9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 6 ‘Confessions’ is the very best episode of the season thus far, a powerful hour that provides Eddie a lightweight on the finish of the tunnel, proves that there’s a subsequent step for Madney, and charts a step ahead for Buck, one which doesn’t embody Tommy. Furthermore, the hour cements 9-1-1 as one of many strongest acted exhibits on the market, typically, and that’s in an hour that was very gentle on the 2 performing powerhouses: Angela Bassett and Peter Krause.
However the remainder of this solid can greater than maintain up their finish of the cut price, acting-wise. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Kenneth Choi are excellent as a Maddie and Chim who stand half between pleasure and worry, however who can not assist however wish to take this subsequent step. Oliver Stark does a fantastic job of going by means of the rollercoaster of feelings Buck goes by means of, pre and post-breakup. And Ryan Guzman, specifically, shines in an hour that reminds us that you could’t be there for others till you be taught to be there for your self.
It’s 9-1-1 at its finest, and it’s additionally a fantastic setup for what can and may come subsequent. So allow us to break down 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 6 ‘Confessions’:
MORE: Right here’s our evaluate of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 3! And right here’s our evaluate of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 4. And 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 5.
I’M NOT YOUR LAST, I’M YOUR FIRST
Tommy’s final scene with Buck is one in every of their finest scenes ever. In it, Tommy reaffirms the factor we at all times knew about him, he wasn’t actually meant to final, however he was an necessary a part of Buck’s journey and he’ll, certainly, at all times be Buck’s first. The present might need mishandled the character a bit, not as a result of it didn’t give him depth—that half was at all times intentional—however as a result of it didn’t make some issues clear that will have made it simpler for followers to completely empathize with him.
However the Tommy we see on display screen has at all times been a superb man, and on this case, he’s the man who has to inform Buck the laborious fact. And positive, that is Tommy defending himself, placing himself first. However when he says “I understand how this ends,” there’s a transparent undercurrent of “not nicely for me.” Why Tommy thinks the connection, if it progressed, wouldn’t finish nicely for him stays unsaid, nevertheless it’s clear he has a purpose.
Significantly as a result of he goes even additional and tells Buck “I’m not your final, I’m your first.” It appears like a throwaway line, however since that is TV, it in all probability isn’t. If we wish to learn into it, let’s say it in all probability implies that simply because the present gave us Buck’s first, it intends to offer us his final.
As Tommy says farewell, he lastly utters the one phrase he hasn’t let himself say on this relationship, he calls Buck “Buck” as an alternative of Evan. For him, that’s it. It’s remaining. If this wasn’t meant to be the top of Buck and Tommy’s story, he wouldn’t have known as him Buck. If there was any hope for the long run, he would nonetheless be calling him Evan. However as Tommy says goodbye to Evan, the person he’s courting turns into Buck. Buck doesn’t belong to Tommy. And maybe, in a means, Tommy has at all times recognized that.
MORE: Right here’s our evaluate of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 1! And right here’s our evaluate of 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 2.
I DON’T DESERVE FORGIVENESS
The journey of Eddie on this episode is much less about catholic guilt and extra in regards to the bizarre relationship with the Catholic Church individuals who have been indoctrinated, I’ve grown up in it, have. I’m speaking about one in every of them. Like Eddie, it’s been a very long time since I went to confession, and like Eddie, I might in all probability really feel foolish going again. However I can perceive the necessity to strive if you really feel such as you’re not getting wherever. What do you must lose?
Simply as I perceive Eddie taking the priest’s phrases to coronary heart. It’s much less about Eddie’s connection to the church itself and extra in regards to the ingrained concept that this man is an authority in some way. You don’t even must be non secular anymore for that a part of your mind to nonetheless exist and for it to be engaged, absolutely towards your will. So when the “sizzling priest” comes together with his phrases of knowledge, part of Eddie doesn’t wish to imagine them. He desires to nonetheless really feel like a failure.
However part of him was simply ready for somebody to forgive him, or to inform him that he may forgive himself. “Scorching Priest” was simply there to inform him what he wanted to listen to proper when he wanted to listen to it. And although I believe the episode didn’t give us practically sufficient for the change, I believe Eddie forgiving himself is only a small a part of his journey. I believe he’s heard these phrases sufficient already; from individuals he trusts. He wished to imagine them. So maybe it means one thing that they got here from somebody he didn’t belief, somebody who didn’t know him.
The remainder of the journey, although—the one about these mother and father who’re certainly “a bit too keen,” to take his son, the one a couple of man who grew a mustache to cover who he actually was as a result of he couldn’t take a look at himself within the mirror anymore, that’s nonetheless ongoing. If the present is critical about Eddie, that is just the start.
MORE: Properly, we known as it. Buck and Tommy aren’t endgame.
I’M STRAIGHT
I wish to begin by saying that regardless that the present provides Eddie a superb purpose to state this throughout 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 6 ‘Confessions’, on such an intentional medium as tv, with the luggage Eddie’s character has, the load of followers’ expectations and the beforehand said information of these two issues by the individuals behind the scenes, this appears like a declaration. Straight is, in any case, thought-about the default. There’s no purpose for Eddie to inform us he’s straight, no purpose for the present to make some extent that he’s except there’s a gotcha coming. Except he isn’t straight. Actually none in anyway.
Plus, there’s additionally the way in which the scene performs out. Why is he telling “sizzling priest” he’s straight after a moderately innocuous dialog? There’s nothing about what “sizzling priest” says that screams “hitting on somebody,” however Eddie clocks him straight away and decides the man have to be hitting on him. After which, as an alternative of brushing him off in one of many a number of methods he may have, he has to make some extent to inform him he’s straight. It’s …attention-grabbing, to say the least.
That this is available in an episode with a Glee reference additionally appears like an indication, contemplating Glee is the present for characters saying they’re straight solely to then prove to not be. Once more, this isn’t an apparent signal, nevertheless it does really feel prefer it might be the start of one thing, notably on a present that has certainly made Eddie queer-coded for some time.
Am I saying Buddie is coming? Is the present? No, not as clearly as that, nevertheless it’s laborious to low cost the truth that we acquired a Buck and Tommy breakup with Tommy saying issues like “I understand how this ends,” and “I’m not your final, I’m your first,” coupled with Eddie randomly telling somebody he’s straight, and like a cherry on high of the sundae, we acquired that remaining scene with Buck and Eddie that’s nearly being there for one another, with out the necessity for phrases. The digital camera even takes a beat, then one other, and focuses on them on the finish. Which, I suppose, may imply nothing. However at this level, it in all probability means one thing.
MORE: How are we doing on the listing of issues we wished for 9-1-1 Season 8? Test it out right here!
YOU’RE ALREADY PREGNANT
Maddie goes by means of a rollercoaster of feelings on this episode. So does Chim, however for very completely different causes. Maddie is extra excited in regards to the being pregnant, and Chim is extra scared. And in a means, each issues are comprehensible after they’re nonetheless speaking in hypotheticals. As soon as the child is a actuality, Chim will get on the excited prepare in a short time, however there’s nonetheless worry. After all, there’s. Maddie might be feeling it too, she’s simply selecting to be excited greater than scared for now.
However the way in which 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 6 ‘Confessions’ explores not simply Chimney’s worry however Maddie’s pleasure appears like the precise stability as a result of what they’re going by means of is a actuality for a lot of {couples}. Put up-partum despair is extra widespread than individuals notice, and girls undergo that and get pregnant once more. It occurs actually each day. And sure, Maddie is a medical skilled, she understands the dangers. However she additionally is aware of herself and is aware of what she desires.
And this time she’s going into it with full information of what may come and a associate who additionally understands what to look out for. That’s very completely different than the primary time after they simply weren’t anticipating it and didn’t have the very best instruments to deal with it. The necessary half is that the present isn’t handwaving it away or pretending it’s going to be simple now when it wasn’t earlier than. As an alternative, the present has the characters say hey, this time, we’ll do it collectively. No matter comes. And that issues.
MORE: What questions do we wish answered from Season 7 of 9-1-1? Right here’s an inventory!
Issues I believe I believe:
- Oh, so that is …Season 7 footage. Gotcha.
- I watched a minimize of this the place Eddie had no mustache within the first scene, sooo…
- What number of occasions I gotta say ‘oh, Buck and Eddie are so in sync’?
- Athena as a wedding counselor was kinda cool.
- HA, that’s what that man deserves.
- It’s positive, Eddie, 23 years sounds about proper.
- “Couldn’t defend him from me.” I’M GONNA CRY.
- Why is your order of significance: my son, my finest pal and my girlfriend. In like, that order?
- “I don’t deserve forgiveness.” Somebody HUG him.
- Maddie is such a powerful, courageous lady.
- Okay, six months established for Buck and Tommy. Not that lengthy, however not so little both.
- Why are you joking about him taking Eddie, Tommy?
- “I’m a Kinsey 6.” THE KINSEY SCALE ON THIS SHOW?
- “Himbo half her age?” Buck isn’t a himbo!
- OMG MADDIE WHAT DO YOU MEAN HOW MANY MEN SHE TURNED GAY!?
- “I didn’t assume he was able to being this dishonest and merciless.” No, no. You cease there, Buck. He was scared. We don’t decide individuals who had a tough time popping out of the closet right here.
- In case you can’t reply the query, Buck, then you definitely don’t love him.
- This pre-Glee/post-Glee world analogy is genius. Additionally, Ryan Murphy reference!
- “You don’t decide the individuals who got here earlier than you.”
- I get Chim being scared, I do. However they’ve to speak about it.
- “No offense, I’m straight.”? He was actually simply speaking to you! He stated like three strains! Even when he was hitting on you, that will be clocking it actual quick.
- “A bit of too willingly.” I’M GLAD YOU REALIZE.
- I might have killed for Eddie with a beard. WHO NEEDS ACCURACY?
- Look, I get the prepare of thought that results in Eddie considering he’s a failure. However what he wants proper now could be remedy, not a priest.
- “So, earn it. However within the meantime, cease punishing your self.”
- “We will’t maintain others if we don’t first maintain ourselves.” OKAY BUT THE PRIEST IS ACTUALLY HELPFUL.
- “I don’t know in the event you’re gonna match this time, Eddie.” LOL
- Please individuals, himbo doesn’t imply what you assume it means.
- Buck at all times, at all times overcorrects.
- “I understand how this ends.” Ouch. Although, truthful.
- “What you’re feeling proper now could be new and thrilling and it appears like endlessly, however you’re nonetheless figuring your self out. And that’s good.”
- “Regardless of how unhealthy I wished to be, I’m not your final. I’m your first.”
- This doesn’t essentially must be so, Tommy is making it so. He may struggle. He simply determined it wasn’t definitely worth the danger.
- Who had Tommy breaking apart with Buck of their bingo card?
- “I’ll see you round, Buck.” HA AND NOW YOU CALL HIM BUCK.
- Which means he’s by no means coming again.
- Did I tear up a bit at Maddie being pregnant? Sure, I did.
- However aren’t you a bit younger to go full Dangerous Enterprise, Eddie? I imply, it’s a traditional.
- Additionally, how a lot enjoyable did Ryan have filming this scene in tighty whities?
- Placed on some pants earlier than you go open the door, Eddie!
- I like the ultimate scene, even when they don’t say a phrase. I like that it’s the 2 of them, after the whole lot. I like the intentionality. I like the little beat the digital camera takes on the finish.
Agree? Disagree? What did you consider 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 6 ‘Confessions’? Share with us within the feedback under!
9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.