The 118 race to save a man under siege by his high-tech smart home, and a yoga teacher who has lost her vision. Athena hunts down a bank robber disguised by COVID protocols. Meanwhile, Buck confides in Maddie, Hen clashes with her antagonizing medical school lab partner and members of the 118's crew prep for an out-of-state mission.
In 2020, the television industry aired 493 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of FOX's 9-1-1.
"Future Tense" was written by Andrew Meyers and directed by Marita Grabiak
Buck saw the need to talk to a therapist. He sees it as beneficial. He is able to outline his reasoning when Maddie presses for more details as well. She called him sad and lonely. It was a statement that she didn't necessarily mean. However, he took it to heart. He looked inward and took the necessary steps to address some problems in his life. It's all seen as positive. And yet, Maddie worries about him. Apparently, there is some big family secret that has burdened her for a long time regarding Buck. Now, that is only teased here. It seems likely that she tells Chimney because she wants them to be a completely united family. They have both worried about her pregnancy. However, everything continues to go perfectly fine with that. They are expecting a baby girl. They learn the gender of the baby together. That is an incredibly sweet moment that highlights how the experience has changed due to the restrictions during the pandemic. Maddie wants to share this surprise with Chimney. She trusts him completely. She is only frustrated when she talks to her mother about this. That is the reaction she has whenever she brings up her parents. It's presented as one big mystery. One that isn't easy to point to and talk about how they failed in raising their children. It extends deeper than them simply being abusive or neglectful. Maddie still has an overall positive view of her parents as people. They simply aren't close. That doesn't prevent Maddie and Buck from being close right now. They have so much love for each other. There was a time though where every member of this family was distant. They have put the work in to make things better. That has been beneficial. But now, Maddie worries about her brother now that he is in therapy. It's enough for her to mention these secrets from the past to her parents and Chimney. It's still a tease for the future. Right now, Buck is off to have an adventure in Texas with Eddie and Hen that will play out in the next episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star. He also has a rather amusing plot where he pranks Eddie because he is terrified of the increasing lack of privacy in the world because of how invasive technology has become in our lives. And yes, it's fun to see this smart technology lurk everywhere when he responds to a call. That is one of the effective comedic beats of this episode. The other comes from the reveal that a bank robber uses a ride share app in order to get away from both the scene of the crime and his home once the police arrive. So many stories highlight how criminals are brilliant and law enforcement have to be smarter to capture them. This show does a great job highlighting the many foolish mistakes that people make that allows them to get caught right away. It's fun. It also doesn't distract from the more serious note that happens when Bobby and May sit down to talk about counseling. It has become a mandatory part of May's job at the call center. Her boss wants to ensure that the stress of this job doesn't bring up feelings of self harm again. They are being proactive about the situation without limiting her abilities whatsoever. It's rewarding and enriching. It offers a positive stance on therapy and the power of talking with someone about various problems. Bobby is a huge advocate as well. He receives great treatment simply by attending meetings. However, he clashes with Athena because she views this process as someone being paid to baby her about the traumas she has endured. That is concerning especially because of how dismissive she treats the subject. It was a part of her life for a finite amount of time. That's what it needs to be in order to be successful. Some problems don't work like that though. Sometimes it's healthy and necessary to see counseling for the rest of one's life. Both options are valid. Both can offer greater perspective on the world that helps humanity address problems before they get out of hand. That highlights how the show is hoping to dig a little deeper with its characters this season. Hen is overwhelmed and overworked. She loses her temper. It happens at an inopportune time. She has had to fight to prove her worth everywhere she goes. Her life hasn't been easy. Empathy and connection can still be found as well. It's never closed off as a possibility. She may be annoyed with her lab partner. However, she is able to deduce things that others cannot. No one truly knows what's going on in someone else's mind. Hen forges this new connection. One where they hope to work hard to prove just how valuable life is. They can achieve all of these great ambitions despite the costs it wears on their bodies. That is what they are willing to do. They are strong and determined. They see that in each other now. That allows the future to be more prosperous. It's empowering while still establishing more can come to complicate things.
Buck saw the need to talk to a therapist. He sees it as beneficial. He is able to outline his reasoning when Maddie presses for more details as well. She called him sad and lonely. It was a statement that she didn't necessarily mean. However, he took it to heart. He looked inward and took the necessary steps to address some problems in his life. It's all seen as positive. And yet, Maddie worries about him. Apparently, there is some big family secret that has burdened her for a long time regarding Buck. Now, that is only teased here. It seems likely that she tells Chimney because she wants them to be a completely united family. They have both worried about her pregnancy. However, everything continues to go perfectly fine with that. They are expecting a baby girl. They learn the gender of the baby together. That is an incredibly sweet moment that highlights how the experience has changed due to the restrictions during the pandemic. Maddie wants to share this surprise with Chimney. She trusts him completely. She is only frustrated when she talks to her mother about this. That is the reaction she has whenever she brings up her parents. It's presented as one big mystery. One that isn't easy to point to and talk about how they failed in raising their children. It extends deeper than them simply being abusive or neglectful. Maddie still has an overall positive view of her parents as people. They simply aren't close. That doesn't prevent Maddie and Buck from being close right now. They have so much love for each other. There was a time though where every member of this family was distant. They have put the work in to make things better. That has been beneficial. But now, Maddie worries about her brother now that he is in therapy. It's enough for her to mention these secrets from the past to her parents and Chimney. It's still a tease for the future. Right now, Buck is off to have an adventure in Texas with Eddie and Hen that will play out in the next episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star. He also has a rather amusing plot where he pranks Eddie because he is terrified of the increasing lack of privacy in the world because of how invasive technology has become in our lives. And yes, it's fun to see this smart technology lurk everywhere when he responds to a call. That is one of the effective comedic beats of this episode. The other comes from the reveal that a bank robber uses a ride share app in order to get away from both the scene of the crime and his home once the police arrive. So many stories highlight how criminals are brilliant and law enforcement have to be smarter to capture them. This show does a great job highlighting the many foolish mistakes that people make that allows them to get caught right away. It's fun. It also doesn't distract from the more serious note that happens when Bobby and May sit down to talk about counseling. It has become a mandatory part of May's job at the call center. Her boss wants to ensure that the stress of this job doesn't bring up feelings of self harm again. They are being proactive about the situation without limiting her abilities whatsoever. It's rewarding and enriching. It offers a positive stance on therapy and the power of talking with someone about various problems. Bobby is a huge advocate as well. He receives great treatment simply by attending meetings. However, he clashes with Athena because she views this process as someone being paid to baby her about the traumas she has endured. That is concerning especially because of how dismissive she treats the subject. It was a part of her life for a finite amount of time. That's what it needs to be in order to be successful. Some problems don't work like that though. Sometimes it's healthy and necessary to see counseling for the rest of one's life. Both options are valid. Both can offer greater perspective on the world that helps humanity address problems before they get out of hand. That highlights how the show is hoping to dig a little deeper with its characters this season. Hen is overwhelmed and overworked. She loses her temper. It happens at an inopportune time. She has had to fight to prove her worth everywhere she goes. Her life hasn't been easy. Empathy and connection can still be found as well. It's never closed off as a possibility. She may be annoyed with her lab partner. However, she is able to deduce things that others cannot. No one truly knows what's going on in someone else's mind. Hen forges this new connection. One where they hope to work hard to prove just how valuable life is. They can achieve all of these great ambitions despite the costs it wears on their bodies. That is what they are willing to do. They are strong and determined. They see that in each other now. That allows the future to be more prosperous. It's empowering while still establishing more can come to complicate things.
