9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 7 Review: ‘Hotshots’

9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 7 ‘Hotshots’ is the best kind of filler episode, as it does enough to advance a few character storylines while still remaining, at its core, a cheerful, fun episode, despite the copaganda. Sure, Buck is still sad about his breakup, but he is pretty much the only one as the episode exists in a lighter plane of existence, one where things are not as foreboding as they can sometimes get in this show.

But of course, that feels like a temporary respite. The mid-season finale is coming, and though this episode only really sets up one thing that we will surely pick up in the next hour—Brad Torrance’s continued existence in the vicinity of the 118—that doesn’t mean we expect the tone of this episode to continue on in the next hour. No, this feels like the calm before the storm. And we can and should appreciate that. We just need to understand why we’re getting it now and what that means for the future.

MORE: Do you miss Eddie’s mustache? We wrote an ode to his facial hair here!

BREAKUPS SUCK

Buck is moping around, trying to talk himself out of messaging Tommy and generally feeling miserable in 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 7 ‘Hotshots.’ This is to be expected, because breakups suck. They especially suck when you’re the one getting dumped, and when you, as Buck, aren’t even sure of what happened and how you got to where you are. But if there’s one thing absolutely everyone in Buck’s vicinity agrees on is that he should absolutely not call Tommy.

It’s not even necessarily about Tommy—though it is. In a situation like that, no one would truly advise a friend to call their ex who just dumped them in such a categorical way. There’s no fixing what Tommy decided wasn’t good enough, there’s no repairing it. And from Maddie’s gentle suggestion, to Eddie basically ripping Buck’s phone from his hand, everyone agrees. It’s time to let go of Tommy.

Buck wavers, and his wavering is to be expected. He cared about Tommy and Tommy’s last words were a little bit of a slap in the face, one that Buck would like to believe isn’t real. What do you mean Tommy stayed in the relationship for 6 months all while “knowing how it ends,” and thinking he’s “Buck’s first, not his last.” Even if we want to give Tommy the benefit of the doubt and say he did not realize until Buck asked him to move in, the reality of what happened still hurts for Buck. He was still dumped. And right now, the best he can do is rely on the people that love him and start looking forward.

And hey, no one will complain about the baked goods they get in the meantime. Go feed Eddie, please. He’s now allowing himself to want things, after all!

MORE: Is Tommy coming back to 9-1-1? Read our Lou Ferrigno Jr. interview

THE REHABILITATION OF VINCENT GERRARD

One of the most frustrating parts of this season of 9-1-1—a season that has been very good by most other standards—is the rehabilitation of Vincent Gerrard from a racist, misogynist man to simply just a hardass with a good heart. In a way, it’s the same thing the show did with Tommy, and probably for the same reason. Both were supporting characters being used to tell a story, not main characters whose motivations we have to unpack.

Still, considering how Gerrard treated Chim and Hen, how we saw him treat them, the fact that the show just handwaved away racism and misogyny and turned Gerrard into the grumpy uncle who just needs help learning how to be nicer is particularly problematic considering the world we live in. The things Gerrard did, the way he behaved—and the same goes for Tommy—are things that should be called out, and unequivocally condemned.

That doesn’t mean people can’t grow. Everyone can educate themselves, learn and become better. That’s actually the goal. But we shouldn’t be pretending those things happened off-screen without even an acknowledgement or a mention of them. Gerrard isn’t just a guy who was hard on Chim and Hem because they were probies, and the fact that the show wants us to pretend he was is disappointing, to say the least.

MORE: Here’s our review of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 4. And here’s our review of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 5.

BOBBY GOES OFF

Bobby Nash has always been the opposite of Vincent Gerrard, in all the best ways. 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 7 ‘Hotshots’ is a great showcase of how. Bobby might have used Gerrard to get his position back, and is willing to use him again to make sure he keeps it, but Bobby isn’t just the kind of man who will his team with respect and make sure they are well, but also the kind of man willing to call out injustice when he sees it.

That he stands up to Brad Torrance even when he’s supposed to be buttering him up, even if in the back of his mind he doesn’t know what that means for his job, is a measure of who Bobby is as a person. It’s not about those things in the moment, it’s about doing what’s right. And what’s right is telling Brad how much of a jack—ss he’s being.

Especially in these charged times, it’s important for 9-1-1 to send the message that what Bobby did is the correct way to approach moments like the one he and Brad were in. Brad thought he was better than the waitress. Bobby, on the other hand, understands we are all exactly the same, people doing our best. And more importantly, gets that we all deserve respect.  Sadly, now the show is going to turn that around on him and ask him to put up—and maybe find a way to see the best in Brad Torrance. May the odds be ever in his (our) favor.

MORE: Here’s our review of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 1! And here’s our review of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 2. And here’s our review of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 3!

A NEW ATHENA?

9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 7 ‘Hotshots’ presents a new Athena that is, in many ways the same Athena but better. Because this Athena understands that we can’t stop the passage of time, but we can adapt to it. But not just that, she understands that her responsibility as a cop isn’t just to look the other way and say, “It wasn’t me, I’m not the problem,” but to actively make sure there are no problems.

Of course, one person cannot fix a system, and yet the show does a decent job at showcasing that there are bad cops. A decent one, I say, because it seems like they’re trying to tell us good cops are a rarity, or that it’s mostly about the new kids coming in with wrong ideas. Still, if you didn’t flinch when this young kid talked about “power” while discussing why he wanted to be a cop, then you haven’t been paying attention. Athena has. And she stayed on it. She didn’t let it go. Because of that, someone lived. Sure, it’s the same “good cop” storyline we always get, and Athena still gives the would-be murderer too much grace, but it’s more of an attempt than I expected.

Storylines that present the police as heroes are always complicated because if we’ve learned something in the last few years is that cops aren’t heroes—they’re often not even good, and procedurals are guilty of playing at copaganda more than not. This episode isn’t completely innocent of it, but there’s at least an attempt to say yes, these kinds of police officers, the ones that are just about power, the bad ones… they exist. They’re not even rare. And the system and the other cops must be the ones to say enough is enough if we’re ever going to get anywhere.

MORE: How are we doing on the list of things we wanted for 9-1-1 Season 8? Check it out here!

Things I think I think:

• Flash Rob is objectively a bad name, just saying.
• Athena always looks good, but I’m digging this outfit. The sheer thing underneath the coat? Dayumm.
• “Little lonely, but getting by.” OKAY BUT GO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR BESTIE WHO IS ALSO LONELY, BUCK. See, easy solution.
• I’ve picked up some weird habits after a breakup, so I’m not even judging the baking. At least it’s productive!
• “Maybe you should start thinking about what’s next, instead of what’s past.” I mean, you said it, Maddie. Dude breaks up with me the way he did, I ain’t ever calling him again. To do what, beg?
• Ok Buck, but what do you mean you don’t know what pond to jump into? Even if your metaphor implies there are different ponds, you like both! The world is your oyster.
• No, being more serious, this implies Buck doesn’t know what to label himself yet, which implies he hasn’t actually thought about his sexuality past his relationship with Tommy, which basically proves Tommy’s point.
• And not knowing what to label yourself isn’t a bad thing! Everyone’s coming out journey is different, and it’s theirs. Please let’s give Buck grace as he figures himself out.
• Literally no one thinks you should call Tommy. No one.
• TRUST THE UNIVERSE, BUCK.
• It screams.
• Does anyone else thinks the little hints are going hard, or?
• The way Buck clocks Maddie is A+
• Are you, of all people, calling Maddie a blabbermouth, Chimney?
• Awww, him saying the baby thing is the best news.
• “You tell anyone, you’re dead.”
• Awww again. FAMILY.
• “Have you tried retracting it?” Eddie, was that sass?
• Also, Buck looked a tad uncomfortable as Eddie reached the guy, right? And Eddie being the one to reach him and not say anything …yeaaaah. What’s up with that?
• Too much cops for me this episode. Way too much.
• “Since when did you become a master baker?” Buck, why haven’t you been feeding your best friend? He doesn’t even allow himself juice, he absolutely needs some of your loaves.
• “It’s not dumb. You found a coping skill to deal with cravings. They do the same thing in recovery.”
• “I know that feeling. Stay strong, man.” What do you mean you know that feeling, Eddie?
• Lol at Eddie having absolutely nothing to add until Hen says Tommy might have changed his mind, and then he just agrees.
• This feels like a normal breakup. If Tommy is kinda second guessing himself, well he should! He still didn’t make the choice to reach out.
• “Definitely not.”
• “Sorry, can’t let you do that buddy.”
• Hen and Eddie are kinda hilarious passing Buck’s phone around. But hey, it worked! They stopped him!
• Like Bobby was gonna help.
• Eddie sensing Buck coming behind him is hilarious.
• Brad whyyy
• “With all due respect, I’m a Fire Captain, not a miracle worker.”
• The whole thing with this rookie whose name I’m not even going to try to remember talking about cops and power is MEGA CRINGE. Literally the kind of cop we do not want.
• Hen and Athena scene, we’ve WON. And they got WINE.
• Bobby is right about the cane, okay?
• But sometimes you need to hear advice from your friends, I get that.
• “Smile a little bit more.” LOL
• “I appreciate you, Bobby.” Brad, stop.
• Elaine, LISTEN.
• “The most special person in the entire world.” Buck and Baby Jee was perfection.
• Okay, but Bobby putting Brad in his place was hot.
• Ironic that this woman was right to not trust the cops. I wouldn’t trust the cops either.
• What do you mean what did she tell them? THE TRUTH.
• I kinda like this for Athena, the only problem is this means more cop storylines.
• And there was no need for her to shake the dude’s hand, truly.
• Buck, Hen and Eddie laughing together. Again, perfection. And man, how could they not? Who even found the video?
• Buck, Hen and Eddie answering together, lol.
• Eddie is such a Latino, he pulled out his phone to record Brad, just in case.
• “Your words blasted the entitlement out of me.” BUT DID THEY?
• He closed the door! CLOSED THE DOOR. Before the actual firefighters could get in.
• It’s high level absurd how long Chris has been away at this point. Can we get a move on with the finding himself storyline for Eddie? Because this makes no real-world sense.
• And while we’re at it, even if they’re on very different journeys, let Buck and Eddie TALK.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 7 ‘Hotshots’? Share with us in the comments below!

9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.