911 – Don’t Drink the Water

Spoilers forward!

Wow!

Simply wow!

9-1-1 is simply unpredictable quality-wise. After final week’s episode left a bitter style in my mouth, I used to be ready to see tonight’s episode proceed the trainwreck. This didn’t occur, I’m blissful to say. Don’t Drink the Water is so good that I nearly consider this present can discover a new method once more. I’m nonetheless mad about Bobby, although — I nonetheless don’t like their current poor decisions, not solely in the best way he died but in addition how his funeral (and his sendoff) have been a secondary factor within the episode imagined to take care of the aftermath of all of it. Anyway, I nonetheless hope he’s returning — the factor about his physique being held for weeks, the best way a last-minute twist within the finale about Bobby being alive might arrange new storylines for the subsequent season with out undoing all of the modifications proposed right here… I digress. But when I feel there’s nonetheless hope for 9-1-1, Don’t Drink the Water is the one in charge.

There’s a lot taking place right here, and every thing’s attention-grabbing, and everyone seems to be concerned. And once I say everybody, it’s actually everybody — the ensemble is lastly displaying up for the ensemble present. We see Hen and Karen speaking to Eddie, which is nice — I’ve waited for an interplay between them for years, a scene that’s been lengthy overdue, not solely between Hen and Eddie, but in addition between Karen and Eddie, so seeing the three of them collectively having a dialog was so particular.

“Do not Drink the Water” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Tracie Thoms as Karen, Angela Bassett as Athena. Photograph: Christopher Willard/ABC © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.

Talking of Karen, she additionally has a solo scene with Athena — and it’s an important one, because it showcases how this story has been a few discovered household from the start, now that Athena is resentful of Chimney and might barely keep in the identical room as him. It’s an important battle, as a result of Athena and Chim are Hen’s greatest mates, and with them at odds, Hen is on this terrible place — thus Karen’s intervention. I like Karen, and I like Tracie Thoms — it was nice to see her in such attention-grabbing scenes with Aisha, Ryan, and Angela.

Buck and Eddie are additionally coping with their grief in their very own methods — whereas Buck is attempting to be there for everybody, he additionally tries to search out consolation in faith, possibly searching for an indication from Bobby. In the meantime, Eddie feels responsible as a result of he was not there for Bobby’s final emergency — we see a fast flashback from when Eddie took the decision about Bobby’s dying, and it’s heartbreaking. Amid their pains, there’s one thing else between Buck and Eddie, and it’s a job supply Eddie obtained from the Texas firehouse. Eddie hides this information from Buck, however Buck discovers it anyway, they usually battle in the midst of their kitchen in a panoramic scene.

This results in a wonderful reconciliation later, with Eddie bringing Christopher and Aunt Pepa to elevate Buck’s spirit. Watching Chris and Buck’s reunion was one of many issues I used to be most excited to see this season, and it was simply beautiful to have them lastly reunited, particularly with Pepa by their facet, having a pleasant heart-to-heart with Buck later.

“Do not Drink the Water” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Ryan Guzman as Eddie. Photograph: Christopher Willard/ABC © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.

Lastly, Hen thinks about the potential of changing into the brand new Captain of the 118 (and that’s one thing she discusses with each Athena and Chim), Chimney and Maddie are on the point of have their second youngster, and Athena, Harry, and Might focus on some issues about the home Athena’s ending. Have I discussed this episode additionally has some emergencies, and it additionally has Athena returning to work on a foolish case that rapidly turns into one thing a lot darker?

I’m amazed — there are nice episodes in these more moderen seasons, however this episode reminds quite a lot of the nice good occasions throughout seasons 2 and three, once they might write episodes that had every thing, a number of characters from the primary solid being drastically developed on the identical time, loopy emergencies, whimsy, comedy, drama… That is nearly like a return to kind, and placing this proper after no matter 816 was is mind-blowing. It seems like a unique present. Kudos to writers Molly Inexperienced and James Leffler, they did nice! Vital plus: this episode options just a few moments of Bobby onscreen, however every thing right here is about him. Gone, however not forgotten; this time, we get to see the a number of methods grief can manifest for various folks, and it’s truly nice.

Anyway, this episode additionally offers with an earthquake that makes water turn out to be hearth (to place it actual easy), and every thing ends with an explosion within the constructing Athena had simply left after coping with her case of the week, organising a giant emergency for the finale. I’ll preserve my ideas to my post-finale evaluate, however I’ll go away a few of my preliminary theories concerning how every thing can go.

I feel they’re teasing two captain potentialities in the mean time, Hen, who’s been explicitly thought-about (however she doesn’t need it), and possibly Buck, due to how he’s the one who obtained the mission to deal with the others from Bobby. But, I feel Chimney is a powerful risk too, maybe the strongest, particularly with how this episode units the battle between Athena and him. They may make amends, and possibly Athena might give him her blessing. I might see it taking place.

I nonetheless haven’t given up on Bobby being alive, I’m ready till the final scene of the finale, simply to make sure. I wouldn’t be like this for another present, however in spite of everything these years everyone knows that this firefighter present might positively stage a faux dying for some episodes, then arrange some kind of Bobby Lives Once more for the subsequent season opening. I could be improper, and relying on how every thing goes within the finale, I’m nonetheless uncertain about coming again for season 9, however I can’t lie, tonight gave me hope that every thing can be okay regardless of no matter occurred a number of weeks in the past.