9-1-1: Lone Star Review: A Little Help From My Friends (Season 2 Episode 10)
Strength sometimes comes in numbers as we learn on 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 2 Episode 10, “A Little Help From My Friends.”
If the previous episode seems to quickly wrap up Judd and Grace’s accident, then this episode expands on it. I wondered if the show is too quick to dismiss Grace having a struggle of faith with her accident.
9-1-1: Lone Star must have heard my concern because one of the strongest aspects of “A Little Help From My Friends,” is Grace’s internal struggle. Yes, she is physically struggling, but that is to be expected with a car accident injury like hers.
However, the show doesn’t stop there. It really dives into what makes Grace who she is as a person.
It’s the best move that could be made after falling short emotionally with the aftermath of the accident. Grace needs to grow as a character from the challenges of this accident.
The best way for her to do that is to have an internal crisis. After all, Grace has always been the strong, dependable one.
She doesn’t know how to be reliant on others or to ask for help when she is down. While she still isn’t completely asking Judd for help, she is making strides in the right direction.
Everyone needs a friend like Tommy in your corner when the chips are down, and Grace’s chips are definitely down. Hopefully, in the days and weeks to come, we will get to see Grace falter a bit more in her quest to become more reliant.
Grace isn’t the only one who needs to learn how to lean on others. Unfortunately for us, the other side of the 126 coin isn’t as captivating or attention-grabbing.
Since the beginning of the series, Captain Strand has been the stronghold of the house. We’ve seen him lean on the others a few times while going through chemo. This is probably why this time around the growth potential isn’t really there.
We already know he is stubborn but he always gives in once pressured.
Sure, it’s important that the show highlights the concept of smiling depression. However, that should be the extent of the story.
The whole intervention seems a bit over the top when the purpose of their conversation could have been just that, a conversation. Honestly, it’s nice to see the firehouse unity, but I’d rather see it toward something other than Captain Strand.
That’s not to say his crisis isn’t important, it’s just been done before.
What hasn’t been done before is a full focus on Mateo. When the episode starts, it seems that’s where the entire episode is heading. This is another big reason the focus shifting to Captain Strand, again, is such a buzz kill.
Mateo deserves to be the center of an episode for once. This time he is dealing with a major life change — his house exploded!
Seeing the firehouse rally around him and show him the love and support that is, instead, showered on Captain Strand would’ve been more emotionally satisfying. It would have balanced out the episode a bit more.
It’s understandable why the show went the route of Captain Strand, considering his faith is being tested as well. However, Mateo’s continued struggle to really “belong” is much more interesting. It may not have an obvious tie-in with Grace’s struggle but underneath it all, both Grace and Mateo need the same thing — the strong, sturdy help of friends.
Personally, I hope that Mateo continues to live with Paul. Maybe then we will get more scenes of them together. It’s a bond well worth exploring.
That’s something 9-1-1: Lone Star sometimes struggles with — creating a balance between focus.
There is more focus on characters such as T.K. and Owen and Judd while the equally fascinating characters of Marjan, Paul, Mateo, Carlos, or Grace fall to the sidelines.
When there is an ensemble cast it is hard to give each character their due. However, it’s high time our sidelined few get more than just a lucky moment here and there. They deserve their own stories more often.
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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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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.