It's time for some more of Bobby's lies to come out in 911 season 8, episode 11. However, I will say that technically Bobby didn't like: his mother is dead to him. That's just not the way a lot of people see it.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for 911 season 8, episode 11
The new episode will see Bobby's mom come into the story, as the 118 is called out to a situation at her church. This leads to a lot of questions. Why exactly did Bobby lie about his mother being dead? On the surface of this, I don't blame Bobby for his wording.
Meanwhile, we get a returning cast member. Anirudh Pisharody is back as Ravi, which makes sense considering the 118 is a team member down. Ryan Guzman's Eddie is off to Texas to be an active father to his son, Christopher. Ravi has been heavily underused since his first appearance in season 4. This is 911's chance to rectify the issue, although it doesn't look like that will happen in the opening moments as people keep calling Ravi "Eddie" now and then.
Will Eddie return in 911 season 8?
Of course, a lot of eyes are on whether Guzman's character will return to the series. The good news is fans will get some time in Texas with Eddie at some point. There is a focus on his life there, but that doesn't guarantee that he will return. It could just be a way to offer real closure for Eddie and Christopher.
It does keep the door open for his return, though. So, we're not ruling anything out just yet. Let's see if we get any of that story tonight! We're recapping 911 season 8, episode 11 live!
What does Bobby's mother do in 911 season 8?
We immediately get a look at who Bobby's mother is. She's a faith healer, although we know from Bobby that she's a scam artist. She has people come on stage to be healed, and it all seems to be working out until people around her start to collapse. That pulls the 118 into the church, and I do love how one of the guys leading the 118 in says "Sister Ann was in the middle of her act" before changing it to service.
It turns out that this is a case of carbon monoxide poisoning. To keep up with Sister Ann's act, the place needs to run gas generators. That gas inside has led to a major oxygen issue — well, lack of it!
On top of that, one of the women "healed" in the show has made it to the roof and is climbing the scaffold cross. At least being on the roof leads to fresh air to help get over the delusions that carbon monoxide poisoning causes. Now Buck has a chance to finally help her.
It's only at the end when Ann tells Bobby that he looks well that there is even a hint that he knows her. Well, yes, that's his mother.
Bobby never actually lied to Athena in 911
It turns out that Bobby never lied. He didn't say that his mom was dead, and Athena just assumed based on the way that Bobby has spoken about her. He doesn't like talking about his mom, because he's embarrassed about her. I can't really blame him; I'd be embarrassed if my mom was a scam artist as well.
Athena thinks that it's time for Bobby to mend fences, believing that the call may have been God's way of working in his mysterious ways. Bobby isn't convinced.
The family connection grows even bigger. It turns out that Ann's manager, Charlie, is Bobby's brother, and there's little that Bobby now knows about his brother. It's funny how Bobby is kind and thoughtful with his brother, but not with his mother. I don't think we've ever heard about Bobby's brother before, though, and it makes it even more heartbreaking that Bobby had to deal with their dad alone for so long.
When Bobby and Athena are invited to lunch, Athena does her research into Ann. However, it's quickly clear why Bobby and Ann don't get along. Ann quickly makes digs about the apartment fire that Bobby has felt guilty for the whole time, and then goes on a monologue about Tim Nash. Well, it turns out that Ann wasn't the one to invite them to lunch; it was Charlie. This gives Bobby a chance to share his real thoughts about his mom.
Buck and Maddie struggle with their current situations
Buck starts the episode coming over to Maddie and Chimney's house, asking if he can stay the night. It's clear that he's struggling with Eddie being gone, and he does open up to Maddie about that. This is one of the healthiest things to do.
Maddie is also opening up about her current feelings, and again, it's so healthy. She's scared of being attacked again. It doesn't matter that Amber is dead; that fear is real and it's valid. So, she's not that bothered about Buck staying any longer. While she feels that way, she does point something out to Buck: he needs new friends, and I can agree to that. The problem with only having one friend is that when they leave, you're lonely — and there's a big difference between being lonely and alone.
Ravi isn't the only familiar face in 911 season 8, episode 11
It turns out that Ravi isn't the only character back. Tommy is also back! I know how many will be annoyed by this, but I've enjoyed the BuckTommy ship, and I felt like a lot had been left unsaid. One thing that I do like to hear is that Eddie cut Tommy off the minute of their breakup — Eddie was a true friend to Buck. It turns out that Tommy felt bad and wanted to call Buck just as much as Buck wanted to call Tommy, so it doesn't take long for the two to hook up. Even being at Eddie's place doesn't put Tommy off.
The next morning, it's time for the conversation, and this is when Tommy brings up something that a lot of fans have been talking about for years. Tommy pointed out that Eddie was "competition," and it puts Buck on the defense. It looks like BuckTommy getting back together has come to an end before it even got started.
I will say that maybe it is about time that Buck admits his own feelings for Eddie, but that doesn't mean Buddie has to happen. As Buck says, Eddie is straight and it's something that has been pointed out time and time again. Sure, Tommy and Buck both had their moments when they realized they were gay and bi, but that doesn't mean everyone has to go through that. It's almost like there's become an issue with male characters being straight in shows now. I am fully supportive of LGBTQ+ relationships on screen, but balance is still needed.
I guess my big issue is with how toxic this fandom has become because of Buddie shippers. If the character development was right, I'd be there for it, but I can't support the hate toward BuckTommy shippers — and there has been far too much.
Buck points out to Maddie that he isn't in love with his best friend. The loss hurts, but it's not because he wants to be with Eddie. However, it does make him come to the realization via Maddie that he needs to learn how to be alone. He was with Tommy for the night for the wrong reasons. Now this is the breakup that I can get behind — I do think it's healthy to learn how to be alone.
A murder gone wrong
Sometimes, TV shows just remind me why not to be in a relationship at all. The 118 are called out to a home when a medical alert automatically called 911. They ended up at the garden, where they find a man who seems to be having a heart attack.
Suddenly, a woman sits up from the garden bed. It turns out that the man had tried to kill his wife with cyanide.
It also looks like Bobby has managed to get through to Ann, as she accepts that she is a failure as a wife and mother. She tells everyone that she doesn't heal them, and that they were healed before they turned up. Is she having a breakdown, or is this another ploy? It's hard to tell, but it doesn't matter as the focus turns on her own health as she collapses on the stage.
Bobby manages to get her to the hospital, but it's clear that this has happened before. Ann has cancer, and it's terminal, but she never wanted Bobby to know about it. It was only when he turned up at the call that it seemed to be a sign. I do wish that Charlie could have told Bobby, though, since it's clear he will need someone.
What's funny is how Charlie thinks that Tim saved Bobby from Ann, but both of these parents were bad for their kids in their own ways. Bobby doesn't decide to get into the competition. Is this a chance for the brothers to reconcile? At this point, I'm not bothered about Ann, but I want to see Charlie and Bobby had an opportunity to reconcile.
Mother and son do get a chance to reconcile a little. I think it's enough for Bobby to get some closure with his mother before she passes.
The end of 911 season 8, episode 11 brings us a 911 call that Athena responds to. It's time for her to jump on The Odyssey. Are you ready for the Doctor Odyssey crossover event? I am!
911 airs on Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC. Catch up the following day on Hulu.
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