9-1-1 Review: Fight or Flight (Season 2 Episode 13)

It’s official, 9-1-1 has reached its stride! All through Season 1, the show struggled to consistently bring a sense of urgency and care to the stories it was trying to tell. 

Now with 9-1-1 Season 2 Episode 13, “Fight or Flight,” the series finally shows us that we can rely on it to tell an authentic story to fullest detail and with the utmost care. This is proven through their over-arching story about Maddie, Doug, and Chimney and the tangled web they weave. 

With 9-1-1 Season 2 Episode 11, “New Beginnings” the show started us off with a nail-biter continuation of Doug’s first appearance the episode before. We watched as Doug and Chim became friends, all the while finding ourselves extremely concerned for how this was going to end.

Then, on 9-1-1 Season 2 Episode 11, “Chimney Begins,” the writers gave us a story centered on Chimney’s life flashing before his eyes. We were given a glimpse into what was previously unknown about Chimney. This gives us important information about Chimney himself and how his spirit is possibly going to handle the crisis at hand.

While some fans were upset that “Chimney Begins” didn’t further the plot and made us wait another week for the conclusion, the episode served as a solid plot device. By delaying the conclusion of this story it raises the stakes for “Fight or Flight.” In fact, it makes us worry even more and feel it in our gut even more.

It’s a great device when used and executed properly, and the writers knew what they were doing when they pulled it out of their hat. 

This takes us up to the chase for Maddie’s life. Because everything is told to us slowly, our anxiety and fear of her demise go through the roof. 

Again, this is a perfect way to tell Maddie’s story because it gives people who have no experience with domestic violence a taste of just how scary and hopeless it can be. It opens our hearts up to the many women who see this reality every day.

Until the last ten minutes, it really is unknown whether or not Maddie is going to be able to pull it off and escape from Doug for good. As an audience, we’ve seen just how strong Maddie has become, but there is still a nagging feeling at the back of our brains that she’ll take him back.

All because of the beautifully and well-timed flashback scenes where Maddie protects and defends him after a violent outburst. Maddie is a smart girl, but sometimes that isn’t enough to get the heck out of dodge.

Officer: Don’t be afraid to run. Be afraid to stay.

It’s poetic in that it’s a line that speaks not just to Maddie but to anyone watching who needs to hear it. That is an element that 9-1-1 has always been good at — connecting with their audiences.

Maddie’s life isn’t the only one on the line this episode, and through smooth transitions, 9-1-1 reminds us to worry about Chimney too.

The firehouse, police department, and dispatch center have all become one big happy family. There is nothing like a crisis that brings them even closer together and shows off their willingness to unite. 

After all, Josh doesn’t even hesitate to break the rules at the dispatch center if it means helping Buck and Athena find Maddie. And, they all come together at the hospital to await word on Chimney.

These individuals could easily let their jobs create a barrier between each other, but instead, they use their common ground to leverage each other through tough battlefields, both on the job and off.

With an ensemble show like 9-1-1, it could easily fall into the common problem of having too many moving parts and not enough connectivity between them all. However, as “Fight or Flight” proves, it doesn’t struggle because each moving part is partnered with another and you can’t have one without the other. 

Which makes Maddie’s rescue that much more relieving. Everyone on the show has a stake in her well-being and so they could all celebrate together and lean on one another.

That love and unity breaks up the tension perfectly and gives us the occasional reprieve we desperately need.

It will be interesting to see where everyone goes in the aftermath of this horrendous ordeal. It opened up quite a few vulnerabilities in a number of characters. Vulnerabilities that deserve to be explored. 

Moments of Note:

• Christopher Diaz is the star of this show. That kid steals any scene he is in. Get him an Emmy. Or at least a little more screen time.
• “Make You Feel My Love” is a perfect end to Chim and Maddie’s crisis. It also offers up a glimmer of hope. 
• Best line of the episode goes to our girl Athena with, “He didn’t think anyone could be that stupid. I told him he didn’t know Buck.”
• The family feels between Bobby and the Grants is beautiful and everything we could ask for. It’s evident through Harry’s concern for Bobby that Bobby has a permanent place in their family.

What did you think of this episode of 9-1-1? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

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9-1-1 airs Mondays at 9/8c on FOX. 

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