9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 18 Review: ‘Hearts and Flowers’

9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 18 “Hearts and Flowers” is a solid, if uneventful, season finale that delivers some shocks, a little heart, and sets up a pretty clear future for most characters, but especially Buck. In fact, it pretty much follows the tried and true procedural standard for making season finales that hit hard. Two of our own are in danger of dying. There are tears. There’s danger. Plus, a cute kid! And all is well that ends well, more or less.

The problem with 9-1-1, of course, is that it’s hard to really deliver that gut punch at this point, because we already got the worst one we could possibly get with Bobby last year. Sure, there were a solid ten seconds where I believed Eddie might not make it, and there was a point where things looked dicey for Athena, but that’s about it. Common sense prevailed, for me and for the writers. Because we just cannot afford to lose anyone else, and everyone involved knows it.

Did I say the problem like there was just one? I’m sorry, that was silly of me, I have others! Including the fact that most character arcs don’t feel cohesive, and the decisions the characters make don’t feel earned. Athena wanting to be a detective now? I mean, I guess. Buck now wants a kid! Yeah, that tracks… not.

But perhaps the biggest one is that the season ended with the show seemingly deciding they’re not going to address the Buddie elephant in the room, an elephant they invited in. The whole thing could have remained a mere footnote in this story, something a lot of people liked but understood might never happen. Then the show gave it wings. And now, it’s acting like it never happened. Mind you, it’s not walking it back. It’s just ignoring it.

Whether it is because the show doesn’t truly want to go there, or because they consider that kind of storyline to be an endgame play, it’s hard to say. But the end result for viewers when you put all these things together is the same: frustration. Even after an otherwise good finale.

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

YOU GET AN NDE! YOU GET AN NDE!

Killing Bobby was supposed to up the stakes, and yet it feels like all 9-1-1 has managed is to remove the stakes from the show for good. Did I really believe Athena was leaving us? Did I think Eddie was actually going to die? Not really. And part of the reason is that, as I said before, I don’t think the show can afford to lose anyone else. So, at this point, no matter how dicey things get, I assume they’re going to work out. Otherwise, there’s the show.

Sure, they lulled us into a false sense of security before and then killed Bobby, but how many times can a series pull something like that off? It’s a play it once and you’re done kinda card, and 9-1-1 already played it. And hey, if Athena had really died and the one waiting for her on the other side hadn’t been Bobby, then that would just have been adding insult to injury. Just saying.

This isn’t a bad hour. In fact, it’s a pretty entertaining one that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. 9-1-1 pulled all the procedural stops. I felt things! I was concerned. I was happy. I was relieved. And I am looking forward to what’s next. I’m just not sure I can say I’m fully satisfied with how this season went or that I understand what the journey for every character was, and that’s starting to feel like a pattern.

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

LIFE ISN’T A FAIRYTALE

The problem with this human trafficking storyline was always that there was no way for 9-1-1 to land it. Not really. Storytelling-wise, there were only two choices: play it in the TV way and give it a happy (or happyish) ending that would never happen in real life, or play it straight and end the season on a downer because there are no happy endings when it comes to stories like this one these days.

Of course, since this is a TV show, 9-1-1 picked option one. I can’t even say I blame them; I just can’t respect them for it. Because everything we’ve seen of this storyline in the last few episodes is a caricature of reality, and one that gives the impression that things can be fixed if you just have the right people in your corner and believe in the process or something equally as idealistic. But we know that’s wrong. We see it every day on the news.

As a Latina, I would have rather 9-1-1 didn’t try to tell an immigration story if the show wasn’t willing to show the ugly parts. Because everything about it is ugly these days. That’s the truth. And it’s one the show should have been willing to explore, particularly if it wanted to involve Eddie in it. Because sure, this is sad, but for Eddie, it touches a nerve. Or at least, it should. 9-1-1 has just never been good at showcasing Eddie’s identity, Dia de Muertos episode aside.

MORE: Here’s our review of the penultimate episode

Things I think I think:

• Funny how they made us think it was Athena. And by funny, I mean not funny.
• Man, I’m so glad they weren’t called to Athena.
• Am I supposed to feel bad for the dirty cop?
• I do not feel bad.
• Elaine, you got this. Figure it out!
• Maddie, you’re gonna make me cry.
• “Because she’s Athena.”
• This would have been the perfect time to bring back Bobby, just saying.
• Buck and Harry are still very good.
• Yeah, like Hen, I’d be more stressed at home.
• “A failure of imagination?” Truly?
• Athena, you knew. Deep down, you knew.
• “I gotta say, you’re not making it real easy.” Every Latino ever.
• But, is stabbed better than shot?
• Ravi and May are giving me feels.
• This episode is so dark, I hate it.
• You stabbed the wrong person, I guess. He’s hard to kill.
• That poor man just got shot.
• Nooooo Eddie.
• These lockdown protocols probably need some rethinking, just saying.
• Ravi being an action hero right here, truly. And May? How did you keep calm?
• Josh for the win, too.
• Horrible Grey’s Anatomy flashbacks with Eddie and that elevator.
• But are you sure it’s fine, Josh?
• Buck! Harry!!! You did good.
• Now, someone go find Eddie, please.
• “Where’s Eddie?” Exactly, Buck. Exactly.
• Look, not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but what’s the point of an Eddie NDE if it doesn’t advance the plot in any way?
• “The elevator looked like the one from The Shining.”
• We get it, we get it. Buck is as much Eddie’s family as his own family.
• Sure, Athena quitting makes about as much sense as anything else the characters have done this season, lol.
• That’s actually such a thoughtful gift, Ravi.
• Eddie sent Esteban to his parents, hahahaha.
• That feels like a punishment.
• Oh, detective? I can get behind this.
• Hello, Theo.
• We’re gonna ignore reality and how there’s no way they should be giving Buck a kid after his addiction storyline 0.2 seconds ago, because hey, if they fixed the immigration system, what’s this in the grand scheme of things, right?

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of 9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 18 ‘Hearts and Flowers’? 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.