director(s)		Gwyneth Horder-Payton
Writer(s)		Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Tim Minear
Air Date		1/10/2018
Catch Up or Follow Along [External]
Characters Introduced
Devon	Sean Liang
Chad	Caleb Castille
Carla	Cocoa Brown
Dr. Wells	Autumn Reeser
May	Corinne Mas
Liz	Jee Young Han

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The First Loss: Buck, Bobby

It has been only around 4 months for Buck and with him experiencing his first loss, Devon, it kind of crushes him. Especially since, while he saved 4 people, he lost 1 and saw him die. All because he didn’t want to reach out and help save himself. But, considering Devon lost his best friend Chad only minutes before his untimely demise, and his sister Liz saying he has a history of depression, I guess there was only so much Buck could have been expected to do.

But while Bobby is willing to understand Buck’s remorse, especially since Liz adds fuel to the fire and originally blames Buck for Devon’s death, him hesitating, later on, raises a red flag. The kind which pushes Bobby to recommend Buck goes to counseling but despite how emotional Buck is, it seems he apparently doesn’t like talking about them. So rather, he ends up sleeping with his therapist. Luckily though, Abby seems to be able to open Buck up in ways Dr. Wells couldn’t do.

Though, don’t discount Bobby in Buck’s recovery. At least with there being no sexual chemistry, he can get past all the nonsense and speak directly to Buck the person. With that, he learns Buck wanted to be a Navy Seal, but didn’t want to be a machine. Alongside that, while he enjoys the thrill of the job, it’s the benefit of helping people as well which is what made firefighting so appealing. So, to get his daredevil back, since we’ve seen Bobby’s old behind and Chimney’s cowardly self won’t compensate, he has Buck take lead in basically drop kicking a man off the ledge of his apartment, after the man thinks his lady is cheating on him.

Taking a Step Outside Your Comfort Zone: Abby, Buck

As noted in the first episode, it has been a while since Abby has been with anyone, namely Tommy. Yet, with her getting this new aide for her mom, Carla, who is a bit pushy and nosy, but good at her main job, she ends up calling Buck. Someone who complimented her part in the job, so she is smitten, and with seeing him not overjoyed by national media attention for saving those 4 people, she is a bit worried.

So, the two talk and with Carla egging her on, and even her mother, Abby eventually asks out Buck. Problem is, with him just sleeping with Dr. Wells, there is this idea he has intimacy issues and with him really liking Abby, he doesn’t want to mess things up. So, he arranges it so that they’ll just talk on the phone for now. Especially since he likes the fact the Abby is into that where most girls Buck messes with want to text and things of that nature.

Not Everyone Can Bounce Back: Athena

With a gay husband, yet no real desire to take off her wedding ring, Athena is trying to see if something can be worked out with Michael. Problem is, he has met someone and it seems as much as she might be willing to be in a sexless, maybe loveless marriage, Michael is not. Which of course pushes Athena to go extra hard at work. Well, at least theoretically. She is definitely more aggressive but with her letting a burglar get away, but of course catching him later on, needless to say, she is off her game.

Though bad turns to worse when she learns her daughter May has overdosed on pills.

Collected Quote(s) & .Gifs

The right kind of no is better than the wrong kind of yes.

Low Point

Athena’s Daughter Attempting Suicide

Even with taking note of how upset May was about learning her father was gay in episode 1, I still have a bit of a difficult time understanding this suicide attempt. Granted, there could be reasons not dealing with her father which have led to this. It is just, nothing built up to this. Not just in the form of you being invested in May to be shocked but even in terms of Athena as a mother, it’s something she is but not a central part. So it seems more like cheap drama her daughter overdosing, on whatever she took vs. it being a sign of how stressful the child’s life has become to the point it seemed like the only way.

On The Fence

Abby and Buck

Abby is likable and Buck is likable. She is this woman who, because of her mother’s Alzheimer’s, is a bit at her wit’s end. He is this young guy who is a bit of a thrill seeker who got taken aback by not getting to play the hero he has become accustomed to being. Now, her seeking him out to console him in a way Bobby and Dr. Wells couldn’t do was fine. However, Carla pushing this idea that she needs to get her groove back through Buck gave me pause.

Now, it isn’t because the idea of an older woman and younger man is so terrible. That isn’t it at all. It is more so that as much as you can see Buck could use a mature woman in his life, you also have to recognize the only reason Abby is being pushed toward Buck is to put her closer to the main storylines. That is, rather than just answering the calls which set up what happens with the fire department and Athena. For, let’s face it, Abby’s storyline on its own no one would really watch. On top of that, Connie Britton, like Angela Bassett, may have gotten a nice boost in their career thanks to Ryan Murphy and company, but she still wouldn’t accept some bit part barely worth her time for him.

So, in the long run, I truly hope that they may try but fumble, and Abby could be the confidant Buck needs and nothing more. For truly, while the idea of an older woman and young man is intriguing, I just don’t have faith that in the show’s attempt to make it sexy and realistic, they’ll succeed.

So Who Are Hen and Chimney?

Okay, a part of me gets Chimney acts as some sort of comic relief, but I do wonder if he might become more than that? Then with Hen, is she just going to be Athena’s “homegirl” and that’s it? Is this basically Buck and Athena’s show, featuring Abby and Bobby? Are the rest there to basically fill out the cast?

We Need Better 911 Call Actors For When The High Wears Off

Arguably, at this point in the show, the main actors are okay. As noted with Abby and Bucky, they’re likable. They aren’t the type you clamor to see on a weekly basis, but they’re likable. Which makes the fact the 911 calls are already starting to become dull in terms of situation and acting kind of alarming. The guest stars are arguably what makes shows like this for they are able to naturally heighten a situation and bring out the best, and worse, of the lead actors.

Take note of how The Good Doctor handles its guest stars. Though they spend an entire episode with them, which 9-1-1 isn’t really set up to do, each actor is given the story and performance to make it count. However, the Devon situation, including his sister Liz, did not hit anything out of the park. His, sort of, suicide, wasn’t made impactful despite Buck’s sad puppy dog eyes. Especially once they had him sleep with his therapist.

Which pushes me to ultimately wonder, does 9-1-1 want you to take it seriously at all?

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