Spoilers forward!
After I discovered a couple of months in the past that this season’s catastrophe was going to be a “bee-nado”, I didn’t know precisely what to anticipate. Possibly some (greater than regular) over-the-top emergencies, possibly goofy stuff, maybe a sequence of larger and unrelated to one another emergencies brought on by the bees. And yeah, a model of each single considered one of these occurred.
However the half I didn’t see coming, the very best half, is that this catastrophe is especially about revisiting Athena’s (Angela Bassett) foundational tragedy in ways in which lastly permit her to maneuver on. Similar to the season 7 ultimate arc was about Bobby (Peter Krause) confronting his previous errors (and his childhood traumas) due to Amir (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) — the person whose life was ruined by Bobby —, right here Athena is caught with Dennis (Glenn Plummer), the person who destroyed her life. By the point Amir met him, Bobby was a completely totally different particular person in search of redemption and doing his finest to make amends together with his previous; right here, Dennis can be on his strategy to turning into a greater particular person. The redemption he’s searching for is immediately tied with what will be Athena’s largest sigh of aid but — the second she finds her interior peace. The airplane catastrophe brought on by the bees, together with the trafficker’s storyline, are simply the way in which they each are getting there.
“Remaining Strategy” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Angela Bassett as Athena. Photograph: Kevin Estrada/ABC © 2024 Disney. All rights reserved.
After Athena discovers nobody can flip the airplane anymore, LAX is now not an choice for touchdown. On their strategy to the airport, Bobby is helped by Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and finds a strategy to discuss to his spouse. This second was so good; Bobby acted like a person able to something to convey Athena again to him safely. And that’s precisely what he does, the not possible, as Bobby, Buck (Oliver Stark), and Brad (Callum Blue) (their names all beginning with Bs — this’s the bee season for actual) clear the 110 freeway so the airplane can land there.
There are such a lot of good photographs in these “clearing the freeway” sequences; Buck driving the motorbike, Buck shaking these purple lights whereas the airplane flies over him (the scene in LAX with the remainder of the 118 watching the airplane fly over them is so superbly shot too), and clearly, Bobby ready on the highest of the hearth truck because the airplane approaches. Callum Blue’s comedic appeal, Stark’s fiery efficiency, and Krause’s passionate performing all come collectively to raise this section and make it each tense and enjoyable.
With Gem’s (Carter Younger) assist, Athena efficiently lands the airplane — and her dialogue with Bobby at this second is so good and convincing, reminding me why they’re the 9-1-1 couple. After this, the opposite hearth stations (and Brad… kinda) assist disembark the passengers, whereas Bobby and the 118 assist Athena with the co-pilot scenario, and a fireplace that begins after the touchdown occurs.
“Remaining Strategy” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Oliver Stark as Buck, Peter Krause as Bobby, Callum Blue as Brad. Photograph: Kevin Estrada/ABC © 2024 Disney. All rights reserved.
Then, it’s time for the ultimate act. The Attorneys are in search of Dennis, however not all of them have good intentions. Athena senses that Dennis is likely to be at risk, so she decides to take issues into her personal fingers, teaming up with Bobby and Dennis. They go to the LAX automotive park, in search of the guide that has all of the details about the individuals concerned within the trafficker’s schemes. Simply as they discover it, Asst. US Legal professional Spencer (Sean Hemeon) seems and divulges himself as one of many names within the guide. The final episode gave me this sense that the US Attorneys had been being too bizarre, and I wasn’t completely fallacious; Spencer desires the guide, and when he shoots in Bobby’s route, Dennis takes the bullet for him, later utilizing his makeshift knife to defeat the Legal professional.
Case solved, the airplane landed, and (nearly) everybody survived — it’s time for Athena’s largest sigh of aid. And it comes on this ultimate second with Dennis on the hospital — he’s nonetheless recovering from the bullet, however he’ll dwell — and after a considerate dialog, Athena provides him her blessing to take the deal and the early launch. It’s a second wherein Angela Bassett shines as soon as extra with an excellent efficiency, as she at all times does, supported by Plummer’s nice performing. Lastly, the episode ends with Gerrard (Brian Thompson) again to the 118, nonetheless the worst boss ever to everybody… Apart from Buck, who’s now, to his and everybody else shock — being taken “underneath his wing.”
Total, Remaining Strategy was an important finale for the “bee-nado/airplane crash” arc. For me, it seems like they upped their recreation this season, creating an emergency that had a lighter, funnier tone to start with, however was additionally allowed to develop as a refreshing, unnerving, and intimate story for Athena, and a compelling strategy to begin the season for Bobby and the remainder of the 118. It’s my favourite massive catastrophe for the reason that tsunami in season 3, and it made me optimistic about what’s coming subsequent.
Now you inform me! What do you consider Remaining Strategy and the Bee-Airplane arc as a complete? What are your expectations for this season? Be happy to depart a remark together with your impressions/theories, and thanks for studying!
