This week’s 9-1-1: Lone Star focused on Mateo as well as Judd and Grace. Mateo’s not usually the focus of the show, and while we would usually be thrilled to see more of him and learn more about his past, we wish the circumstances were better. We also wish this episode hadn’t had a dream sequence.
Identical Cousin
Near the beinning of “Double Trouble” Mateo’s identical cousin, Marvin, gets arrested for stealing a car. It’s definitely not his first time doing this, and he needs money to be bailed out of jail. Mateo doesn’t have that kind of money, and he asks Owen for money, but Owen declines. Owen says that by giving money to Marvin, he will just do this same thing again. And, it turns out, Owen was right.
Nancy gave Carlos the money to get Marvin out of jail. And we have some opinions on this. Nancy, we know you like Mateo, but dang. That’s your money that you worked hard for and saved! And it wasn’t even a little money. It was over $24,000!!!! Nancy, honey, you could have done so much with that money. Mateo, we hope you know how amazing your girlfriend is.
Anyway, we digress. So Marvin gets out of prison and immediately steals another car and goes joyriding. And it ends tragically. Poor Mateo. He feels so awful and feels like it’s his fault that Marvin is dead. It’s not his fault! Marvin made those choices. No one forced him to steal another car right after getting out of jail. Everyone makes choices, and Marvin made his.
One Weird Dream
Okay, we’ll give the writers props for being creative. But Mateo’s dream was strange and silly. Was it necessary? Mateo could have just told us that he was the one who burned down his school when he was a teenager and that Marvin took the fall. The dream sequence just seemed out of place.
Even after learning what Marvin did, it still doesn’t make his death Mateo’s fault. Again, we all make choices. Marvin was a good cousin to take the fall to save Mateo from being deported. But Marvin wasn’t a teenager anymore. He was given multiple chances to become a good person, and he didn’t.
We’re also glad that Owen didn’t take Mateo to the police station to confess. Mateo’s already suffering enough. Telling the police that he set fire to the school all those years ago wouldn’t have done any good. Mateo can make it up to Marvin by being a great firefighter and helping save others. We hope that Mateo doesn’t shut people out. He’s going to need his friends in the coming weeks.
Grandpa Judd
Wyatt returned in “Double Trouble” and it feels like it’s been forever since we’ve seen him. And he definitely turned Judd’s life upside down this week. Wyatt and his girlfriend announced they’re having a baby. It’s safe to say Judd didn’t see that coming! Wyatt wants to drop out of school and become a firefighter. And while it’s comforting to know that Wyatt realizes he needs money for the baby, Judd isn’t convinced of this plan.
Judd doesn’t think Wyatt is cut out to be a firefighter. We get where Judd was coming from: being a first responder is a hard job. And it’s not for everyone. But Wyatt idolizes Judd, and for Judd to tell him he doesn’t think he can be a firefighter was heartbreaking. But Grace put some sense into Judd, and said that he needs to help Wyatt. Thank goodness for Grace. And now Judd can teach Wyatt and help him qualify to become a firefighter. Who knows… maybe Wyatt will be part of the 126 in the future. And we know that Judd will always love Wyatt.
9-1-1: Lone Star airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox.
