9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 4 Review: No Place Like Home

After the conclusion of the exciting 3-part premiere, 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 4, “No Place Like Home,” drives home the reason we love Station 118. They are a family who sticks together through everything, good and bad.

This episode doesn’t have any flashy emergencies, but that’s okay because it shows something so much more important. “No Place Like Home” shows us how working together as one unit can get the desired results because there is a level of trust.

We get to see Chim and Eddie take charge during each of the situations in a way that we don’t get to see very often. It is refreshing and gives us exactly what we want despite the looming threat of Captain Gerrard and Councilwoman Ortiz.

Once a Family, Always a Family

Back on 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 3, “Capsized,” ABC pulled out all the stops to prove that the 118 will always go full out for one of their own. And in a way, this episode shows that same sentiment, but on a smaller scale. 

We have an emergency with a cheerleader that none of the team has ever seen in person before, except for Eddie while in combat. So, naturally, Hen and Chim step aside as the firehouse paramedics and allow Eddie to take the reins. 

Then, we have a full-grown tiger in an apartment, and once again, the team decides who is the best equipped to handle the situation. Sure, Chim has only ever done shooting like this as part of a paintball campaign, but it still proves highly useful.

In both situations, the team could have allowed their egos to take hold and been tunnel-visioned to handle the situations as best they could, possibly at the harm of a patient or, worse, themselves. Instead, they show Gerrard something he still doesn’t quite understand: showing love and respect to one another isn’t weakness; it’s strength.

We love 9-1-1 because we’ve always been able to feel welcomed and loved by these characters, as if we, too, are part of their family unit. Since 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 1, “Buzzkill,” it hasn’t felt like the family will ever get their mojo back.

“No Place Like Home” proves what we’ve long suspected and seen: you can’t keep the 118 down very long. They will persevere. They will come back better than ever.

Henrietta Slays the Dragon

Ever since 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 9, “Ashes, Ashes,” we’ve seen Hen struggle with the consequences of her mistakes on the job. Sure, most of it has been completely unwarranted as the result of Councilwoman Ortiz’s vendetta. However, some of it has created moments of reflection and growth for her.

The more Ortiz pushed back, the more frustrated and disheartened we became. In fact, the moment Chim and Maddie took in Mara after she was removed from Hen and Karen’s care, we knew in the back of our minds that it would somehow bite them in the butt eventually.

Considering how relentless and connected Councilwoman Ortiz is, it was only a matter of time before she discovered Hen and Karen never fully lost contact with Mara and used that information against them. So, naturally, when that happens during the first half of this episode, we are concerned that it will break Hen completely.

However, the writers show us just how strong and resilient Henrietta Wilson is. She doesn’t let this setback deter her. Instead, she faces the dragon head-on and asks her not to punish the child.

It really highlights how diabolical Councilwoman Ortiz is that she hears Mara’s story and replies with an offhanded remark that Mara will just have to learn to live without the loving home she’d found. I mean, who says that about a child?! Let alone a traumatized child?

Never fear; Hen has a plan in her back pocket that gets revealed at the most opportune time. In fact, finding out that she worked with Gerrard to enact this plan with secret help from Bobby for planting the seed is even more indicative of what this firehouse is all about.

Seeing the 118, more specifically, Hen call out Ortiz’s actions in front of the town council is the biggest win we’ve had for this team in a very long time. It’s extremely satisfying.

Bobby Finally Gets His House Back

Outside of the big moments, Bobby and Athena are another aspect of 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 4, “No Place Like Home,” that drives home the family vibe we love.

From almost the beginning of the series, Bobby and Athena have been the glue that holds this show together. When they got together as a couple, it just reinforced that they are the mom and dad for the whole crew, not just Athena’s children. 

During 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 10, “All Fall Down,” we almost lost both of them. First, Athena to the fire at their home and then Bobby to smoke inhalation and a heart attack. 

However, now that the dust has settled, they need to find a place to live. I never thought watching two characters on a first responder show go through the motions of househunting could be so fun.

We get to see Bobby excited about a house, which isn’t an emotion he shows very often, and Athena is stubborn about the change that is upon them. But that’s not all; we also get to see them communicate the pros and cons of either rebuilding the house they had previously or simply building something new.

When they look into each other’s eyes and declare they want to build something new, their love and devotion to one another go beyond a house. At this point, they have been together for almost seven years, yet their love and devotion to one another have never wavered. 

For the first time in their relationship, they are getting to build a new home for their marriage while Bobby also gets to build back his old home at the 118.

It’s a beautiful moment that solidifies Bobby and Athena are the best couple currently on TV.

Stray Thoughts

• Find Your People by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors was the perfect song to tie all these moments together. It should officially become the theme for Station 118.
• Eddie needs to take his own advice with Christopher. He is Christopher’s father, and he needs to assert that he’s Chris’s father despite how the kid feels right now.
• Gerrard wanting to work the TV set is so funny for some reason.

 

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 Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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