9-1-1 Roundtable: A Whole New You

To round out the season, 9-1-1 tackles new beginnings and fresh starts. For all our heroes they get a chance to make big changes.

With the death of Abby’s mother, she finds herself feeling a bit lost and untethered. So she decides to start over and find out who she is. Unlike, the Buck from the start of the season, Buck stands by her and lends Abby his full support and love.

Bobby and Athena embark on their own new beginnings as adults who have finally put their past relationships behind them. They are ready to start new. Maybe even with each other.

Finally, Hen makes forward steps in her marriage. Ones that we hope will be long-lasting and strong.

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. Do Abby and Buck have a future beyond her trip to Dublin?

Alamin: I don’t think so. At least not romantically. The point of their relationship feels like it was about both of them growing. He needed to grow up and get his sit together and she needed to learn to live again.

Her mother passes away allowed her to learn to live somewhere else, but I think she could have still done the work on herself where she was.

There would have just needed to be another event to push her. What I am interested in is seeing what both of them do next. What the next part of their lives looks like. Plus, after the finale, I read that Connie Britton has a one-season deal, so even if she does return it wouldn’t be full time.

Samantha: They absolutely could have one if the writers choose to keep developing this relationship in the next season, which I hope they do. This trip is something Abby needs to find herself again, and I believe Buck when he says he’ll be there for her when she gets home.

And it’s 2018, while it’s still hard, couples can absolutely spend months at a time apart from each other and still be together. I hope this relationship continues in Season 2 and I’m interested to see how this trip will affect them both as a unit and as individuals.

Mary: I have to agree with Samantha on this one. I think that Buck and Abby could have a future beyond her trip. Abby’s words when she and Buck said goodbye didn’t indicate that she wasn’t ever coming back.

There is a chance that this trip could be too much for them. However, I hope that the writers choose to make them stronger because of it rather than weaker. It’ll be interesting to see where they are in Season 2.

2. Both Hen and Athena made positive steps in their relations with their spouse/ex-spouse. Which were you more impressed by and why?

Alamin: I was the most impressed by Athena because she could have faked it for her kids and went on with her life annoyed with her ex, but she chose to move forward. It was great to see.

But I am happiest for Hen because I really wanted her to fix things in her marriage and I am very happy they are moving in a more positive direction.

Samantha: I’m honestly glad that both made progress, but I’m more proud of Athena. She’s struggled with the dissolving of her marriage and the life she’s always known this season. I’m impressed with her finally taking the steps to move into the next part of her life. I hope she gets more chances to be happy in Season 2.

Mary: I am really proud of Athena as well. She has really struggled this season with figuring out who she is outside of being a wife and mother.

To see her finally be able to be herself and find happiness is all I want for her. If that happiness is with Bobby then so be it. Season 2 is going to be a whole new story for her and I couldn’t be more excited.

3. What are your thoughts on Bobby and Athena?

Alamin: If I’m honest it feels very random. They were in the same circle and have shared scenes together, but didn’t interact much. Then again, I think things happen in all types of ways and I am just happy both of them are getting back out there. Particularly Bobby who has had a rough season.

Samantha: I didn’t see it coming, but honestly, I’m all for it. I think they have a good foundation as friends and that they could both make each other happy. I’m excited to see where this relationship goes in the future.

Mary: I feel like this relationship came completely out of left field. However, I think that they are a perfect fit for each other. They have both had their own struggles this season.

Athena and Bobby both need someone who fully understands the stresses of their jobs and will put them in place when the situation calls for it. I think this move could be both good for them and the show itself.

4. This show always showcases interesting cases. Which one of the finale did you find yourself reacting to the most?

Alamin: The case with the husband and wife because of the surprising twist with the wife’s condition. 9-1-1 has had many shocking huge event, like the bouncy house flying through the air or the man who got hit with a bullet lodged in a tree he blew up, but this was a genuine regular twist.

It was shocking because it wasn’t a hugely dramatic moment, but a somewhat grounded. I don’t mind the big moments, but this one seemed even more surprising because it was quiet, even though as soon as it was revealed I thought that I should have guessed that from watching other shows like this one.

Samantha: I didn’t particularly care for any of the cases in the finale to be completely honest. But I suppose the most moving moment was when the guy who got torn in half on his motorcycle got to speak to his son for his final moments.

Mary: Honestly, the only case that I really remember, moment for moment, was the man and his motorcycle. It was so emotional and real. I actually found myself crying as he used his final moments to tell his son he loved him. It was raw and had me calling my mom right after to give her my love.

5. When the ladies started showing up for Buck did you think he had slipped or did you call it being a catfish?

Alamin: I knew something was up because he was actually surprised and I don’t think he’d cheat on Abby. I wasn’t sure it was a catfish, but I definitely didn’t think he slipped up.

Samantha: I immediately called it being a catfish situation. Buck has shown perhaps the most development of anyone over the course of Season 1 so it would have been a really stupid writing choice to undo all of that. I do hate that they used it as a device to push Abby and Buck apart at such a delicate time anyway.

Mary: As Buck’s biggest supporter this whole season I immediately knew something was up. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure it was a catfish, but I knew for sure he hadn’t cheated on Abby. Buck is working so hard to be a better man. So, when it is revealed that he is, in fact, being catfished I was relieved.

6. Finally, of all the new beginnings happening this episode which was your favorite?

Alamin: Bobby for sure. I wrote in one of the earlier roundtables that when Bobby learned his blood could save people that he would have to learn to actually live.

He’s been through a lot with what happened to his family and dealing with the impact that event has had on his life. It’s wonderful to see him trying to move forward and start to live a little more.

Samantha: Abby’s sense of being untethered and a little lost appealed to me a lot. It’s really hard to lose someone who’s been your whole life for years.

She had been so wrapped up in caring for her mother and doing her job that she had kind of lost herself in the mix. I’m glad that she can take this opportunity to explore the world and find herself again.

Mary: While both Abby and Bobby’s new beginnings were a long time coming and heart-warming, I really have to go with my girl Athena’s. She has worked so hard to become an individual.

To see her finally achieve that and go after the things she knows she wants and needs is what I am here for. I am excited to see Season 2 explore the possibilities with this.

—

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 Finale, “A Whole New You” right here.

9-1-1 returns for Season 2 this fall on FOX.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!