9-1-1 Review: Brawl in Cell Block 9-1-1 (Season 5 Episode 6)

I will be the first to tell you that Season 5 has not had the smoothest of starts. However, 9-1-1 Season 5 Episode 6, “Brawl in Cell Block 9-1-1,” somehow manages to make up for all that slack.

By sticking to one set storyline, this show proves that they are a fan favorite for a reason. There is excitement and fun to be had when one particular angle is being explored vs. 3 different stories trying to be tied together. 

Prisoner Escape

First and foremost, having Mark Pellegrino guest star on this episode is a killer choice. He is always fantastic at playing those characters that don’t necessarily follow the letter of the law. Some of his most iconic roles are ones where he is given full freedom to work against what is morally correct. 

Having that dynamic Pellegrino’s character be paired with Buck and Eddie doesn’t fully make sense until the final moments of the episode. However, the whole time we are engaged and intrigued to find out what his exact motive is. 

Tying him so intricately with who Eddie is in his soul makes the moments stick out that much more. From the moment they are hijacked, Buck is just a spare set of hands to conclude the plan at hand. 

The main focus is on Eddie, and at first I honestly thought the convict was going to use the knowledge of Christopher in a disastrously dangerous way. To find out he uses it to his advantage from a fatherly standpoint is interesting and not a story route taken very often.

9-1-1 manages to keep us on our toes this whole time because we are expecting Pellegrino’s character to lash out in some way toward Eddie — putting him in danger of being shot once again. When that isn’t the ending we get we actually start to feel for the guy, his done horrible, terrible things but all he wants to do now is die so his son can live.

I appreciate that the show uses Eddie to execute this plan because the emotionality is much higher and gives us a more human connection to this escaped convict who’s done nothing good so far. If it had been Buck and only Buck there would have been a disconnect between the viewers but also the two characters — Buck wouldn’t have gone out of his way to help make this man’s plan come to fruition. 

What makes Buck’s presence truly great in this situation is during the final moments of the whole showdown. Had it been any other member of the team, Eddie’s urgency wouldn’t have been fully understood. Nor, would Athena have been as keen to work with them to get his final wishes accomplished.

Prison Riot

Meanwhile, we are also on the edge of our seats hoping to see what Bobby and Hen can pull out of their behinds in order to get their patient out of the prison safely. They are two of the most resourceful members of the 118 so it’s great to get to see them use those skills to the best of their abilities. 

I was honestly concerned that Season 4’s storyline of Hen being in medical school was just going to go out the window this season. It’s great to see that not only does she talk about it, but she also gets to put her training into practice. 

If she hadn’t been currently studying medicine or even in that infirmary at the right time there is no doubt that guard would have died. Her quick thinking and calm, cool, collected nature under pressure saves that man’s life. 

It’s beautiful to see her work hand in hand with a man who is contemplating switching sides of the medical field in the opposite manner of her. There is that moment of complete trust and understanding between them that really makes the scene that much more magical.

Then, there is Bobby realizing they can gas the inmates in order to incapacitate them and get back to their rig safely. It’s just upsetting that in order for that plan to work, Ravi has to risk his own life and sanity to put it all into action. 

9-1-1 could have easily thrown his discomfort and obvious trauma from the whole situation out the door and said, “we will deal with that later.” Instead, the more powerful move is to show Bobby bonding, nurturing, and guiding this new firefighter in the same ways we watched him do with Buck over the years.

A full-circle moment in which everyone gets to be reminded of why Bobby is the captain of this firehouse. His leadership skills are bar none and border on the comfort you’d get from a father figure. 

Getting to watch Ravi interact more fully with the team, but also get some one-on-one time with Bobby shows us that he is here to stay. Ravi is one of us now and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Minor Emergencies:

• My heart burst out of my chest at that moment with Eddie and Christopher in Christopher’s bed. These two are so close and so in tune with each other, it warms us all in our very souls. 
• I’m glad that the only parts we see of the dispatch center and of Athena are very short and minimal in nature. This episode is about the 118 and it shows. 
• More episodes like this that focus solely on one event and the connectedness of the group overall. 

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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