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 standard) over-the-top emergencies, possibly goofy stuff, maybe a sequence of larger and unrelated to one another emergencies attributable to the bees. And yeah, a model of each single one in all these occurred.
However the half I didn’t see coming, the perfect half, is that this catastrophe is principally about revisiting Athena’s (Angela Bassett) foundational tragedy in ways in which lastly permit her to maneuver on. Identical to the season 7 closing 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 searching for redemption and doing his greatest to make amends together with his previous; right here, Dennis can also be on his approach to changing into a greater particular person. The redemption he’s searching for is immediately tied with what will be Athena’s largest sigh of reduction but — the second she finds her interior peace. The aircraft catastrophe attributable to the bees, together with the trafficker’s storyline, are simply the best way they each are getting there.
“Last Strategy” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Angela Bassett as Athena. Picture: Kevin Estrada/ABC © 2024 Disney. All rights reserved.
After Athena discovers nobody can flip the aircraft anymore, LAX is now not an possibility for touchdown. On their approach to the airport, Bobby is helped by Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and finds a approach to discuss to his spouse. This second was so good; Bobby acted like a person able to something to carry Athena again to him safely. And that’s precisely what he does, the inconceivable, 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 aircraft can land there.
There are such a lot of good pictures in these “clearing the freeway” sequences; Buck using the motorbike, Buck shaking these purple lights whereas the aircraft flies over him (the scene in LAX with the remainder of the 118 watching the aircraft fly over them is so fantastically shot too), and clearly, Bobby ready on the highest of the fireplace truck because the aircraft approaches. Callum Blue’s comedic allure, Stark’s fiery efficiency, and Krause’s passionate appearing all come collectively to raise this section and make it each tense and enjoyable.
With Gem’s (Carter Younger) assist, Athena efficiently lands the aircraft — 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.
“Last Strategy” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Oliver Stark as Buck, Peter Krause as Bobby, Callum Blue as Brad. Picture: Kevin Estrada/ABC © 2024 Disney. All rights reserved.
Then, it’s time for the ultimate act. The Attorneys are searching for Dennis, however not all of them have good intentions. Athena senses that Dennis may be in peril, so she decides to take issues into her personal arms, teaming up with Bobby and Dennis. They go to the LAX automobile park, searching for the guide that has all of the details about the folks 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 have been being too bizarre, and I wasn’t completely incorrect; Spencer needs 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 aircraft landed, and (virtually) everybody survived — it’s time for Athena’s largest sigh of reduction. And it comes on this closing second with Dennis on the hospital — he’s nonetheless recovering from the bullet, however he’ll stay — and after a considerate dialog, Athena offers him her blessing to take the deal and the early launch. It’s a second through which Angela Bassett shines as soon as extra with an excellent efficiency, as she at all times does, supported by Plummer’s nice appearing. Lastly, the episode ends with Gerrard (Brian Thompson) again to the 118, nonetheless the worst boss ever to everybody… Aside from Buck, who’s now, to his and everybody else shock — being taken “below his wing.”
Total, Last Strategy was an ideal finale for the “bee-nado/aircraft crash” arc. For me, it appears like they upped their sport this season, creating an emergency that had a lighter, funnier tone at first, however was additionally allowed to develop as a refreshing, unnerving, and intimate story for Athena, and a compelling approach 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 concentrate on Last Strategy and the Bee-Aircraft arc as an entire? What are your expectations for this season? Be happy to depart a remark along with your impressions/theories, and thanks for studying!
