Station 19 Review: Indoor Fireworks (Season 3 Episode 2)

If you Google the term “filler episode,” Station 19 Season 3 Episode 2, “Indoor Fireworks,” might be the first result. The sophomore episode of the new season moves at a snail’s pace, only to result in an anticlimactic cliffhanger since the next episode’s description mentions a “monumental loss.”

The episode is painfully slow because we know the ultimate outcome (Station 19 Season 3 Episode 3 is titled “Eulogy.” Come on, now). Sticking around the burning grocery store while Andy and Ryan clean up a scene from Dexter is a waste of time; cut to the chase and tell us what we need to know before our hearts are broken.

The powers-that-be deliver on the broken heart front but not before making us wade through a slew of pointless BS. Among the needless plot lines are Maya’s power struggle, and — yeah, sorry — Ben’s origin story.

Before discussing Maya and Ben, it’s worth noting the bright spot that is Travis’ speech to young Jesse.

This one block of dialogue transcends the whole show. There is currently so much fear and darkness in the world that Travis really speaks to all of us when he encourages Jesse to be the change he wants to see. Thanks for that, Station 19. I needed to hear it.

Maya’s power struggle is pointless simply by virtue of the burning building with fireworks exploding inside. Jack’s pettiness is needless, and combined with Vasquez’s bitchiness, just makes for an extremely frustrating A story.

Yes, Jack is acting out because he is upset with Maya, but questioning authority and sleeping with random women is not coping. It’s just immature.

Chiding her ambition also highlights a pathetic double standard. If a man throws everything he has into a possible promotion, it’s admirable. For Maya, however, it’s selfish and dumb. Okay, Jack, we see you. Maybe just shut up and go pull yourself together, okay?

Also immature, or maybe just freaking reckless, is running into a burning building without proper headgear. Really, Ben?

I just typed and then deleted a horrible paragraph comparing origin stories to chocolate chip cookies, but the point I’m trying to make is that when done correctly, origin stories are remarkable.

Ben’s story about his friend, Danny, unfortunately, misses the mark. The story lacks gravity, and the timing is just plain odd. His idea for field medicine is genius; it’s just a shame said idea gets lost in the rest of the episode.

Speaking of getting lost, I kind of wish Pruitt would. Instead of being smug and meddling in his adult daughter’s love life, he should try owning his mistake and apologizing. Insert that expression about trapping more flies with honey than vinegar here.

He’s got nerve to be so prideful, too. As dependent as Pruitt once was on Andy, for him now to revel in their post-fight silence is a-holery in the highest form. He needs to acknowledge how much he hurt her and let it go. Life is too short.

And that brings us to Andy and Ryan. I’d like to say that it’s good to see him, but it’s just kind of whatever. Andy doesn’t need him to pull her out of the funk she’s in, so Ryan is literally just there to, well, get shot by the neighbor’s kid.

I have definitely called Ryan “pointless” in the past, but his fate in the final two minutes is as previously stated — a heartbreaker. Ryan being shot is a sobering reminder that life can change in an instant, and may even be too much to handle given recent events.

What did you think of this episode of Station 19? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Station 19 airs Thursday at 8/7c on ABC.

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