9-1-1: Lone Star Review: 2100° (Season 2 Episode 2)

With a move so big and bold it has to be from Texas, 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 2 Episode 2, “2100°,” is here to prove that it doesn’t mess around. It’s a move that can easily turn the tide of a show — either toward success or away from it.

9-1-1: Lone Star isn’t afraid to tell its audience that sometimes good guys get hurt and sometimes firefighters lose their own. I mean, take a look at their premiere when they kill all of the original 126.

However insane and ruthless this episode seems with all its volcanic eruptions and free-flowing lava, nothing prepares us for the final ten minutes. How could we know that the lovable paramedic who just wants to give his patient’s hope isn’t going to make it out of the emergency alive?

Tim may not be a significant player at the 126, but he plays a big enough part that he has scenes with everyone and he’s always there to help out those in need. His loss is one that is going to be felt for a while and will carry over the entire season.

The loss will be felt as Tommy grapples with her decision to come back and whether or not she is a good enough leader. Or in Owen’s struggles with survivals guilt — which he already has enough of from 9/11.

Lowe nails the shock on Captain Strand’s face as he watches Tim’s death play out in slow motion and he collectively breaks all our hearts beyond repair. This is a man who has witnessed so much, yet he still manages to walk tall and keep moving forward.

The whole team is going to wonder “what if” for a long while. None more so than his partners, Nancy, Owen, and Tommy.

This decision is a great plot device that will deepen our understanding of each of these characters. Judd has already shown that his strong suit is compassion and leadership. 

Out of everyone, he knows what it’s like to stand by helplessly as your family members die in a freak accident. Perhaps this is the moment Judd steps completely out of the shadow of Captain Strand and shows his worth as a leader of this firehouse. 

Despite Tim being a smaller character, his death is just as emotional as it would be if one of the core cast dies. That is due in large part to how they perfectly timed the musical overlay of Robert Buckley’s “Hallelujah” with snippets of each family member returning home to cope with the tragedy of the day.

We get to see some of them go off by themselves, while some fight off the what-ifs with an animal companion. And still, others turn to the ones they care about most in the world in the name of moving forward, while also grieving their friend and colleague. 

Sadly, we aren’t being given the opportunity to know Tim better. However, that’s life — sometimes we just don’t get enough time with people in our orbit to truly see if they are going to change our lives.

The dynamic of these characters is going to change from here on out. The real question is, how much?

The 126 is a strong family unit already, but they haven’t had to deal with a loss like this before. We will have to watch to see who becomes more affected by this tragedy and how the house will rally to come back from it.

9-1-1: Lone Star can easily go about their day and not have anyone die, but to do that would be to fall into the trap that their companion show, 9-1-1, consistently finds themselves in.

By choosing to end Tim’s life, the series is demonstrating that when your job is about life and death, sometimes the pendulum swings toward death. 

Minor Emergencies:

• Marjan has the BEST energy. “I get to repel into that.” Girl, I wish I had your spunk.
• It may be minor moments but I love the bond between Marjan and Paul. It is so sweet and #FriendshipGoals.
• When Tommy takes Tim’s cat home I may have cried all over again.
• Carlos comforting TK is what TK deserves after all he’s been through. They are great together.
• I’m a great big NOPE to that food truck full of scorpions and the kid who’s flesh melted off his arm.

 

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

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

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