For the first time in 9-1-1: Nashville history, even though it’s only just been six episodes, the show finally delivered a relatable episode in “Good Southern Manors.” Nothing with Blue has worked in making him a sympathetic character or someone that I would want to know more about. Blythe is just a delight because she doesn’t take anything from anyone and she fights for what she believes in while being kind. But the show itself has not worked until now.
MORE: Need a refresher of the previous episode? Read our review for 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 5!
9-1-1: Nashville finally understood that what you need is to show these firefighters as the common folk. These firefighters and the people at the call center are everyday people. They’re not the rich people in a fancy fire house or in a fancy home with horses. That’s not relatable for the people that are watching ABC. Not saying that people watching ABC can’t have money. What I’m saying is that we’re not the 1% that can live a life like this. That’s why I haven’t been able to relate to this show.
Maybe this is a turning point for the show? Who knows.
Not Me Actually Siding with Don
In my 9-1-1: Nashville reviews I have not been shy about how much I dislike Don on the show. He’s foolish about how Dixie is trying to manipulate him, doesn’t back his wife as much as I think he should, and then there’s the whole nepotism thing with Blue because I guess the fire academy is optional if they’re your son. But even I will admit that in “Good Southern Manors,” I kind of liked Don. Or maybe “kind of like” is too much of a strong word. This is the most that I have liked Don.
Tim Matheson entering the picture as Blythe’s father Edward and Don’s father-in-law is the key for shifting my perspective on Don in 9-1-1: Nashville. For the longest time Don has been the rich, not relatable guy who uses the power of nepotism to get around very important regulations. Turning it around and making Edward the one using his power to get around paying for stuff, which ultimately led him to lose his sour mash fermentation thing, that made me side with Don. And that’s what you want from a viewer. You want me to see Don’s actions and go, “Yeah, he did the right thing.”
Nevertheless, I’m still annoyed with Don.
First of all, he can’t ask his wife to play nice with Dixie in one episode and then go around behind Blythe’s back and try to blackmail her father. Edward was in the wrong. But Don is a hypocrite who wants people around him to act one way while he acts another. I’m also really annoyed that he didn’t want to fire Blue even though it put actual human lives in danger if he stayed. But when he gets put into a tough position by his father-in-law, then all of a sudden he’s ready to fire him. Where is the line? What is the logic for Don? Because I don’t know it. I don’t get it.
And by Episode 6 I should be getting the lead character. At least.
Cammie Actually Being Relatable?!
For five episodes, the only relatable person on 9-1-1: Nashville was Blythe. She’s discerning, kind, and I’m cheering every second for her to divorce Don because he stands for nothing besides nepotism. And last episode we got to see a little bit more about Roxie and Taylor, in particular the friendship that they have. And now “Good Southern Manors” is highlighting Cammie, and finally becoming a little bit more relatable to a general audience, the show’s biggest problem.
I felt for Cammie in Episode 6 as she was going up against uptight rich people that came in to make cuts aka the enemy of the common people. Because efficiency comes at the cost of jobs. And ordinary people like Cammie and the crew at the call center feel like us, the viewer. We’re just trying to make it through our day. And it’s even more stressful for the people at the call center, because they’re helping people through the hardest day of their lives. Or possibly one of the hardest days. A little bit of kindness makes people want to call back if something else happens. Oh and there’s the whole saving lives thing. That’s important too.
9-1-1: Nashville needs to invest more time and effort into the common and everyday person in Nashville. Not the rich people who own a fancy house, the horses they ride on, or the fancy upgraded firehouse they live in. Let’s not forget the fancy distillery. I even don’t care about Dixie and her recording studio or career. That’s not relatable. Watching Cammie do her job, choose kindness, and fight for what she believes in, that’s relatable. Even Don discovering that his father-in-law was stealing water and using that to blackmail him, that’s relatable because it shows the little guy triumphing over the rich guy, even though Don is also technically rich now.
Whatever. You know what I mean.
So take a lesson from this 9-1-1: Nashville. Do more of this. Make it relatable.
Additional thoughts:
- Real talk. How much money did Cammie’s husband have to upgrade Nashville’s call center like that? Cuz that’s not cheap. That’s moneyyyyyy.
- But we’re going to ignore that for now. Because for once this show is relatable.
- Oh I learned a lot this episode too.
- I learned that fermentation is the most important step in the development of alcohol.
- I also learned that fermentation is called sour mash and it was a technique that was standardized in the mid-1800s.
- And then I also learned that fermentation causes the production of ethanol, a flammable alcohol.
- Also, Blue. This was the most I’ve liked you. And you were in the show for 2.5 seconds. Thank you.
- OH NO.
- BLYTHEEEEEEE
- SAVE MY GIRL.
- THAT HORSE. I might forgive you cuz you got scared.
- but
- BLYTHEEEEEEEEEEEE!
- Also… didn’t 9-1-1 have a ransomware episode too? Season 5 Episode 1???
- Here are your nachos.
- Nashville has reheated them.
911: Nashville returns January 8th on ABC.
