Spoilers ahead!
In this year’s last episode of 9-1-1, Brad (Callum Blue) tries to become a hero in the middle of a pipe explosion, rightfully upsetting Bobby (Peter Krause). Brad also gets to spend more time with the 118, sharing a thoughtful conversation with Eddie (Ryan Guzman), who just learned something surprising and painful about his son Christopher (Gavin McHugh). Meanwhile, Athena (Angela Bassett) investigates the brutal beating of the Cart Cop (Sam Roach), a YouTuber whose content is all about people who don’t return their shopping carts to their proper place at a grocery store.
“Wannabes” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Peter Krause as Bobby, Aisha Hinds as Hen, Callum Blue as Brad. Photo: Christopher Willard/ABC © 2024 Disney. All rights reserved.
If you think this doesn’t sound like an explosive, thrilling fall finale, you are right! After delivering 18 episodes in 2024, 10 for season 7 and 8 for this first part of season 8, most of them filled with crazy twists, revelations, beginnings, endings, one wedding, some near-death-experiences, and of course, the (un)usual emergencies we all know, the team behind the show decided that this year should end in a peaceful, funny note. But if you watched the promo for the next episode, slated for March 6, 2025, you probably feel the same: this is just the calm before the storm, and 8B might be a wild ride.
But let’s focus on what we have for now first, then we go back to the future. Wannabes is very much focused on Brad, who wants to be a hero. The episode starts with the 118 watching an episode of HOTSHOTS, the show starring Brad. This scene is here so we can be reminded of how much Brad cares for his performance as a firefighter, while also being this funny meta thing and a good family moment within the 118 (I loved it!)
After Brad tries to save a woman during the pipe emergency without following any of the usual safety procedures, Bobby has some harsh (and true) things to say to him. But the TV star gets what he wants during a call in which a big fan of HOTSHOTS is trying to kill himself — this time, Brad’s presence is what saves the day.
“Wannabes” – 9-1-1. BTS picture of Kenneth Choi, Aisha Hinds, Oliver Stark, Peter Krause, Ryan Guzman. Photo: Ray Mickshaw/ABC © 2024 Disney. All rights reserved.
This storyline was more interesting in this episode when compared to 8.07, with the 118 participating more actively here. Brad is captivating, and Callum Blue does a good job when giving life to this very passionate actor. But I still think it’s been a while since we had an unforgettable emergency — not talking about the big, multi-arc ones that happen every season premiere/finale, or main and recurring characters going through near-death experiences, but the usual calls in regular episodes haven’t been memorable and thrilling as they once were. Earlier seasons had me distressed every episode, and this year was bland in this sense. So while I’m not bothered by the focus on Brad and get that they were going for something not distressful, Wannabes continues the trend of mild weekly emergencies, making this fall finale come across to the audience as this very regular episode.
That’s also how I would describe the Cart Cop storyline: silly, but in a mild way. I love a good mystery, but this story feels so displaced from the main stuff. There was only one good thing about this: the scene with Athena and the YouTuber at the hospital, with Angela Bassett acting as this gentler, kinder version of Athena (which never fails to amaze me.) I pray for the episodes next year to give Athena more things to do with the 118 — more scenes with Bobby, more moments with Hen (Aisha Hinds), maybe something with Chimney (Kenneth Choi), I’m accepting anything. That’s where she shines the most, when placed with the rest of the assembly. In earlier seasons, Athena had these cop storylines to be somehow related to her children or her ex-husband, so they didn’t feel this soulless — maybe something similar should happen again.
“Wannabes” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Oliver Stark as Buck, Ryan Guzman as Eddie. Photo: Ray Mickshaw/ABC © 2024 Disney. All rights reserved.
Finally, Eddie talks to Christopher and discovers his new life is seemingly wonderful. He’s learning chess now, among other new things he gets to do living with his grandparents in El Paso. After a thoughtful conversation with Brad about not letting the distance between him and his son grow, Eddie decides he doesn’t want to miss all the big moments Chris is having. So now Eddie wants to move to Texas, something Buck (Oliver Stark) discovers in a very interesting moment. After all, Buck is still dealing with his most recent breakup, and his fear of abandonment strikes in full force after his discovery about Eddie. But Buck offers some help to him still, and there’s this very beautiful moment with Eddie relieved and happy that he has Buck by his side, while Buck is at Eddie’s couch feeling dreadful about losing another important person in his life. Once again, Buck and Eddie’s storylines are so intertwined that is hard to know where one starts and the other ends; and while I firmly believe they already are each other’s endgame, this storyline might be the setup needed for their kiss to happen before the show ends.
While this episode was a regular one with some good moments, I need to say that I loved that final scene with Buck, Eddie, and Chimney acting in HOTSHOTS, with Bobby and Hen helping the production in the backstages. It was such a nice way to end this Hotshots arc, with the 118 together, laughing, and happy. If you watched the promo for the next episode, which features (possible spoilers; no one will be sure until next March) Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) going through something that looks like a kidnapping, you know this peace might not be for long. We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for these characters — Eddie still has to fight for Christopher, Athena and Bobby have to build their new house, Maddie and Chimney are expecting another child, and Maddie's life might be in danger by the time 8.09 ends... These are going to be long months of wait.
Now let me know your thoughts about this season so far. Feel free to leave a comment with your impressions and theories, and thanks for reading!
