9-1-1 Review: Wrapped in Red (Season 5 Episode 10)

Despite being a Christmas-themed episode, 9-1-1 Season 5 Episode 10, “Wrapped in Red,” gave us quite a bit to unpack. It’s never just about the emergencies with this show, and the mid-season finale is no different. 

Between Eddie’s struggles with Christopher and Bathena’s struggles to get their whole “family” to come for Christmas, there is as much happening behind the scenes as there is emergency action. 

The weather outside may not be frightful, and closer in temperature to the fire that should be so delightful, but we are filled with holiday cheer. So, it’s only fair that we break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of “Wrapped in Red.” 

The Good

If there is anything 9-1-1 is known for each season it’s a fantastic Bobby Nash/Athena Grant holiday bonanza. This usually means scenes of merriment and unity around their dinner table as the whole firehouse family gets together for a night of good food and fun. 

As each member of the team starts to talk about not attending Bobby and Athena’s festive get-together our hearts collectively start to break. How can this be a Christmas episode without the usual celebrations?

Thankfully, Bobby manages to pull his whole team in to celebrate the holiday for a group of displaced apartment complex residents. While it may not be the holiday we are used to it still warms our hearts and makes us feel right at home. 

Even with some missing faces, the love is never far away. Even the episode’s ending scene can’t dampen our holiday spirits as we relish the yuletide with the family we’ve come to know and love.

Another good element to this episode is that 9-1-1 chooses to bring up the topic of trauma and Christopher. It’s about time the writers realize that, with all he’s been through, there is no way he’s unscathed. 

While it’s disheartening to see him lash out about the holiday because of his trauma. The way it’s written is true and real to Christopher.

He has all these pent-up emotions that he doesn’t know how to process or communicate and so it comes out as anger. Eddie does a great job of helping him cope with it as each outburst comes along.

This team is probably the best duo on the whole entire show.

The Bad

You can take or leave what I am about to say, but I need to say it. One of the not-so-great parts about this episode is Buck’s anxiety over what to get Taylor for Christmas.

It could’ve easily been condensed into one full scene instead of having the multitude of half conversations about it. It’s truly a one-and-done kind of plot point — and I would be saying this about any of the characters, not just because it’s Buck and Taylor. 

It doesn’t really add anything to them as characters. Therefore, it has no business being a long-running plot for this halfway decent episode.

Another storyline I’m not fully convinced is worth the time it’s given is the woman who calls into the dispatch center each Christmas. I feel like this could have all been resolved with Josh and not dragged on for another call involving another of the operators. 

It’s a sweet story, don’t get me wrong, we love a family reunion. However, it is extended beyond the layer of story it deserves. 

The Ugly

Eddie announcing he is leaving the 118 makes absolutely no sense from a writing standpoint.

Sure, his reasoning is completely solid — I mean who wouldn’t want to help their kid by eliminating the cause of their anxiety. However, if he doesn’t end up leaving the show it’s going to be one heck of a revelation to walk back. 

With the actor contracted through 3 more seasons, should the show continue that long, it’s not likely Eddie is actually leaving. So, why make it such a bomb of an announcement?

He could have said that he was taking a leave of absence to get Christopher the help he needs. But, instead, he announces he’s leaving the 118 completely. While the screen faded to black right after, the tone of his message had a finality to it.

This whole situation with Christopher could’ve played out in so many different ways, but instead, the writers choose yet another “I’m leaving” announcement. In case you aren’t keeping track that is 3 within the 118 this season alone, 4 if you consider Maddie just leaving as one such event. 

To me, that is a bit excessive for 10 episodes. Sure, Chim actually did leave with the notion that he might come back someday. And Buck’s announcement was immediately shot down. 

But that still makes it 3 announcements in the span of 10 episodes. I don’t have the right answer for how this episode should have really ended, but I do know that an “I’m leaving” statement isn’t it. 

Stray Thoughts

• The two-timing husband…he deserved everything he got. Even the double whammy of divorce papers on Christmas. 
• I love that Harry gave his Christmas gift to that little boy who lost out on Christmas.
• It’s a bummer that we get mentions of Karen but no actual sighting of Karen.
• My favorite of the whole episode goes to the elevator girl getting her crush even after making a fool of herself in front of him. 

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 will be back with new episodes in the Spring on FOX.

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