9-1-1 Roundtable: Point of Origin

Things get very personal for the team of first-responders on 9-1-1 Season 1 Episode 6, “Point of Origin.”

For Bobby, a case involving a collapsed floor at a wedding brings back bad memories. He finds himself confessing his past to his priest.

He tells him that he was drunk and high one night when a fire breaks out at his apartment building, killing his family. Bobby further confesses that the fire was mostly his fault because it sparked from a space heater belonging to him that he had left on.

Meanwhile, Abby and Buck are on the hunt for her mother. This is the first time these two have met each other in person and sparks are definitely flying. They save a little girl together while out on the hunt.

Finally, we learn about Hen’s personal life a bit more. It is revealed that she is currently married to a woman and they have a child. Then her ex comes back wanting Hen’s help.

Tell-Tale TV writers Alamin Yohannes, Samantha Coley, and Mary Misasi discuss the episode below.

• Alamin Yohannes (@AlaminYohannes)
• Samantha Coley (@samcaseys)
• Mary Misasi (@dorothynyc89)

1. First off, let’s discuss the big reveal; Bobby’s past. Do you think it is too early in the season for all that to have been revealed?

Alamin: No, I don’t think it’s too early because this secret was keeping him from interacting with the rest of the characters. Also, since he’s not actually a murderer this is more of a secret that is making him doubt and hate himself. Whether the audience knows or not he’s still going to struggle with it. It will still haunt him.

The secret itself is big, but not something that changes the show on its own. We now understand Bobby better, which is important early on in a series.

It would have been too early for him to tell the rest of his colleagues and his secret can still be useful to the story in that way. What we saw in that final scene with him connecting with Hen is some movement. Watching this group get closer and connect and talk is what should be interesting to see in the next batch of episodes. They can always use this secret to mess with Bobby’s team later on in the show.

Samantha: I don’t think it was too soon. I feel like it was about time we learn his story as one of the three biggest names on the show. We’d gotten a few hints about his backstory so it was nice to finally get the details.

Mary: I am personally a bit conflicted. On the one hand, my personal anxiety is really glad to finally know. It gives me peace of mind knowing that he isn’t actually a murderer like he said. I love knowing that he is filled with guilt over his actions because I can really connect to that on a more personal level.

However, I also worry that him saying at the end of the episode that he wanted to show Hen the real him could be too soon. I worry that the show may try to push this story forward too fast and only gloss over the repercussions of this for his team. I hope that they don’t, but it’s still a worry that I have in the back of my mind.

2. In Bobby’s story, we find out that he lost his wife and kids in a fire. What do you think is the biggest reveal about Bobby yielded from this information?

Alamin: Understanding why this weighs on him so heavily is the biggest part of the reveal. Sometimes television characters do bad things but blame themselves to a degree that the viewer may not understand. I don’t agree with the idea that he killed all of them, but I understand why this haunts him.

A lot of people died in that fire and Bobby played a part in it. The first couple episodes hint that his family is not with him, which made me think they were dead, but what actually happened is about more than his family. Not only were many people killed, but it happened in a way that impacts his job, which is saving people.

Samantha: I think the biggest revelation was that it was his fault. Losing your entire family in an accident like the ones you fight in your daily life would be traumatic enough, but to know it was because of something you did AND after an argument would be soul-crushing. No wonder Bobby is so haunted.

Mary: This information truly reveals the depth of Bobby’s guilt. It makes him even more human and fallible. I feel that this shows the audience that Bobby can be connected to. Many people can really connect to making one mistake that really altered the course of their life, whether or not they really made a mistake.

It’s all about the guilt that is carried. Moving forward the audience will now better understand why Bobby does the things that he does. He’s reserved because he doesn’t want to make any of his past mistakes again.

3. Is Bobby still qualified to be captain of a team of firefighters, knowing what we know about him?

Alamin: Bobby does his job effectively and what happened didn’t happen while he was on the job, so I didn’t really think about whether I think he’s qualified. It did make me wonder if Buck and Hen will think he’s qualified. These people are a family and they support one another, but they also risk their lives. I can see someone helping him while arguing he is unfit, so I wonder what they all think because we don’t necessarily know them that well yet.

Samantha: I believe he’s qualified as long as he stays sober. He had a slip up after the plane crash which thankfully alerted Hen and Buck to his situation. If he stays in AA and relies on the help of his friends, he’ll continue to be a good leader. If he spirals back into the life of drugs and alcohol, then absolutely not.

Mary: The real question isn’t whether we think Bobby is still qualified. It’s, like Alamin said, whether or not the team believes he still is. He can be the most qualified person for the job, but if his team doesn’t believe in him things will all fall apart. That being said, he still has that underlying issue of having recently fallen off the wagon.

He leads a very stressful job which could really be a trigger for his sobriety. I just hope that Buck and Hen will continue to show that they are there for him. Their trust in him will go a long way towards his continued sobriety.

4. Hen goes to see her ex, who asks her to help with the parole board. Do you think Hen will help her? Should she?

Alamin: Hen is a person who helps people and her ex was her first love, so I think she will help her. When it comes to what she should do that’s a different story. Once her ex gets out, she will definitely make waves in Hen’s life. That’s going to put Hen’s family, specifically her marriage and child, on the line. The thing is, after seeing what has happened to Athena’s family, I think that is actually where the show is headed.

Although a bonus for us is that means we get Tracie Thomas as Hen’s wife.

Samantha: I feel like I don’t really know enough about the ex to say if she deserves Hen’s help, but I’m leaning toward thinking she shouldn’t. Her wife seems to have a lot of apprehension when it comes to the ex and I trust her instincts. But I feel like we wouldn’t have met this character if she weren’t going to come back in some way, so Hen is probably going to help her even though it’s a bad idea.

Mary: I’m going to be interested to see just how much this ex is going to affect Hen’s life. I agree with Samantha that we wouldn’t have met her if she wasn’t going to be important later on. Knowing what we know about Hen tells us that she will help her ex. It’s who she is.

Should she help her? That is really hard to say. I am leaning more towards no because she is in prison for a reason. Granted we don’t yet know that reason, but still, prison doesn’t make for non-dramatic situations. I would hate to see Hen’s family ruined or broken up because of this woman.

5. What are your thoughts on the coupling of Buck and Abby?

Alamin: They are exactly what the other needs. Abby needs to live a little more. She is stepping up by taking care of her mom, but she is also letting work and home become her whole life. What Buck needs is to calm down a bit.

The problem is that could lead to them depending on one another in an unhealthy way, but for the meantime though I am happy for them because they both seem to be enjoying themselves.

Samantha: I absolutely love these two together!! I love that they balance each other out and the steady pace of their relationship.

I’m also really enjoying their age difference and how it’s not even a factor in how deeply into each other they are! I can’t wait to see where this relationship goes!

Mary: Buck is actually my favorite character on this show so far. I love seeing the way that Abby helps him and vice versa. He knows that he can’t rush into things with her because that’s not healthy for himself or her. As the season progresses I would love to see them take things slow and really appreciate each other as allies and friends as well as a romantic partner.

I would hate for this to turn unhealthy for either of them. But, relationships without a bit of drama don’t always make for exciting TV so I guess we will just have to wait and see.

6. Abby is proving herself to be worthy of more than just sitting behind a phone. Do you think she will take steps in her life to change her career in any way?

Alamin: I don’t know what she will do, but I don’t think changing her job is what she needs. Mainly because I don’t see her job as “just sitting behind a phone.” It’s being out in the world interacting and helping people who Abby needs more of.

Like I mentioned in the question about Buck and Abby, Abby’s not really living. She has a good reason, but I hope spending time with Buck will prove to Abby that needs a little more life in her life. To go out and experience the world again.

Samantha: I think that would be pretty cool and she’s definitely capable of far more than answering calls and dispatching help. But I do love the perspective she provides to the show from that position. I want Abby to be happy and to do what she feels called to, so if that involves a career change I’ll happily watch it.

Mary: I don’t want her to change her career. I would, however, love to see Abby take steps in her personal life to be a more out there, present person. I think that communicating with Buck both on the phone and in person is really helping her to see that there is more to life than just working and caring for her mom.

While both are noble pursuits, she isn’t really living her life doing just those.

7. Finally, the show is all about the human connection. What is your favorite connection moment of “Point of Origin?”

Alamin: My favorite part of the show is the interaction between the characters and in “Point of Origin” there was a tie for my favorite. There was the moment where Hen, Buck, and Bobby laugh at the guy who gets stuck at the car wash.

Those three earned a happy moment together. The second was the meal Athena and Hen had. It was nice to find out just how well they know one another and get a sense of how long they’ve known each other.

Samantha: Definitely Buck and Abby saving the little girl in the pool. He was out helping her find her mom, which is already such a sweet and wonderful thing for him to do. Then the two of them go and literally rescue a tiny human by working together, talk about a good relationship test! I also loved that moment where Buck holds her hand after, and how he marvels at her strength and bravery.

Mary: I absolutely loved seeing Buck and Abby meeting for the first time. When Buck arrived at Abby’s apartment and Carla answered the door. That whole interaction was sweet and funny. I have loved Carla since the show first introduced her and for her to be a part of Buck and Abby’s first meeting was super sweet. I hope that Buck and Abby continue to connect in many different ways. I love them.

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What did you think of this episode of 9-1-1? Respond to our roundtable questions with your own answers in the comments below! You can also catch up with our review of 9-1-1 Season 1 Episode 5, “Point of Origin,” right here.

9-1-1 airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on FOX.

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