9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 18 Review: ‘Intrusive Thoughts’

9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 18 “Intrusive Thoughts” see the death of Don and Blythe’s marriage. Maybe not for them, but definitely for me as a viewer. Because a line was crossed and there’s no way to turn back, no matter what the outcome of that fight is or the fact that Don went home. 

Despite Don and Blythe’s marriage imploding being teased as the central focus of this episode, we did get a lot of Ryan and Sam. And honestly we’re kind of split on the decision being made and how that can affect their future. But we’re not parents so we can only imagine that it’s a really difficult situation, even though we have thoughts on how Sam is making the wrong choice.

MORE: Need a refresher of where we left off last? Read our review for 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 17 here!

But overall, 9-1-1: Nashville had a semi-decent first season. But that doesn’t mean that they have found their footing. They still have a lot of work to do to understand what the core of this story is. Because what happened to all the drama surrounding Blue where it felt like he was a central character? When was the last time Ryan and Blue really talked? So many questions.

Blythe Needs to Divorce Don

There was something so satisfying about watching Blythe smack Dixie and then start an epic fight. Because Blythe has continuously held her tongue as Dixie has tried to tear her down just to get to Don while he barely fought back. But enough is enough. And at the end of the day it’s not so much that Dixie is coming after her husband. It’s more about how this woman could destroy her life’s work, her family’s reputation, and that of her father’s. 

Either way, Blythe needs to divorce Don. 

Even though Don didn’t cheat, he saw one sign of his wife meeting up with an ex, and planned to cheat. He didn’t talk to her or have a semblance of faith in her. So no, I don’t think he deserves any good grace that at the end he made the “right decision.” Because as soon as you dabble in temptation, it’s curtains for you, baby. And now that Blythe knows he planned to cheat and got into that fight with Dixie, I hope that she dumps Don in Season 2.

I will say that I found myself asking what’s different about the situation in “Intrusive Thoughts” in comparison to what Hen did with her ex on 9-1-1 when she was married to Karen. The difference is that Hen is a likable character so I’m more forgiving. Don isn’t a likeable character. I barely tolerate him. And it’s not the actor, who I’ve heard great things about from NCIS: LA fans. It’s the writing on Nashville. 

For some reason they want us to hate Don. And they’re succeeding.

Sam and Ryan Are Making the Wrong Decision

To be clear, I do not have children, and I cannot understand the full extent of what Sam and Ryan are going through. But from an outside perspective, I think the decision she’s making is ill advised and the wrong choice. 

At the core of it, this plot feels like an obsession on having a child that shares your DNA instead of having a child. But DNA isn’t the only way to have a child. You can adopt. And I don’t understand why Sam is going for the nuclear option where she’s going to have this baby even if it kills her. Does she not understand that if she dies then Ryan’s going to have to raise that child on his own, the kid might feel like they killed their mom, and she herself won’t see the baby grow up?

Ultimately, I think Sam is going to lose the baby. And it’s not even going to be because of cancer. 

Sam is going to lose the baby because you don’t see babies on TV anymore, especially if you’re a procedural. They cost too much money and are a hassle to studios. Just think about your favorite procedural and how they always end up having miscarriages or adopting an older teen or a toddler. When was the last time you saw a baby? And I think it’s cruel to Sam as a character to dangle this pregnancy plot and hit her with trauma about possibly dying for her to just lose the baby. 

Maybe Sam could have just had a happy pregnancy? Maybe she and Ryan could have had other drama? Nashville has certainly found multiple ways to do that with Don and Blythe. I’m just dissatisfied with this because it feels like cookie cutter TV drama where at the end of the day, Sam loses. And we as the viewer lose too. Because this cancer plot could be an interesting story about choice, family, and resilience. But I don’t trust Nashville to bring it home, especially with how TV has dealt with storylines like this before.

MORE: Ryan Phillippe is Joining 9-1-1: Nashville Cast for Season 2

Did Nashville Have a Good Season 1?

For a freshman season, 9-1-1: Nashville didn’t do that bad. They set up a hatred for Dixie that can power a thousand suns and has me ranting here about how Don needs to be dumped by Blythe. They also managed to actually give Blue something more than just the country hick character development plot. And they managed to keep Ryan and Sam together while also giving us a new relationship for Taylor and Roxie. 

But 9-1-1: Nashville still hasn’t found its footing. 

The first complaint that comes to my mind is the fact that plenty of the characters still feel one dimensional. Blue is marginally better than the flat character he was in the first couple of episodes. Taylor, I still don’t know anything about her besides the fact that she likes singing and she’s dating Blue. Roxie I know nothing about her besides she was in the military and she’s into women. And when was the last time Ryan interacted with the crew like he did in the first couple of episodes? 

And then there’s the soap opera of it all. I understand that Nashville is giving Dynasty roots. But you’ve got to step it up instead of giving me this flat drama when it comes to Don, Blythe, and Dixie. Because I might like trash TV, but to keep something like Nashville going, you need depth. And this show is desperately missing the kind of depth that makes you care for these people and their survival. 

Because at this point by the 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 finale, I wouldn’t be too broken up if any of them died. That even includes Blythe, who is my favorite character. But the only direction we could go is up, right? Or I hope.

What did you think about 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 18? Let us know in the comments below!