9-1-1: Lone Star Review: The Big Chill (Season 3 Episode 1)

Since the show first premiered, I have been a staunch advocate of how great the storytelling is — barring a few glaring issues. The great thing about 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 3 Episode 1, “The Big Chill,” is that a few of these issues seem to be addressed in the best ways possible. 

First and foremost a big setback preventing 9-1-1: Lone Star being a completely well-rounded storytelling machine is their lack of attention to the non-white, non-main seeming characters. We are talking about Marjan, Paul, Mateo, and Carlos. 

The most beautiful thing about “The Big Chill” is the focus the story gives to both Marjan and Carlos. It seems that Owen Strand refusing to apologize for hitting Billy Tyson has resulted in the best thing for this show — him being sidelined in the mountains. 

Don’t get us wrong, Rob Lowe is a powerful and compelling actor. However, for two seasons now, 9-1-1: Lone Star has been the Captain Strand show. It’s high time he takes a seat.

Let’s break down exactly what we loved so much about this episode — between Marjan and Carlos. Mateo getting his due is truly great for him overall, but isn’t the focus of the episode so more on him later. 

Firefox All Fired Up

It’s very discouraging to see that eight months into this break-up of the 126, Marjan is the only member of the family fighting to keep them together. We do get a small moment where Nancy and TK talk about getting the gang together for a hang, but outside of that, there is no “family” left.

For the first time since Marjan was introduced, she is getting a story that doesn’t center on her faith — which is great, but we need more layers for her. Season 3 has already thrown out to us that the layers are coming off for our Firefox!

Marjan’s passion to keep the family together hints at a deeper need for her to have connectedness with those she knows in Texas. Which, isn’t all that surprising considering she gave up her entire life in Miami to come to Texas for Captain Strand. 

The 126 are her chosen family, and it’s clear from her actions during “The Big Chill” that she is desperate to keep some kind of consistency in her life. We all know what it’s like to feel like the people we love the most are slipping further and further away from us. 

Let’s just hope that this season dives deeper into her motivation and drive behind this need to keep the 126 alive. Is it just because she needs her family back together? Or does it point further into the deep-seated loneliness she feels or abandonment issues she has underneath it all?

Either way, the premiere episode has set the tone for what we can hopefully expect from our Firefox this season. She is going to come more and more into her own as a leader now that Strand has buried his head in the sand.

Her interaction with him at his cabin in the woods further proves that. She is pushing for him to take charge and when he refuses she leaves stating she’s not giving up on this fight. It’s the storytelling she deserves.

Carlos Is a Hero First

One thing that sets 9-1-1: Lone Star apart from its counterpart is that the police force is barely even present in a vast majority of the storylines. And for 2 seasons now, Carlos has been only involved when TK or another firefighter was also in trouble. 

He hasn’t been able to really step out and be the cop that we know he is inside. It’s sad really, that as an important first responder he is only known as part of TK’s life.

So far, 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 3 Episode 1, “The Big Chill,” has told us that maybe breaking up with TK was the best thing for him. It seems that while we love to see them together, them not being romantically connected has allowed the writers to branch out Carlos’s story arc to include some actual police work.

Seeing him arrest Marjan and discuss with her why he hates having to do it is *chef’s kiss*. We have never gotten to see him interact with any other members of the 126 without TK present. 

This development is necessary to ensure that his character doesn’t stagnate or lose his purpose on the show. The most tragic thing that can happen to a character is for it to lose their individuality outside of a key relationship — whether it be romantic, familial, or friendly. 

Prior to “The Big Chill” I worried that Carlos was going to fall into that character hell. I’m so glad the writers are giving him a shot at singledom — both romantically and characteristically. 

We need to see him do more of what he’s employed to do because the man has a keen eye for disaster and details. If he didn’t run back and told the firefighters that the teenager was still inside the church she would have never been found — at least now she has a chance.

And that veteran probably would’ve been killed had another police officer responded to the break-in. He also would’ve died in the initial collapse if Carlos hadn’t been there. 

These scenes merely prove that Carlos is more than capable of being a character that stands on his own two feet. Let him explore himself and his abilities individually before attaching him back to TK. (That’s not to say I’m not a huge Tarlos fan, because I am.)

Stray Emergencies:

• Mateo is his number one guy? Stay winning my dude! I’ve been saying it since day 1! Don’t count Mateo out!
• Grace drinking chamomile tea is a super huge sign that she’s gonna go into labor at the most inopportune time, without Judd there.
• All I’m saying is Marjan and Paul better be just fine after all this. I need my babies alive!
• Owen is confusing me. I’m not quite sure why he’s just thrown the towel in. Luckily, Buttercup isn’t done with the rescue life.
• Tommy and Nancy tag-teaming that PHENOMENAL snow save with the ice to the throat kid — BLESS!
• The world doesn’t deserve Tommy, but I am so glad we got her!
• Nancy is a representative of us Tarlos fans — get them boys to work things out. 

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 8/7c on FOX.

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