9-1-1: Lone Star Review: Push (Season 3 Episode 4)

Despite going off the rails last week, 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 3 Episode 4, “Push,” manages to pull the ice storm back into focus. It turns into a nice satisfying conclusion to what has been an emotional roller coaster from the beginning.

While predictability is the consistent downfall of 9-1-1, luckily this show doesn’t suffer from that problem. In fact, “Push” proves that the writers have really nailed down how to deliver emotional moments that keep us guessing just where things are headed. 

The episode does lose itself a little by the end because of time jumps where a bit more development wouldn’t have hurt. But, it’s not enough to steer the whole story astray.

Will TK survive?

The biggest questions on our minds this whole four-part arc have been centered on the fate of TK. It’s clear that his case of hypothermia wasn’t ideal in the slightest, but we couldn’t predict from episode to episode how things would turn out.

The presence of Carlos at his bedside didn’t bode well in our minds as the episodes progressed and TK remained unconscious. However, good things came from these moments.

9-1-1: Lone Star chooses the perfect moment and method of delivery to answer the question about TK and Carlos’ break up. If the information had stayed hidden the whole season it would’ve become frustrating and disappointing the longer the wait. 

Also, I feel that if Carlos had told his mom what had happened, instead of us hearing it from TK the writers would’ve done a disservice to TK’s character. Once we find out that TK broke up with Carlos it became TK’s story to tell, not Carlos’s.

Hearing TK tell his mother while he’s in dreamland allows us to really see the situation for what it was — TK’s anxiety and fears manifesting. If other’s had been around or the world had been a noisy backdrop it would’ve pulled focus from TK’s intent. 

We are better able to sympathize with TK because we can see just how lost and confused he was about his own mistrust of the situation. TK hasn’t had it easy with relationships or making good decisions. So of course a big move like that would throw him off and send him running. 

The barrier of TK’s consciousness also allows us to experience Carlos’ hurt without anything else getting in the way. 

Carlos: And the worst part about this is, if this really is goodbye, I can’t even hold your hand or run my fingers through your hair or kiss you without it feeling like a violation.

Carlos’ raw emotions come out for the first time ever and we are able to see just how important TK is to him. He’s just as lost, hurt, and confused as TK is but for totally different reasons. 

This whole situation is a lesson in communication so it’s great that TK does wake up. It allows them to grow in their relationship together and open their lines of communication much better than before. 

Grace Under Pressure

Meanwhile, Owen can’t handle just sitting idly by while his son possibly dies so he goes out in search of Billy — and by extension, Grace. While that decision in itself makes some feel like Owen is pulling focus, I will talk later about why I don’t think it is.

This whole time Grace is stuck in the snow with Billy, we are thinking she is going to deliver that beautiful baby of hers without her husband or best friend. Honestly, until the moment Tommy/Owen and then Judd arrives it looks like that is how things are going to end.

There is even a moment where we are terrified she may have some kind of complication during labor with it being so cold. Or that Billy might have adverse effects due to swallowing a bit of gas when he was siphoning from other cars. 

I’ve never been more thankful for things to be tied up nicely in the end for Grace. She deserves a very normal birth, but since the ice storm can’t give her that this is the next best thing.

Delivering on a tour bus with her best friend at the helm and her husband holding her hand? Perfect, beyond perfect. It allows the birth to go off without a hitch and beautiful baby girl Ryder makes her exciting entrance.

What is even more special is that in the flash-forward sequence we find out that Judd and Grace choose to honor their late friend Charles with their daughter’s name, Charlie.

While I didn’t want Grace to have any kind of difficult birth, I am glad that 9-1-1: Lone Star didn’t drop her faith in her most desperate time of need. We see her praying to God constantly as her labor progresses with no positive solution in sight. 

A Father’s Grief

Like I said earlier, there is already mixed feelings about Owen’s speech regarding TK at the hospital. There are many who see it as just another excuse for Owen to make the situation all about himself. 

However, as someone who has had the excruciating experience of grasping for answers in a sea of unknowns while a family member is dying, I understand what Owen is thinking about how he can make sense of losing his only child.

Does that come out a bit selfishly during his conversation with TKs friends and coworkers? Yes, definitely, but grief comes out that way sometimes.

Owen is feeling helpless and unsure of what he can do to make things better for his son. Therefore he looks to find a reason for what has happened. 

He selfishly, like Tommy, thinks the blame is completely on him because he hid away instead of staying and fighting. If I were in his shoes I’m not sure I would have reacted any differently. 

Does Owen get self-serving and very selfish to the point of annoyance a lot? Most definitely. However, this time there is understanding behind his actions.

We see it once again when Grace successfully gives birth. Owen is so overwhelmed with the unknown of his son’s fate that he steps outside and sinks to his knees. 

He just wants TK to be better and that aspect of knowing there is nothing he can do is hard for Owen to face. Of course, his first and strongest reaction is to completely shoulder the blame. 

Minor Emergencies

• They need to stop with the time jumps. I’m lost trying to figure out how much time passed between the bulk of the episode and the end of it. 
• Mama Reyes in for the save by getting Carlos to open up.
• The reunion of TK and Carlos was so beautifully juxtaposed with TK telling his mom why they broke up. That whole scene was *chefs kiss*

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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