After the disappointing penultimate episode of the season last week, I was nearly convinced that "9-1-1" should have concluded with Bobby's funeral. Now, having watched the finale, my sentiment remains largely unchanged, albeit tinged with a slight complexity. For the lion's share of "Seismic Shifts," the episode feels like an unremarkable chapter in the series' narrative, preoccupied with a hardly gripping disaster rather than delving into the profound interpersonal dynamics among characters still grappling with an immense loss. Nonetheless, the heart-wrenching final scenes tie up the season neatly, and I am thankful for the sense of closure, albeit wondering if a different route could have been taken to reach this conclusion.
My primary grievance with this episode stems from the central crisis — the collapse of the apartment building that left viewers on a cliffhanger last week. It lacks the grandeur of a tsunami, an overturned cruise ship, or, yes, even a bee-nado. Oddly enough, the collapse of this 19-story edifice never feels like a monumental event, partly because our focus narrows on a minuscule number of residents: Graham, alias Cart Cop, his laundry-room adversary Donnie, and Donnie's girlfriend, Crystal. We also encounter Jessa and her mother, the latter of whom voices doubts about the building's safety (a statement unthinkable in the "9-1-1" universe!). Later, we meet Flint West, an elderly man with an unlikely moniker. I understand that following the lab lockdown and potential outbreak, compounded by Bobby's death, is a daunting task, but none of these characters are sufficiently compelling to warrant the extensive screen time they receive here.
Before delving into the rescues, we briefly visit the 118, where Hen organizes a celebratory going-away barbecue for Eddie, who commences his new role at the El Paso Fire Department the following morning. (It's a considerate gesture, albeit somewhat redundant, considering Eddie has already relocated to Texas and returned solely for Bobby's funeral.) It's also Gerrard's last day, though no such festivities await him. Buck remarks, "The 118 is finally going to have a decent captain again," which, while harsh, rings true. However, the identity of this decent captain remains uncertain. Hen reveals she has declined the promotion, and Buck asserts she must do what's best for her. His perspective barely fazes him, as he's requested a transfer. With Bobby gone, Buck dismissively remarks that the 118 is "just a number now." I understand his emotional turmoil, but even after last week's episode, I find it hard to fathom his dismissiveness towards his beloved colleagues.
Now, onto the apartment collapse. The 118 arrives on the scene, and Gerrard accurately identifies the explosion's probable cause: gas pockets stemming from the reservoir incident that contaminated the water supply with methane. Their first major challenge involves Jessa and her mother. The latter is trapped beneath rubble, and Hen diagnoses multiple skull fractures. Upon turning her over, it becomes evident that her condition is far worse: a baseball-sized air pocket above her eye exerts pressure on her brain. Fortunately, Hen deflates it with a needle, providing immediate relief. While satisfying to witness, this rescue lacks the dynamism befitting a season finale. Undoubtedly, numerous other rescues occur simultaneously, yet remain unseen. I ponder if this limited focus stems from budget constraints or creative decisions. After last week's curiously downplayed water crisis, I harbored hopes for a grander conclusion!
Meanwhile, Athena faces an arduous task in rescuing Donnie and Graham, both immobilized beneath the debris in the laundry room. Donnie, particularly, appears in dire straits, lying prone and struggling to draw breath. With her Herculean effort, Athena manages to shift the rubble enough to restore his normal breathing, but this action reveals a sinister metal shard embedded in his shoulder. When Athena dispatches Crystal to seek assistance, Donnie, in a state of desperation, implores her not to leave. His frantic movements cause the shard to dislodge, leading to a rapid loss of blood. Graham, recognizing the gravity of the situation, swiftly applies pressure to the wound with his hand, determined to stem the flow and prevent Donnie from slipping away. It's heartening to witness Cart Cop's bravery coming to the fore, transforming a character hitherto perceived more as a source of amusement into one of significance.
Outside the laundry room, Crystal, bathed in panic, locates Chimney and relates Athena's urgent message. Hen offers to intervene on Chimney's behalf, acknowledging their strained relations, but Chimney insists on taking charge. Though neither would allow personal differences to hinder life-saving efforts, Chimney's resolve is commendable.
Elsewhere, Flint West—a name that invites a wry smile—dials 9-1-1 from his ninth-floor apartment. Unfortunately, Maddie can barely hear him before the call abruptly terminates. Through detective work, including a call to his ex-wife, she pinpoints his location. Buck and Ravi arrive to find Flint having plummeted two floors below. (Am I really supposed to accept, without a hint of disbelief, that no casualties resulted from the explosion and subsequent building collapse?) As firefighters rush to Flint's aid, another explosion rocks the scene, showering them with debris and sealing their exit. Stranded on the building's edge, the trio realizes that rescue via ladder would be too time-consuming. "We have no other option," Gerrard declares, to which Eddie replies, "If Bobby taught me anything, it's that we always have a choice." Indeed, Eddie, having caught wind of the situation at home, arrives on the scene ready to lend a hand. With a brilliant plan in mind, he fires a line gun from the adjacent parking lot, securing a rescue line for Buck, Ravi, and Flint. They traverse the perilous gap, zip-lining to safety. Credit to 9-1-1 for this imaginative sequence, not least for the memorably quirky name "Flint West."
Unfortunately, the additional explosion also traps Athena and Chimney down in the laundry room alongside Graham and a severely compromised Donnie. As Donnie succumbs to unconsciousness, Chimney checks his vitals and realizes that cardiac arrest looms. CPR is impractical under the circumstances, so they opt for defibrillation, with Graham's crucial assistance. The shock rekindles Donnie's heart, but he desperately needs medical care beyond what Chimney and Athena can provide. Meanwhile, Hen and his team work tirelessly to drill through the rubble and effect a rescue. (Isn't it strange how eerily deserted this apartment building feels?) Upon Eddie, Ravi, and Buck's arrival, they lend their strength, culminating in the creation of a passage to the laundry room.
This sequence allowed for greater assistance to be extended to Donnie, who valiantly clung to life amidst the devastation. The 118 squad extracted him from the debris and placed him onto a stretcher with swift precision. However, Graham's tale unfolded quite differently. It was all too evident to me that his wounds were far more grievous than initially anticipated. Indeed, once freed from his rubble-bound captivity, they uncovered a harrowing sight: Graham had been pierced by a jagged steel rebar. This gruesome injury had nicked his abdominal aorta, causing him to hemorrhage internally the entire time. When questioned about his silence, he solemnly explained, "I knew I was on the brink of death, but Donnie's need for assistance surpassed mine," a statement tinged with melodramatic flair. Though I harbor a fondness for Graham, a decent fellow if I may say so, the poignancy of his attempted self-sacrifice paled in comparison to the recent loss of Bobby. Nevertheless, the show mercifully spared Athena the added trauma of witnessing another's demise before her very eyes.
Chimney steadfastly refused to abandon Graham, even when hope seemed all but lost. He instructed Hen to perform chest compressions relentlessly until Graham's pulse miraculously returned. Rest assured, Graham was on the mend.
Outside the perilous scene, Athena commended Chimney for saving Graham's life. He modestly attempted to brush it off as a collective effort, but she reminded him of Bobby's frustration with his self-depreciation. "Bobby knew you to be a wise, skilled, and capable paramedic, a formidable leader," Athena assured him. "He would be incredibly proud of you," her words triggering tears in Chimney's eyes, and mine too. Their embrace signaled a potential rekindling of their relationship beyond mere colleagial bounds. Moreover, Chimney seemed poised to assume the mantle of captaincy.
Back at Station 118, his new role became unmistakable as he firmly notified Eddie about the cancellation of his El Paso trip and Buck about his transfer denial. "This is our firehouse," Chimney declared. "The 118 isn't merely a numeral; it's who we are." This inspiring moment redeemed an otherwise lackluster episode, with Chimney echoing the late Captain Nash's wisdom. "We embody Bobby's legacy. We may mourn him, curse his fate, but we will not dishonor his memory by abandoning what he painstakingly built here," he emphasized. Hen's prompt response, "Copy that, cap," underscored Chimney's newfound authority.
The finale culminated in a poignant montage accompanied by Joel Ansett's "Tragedy Is Not the End," an apt though somewhat overt choice. Athena decided to sell her newly constructed abode, while Buck sought new quarters following Eddie and Christopher's return to Eddie's apartment. Hen and Karen officially adopted Mara, cementing their family bond. And, in a heartwarming cliffhanger, Maddie welcomed their son into the world amidst a bustling hospital room. Athena entered, cradling the newborn, and I jotted down in my notes, "If they name him 'Bobby,' I'll be overwhelmed with emotion." As fate would have it, my emotional dam burst when Chimney introduced Athena to Robert, the lyrics "this tragedy is not the end of the story" resonating deeply. Athena smiled at the infant, delivering the season's perfect conclusion: "Hello, Bobby." Despite my lukewarm feelings towards this episode, they undeniably tugged at my heartstrings in the denouement.
