9-1-1: Lone Star Review: The ATX-Files (Season 3 Episode 6)
Going into 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 3 Episode 6, “The ATX-Files,” it is safe to assume the show is going to dive into the ridiculous and not take itself too seriously. Surprisingly, it only teeters on the edge of unbelievable and instead manages a well-rounded spiritual belief-centered tale.
Whether it is aliens or ghosts that tickle your fancy, this episode is definitely the one for you. It manages to dive into both areas of belief without becoming too kooky.
Underneath it all, everyone just wants to feel like they matter in the grand scheme of things. Or that their loved ones are still there, even from the beyond.
Wyatt and Judd: Best Buds?
It’s never easy finding out you have a child you weren’t aware of for 17 years. But for someone like Judd, whose family means everything to him, it’s even harder to reconcile all that guilt.
Making it even harder to vibe with his son is this barrier that they don’t have any similar interests. Sweet Judd sure is trying his best, but sometimes there is such a thing as trying too hard.
If he’d let go of some of that anxiety underlying their whole alien hunt, he would’ve seen that more than believing in extra-terrestrials, Wyatt just wants to believe in his dad. Though you can’t deny the sweetness of seeing Wyatt vibe so similarly with Owen.
Hopefully, Judd will soon see that he can react to his son in the same way he reacts to Owen. This will allow him to open up to all the possibilities of what their bond can be.
After all, love and humor are Judd’s go-to languages, and I truly believe Wyatt will be receptive to both. Honestly, this whole adventure clues us into who Judd is as a parent, or at least who he wants to be.
The whole alien belief element of Judd’s experiences with his son this episode could’ve driven things into “hard to believe” territory. Instead, we get to see a whole new layer of Judd that we never would’ve without Wyatt or the alien hunt.
It’s a beautiful moment of clarity for Judd when Wyatt tells him that he always wanted to go camping with his dad. The moment’s not about what you are doing; it’s about the time spent together.
Tommy Speaks With the Beyond
If you get lights flickering in a one-four-three pattern and you don’t think it’s a loved one trying to communicate with you, then I can’t help you. I know Mrs. Beasley and her electrician son dismissed the situation as nothing more than a mouse problem, but true believers are not convinced.
Luckily, Tommy stuck to her guns about the anniversary dinner and went ahead with her plans. If not, she probably never would’ve gotten the clarity that dinner allowed her.
She’s been grieving Charles in silence for ten months — insisting she needs to be strong for her children. However, as the psychic tells her, she needs to tell him how she really feels, or she won’t know peace.
Tommy is a spiritual woman, and so she needs this moment, for her own peace of mind as well as her heartache. Losing Charles so suddenly had a profound effect on her.
Getting that final clarification from him during the dinner is going to help her move forward in her grieving process. It will allow her to heal while holding strong to the love she still shares with her late husband.
Tommy talking about Charles with the psychic is also the first time we hear her talk at length about their love since he’s died. It’s cathartic for her as well as the viewers.
Aside from Grace’s unstoppable faith and Marjan attending temple in the first season, this is the first time 9-1-1: Lone Star has really addressed the spirituality of its characters. We haven’t really seen much faith from Tommy in the traditional sense, but “The ATX-Files” changes that narrative.
It’s clear that from the moment she makes contact with the psychic that Tommy believes this woman was brought into her life for a reason. Her compulsion to return after the emergency is handled proves that — as does her willingness to accept everything the woman says at face value.
Stray Emergencies:
- Grace taking credit card companies down one TikTok threat at a time to the tune of Rick Astley is the true hero of this episode.
- Why am I not surprised Owen is a “the truth is out there” type?
- The best exchange is between Judd and Owen. “You making soup?” “No, I’m not a psychopath!”
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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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.
2 comments
It was a good episode. Lots of great moments, some really funny and sweet and sad. So glad to get a focus on Tommy and her grief. I’m not hating the Wyatt storyline as much as expected. But my biggest disappointment and frustration about the episode is the same one it always is, why is it always the same characters who get short changed. Paul, Marjan, Nancy, Mateo might as well have been extras, and there was no Carlos. Why is it always the same characters shunted into the background and given nothing to do time and time again.
I agree. It gets frustrating that these characters don’t always get to share the focus. However, I will say the show does try to give us some episodes central to them. If you think about it the premiere was centered primarily on Marjan and Carlos. Then there was the Paul centered episode. And of course Carlos’ investigation episode. And that is just this season. As side characters they unfortunately don’t get the focus they deserve, but 9-1-1 does try.
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