This article contains spoilers for 9-1-1 season 8, episode 8, “Wannabes”
The fall finale of 9-1-1 season 8 feels like an episode that could have aired during the show’s Fox era. If there is one observation about the show’s move to ABC, it’s that there has been more focus on the lives of the main characters over the outlandish emergencies that earned the franchise its reputation. The emergencies in the fall finale, titled “Wannabes”, aren’t too wild. But there are quite a few of them, which doesn’t leave room for any major developments. At least until a surprising scene in the closing minutes.
The approach makes sense. 9-1-1 season 8 has done a solid job of checking in on its protagonists, whether it’s Henrietta (Aisha Hinds) facing off against Councilwoman Ortiz (Verónica Falcón) to reunite her family or Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) revealing to Howard (Kenneth Choi) that she’s pregnant. Aside from a secondary storyline where Sergeant Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) bonds with a young busybody who was viciously attacked, which builds off of her reluctance to work with a partner in episode 7, the main focus of “Wannabes” might be a recurring guest star.
Brad Torrance Takes The Spotlight
It Highlights A Common Problem For The Show
After the events of the previous installment, in which actor Brad Torrance (Callum Blue) declares he is going to shadow Captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) and the rest of the 118, Brad is front and center for most of the midseason finale. He’s there to soak up the credit when the team responds to a messy pipe explosion, and he’s also the one who ultimately convinces a stranger not to jump off a bridge by leaning on his TV stardom and what seems like a bit of reverse psychology.
This isn’t an issue in and of itself. One of the cool things about 9-1-1 is that it welcomes turning the attention over to a relatively minor or even one-off character if it might benefit the story. The problem with Brad, and this has been a recurring theme throughout season 8, is the lack of consistency and consequences. It was just one episode ago that Brad, after feeling rejected by Bobby, lashes out at a young waitress and reduces her to tears. But in the fall finale, he’s back to being an anxious performer who’s eager to impress.
it is a bit disappointing to see the series back away from any genuine tension between Bobby and Brad, especially after it backed away from contending with how horribly Gerrard treated Henrietta when he was in charge.
The lack of consequences also applies to Gerrard (Brian Thompson), who is refashioned during his 9-1-1 season 8 appearances into a Hollywood hopeful with a bit of a temper. It’s an admittedly fun mini-arc, which allowed Gerrard to move on from the 118. It’s fun here, as well, with Blue having a blast in his portrayal of an over-the-top actor. Still, it is disappointing to see the series back away from any genuine tension between Bobby and Brad, especially after it backed away from reckoning with how horribly Gerrard treated Henrietta when he was in charge.
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The use of Brad as a focal point does lead to some significant changes for Eddie (Ryan Guzman). Midway through “Wannabes”, Brad has a conversation with Eddie about essentially choosing his work as an actor over his family. There’s some clever detailing in the scene, with Brad saying that he auditioned for a show on The CW. The show isn’t mentioned, but Brad definitely seems like he could’ve played a villain on The Vampire Diaries. The larger point, though, is that Brad is estranged from his son and he advises Eddie to avoid the same outcome.
Eddie Could Be Leaving The 118
He Wants To Reconnect With Christopher
Christopher (Gavin McHugh) is a little more communicative during a video call with Eddie than the last time we saw him in the season’s premiere. However, their relationship is still far from healed. Christopher is happy with his grandparents in Texas, getting into chess and making new friends, and Eddie feels like he’s missing out on all of it since Christopher angrily moved away in 9-1-1‘s season 7 finale.
Christopher is upset with Eddie because his father lied about having feelings for a woman who looked exactly like Christopher’s dead mother Sharon.
As the episode draws to a close, motivated by his talk with Brad, Eddie reveals to Buck (Oliver Stark) that he’s planning to move to Texas to be closer to Christopher. The show has teased Eddie exiting the 118 before. By this point in the show’s run, just about every main character has seemed close to exiting the first-responder drama. What’s more interesting about Eddie’s revelation is how it plays out and where the focus of the scene is.
Eddie is browsing potential houses in Texas when Buck shows up at his place unannounced. Buck is kind of spiraling again, telling Eddie that he almost called his ex-boyfriend Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), though he managed to stop himself by using the reliable strategy of putting his energy into baking. Buck figures out that Eddie has started the process of moving, at which point Eddie comes clean.
There’s a lovely choice that 9-1-1 makes in terms of how to let the revelation unfold. Buck is completely supportive and uncritical of Eddie’s decision, even offering to help his friend find the right place. Stark plays his character’s casual acceptance perfectly. It’s only when Eddie turns away that Buck’s sunny facade falters, and it’s obvious that he’s stunned by the thought of Eddie no longer being a constant presence in his life.
The latest development, with Buck having to say goodbye to Eddie, could be another rom-com staple that brings the two best friends closer together.
Significantly, Buck is the first to learn about the potential move to Texas. It comes on the heels of “Confessions”, which ends with Buck and Eddie sharing a beer on the couch after the Tommy breakup. That scene would not have been out of place in a romantic comedy, signifying the turning point where one of the rom-com leads turns to the other for comfort and begins to make a realization that has long been obvious to us. The latest development, with Buck having to say goodbye to Eddie, could be another rom-com staple in a deliberate slow-burn.
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Whether or not the fan-favorite Buddie pairing makes a transformational leap, Buck’s discovery can and should clarify how he feels about the fact that Christopher has been gone for months and may not be coming back. Their bond is one of the strongest parts of 9-1-1, and the two of them surviving a tsunami together in season 3 remains a high point for the series. Buck might’ve believed that Christopher would be back with his dad once things cooled down. How will he respond now that he’s facing the prospect of losing two of the people closest to him?
It’s a question that comes as close to a cliffhanger as “Wannabes” has to offer. The midseason finale ends with Brad Torrance back on the set of Hotshots. He’s reinvigorated and recommitted to acting after seeing how his work on the firefighting drama helped to stop a man from jumping off a bridge. Eddie and Buck, who cameo in Hotshots, along with Howard, also seem to be in excellent spirits as Bobby and Hen watch from the sidelines. The possibility of 9-1-1 losing a main character will have to linger until the show concludes its hiatus in March.
9-1-1 season 8 returns Thursday, March 6 at 8 PM ET on ABC, streaming the following day on Hulu.
- Some funny moments for Brad with the 118, especially Hen.
- Some forward momentum, as Eddie tries to reconnect with Christopher.
- It sets up an interesting story for Buck when the show returns.
- Lack of consistency with Brad’s portrayal.
- None of the emergencies are too memorable.
- Save for Eddie’s planned move to Texas, the focus isn’t on the main characters.