9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 17 Review: Saboteurs

Dixie takes to social media to begin a new war with Blythe on 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 17, “Saboteurs.”

It comes in the season’s penultimate outing, setting up another round of fighting between Blythe, Dixie, and Don, which is sure to follow through to season 2.

However, their drama isn’t compelling enough on its own to hold viewers over during the long hiatus. If the series hopes to keep viewers engaged and patiently waiting throughout the hiatus, the season finale will need to pack several punches.

Where the outing excels is in allowing Roxie to work through her intimacy issues. Not only do we get to see her be vulnerable with Elena, but we also learn more about her previous relationship in New York.

Inciting Another War

Continuing with their ongoing feud, Dixie is finally seeing the fruits of her labor after going viral for a diss track aimed at Blythe, or Lady B. Through it, she threatens to reveal her messy past that her father worked hard to cover up.

Let’s face it, the only real drama we’ve got during this first season of 9-1-1: Nashville has solely been centered on the dynamic between Dixie, Blythe, and Don. Everyone else’s ordeals have essentially been put into the category where their issues are resolved in a matter of two or three episodes.

The only other couple given an opportunity to work through their issues is Samantha and Ryan. Even then, their relationship woes are forced on viewers too quickly, rather than allowing them to watch their connection crumble organically.

Now, I’m not saying that none of the drama between Dixie, Blythe, and Don has been entertaining because it certainly has. For me, the disconnect lies in the fact that the same opportunity hasn’t been provided for any other couple on the show.

Dixie going after Blythe and threatening to spill her deepest, darkest secrets is certainly intriguing, but that alone isn’t enough to calm the tide of viewers who are seeking more.

One of the only aspects of their back-and-forth that is keeping me tuned in is that someone close to Blythe is leaking the information. Up until now, we haven’t seen Blythe get super close with anyone besides Cammie, so who could be spilling her secrets?

A Spicy Challenge

It only takes us getting through the entire season to do so, but we finally get real time spent on building up Roxie’s backstory, and it’s one of the best moments of the penultimate episode.

Having blocked the thought of catching feelings for anyone else, Roxie is naturally rusty when it comes to dating, and it provides the perfect comedic relief.

Elena must hint at wanting to go on a date with Roxie more than ten times during their interaction at the firehouse, and it isn’t until she’s gone and the crew questions her that it finally clicks. It’s a validating scenario for anyone who has been in the same boat as Roxie.

When you live your life focused on your career and working hard, it’s not always easy to recognize when someone is flirting. Romance doesn’t come naturally to many, especially after past hurt. And for Roxie, that’s been her entire life while in Nashville, as she works to forget her past love, Anjuli.

Honestly, it’s a real tragedy how often relationships begin to dwindle, and instead of being open and honest, more often than not, people resort to cheating.

I hope that through Roxie’s storyline in the next season, we’re able to explore those feelings more. Being able to push past those pre-built emotions and working toward growing with another person is a tough feat, but not an impossible one.

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

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