9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 6 ‘Family History’ is the kind of midseason finale that doesn’t really feel like a midseason finale. Part of that is that I don’t believe it was planned as such—the first “half” of the season was slated to have at least one more episode, and then the scheduling Gods intervened and… here we are.
As such, however, the season feels like it’s barely starting to formulate what it’s about outside of the expected grief over Bobby, and now we have to wait almost two months for more. Not the show’s fault entirely, but it also underscores how the opening space emergency didn’t really need to be four episodes long, particularly because the grief over Bobby is the kind of storyline you can’t just drop. It’ll continue to be a part of the connective tissue of 9-1-1 going forward.
9-1-1 has always, as a show, managed to deliver particularly affecting episodes. “Día de los Muertos” was one. This isn’t, even though overall, it’s not a bad one. Multiple examples from previous seasons prove the show can pull it off. But the pace has always been a problem, and that has absolutely nothing to do with when the midseason finale happened to fall. Six episodes in, we should have more than a vague notion of where the show intends to take its characters this season and a resolution for the things we expected to be resolved. Right now, it feels like we know very little. And that’s the biggest problem going into the hiatus.
MORE: Remember when 9-1-1 killed Bobby Nash because “realism”? We’re still mad.
BUCK & HARRY
If there’s a character we’ve seen grow this season, even though we haven’t gotten all that much focus on him, it’s been Buck. And the way the show has turned Buck’s grief for Bobby into a desire to become not the kind of person Bobby would want him to be, necessarily, but the kind of person Bobby knew he could be, makes me very emotional.
This translates to Buck not just helping Harry prepare for the firefighter exam, but being there for more than the physical preparation, stepping up as the big brother/cheerleader/motivational speaker when Harry quits. It’s the same thing we saw from Buck in the last episode’s storyline with his squatter. Buck is choosing the Bobby way in so many things, and I’m sure Bobby would be very proud. Sometimes, in the depths of grief, it’s hard to pull the good out. Buck has managed to find a way, and it’s the kind of thing that shows how far he’s come from the immature, reckless kid we first met.
One thing we haven’t really seen, however, is the show translate Bobby’s “they’re going to need you” into anything real. Buck is stepping up for Harry, and this episode is about Harry as much as it is about Buck. About what he wants and why he wants it. About what he’s willing to do to become a firefighter. And Buck helping Harry is important, and likely something Bobby would really appreciate, but it’s hard to believe that’s what Bobby meant when he told Buck he would be needed.
He was likely talking about the rest of the 118, and in that regard, the show has really dropped the ball. Harry’s storyline is much more well-rounded. He’s a kid trying to find his place in the world, and he just wants to prove that he can do it. That he’s capable. That his mom doesn’t have to worry about him. Except, you know, she’s his mom. That’s her job. That and supporting him.
As for Buck, the problem is we’ve barely seen him interact for more than a few seconds with anyone but Ravi, and even that has been mostly casual. But then again, we’ve barely seen any focus on anyone this season other than Athena, and a little bit of Harry and Eddie, so when has he had time to? Hopefully, this will be a thing the show actually pays off later on, because right now, it’s feeling like, as interesting as Buck’s storyline has been, it could be so much better.
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ATHENA & MAY
As a longtime fan of Angela Bassett, I’m usually not one to complain about Athena plots! I enjoy Athena plots for the most part, and I enjoy Angela Bassett. I think it needs to be said when in my opinion, the plots don’t really serve the actor or the character. But that’s not really the case here. The problem isn’t the Athena plot; it’s the pacing of the season.
In the opening season emergency, both the message and the acting were on point; we just took way too long to get there. That’s me being fair, but I was still mostly complimentary in my criticism of it because the conclusion of the space arc touched me very deeply. In this episode, however, the Athena plot is not as much an Athena plot as it is a May plot. Or a plot about their relationship. And in that regard, it feels like it was needed. We’ve gotten some May focus before, but it’s been a long time since May and Harry have been on the show consistently, so it makes sense that May is getting some more focus in this hour. And her biggest on-screen relationship is with her mom, so that will, of course, involve her.
The issue is, once again, the pace. It feels like we’ve learned so little from other characters! The tone of the season is a little sad! Both true statements, and both can be traced back to the decision to kill Bobby Nash. If Bobby Nash weren’t dead, we wouldn’t be here. But since he is, we do have to deal with the grief. And since May and Harry are series regulars, they do need some focus.
I’ve loved the focus on the two of them, really. And their presence is a good way to give Athena some storylines outside of, God forbid, bringing in another love interest. The problem is, of course, how many dangling plot threads we are still waiting for the show to pick up and how little idea we have of what this show intends to do with those.
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CHIMNEY & HEN
“9-1-1” Season 9, Episode 6 ‘Family History’ sets up Chimney taking over for Bobby officially, and sees Hen ignore absolutely every instinct that tells her something is going on with her and refuse to confide in her family when she literally passes out for hours because… she doesn’t want to worry them?
The Chimney part of it is a little confusing. I understand the lingering doubts, but it’s not like he didn’t know what the team thought. Eddie told him to his face that he should take the test. Episode 1 of this season established that he should be the Captain! Everyone seemed to agree. It’s not just Maddie. Of course, sometimes you are your own enemy. You want something and you feel guilty for wanting it, so you convince yourself it’s everyone else who has a problem.
It’s overall a good storyline for Chimney, even if it does feel like most of his internal struggle happens off-screen, because the truth is, we expected him to have trouble with it. Becoming Captain after Bobby was always going to be complicated. But the thing he had to realize is that he doesn’t have to be Bobby. He just has to be himself. That’s enough.
As for Hen, the decision to say nothing to Karen is more than a little infuriating. Hen should know better. No, wait, she does know better. And yet, despite how wrong it is, a part of me does get not wanting to share. At least, until you know what’s going on. Because what are you doing then but giving people something to worry about? The thing, of course, is that you are worried too. And worry is one of those things it’s better not to carry alone.
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Things I think I think:
- Book club?
- New Captain?! Chimney, take the test.
- Look, no one’s going to compare to Bobby. That’s just the way it is.
- “What if they resent me for thinking I can take Bobby’s place?”
- I feel like Eddie does not have enough trauma about family reunions for a Latino.
- “Boy Scout Jamboree?”
- No, no, I’m sure protein powder and diet soda do not taste like a root beer float, Eddie. But you and Buck can be weird together. Literally your entire vibe, anyway.
- Chimney is so awkward trying to praise the team.
- The Buck/Harry interaction is a PERFECT BIG BRO/LITTLE BRO interaction.
- Also, Buck is so scared of Athena.
- Look, I’m not surprised Athena is having flashbacks to what happened to May, considering that call.
- Hen, you know better than this.
- Everyone knows you don’t give Buck a clipboard. Or a whistle, apparently.
- The montage was kinda cool, not gonna lie.
- Is it the mom? Tell me it’s not the mom.
- Hen, WTF?
- “Get used to it, it’s happening.” I drink wine with my mom!
- “Mom, you know I’m okay.”
- “I remember waking up in that hospital bed and seeing your face.”
- The mom? Why?!
- Oh, so it’s gonna be Athena who basically decides?
- OMG, Harry talking about how Bobby reacted to Buck. I’m dying.
- “He’d never let me give up on myself.”
- Harry made me tear up. Truly.
- Athena and Harry made me tear up more.
- THE TEAM AND CHIMNEY.
- Okay, but the message on the watch?!
- “I promise I won’t let you guys down.”
- Maddie, you saw her! Worry!
- Lyme disease?
- Hen, TALK TO SOMEONE.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of 9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 6 ‘Family History’? Share with us in the comments below! Check out our Tales From the 118 podcast if you also want to listen to our reviews. On Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Plus, if you want to leave your own rating/comment about the show, you can do so in our 9-1-1 hub!
9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.
