9-1-1 Review: New Beginnings (Season 2 Episode 11)

FOX’s hit drama, 9-1-1 is back! It is supposed to be a big return with 9-1-1 Season 2 Episode 11, “New Beginnings,” but it ends up falling short until about the last 10 minutes. 

Let’s start by considering what we were expecting from this episode. 

As a midseason return, we were expecting some of the previous episode’s questions to be answered — or at least expanded upon. When will Bobby and Athena get married? Will Maddie and Chimney finally go on a date?

Will Maddie’s ex throw a wrench in their budding relationship?

In that regard “New Beginnings” delivers. They give us a wonderful moment between Bobby and Athena where they defend each other in front of Athena’s mom. True power couple if there ever was one. 

Maddie also manages to bite the bullet and put her past behind her in order to ask Chimney out on a date. Unfortunately, it’s too little too late when her ex rears his ugly head. 

To be honest, the most compelling part of the last two episodes has been her ex-husband managing to ingratiate himself in Chim’s life by pretending to be someone else. For a drama-holic, this is the stuff of dreams. 

Even better is how well the writers get us to believe that maybe he’s NOT Maddie’s ex after all. It’s one of the few times we get to see Chim have a friend, especially one outside of work, and get to have fun with them. Chim deserves to have character development beyond that Season 1 miracle. 

By making his friend just a tool to bring him face to face with the violence of Maddie’s past, the show is ensuring that Chim isn’t anything more than a token character. This is a truth that is sad and disappointing. 

I just hope that in the coming episodes the writers’ apparent trajectory for him expands his character beyond two-dimensional. Considering the ending of “New Beginnings” makes things look grim for him, we can only hope!

Maybe this episode is a bit calm to lead us into a sense of security about the coming episodes. Both Maddie and Chim’s lives are on the line and that’s bound to lead to many anxiety-inducing, heart-pounding moments.

Usually, 9-1-1 mixes elements of character development and emergencies really well. Unfortunately, “New Beginnings” falls short in that department. Over and over, there are scenes of lackluster storytelling.

It’s clear that the plastic surgeon case was intended to disturb us and get us talking. Instead, it merely left us wondering what was the point of it. 

And the most exciting part about the shark on the freeway was the moment the guys released him back into the water. Thank you, killer soundtrack moment!

The only great emergency was the child one because it didn’t just involve Athena, but Maddie as well. Joint cases are always more fun because it gives the show a bit of cohesiveness. 

That isn’t even the best part. Even better is the writers’ ability to put enough twists to keep us on our toes wanting to know more. It is completely unexpected that BOTH boys were kidnapped. Through it all, Athena handles herself in the best way she knows how; while Maddie comes into her own and her abilities.

It’s a shining moment that 9-1-1 can be proud of. The show manages to highlight two very different women in equally empowering ways. In all honesty, this story manages to save the show. 

While the mid-season premiere is a bit boring at times, we can’t dismiss the strides 9-1-1 made in character development. Here’s hoping the second half of the season finishes as spectacularly as it began. 

Moments of Note:

• Bobby talking to Hen about what he can do in regards to Athena’s mom was so cool to see. It shows his strength and growth as a person in a relationship with someone else.
• The sibling smack talk scene between Maddie and Buck is cute and heartwarming, especially now that we know what happens shortly after. 
• So nice to see Danny Nucci as Athena’s partner.

What did you think of this episode of 9-1-1? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Be sure to catch up with our review of 9-1-1 Season 2 Episode 10, “Merry Ex-Mas.”

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

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