9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 11 Review: Going Once, Going Twice

As inconsistent as 9-1-1 has been this season, this episode feels like a return to the basic formula. 9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 11, “Going Once, Going Twice,” shows that sometimes the writers do remember the tried and true formula that had us falling in love with the show in the first place.

I have criticized the show quite a bit this season for failing to properly push the story beyond the Bobby storyline. And while this episode is a solid win for the season, there are still concerns since the writers still aren’t consistent.

All that aside, “Going Once, Going Twice,” manages to pack a ton of content into a 40 minute window without it ever feeling like it’s too much. There is humor, heart, emergencies, and most of all character bonding and development.

Abigail Turns Out Different Than Expected

Who would’ve thought that the majority of Eddie’s opinions and feelings about Abigail would be misplaced? The writers did a good job, I will give them credit when it is due, of making us believe that Abigail has a misplaced crush on Eddie.

The signs were all pointing in that direction from the moment he brought her to the firehouse after the trial. In what might be the most interesting twist 9-1-1 has managed to pull off in a long time, we learn that most of the stalking behavior attributed to her wasn’t correct.

Looking back on it after this episode concluded, knowing what we now know, the signs are also there for misdirection. Sure, she did take Christopher without permission from Eddie.

And yes, she did find Eddie’s address and phone number in unethical ways, but those were all from a sense of wanting to belong to someone safe. We won’t discredit that she does need help, because Abigail is traumatized.

However, she isn’t a stalker and she isn’t jealous of Alex like Alex thought. Though, a case could be made for Alex thinking maybe there is something there between her and Eddie — we shall see in time, I guess.

At the end of the day, Abigail just wanted to protect Eddie because he protected her. Her way about it was often misinformed and incorrect, but ultimately she isn’t a danger to the Diaz family.

Her father on the other hand is finally going to prison like he deserves. And Athena’s snarky comment about handcuffs as she arrests him for a second time is chef’s kiss.

Eddie Doesn’t Want to Participate in the Auction

Which directly leads us into our other point of discussion. Eddie’s refusal to be paraded around and bought by some stranger for charity. Here is a guy who most definitely wants to help the kids, but doesn’t want to be presented suggestively to a room full of willing women.

Sure, it could just be that he’s working on himself and wants to continue that, but it’s one date and it’s for charity. There is clearly something else brewing under the surface with Eddie.

Honestly, as a long time enjoyer of the dynamic between Buck and Eddie, I’ve been wanting a dynamic shift for them for a long time. I never thought that a charity auction would feel like a conduit for that.

While Chim is able to strong arm Eddie into participating, there is something to be said for how Eddie finds a loophole in the process. He uses his own money to pay Maddie to bid on him.

He could’ve asked anyone to jokingly purchase a date with him or even just given the check to the charity directly and avoided involvement. But instead, he asks Buck’s sister to cover for him and allow him to avoid a date he doesn’t want. 

What strengthens the importance of it being Maddie over anyone else, in terms of his dynamic with Buck, is the other little moments of connection between the two guys throughout the episode.

We have Eddie teasing Buck about his previous experience with the auction, Eddie calling Buck the minute he realizes Chris is missing, and most importantly, we have Buck rushing to the hospital the moment he heard Eddie was attacked by Abigail’s father. Not only that, Buck says they can spin Eddie’s injuries as “sexy” and Eddie’s gaze lingered on Buck during his catwalk.

I’m not saying we are definitely, finally, getting a will they from this pair, but the air definitely feels charged and open for that shift.

Hen’s Fears Are Valid

Outside of the 118, this episode also focuses on a health update for Hen. Ever since her diagnosis, I have stated that the show backed themselves into a corner. 

And, honestly, I still stand by that. This improvement of her health might be a realistic outcome for her condition with the proper treatment plan. However, the show made a big deal out of the severity of her condition; making it seem as though she’d never make her way back to her position.

Now, she is stable and her numbers look good. She is walking on her own and able to return to work according to her doctors. It feels a bit rushed still, but then again we aren’t entirely certain of how much time has passed so it might be average.

As much as Hen’s condition did back the writers into a corner and they did respond with a more “miraculous” conclusion to the story, there is a level of representation that must be acknowledged. Hen has been diagnosed with a chronic condition, one that could cause her to relapse at any time, and she is going back to work.

I can say this storyline wasn’t handled properly while also being excited that we are getting some kind of chronic condition representation. Many people suffer from chronic conditions that aren’t always visible, and when Hen is stable hers isn’t visible, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still there.

The writers deciding to bring her back into the fold of the 118 shows viewers the resiliency of people with chronic conditions. We live our lives one day at a time and manage them with strict protocols.

Hen presents this fear of being unable to do her job because of those protocols to her captain and he responded with reassurance. Hen is being championed and supported by her friends and partner as she struggles to believe in herself.

Naturally, it’s the scene of an accident that reminds her that she can do hard things. That her worth as a person hasn’t been diminished because she has to now move through the world a little bit differently. 

The writers do a good job of showing that delicate balance and giving Hen the space to come back on her own terms. 

Stray Thoughts:

• May and Ravi? Didn’t see that coming, but I don’t hate it.
• The elderly women (and gentleman) coming back at the end to purchase a date with Buck was the BEST way to end his auction arc.
• We love the emphasis this episode put on the bonds between members of the 118 family. The chat between Buck and Maddie and between Hen and Chim were so necessary.
• Athena bidding on her son to keep him away from older women had me cackling so hard.

 

 

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

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