9-1-1: Lone Star Review: The Big Heat (Season 2 Episode 12)

Honestly, 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 2 Episode 12, “The Big Heat,” is such an emotional roller-coaster, we are all still processing everything that happens. 

First and foremost, Ronen Rubinstein and Rafael Silva are the MVPs of this episode. Their emotional timing is spot on from happy moments, to tense moments, to sad moments.

It is said that eyes are windows to the soul. Well, if that is the case Rubinstein’s and Silva’s eyes killed us over and over again during “The Big Heat.” Honestly, their micro-expressions and chemistry are what sets the tone for the whole episode. 

Captain Strand’s troubles with the law are supposed to be the center of this episode, but the emotional turmoil his son has to endure takes center stage very quickly. In fact, it can be argued that T.K.’s reactions are a nice distraction for the writers to get away with the coverup/fake-out plot going on with the parents.

When T.K. is so upset that Carlos’ dad arrested his dad that he doesn’t even want Carlos’ comfort, our collective hearts clench. It’s never fun to see our favorite couple fight, but it’s even more heartbreaking when we know it’s because one of them is hurting. 

T.K. has always been more guarded and closed off with his heart. However, in recent weeks it seems that he’s let go of that wall between him and Carlos. 

So to see that wall come right back up has us fearing the worst. When Carlos walks away, we wonder if it’s going to be for the last time — a situation that isn’t made any better by T.K.’s conversation with Mateo.

Rubinstein has always been really good at hitting the mark for emotional scenes. He knows just how much to give T.K. on each separate occasion — this time is no different.

Just by looking at T.K.’s eyes, the viewers can see just how much he loves Carlos but doesn’t know how to be around him while his father is still under The Ranger’s custody. It’s a delicate balance that isn’t always executed properly in other characters, but Rubinstein nails it. 

Transversely, Silva has his moment to shine toward the end of “The Big Heat” when it’s Carlos’ turn to be the vulnerable/hurt one in the relationship. It’s a side of Carlos we don’t get to see very often because of how tough and put together he always tries to be.

Being a first responder at an emergency is way different than actually living your own emergency though. Carlos is visibly shaken and Silva uses his expressive features to his advantage in these moments. 

Carlos is having the hardest time voicing what he’s feeling and yet, through his body language, Silva manages to clue all of us — T.K. included — into how Carlos is feeling and what he needs from his partner. 

It’s a beautiful example of why Tarlos are great together. Usually, Carlos is the strong, in control, steady one but in this moment of complete shakedown, T.K. manages to show us all that he can be that person when necessary too.

Ultimately, this episode takes us all on a roller coaster through the eyes of the two characters being affected the most by this arson investigation — T.K. and Carlos. It’s a change of pace for how 9-1-1: Lone Star usually handles the big stories and it works perfectly.

That’s not to say Captain Strand’s scenes aren’t important, because they tell the bulk of the story. However, the emotionality behind everything being revealed in the investigation lies solely on the shoulders of T.K. and Carlos. 

It’s not very often that the most important moments fall under the side storyline but boy, aren’t we glad when they do!

As if there isn’t enough emotional whiplash, 9-1-1: Lone Star decides to do us one better. They take a character who has already seen so many terrible things — in one season mind you — and give her one more shocker. 

Tommy doesn’t deserve to come home after a long, eventful day to find her husband like that. It’s a cliffhanger we don’t deserve. If he is actually dead I’m going to be devastated. Tommy’s husband is such a good man and an inspiration to everyone in that firehouse to seek out love and hold tight to it when you find it.

We are so close to the Season 2 finish line, so 9-1-1: Lone Star better not break us now. Isn’t it enough that we dealt with the emotions of our two favorite guys? I can’t bear to see Tommy’s life come crashing down around her.

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

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