9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 14 Review: Duty of Care

9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 14 ‘D.I.Y.‘ sets up a bit arc for Buck to end the season, and does a good job of establishing Eddie as the person who sees through Buck, and the person who has Buck’s back, even when Buck doesn’t want to ask for help. It also gives May a storyline of her own, something the season sorely needed. Same for Maddie. But overall, it’s an episode that feels a little shallow considering that after this one, we only have four more left.

What is the big message of the season? How have these characters grown? What have we learned in this, our first season post-Bobby. The answer isn’t clear. We tried to grieve, and managed to do a bit of that, but it never felt like the show went as deep as it could. Or, at least, like it didn’t give all characters a proper chance to grieve. Not to mention that, despite a bigger cast, it feels like a lot of the ensemble just hasn’t had all that much to do.

May gets something this episode. So does Eddie, even if it’s Buck adjacent. So does Maddie. But what have we really gotten out of them? Out of Chim? Out of Chris? Not much, really. Balance is still not this show’s strong point. And now we’re only four episodes until the end of another season without any clear idea of how 9-1-1 plans to fix that or any real clue about what comes next for the unit.

We’re still somewhat invested, I’m not going to lie. But not becuase of this episode. Instead, we’re invested because of what this show has established. Because of the foundations. Now, we need 9-1-1 to deliver.

MORE: Remember when 9-1-1 killed Bobby Nash because “realism”? We’re still mad.

DUTY OF CARE

‘D.I.Y’ does a pretty good job of showing us a different side of the Buck and Eddie dynamic than we’re used to seeing. Because while ‘Mother’s Boy’ showed us a Buddie that will fight like hell for each other, this hour focuses on the smaller and yet often more meaningful ways they care about each other. Or, that Eddie cares about Buck, in this particular case.

When Eddie pushes Buck about therapy, about getting help, he’s not doing it to be a nag. He’s not doing it to annoy Buck. He’s not even fully doing it to hold Buck accountable—though there’s some of that. Instead, he’s doing it simply because he cares, and this is how he shows that. And though Buck pushes back, mostly because he’s not used to many people outside of Maddie caring, it’s clear that he also understands Eddie’s motivations.

Same thing happens later, as Eddie checks in on Buck. As he deploys the weapon he only uses when he’s really, really concerned: Chris. It doesn’t work, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an awareness on both their parts in that moment. Something is wrong. Buck is hiding, but Eddie is seeing through it. Eddie knows. He’s just giving Buck space, letting him come to him when he needs.

Later, it feels like Buck really convinces Eddie. At least for a while. But does he? If anyone is going to be able to see through Buck on this, it’s Eddie. Of course, the problem here is that if Buck lets himself fully accept Eddie’s concern, then that means he has to face how he feels about what happened to him. And healing from physical wounds is much easier than healing from mental ones. Buck would know. He has plenty of experience.

MORE: We’ve been saying it’s time for Buddie for a while.

DOES IT WORK?

Look, I have some issues with the decisions made regarding Buck in this episode, and my main one is that the show doesn’t really do a good job of explaining why this situation in particular is the straw that broke the camel’s back for Buck. The possible addiction isn’t the issue as much as the reasoning to get there. Because yes, sometimes things become too much. And when they do, it’s often easier to reach out for what feels like a quick fix. And once you’ve done that, well… lying about what you’re doing doesn’t seem out of the question.

But Buck has survived trauma after trauma after trauma, and it’s not that he hasn’t had some bumps along the road. Of course he has. But for this to be the trauma that breaks him, well… okay. Not impossible. But why now? Inquiring minds truly want to know.

If you’re going to make this decision, storytelling-wise, we need some explanation of how we got here. Of why Buck made the decisions he made. Not just “well, trauma.” And we don’t really get it. Which is why the story doesn’t hit as heavily as it should, or could. At least not right now.

Buck has never really dealt with the mountain of trauma he’s experienced. And this is, presumably, just the beginning of this arc. We will hopefully get to explore more of why he’s made this decision, and how it will end up affecting everything in his life. But for now, the story is missing a little something. We’ll be waiting.

MORE: Is Eddie Diaz gay? The question is valid. And we might even need to update the article at this point.

Things I think I think:

• This place has “good bones” isn’t what you want to hear, honestly.
• “At present we are more married to the date than each other.”
• I understand May, I do. But a lot of people use their advantages and the playing field is not even.
• JOSH! I’ve missed you, Josh.
• Eddie seeing right through Buck is kinda hilarious, because
• “Then why you have to lie about it?”
• Why is Eddie driving?
• Home repairs will ruin any relationship.
• “You’re basically family at this point,” LOL.
• “Daughter of a cop and a firefighter.” BABY MAY.
• And she got arrested before even getting the internship!
• Oh, Sue wants Maddie to take over the call center.
• He just quit like that? Josh, baby. That’s an exaggeration.
• “Does the defense rest?”
• “Even though fruit doesn’t belong on pizza.” YES, Eddie. Yes.
• Buck, why are you avoiding Eddie and Chris? If there was ever a red flag, it’s that one.
• I’m in love with Maddie’s look, truly.
• Buck and Eddie having conversations through the people they meet in cases, just like the old days!
• Passive aggressive fighting through other people, very platonic stuff!
• Sue actually has a good reason to choose Maddie over Josh!
• Harsh wake-up call for May, but I kinda liked it.
• They should have broken up before! Not the night before the wedding.
• Look, respect for the way they walked out of that house with the champagne.
• But we spent waaaay too much time on them, truly.
• Why is May there with the woman who interviewed her?
• “Finishing the thing that you started.”
• Yeah, May. You’re a baby.
• Go find your own origin story.
• Look, Maddie needed Josh.
• Okay, Eddie, but you’re gonna see through him soon, right? Right?
• Making macaroons from scratch feels like a lot, just saying.

Are you excited for 9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 14 ‘D.I.Y.’? 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.