9-1-1 Review: Desperate Measures (Season 5 Episode 3)

The power is back on in Los Angeles, but not before Athena and Hudson have one more showdown. Honestly, if 9-1-1 Season 5 Episode 3, “Desperate Measures,” could put more energy into a non-Athena story the episode would be more balanced.

As it stands, Eddie and Maddie’s stories seem more of an afterthought instead of the major milestones they should be.

Athena: Mother? Cop? Both?

Much like I stated in my review of 9-1-1 Season 5 Episode 2, “Desperate Times,” the writing for Athena this episode is dismal and uninspired. It is one thing if the writers are trying to say Athena is acting differently because she doesn’t know how to cope with the news of Harry’s kidnapping, but it’s another thing entirely if her behavior is commented on as being “a cop who just happens to be a mother.”

Everything about Athena since season one has pointed to her being a cop AND a mother, sometimes a mother more than a cop. 

Frankly, it’s a disservice to her character development and Athena deserves so much more than this terribly executed story. From the moment it started, I knew there would be only one logical conclusion to Hudson’s reign of terror.

By having Athena shoot and kill him the writers are ensuring that they will once again have to spend a whole season on her PTSD and guilt regarding this man. It doesn’t say much for women who are assault survivors to have Athena wrapped up in this man even further.

Killing him is not only a cheap shot for Athena’s development, but also for other survivors who may be watching the show. It will undoubtedly turn into a season of Athena feeling like she will never be free from his clutches.

Instead, the writers could’ve just left well enough alone and put Hudson back in jail. This would’ve given Athena and Bobby the time they deserve to really flesh out the grievances brought up in the final episodes of Season 4. 

I know I keep bringing it up, but it’s one of my biggest issues with this season so far, it’s like Bobby and Athena were never in any real danger of breaking up or needing counseling. The story seems to have been created for drama in Season 4, never to be seen again or truly resolved.

Maddie’s Trauma

If you want to talk about a woman who deserves a season-long trauma story, then Maddie is it, not Athena. It’s so disappointing to see we won’t get to see those who love her most help her with her postpartum depression.

Now, I am sure some of the writing choices for Maddie revolve around Jennifer Love Hewitt’s availability — considering she just had a baby of her own — but there are still much better ways to approach Maddie’s story. 

9-1-1 had the choice between a positive outcome of Maddie’s suffering and a seriously messed up one. Unfortunately, it decides that Maddie abandoning her daughter makes more sense than her sitting down with Chim and figuring something out together. 

Honestly, since the whole postpartum depression story started, I expected there to be more in the way of development and discussion of her struggles. This show is infamous for being a champion of positive mental health portrayals. 

And yet, the three episodes we have with any bit of Maddie her struggles are minimized to just her knowing about them and brushed under the rug. Limited access to an actor/actress doesn’t mean the writing has to come across as less meaningful. 

This is the first episode I expect to see something really fleshed out for Maddie, and instead, we get a two-minute piece — tops. Maddie has been working through all her past trauma for some time now, but the writing for Season 5 really drops the balls with regards to those who love her.

The Buck and Chim we know wouldn’t have taken Maddie at her word. Even with a city-wide crisis they would’ve checked in with her more and really pushed her to talk.

It’s just so disappointing that Maddie is reduced to nothing more than a woman who abandoned her family and her child. 

Eddie and Ana

Another story that deserves fleshing out and more attention is definitely the relationship between Eddie and Ana. Once again, the focus on Athena’s story is detrimental to the progression of what should be a major milestone.

Instead, Eddie’s conversation with Ana is rushed and makes him look like a cold-hearted bastard. Ana has just spent 5+ days watching Eddie’s son for him and instead of letting the dust settle a bit first, Eddie jumps right in and calls it quits.

She is literally discussing cleaning up the mess she made when cooking for him and Eddie blurts out that she should just leave. I am an Eddie lover and even I hate him in that moment. 

It makes Eddie look like he doesn’t care about anyone else but himself — in fact, it’s the most selfish I have ever seen him. Again, his panic attacks are no joke, but he still could’ve approached that topic of discussion with a bit more compassion. 

Unfortunately, this is what happens when writers try to squash a big conversation into a small one-minute scene. There is going to be so much damage control needed to redeem Eddie for this move — something that I’m not entirely sure 9-1-1 is going to do.

We are only three episodes into this season and already I feel as though these “trauma” events are being played out just to create shock value. This show doesn’t need shock value, what it needs is consistent writing and complete follow-through on major issues. 

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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