9-1-1 Review: Rage (Season 3 Episode 5)

In today’s world, rage seems to be the go-to emotion for many people. On 9-1-1 Season 3 Episode 5, “Rage,” the show explores this on many fronts — both successfully and unsuccessfully.

First, let’s start with that traffic stop. It is definitely the defining moment of the whole episode and one where 9-1-1 excelled.

Currently, many individuals live their lives terrified that today may be the day they get pulled over by the police and have their lives put in danger. It shouldn’t be this way, but for so many, unfortunately, it is. 

The great thing about “Rage” is its focus on not just the event itself but the discussions with Athena, Michael, and the kids afterward. The most important takeaway from this storyline isn’t the event, but how Athena and Michael handled those discussions. 

When May accuses her mother of not doing enough to prevent such events from happening Athena makes a great point. Not all cops are bad, but as May also points out, the good ones doing nothing doesn’t make them any better. 

It’s a relevant topic to discuss and depict but still remains an iffy subject if not handled correctly. I personally can’t speak for those who are affected by such traffic stops, as I get to live in a world of privilege because my skin is white. 

That being said, I do believe that by showing the traffic stop and all the emotions being thrown around during and immediately after — as well as having these characters sit down and talk it out — 9-1-1 succeeds in making this a moment worth remembering. It could have easily been a small moment where it gets swept under the rug; instead, it becomes a teachable moment for all involved.

When Michael sits down with Bobby to talk about his fears as a parent, it is nice to see Bobby respond in kind with statements about wanting to protect your kids and also owning his privilege and respecting Michael’s viewpoint. These two men come together as the fathers of May and Harry to mutually decide what their children need to know and what they can do to ensure this doesn’t totally change their lives.

It’s great to see two men — who could’ve been angry and closed off to each other — sit down together and reach a mutual conclusion about how best to parent the children that they share. All the while, they are also teaching each other about how best to handle situations like this should they arise again.

The best thing about this conversation is what comes from it after — Michael’s later conversation with Harry.

Harry: Why are we different?

Michael: We aren’t.

Harry: But you said.

Michael: I said that some people will SEE us as different.

It is really heartbreaking watching this scene when you realize that so many families have to have similar conversations with their children — some who are even younger than Harry. Childhood should be all about innocence and seeing the world as inherently good.

Michael wants to protect his son from that, but now that Harry has stared down the barrel of a gun, Michael knows he can’t protect Harry any longer. 9-1-1 does a spectacular job of making this moment as gentle and “kid-friendly” as possible.

Michael doesn’t go into the conversation to scare his son or even the audience members. He goes into the conversation with education and protection in mind. 

When Rockmond Dunbar delivers those lines as Michael, the audience can tell he is living his reality or even just a truth he’s always known. There is just a genuine vulnerability being conveyed that really seems hard to replicate.

Both Michael and Athena have managed to nestle themselves into a spot where they’ve become complacent and feel secure. They both have jobs that allow them to “blend” well for most social situations — but then they get one bad cop and they realize that no one is safe.

Athena could use this whole ordeal as an excuse to no longer trust any and all white cops that she works with. Instead, she uses it to teach others about the dangers of not being open-minded on the job. 

Some of the best 9-1-1 moments are when the show takes very real situations — such as racial profiling or cop abuse — and creates a moment for viewers to learn from it. It’s one thing to present a view of the world with no explanation or discussion, but it’s entirely different when it becomes more about the takeaway and the impact for everyone. 

9-1-1 excels at telling the Grant family story, but it drops the ball on the Buck lawsuit story. After quite the build-up on 9-1-1 Season 3 Episode 4, “Triggers,” this conclusion is an extreme let down. 

With all of the set up of picking a side — Team Buck or Team Bobby — to not have to ultimately pick a side is what we wanted, but there not being any fallout at all is just disappointing. To be quite honest, the only one who seems to be having any thoughts at all about the whole Buck situation is Eddie.

Eddie is rightfully pissed, and his decision to let Buck have it is exactly the kind of reactions we are expecting from the whole team. It’s too bad that everyone else seems to be the “forgive and forget it” type.

With Eddie, this whole lawsuit means that he and his son lost their best friend. He is angry about how hurt he is by Buck’s actions but also by how much they hurt Christopher. 

It will be nice if other firefighters at the 118 follow Eddie’s lead and finally show their true colors to Buck. Unfortunately, considering Bobby and Eddie seem to be the only ones who showed their emotions about it they’ll be the only ones the show will focus on.

Or maybe that is what 9-1-1 wants us to think before laying it on thick for Buck in the episodes to come.

On that note: Are we really all that surprised that 9-1-1 chooses to conclude this storyline already? It’s as if the show is unable to allow something as important as this carry on for at least half of the season.

Buck sued the city, the firehouse, and Bobby. There should be more than just a shrug of the shoulders and a reinstatement. We want to see retribution or at least a bit more anger on the part of his colleagues — after all, he did throw them under the bus.

Here’s hoping that Bobby’s threat of “my house, my rules” means Buck’s troubles with the 118 are far from over. It definitely seems with Eddie they aren’t, considering the guy didn’t even bother coming to the team-building exercise.

Buck may have gotten his job back, but will he get his team back?

Further Thoughts:

• Hen and Karen’s fertility saga is so heartbreaking. I really hope they get a win soon — they deserve it.
• It’s cute to see Eddie relinquish enough control over Christopher’s life to let him do his first sleepover. 
• I worry that Eddie’s anger issues are going to become a major problem as the season continues.

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 8/7c on FOX.

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