9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 2 Review: Spiraling

As we’ve come to expect, 9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 2, “Spiraling,” continues the story that started in the premiere. Except like in previous seasons, this continuation episode is a bit less put-together than the premiere.

First and foremost, we have the space plot in general. Then, we have the believability factor of all that comes from it. Finally, there is the issue of scattered emotions forcing the viewers to not know how to feel about any one thing.

While this episode does have some high moments that are worth talking about, they are so few that the rest overshadows them. So, let’s take each issue and address the future problems it could bring up.

Tripp Hauser: Enough Said

The most glaring issue of all is just how unlikable Tripp Hauser is and how prevalent he is within the plot. This is a guy who pushes everyone’s buttons and never has to reap the consequences because he has money.

While that in itself can make for interesting storytelling, not if the guy is a major focus of a show that isn’t about him. It’s as if Hauser himself walked into the writer’s room and demanded to be the main character of a show he’s meant to be a guest star on.

His aura is so all-consuming that even when he’s not on screen, people are still talking about him. Somehow, every emergency that is currently happening in LA is tied back to him. 

I understand that he is supposed to be an amalgamation of a few various real-life billionaires, but even in real life, these guys can be ignored. Hauser is so full of himself that he demands to be seen no matter what.

And we are supposed to believe that 90% of LA is controlled by any one of his satellites? That seems pretty far-fetched, even for a show that isn’t based in realism. (Despite what a certain showrunner said last season about Bobby’s death, but I digress.)

If we are needing Tripp Hauser’s influence and reach to be that widespread in order to make this emergency work, then I don’t think the emergency is working.

Hen, Karen, and Athena Are The Real Heroes

Look, no one is believing that Hen can realistically revive a person while in space, but hey, she looks damn good doing it. If this were the biggest headscratcher of the episode, then we could brush it off because we’ve seen worse from this show over the years.

Unfortunately, it isn’t the only terribly illogical thing about the episode. However, that doesn’t take away from what should be celebrated — the Black women of this show: Hen, Karen, and Athena.

When everyone else is running around in crisis, these women stand on business and make things happen. While everyone else is focusing on the small things, Karen is raising the alarm as only a rocket scientist would know how.

Tracie Thoms is finally being given her due on this show, and it’s in the biggest way possible. She is schooling Hauser at his own game and saving the lives of the five innocent people he put in danger all at the same time.

Meanwhile, up in space, cooler heads are prevailing when it comes to Hen and Athena keeping the other “everyday heroes” in check. In fact, they’ve got such a solid handle on things Hen even has time to make a snappy comment about how she can’t take Athena anywhere.

After all, this is the third, count it THIRD, disaster Athena has been directly involved in in as many years. She knew before going up she was cursed, and damn it’s hard to admit it, but maybe she should’ve stayed home.

Either way, Athena is there to do what she always does best: use her head and quick thinking to create solutions. If it weren’t for Athena and Hen, not only would the craft still be spinning uncontrollably, but the tech kid would probably be dead.

Here’s hoping that once they finally do get back on Earth, because we all know they will, they give Tripp Hauser a piece of their mind. We all know that idiot is going to take credit for the save, and let’s just hope Athena Grant has her groove back.

Emergencies on Earth

Now, here comes the part that felt the most out of place. With everything going on in space, this episode doesn’t need the minor emergencies back on Earth. 

Sure, it’s a way to show just how much control Hauser has over the entirety of LA, but at a major cost to the cohesiveness of the episode. The space happenings are so high octane that when the plot shifts to robots going haywire at a hospital, we are left feeling unsettled.

Do we really need to see the 118 fight off robots aimed to harm when Hen and Athena’s lives are in danger? Not really.

In fact, something tells me these types of emergencies could’ve been saved for the final portion of this multi-episode arc. It doesn’t fit the same vibe as the rest of the episode and pulls focus during a time when focus doesn’t need to be pulled.

On top of that, we have Buck trying to help Harry through his complicated emotions about his mom, Bobby’s death, and his feelings of abandonment. This would’ve been better suited for any other time than now. 

Sure, the writers are clearly setting it up that Harry will follow Bobby’s footsteps right into the LAFD, but that can be explored a few episodes from now. Not when we are trying to reach the level of insecurity about Hen and Athena’s safety that the writers are aiming for.

9-1-1 consistently has this issue of pulling focus from a really well-structured storyline in order to set a future storyline up for success. It ends up making us care that much less about the current and future story.

As horrible as it is to say this, the 118 would’ve been better suited to just sit around worrying about why their friends and loved ones have gone offline. They are not exactly in the best headspace to be working emergencies, and forcing them to go out and find problems takes precious time away from exploring the insanity happening in the space pod.

Stray Thoughts:

• Max Carver popping up on 9-1-1 was not on my bingo card, but I don’t hate it, especially when he goes toe-to-toe with Mark Consuelos.
• I loved seeing the Dispatch Center be the hub for all the Earthly action in terms of speaking to the space pod.
• The interviews were…interesting. Not sure they added much to the episode though
• “Why do I want to go to space? I have no earthly idea.” – You tell them, Athena!
• Athena and Hen getting drunk pre-launch is the friendship we’ve been missing for a few seasons now. Welcome back, ladies!
• “The woman who’s about to save your undeserving ass!” I LOVE snappy Karen! Tracie Thoms, my beloved.

 

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9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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