The Season 7 finale of 9-1-1 has come and gone, and though Season 8 feels a million years away, the Season 7 finale left us with plenty of unanswered questions as we look forward to the next season. And some of those aren’t even about anticipating what’s coming, they are literal huh questions.
Yes, the Season 7 finale does set up exciting character journeys in Season 8, but the way it does so feels a little suspect at times. We’ll take Bobby having to fight for his job back, we’re just not sure how he lost it in the first place. And we’re all for Eddie’s journey of self-discovery, but did Christopher really have to go all the way to Texas for Eddie to find himself?
So, without further ado, here are 5 unanswered questions we have after the finale, titled “All Fall Down”:
Was Bobby Really Just Hoping Everyone Forgot He Quit?
The sequence of events regarding Bobby’s job makes no sense. Did he just forget he quit? Did Bobby Nash really just show up to his old job without letting anyone know he was coming back to it? After he quit two weeks before? Or was he just counting on the promise that they weren’t going to fill his job right away?
Either way, the show needed a line or two to make sure we understood what the hell happened and how Gerrard ended up at the 118. Because right now the math ain’t mathing.
Did Christopher Really Need to Go to Texas?
The Christopher storyline is very basic TV trying to isolate a character, in this case, Eddie, and probably trying to get him to look at who he is in a situation he hasn’t actually had to face in his entire adult life: by himself. That part I kinda respect. I do believe Eddie uses Christopher as a crutch for his emotions sometimes. But even if all of that is true, sending the kid to Texas doesn’t really add up.
First, because like Eddie pointed out in the finale, he’s 13 now, not 5. He’s gotta know what calling his grandparents especially means for his dad. And yes, he might be doing it for this exact reason, lashing out, but how long does that last? In truth, it shouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks. And as I pointed out here, Eddie’s parents haven’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt on this.
Is This All We Get of Buck’s Coming Out Storyline?
We were all very excited to get a coming-out storyline for Buck. And the actual coming out part of it was handled really well! And then …we got nothing else, other than a relationship for Buck, one that stayed in the background for most of the season. This, of course, might be explained by the fact that the show had a short season due to the writer’s strike. But it would be great for 9-1-1 to explore a little more of Buck as a full-fledged member of the LGBTQ community.
Figuring out where you fit within the community is complicated, after all. Buck does have people to talk to in his immediate circle, so that would be a good start. But the show can open that up further by allowing the fact that Buck is bisexual to mean something within the context of the show not just when he’s with Tommy (or, God forbid, when Gerrard has something to say about it).
Will Hen and Karen Ever Catch a Break?
The caveat is, of course, we’re watching a TV procedural. This is the name of the game sometimes. Drama is coming the way of these characters because that’s what these shows are designed to do. But family-wise, it does seem like Hen and Karen cannot seem to catch a break. It’s been one thing after another over and over and over. Everyone once in a while, it seems like something has to break the cycle. If nothing else, so people don’t always see it coming.
Chimney and Maddie stepping up kinda works like that, but it’s just a stopgap. Hen and Karen need a win that’s theirs, soon. They sure as hell have earned it.
Was Bringing Back Gerrard Really Necessary?
There is something to be said for facing your bully, and the people Gerrard is facing aren’t the same ones he once met. The 118 is now a family, one that has each other’s backs. They’ll face him together, which is probably what 9-1-1 was going for setting him up as the ‘villain’ of Season 8.
But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be nice to have to see them probably face homophobia and racism – particularly when we consider that Gerrard shouldn’t even have a job if the LAFD took complaints seriously. Sure, there is a certain appeal in fighting back and making sure the bullies know that they can’t and won’t beat you, particularly considering that no matter how we wish it, they will always exist. But sometimes we just want some escapism, and not a bigoted Captain, don’t we?
9-1-1 returns with new episodes in the Fall.
