#7x09 Ashes Ashes

[aladygrieve]

so that was the best episode...possibly ever. Certainly of the last few seasons. It was SO well-written, and beautifully acted by like. Everyone. ESPECIALLY Peter and Angela (I know, I know, what else is new, but you can't tell me they didn't bring their S-tier game on this one).

Not every episode of 911 is an across-the-board hit. Sometimes there are arcs I'm less enthused about, characters I don't care for, calls that get a little silly for even for my taste, or acting choices that are a bit too big. But when this show shines, it fucking shines. I was RIVETED for every second of this one. The massive emotional payoffs - for Bobby and Athena, Bobby and the 118 in general, Hen and Karen, Eddie and Kim, Amir - they all sang. A few standout moments:

Athena's voice when she said "Too late" Broke MeTM.

Ditto Christopher saying "Mom?"

Bobby openly accepting Tommy and passing the cooking torch to Buck. I know he's good for you because we haven't had to talk about it. That is his DAD.

I know we all joke about fun it was to see Eddie let loose earlier this season and how Fox only cared about him when he was traumatized, but MAN that boy can suffer so beautifully. I am SO here for how deliciously fucked up he and Kim are.

Speaking of, they let Kim be a real person?? And she's great? I mean, she's a little fucked up too, but she's INTERESTING about it.

Let Mara Live 2k24

Am I right in thinking that Bobby giving Athena CPR at the end is the ONLY direct mouth-to-mouth we've seen in the entire show that didn't use the airbag? Because I have feelings about that.

I think it says something that one of the few episodes (if not the only one?) with functionally zero 118 calls is in my opinion the best they've ever done. Not that the calls aren't fun, but it proves - as if we needed proof - that the characters are the heart of the show.

I am counting the sleeps until next week because godDAMN.

[kinardsevan]

I'm gonna try and piece this together in a way that makes sense.

The conversation between Buck and Bobby in 7x09. There's been a lot of discussion about how important that conversation is. There's so much parental praise in it, something we know Buck thrives on, especially from Bobby. I won't rehash the way people have discussed it because it's already been so beautifully stated by others.

But when we get to the "what's there to talk about? Tommy's good people, and he's good for you." God damn it do I get emotional.

It's not just the approval. It's not just that Bobby's opinion matters more than Phillip's or Margaret's ever will.

It's the fact that Tommy and Evan haven't even said I love you yet. We know they're still somewhere early on in the relationship, past finding their groove but still in the honeymoon phase. They care about each other in a way that makes them put each other first. It's the fact that Bobby, knowing the plans that he's making in his own life, and the way in which he's trying to process his own emotions about his life, trying to deal with being functionally depressed while also insisting he's not suicidal (which is a psychological break down for another time), is still aware enough of what's happening in Buck's life to take notice of the changes. He's watched this kid go through relationship after relationship, wishing/hoping/wanting to find what he finally has. And to be perfectly honest, I don't even know that at the end of 7x10, that Buck knows he has it yet. I think we still have some time before we'll get that realization.

No, what gets me emotional about it is the fact that Bobby knows. Someone who probably loves Buck just a little bit more than he loves himself, the way a child deserves to be loved by a parent (blood or otherwise). It's the "you don't see it yet, but you will, and this is why" ("we haven't had to talk about it"). We all know how much Buck has wanted that kind of love and care in his own life, how hard he's tried for it.

What gets me emotional is the fact that he's found it and he doesn't even know it yet. There's something to be said about finding home in a person, someone who isn't just taking care of you, but taking care of your heart. There's even more to be said when you don't realize that they're doing it.

All of that gets me every time this scene comes up on my dash (or TV).

[carolinahope]

I was right about the double whamy of a cliffhanger. And about the ceremony taking all of 5 minutes of the episode. But that's about it.

They better not kill Bobby off. His whole spiel at the beginning felt like the last montage of a series finale. Not like the penultimate episode of an already renewed show. He is the heart of the 118. And he still has so much to give. Seeing the guilt eating him up again was heartbreaking. Neither Buck nor Eddie nor Athena and even Hen are not in a place where they could lose him. Athena trying to help backfiring and causing harm is so sad. But it felt very understandable from Amir's perspective. That he would spiral after all these years at seeing Bobby's seemingly perfect life. But at least we got a scene with Maddie and Athena.

And poor Hen and Karen and Mara and Denny. I know grief can make people do stupid things but that woman is just plain cruel. But I loved the scene at Casa Buckley-Han.

And Eddie, my poor boy. He really stepped into it now. I was hoping for at least one feelings realization by the end of the season. But Buddie aside, I really wonder how they plan on getting out of the hole they dug for Eddie and themselves. Unless getting out is planned for S08. And in the last episode we are only digging a little deeper. But this should at least lead to the nun being gone *fingers crossed*

I still think Eddie calling Shannon the love of his life is part of the problem. And he won't be able to move on until he acknowledges it, that he is remembering and wishing for what-ifs. I'm not sure what Kim did was the healthiest but Ryan killed it as always when he can really sink his teeth into Eddie's emotions. I'm confused and scared. And I can't even think about the Christopher of it all.

I loved the talk Buck had with Eddie and the way Buck approached it. With so much care and worry and support. And Eddie opening up. They are so perfect for each other. They are not in the right place yet to see it. But we are getting closer.

I do fear the last episode more than ever. I would like to trust the process but I think I will need to borrow some trust till next Thursday.

[thatmexisaurusrex]

No, but Buck texting Tommy, like:

EVAN: Babe, sorry, I'm going to be late. I think Eddie's secretly dating his dead wife and I need to talk some reason into him

And Tommy just staring at his phone for a while before he's like

TOMMY: yeah, okay. maybe explain that more when you get here. love you, be safe EVAN: Always ❤️ TOMMY: Also, if you get the time, can you please pick some milk up on the way? I'm out EVAN: Of course 💕 Also, may or may not steal some of these doppelganger brownies? TOMMY: I don't know what that means but okay EVAN: Love you babe. Gotta go through the back door in case Marisol is here TOMMY: Yeah, please explain all of this when you get home. Love you 😘

[yellingatthescreen]

Okay, but Buck being able to read between all of Eddie’s lines? Immediately translating everything Eddie says to what he really means, and knowing exactly what he’s NOT saying?

Yeah, that was some top-tier Buck and Eddie stuff right there.

[ziorite]

i’m both insanely disappointed and so fucking relieved i didn’t watch that episode live. i’m sorry what the fuck was that. i want to post about all the recurrent things separately but here’s some of the buddie tidbits from episode nine !!! eddie is going batshit crazy on the side but that’s irrelevant rn—

BREAKING NEWS: buck and eddie confirmed to be the children of the 118 despite being in their thirties and parents of (1) teenager

buck and eddie’s priceless reactions to bobby saying he’s not cooking for them

buck: uhm.. can i come in?

eddie: what the fuck is up with him is he ill? did he catch chim’s encephalitis? why is he asking if he can come in (absurd) maybe he hit his head—

the many concerned and incredulously disbelieving faces of evan buckley

bonus: evan looking precious in his slutty!cooking apron

[riversongg]

BUCK IN AN APRON AGAIN !!!!!!

[daniwib]

Does Buck know about Gerrard?

Hen and Chim aren’t the type to dwell on the past bigotry in general. I know they’ve talked in canon about the 118 before Bobby was there - but have they ever mentioned Gerrard by name in front of or to Buck in particular?

I’m wondering if Gerrard being at the ceremony will be a surprise to them all and so neither they nor Tommy have time to warn Buck about him.

And Buck is so damn happy about the whole thing, that cute huge grin says it all and he just can’t contain it and so he bounds up to Tommy and to give him a Big Damn Kiss…

Does Tommy kiss him back in front of his old captain and we get to see the old sourpuss have to watch?

Or does Tommy let his old repression and fear control him and he pushes Buck away?

I’m rooting for the first but a rom com drama has to have some drama, and Buck’s RSD combined with a good old misunderstanding is right there ready to be played with…

[swiftiesbuddie]

i don’t think they’re gonna do anything with it, but it’s suspicious that they mentioned the LSD brownies twice in one episode

[rodpower78]

I'm worried about you.

Evan 'Buck' Buckley

[fixationrambles37]

Hey Tim, What happened to Fun and Happiness Huh? 🥲

[kinardsevan]

so I've been thinking about this. but I really feel the need to point it out for those who complained/called Tommy an asshole/etc.

Y'all DO understand that the point of his "enjoy it while it lasts" comment was not at all intended to be an insult to Evan, right? Like the intent was to foreshadow Gerrard's return? That whole damn scene in the firehouse is foreshadowing.

I realize most of the people who are going to read this probably also get it. But I felt the need to still say it (for posterity).

[trashblog07]

Im so excited and scared

[thatmexisaurusrex]

I might have missed something, but everyone had their families at that ceremony - Buck and Chimney had Maddie there for them; Hen had Karen, Denny, and Mara; Eddie had Marisol and Christopher; Bobby had Athena there. But Tommy? He had no other people there for him. No one other than the people who were already going to be there. And I think that says something about what Tommy's life has been like since he left the 118, or what it's been like always for him. And it says a lot about how much his life is like now as well. How he is opening up to these people from his past as well as Buck and, in a way, becoming part of the 118 again. He now has a boyfriend and friends who he received metals of honor with. And there's a sadness in the emptiness of whatever plus-ones he didn't have. But you can see him finding family right there too. And there's a bittersweet beauty to that.

[shadows-and-starlight]

The average man gets put into 3 situations a year. False. Average man gets put into 0 situations per year. Captain Bobby Nash, who runs into fires and gets into over 10,000 situations each day, is an outlier and should not have been counted.

[ziorite]

oh my god ryan guzman ?? you absolute king you dropped your crown ??? madney move OVER WE HAVE A NEW BEST CRIER ON SET !!! SOMEBODY DRY THOSE BIG BROWN COW EYES I SWEAR THEY NEED TO LET EDDIE CRY MORE