9-1-1 Season 6 Episode 11 Review: In Another Life
9-1-1 Season 6 Episode 11, “In Another Life,” is a jump into something new for the show, and the risk pays off.
The episode follows Buck through his coma dream of a world where his older brother lived. In addition, this episode continues to explore themes of parenthood from the previous installment and the idea of being enough.
Since the beginning, Buck’s self-esteem has been low, and Season 4 revealed that this is mainly due to his relationship with his parents. This episode finally gives Buck the closure he needs to move on. He needs to face the life that he thinks would be perfect and see that it’s not a life he could live with.
On “In Another Life,” Bobby and Buck’s relationship is again a primary focus.
The importance of their relationship is clear with the pair having to face two sides of reality where Bobby is praying for Buck — who is repeatedly referred to as a son to Bobby — to wake up while Buck grieves the death of Bobby in his coma.
Buck is thrown into his dream world, and it’s happy for him. He sees his brother is alive and his parents love him, but things quickly take a turn, and Buck is faced with Maddie still being in an abusive relationship, Bobby dead, and Eddie losing custody of Christopher.
These moments show the impact of Buck’s life and how, without the support system he helped prosper in real life, their lives were dramatically affected in the worst way possible.
The episode takes another turn when Buck starts understanding that it’s all in his head and has to face a version of Bobby deep in his addiction.
The alter-ego forces Buck to understand the impact that he’s made on Bobby’s life and the journey that they have gone on together. It’s such a powerful back-and-forth that Peter Krause and Oliver Stark navigate fantastically.
It shows the depth of their relationship and the growth of both characters, especially Buck.
The scene with Bobby lets Buck see that he is happy with who he is and what he has. The moment is critical when he has to face his parents and accept that he didn’t have the life he should have had growing up, but that’s okay. He has a family with Bobby and the 118.
Plus, his parents are trying. And even if they were not trying, Bobby is a father to him.
Stark’s acting shines during this already phenomenal episode.
He is incredible with every emotional moment that Buck has to face and balances it well with some comedic moments slipped in.
He also shows a new range to his acting in a scene where Buck is talking to a darker version of himself that stops him from returning to the land of the living.
While Buck is in his dream world, things are tying back to real life. In a fun series of easter eggs, he finds toys and other objects related to major traumas that leave him with flashbacks to his real life.
Likewise, those learning objects in his dreams create seamless transitions to his family in the real world.
Another heartwrenching set of performances in this episode was Aisha Hinds, Ryan Guzman, and Gavin McHugh in Buck’s hospital room.
When Christopher insists on seeing Buck, Eddie brings him even though he’s struggling to see his best friend and partner in the bed.
The performance is emotional when he begins to cry, so Hinds’ Hen tearfully takes over explaining the machines that Buck is hooked up to while McHugh’s Christopher begs Buck to return to him.
Everyone in the room reacts differently based on their relationship with Buck and their understanding of what’s happening.
Overall, the way “In Another Life” is filmed and edited together leans into the trippy vibe of the episode.
Throughout Buck’s dream, the cameras often tilt or zoom in abnormally, followed by distorted audio and visuals. It adds to the weird elements and sells the experience.
Additionally, the use of Coldplay’s “Fix You” throughout the climaxing scenes of the episode ties nicely into the overarching themes.
Buck is known as a person who likes to fix things, and this episode spins to show the character he can be happy with his life as it is now.
Writer Lyndsey Beaulieu has had many hits with 9-1-1, so it’s no surprise that her work here is no different because she truly hits this episode out of the park.
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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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