When 911 season 8 went on a break, we knew that Maddie’s life could end up on the line. The new episode would include a serial killer, and Maddie would end up becoming a victim. The question would be whether the 118 would get to her in time.
Caution: This post contains spoilers for 911 season 8, episode 9.
The 911 season 8 midseason premiere saw two main storylines happening. It all started with Maddie getting a call from someone, who is sure to become the serial killer who ends up after Maddie. The other storyline was all about Eddie, and whether we’d end up losing him from the firehouse. Would he leave Los Angeles for El Paso?
Maddie gets a call as 911 season 8, episode 9 opens
The episode starts with a 911 call. It’s clear that someone is using voice modification software on the call, and he shares how he’s scared he’s going to do something bad. At first, Maddie thinks that he is having suicidal thoughts, but in the end, Maddie realizes that this man has someone else in the background.
While trying to get the cops to the location of the caller, she makes a promise that she’ll send the cops somewhere else. Well, it turns out that the triangulated call has been spoofed somehow. The killer isn’t there, but he is watching and he knows that Maddie has lied. Now he’s sure to come after her.
Maddie needs to get to the bottom of the case to save the girl that the killer has. Abigail Spencer guest stars as a missing persons detective, focused on finding the missing girl rather than the serial killer. Maddie has already done a lot of work on figuring out some of the details, and Spencer's character has some other bits and pieces. All these women working together are powerhouses.
Athena goes on the offense to find the guy Amber thinks could be the one who took the missing girl. Amber has gone after him too many times, and it's become a harrassment case. She needs hard evidence, and Athena isn't afraid to do the hard work to get that, and this gives Athena and Amber a place to check. Sure enough, Amber had the right guy. Always trust your gut!
The search at the house doesn't find the missing girl, but it does confirm that the guy is the right one. Now they need to figure out where he's gone and taken the girl.
One thing I love about seeing Maddie handle the calls is that we see how she's able to remain calm. even when it's clear Richard has done his research into Maddie, she is able to hold back a lot of the emotion she's feeling. I am curious about whether Maddie will be reprimanded for encouraging this guy to take his own life. That could have gone terribly wrong, and it's not like she should be encouraging anyone to take their own life.
I am so glad that we see her fight with the feelings that she failed Richard in the end. Yes, this guy was a monster, but that doesn't mean you have to become what you view as a monster to win. Maddie is so full of emotion.
Eddie shows Buck a house in El Paso
911 season 8 is certainly making it look like Eddie is going to leave the 118. He puts a downpayment on a rundown place near El Paso, making it clear that he has no choice but to move out there. Can we just admit that Eddie is doing the right thing by leaving? He can’t parent over FaceTime. Not only is that bad for him, but it’s bad for Christopher. A parent has to make sacrifices for his children.
Buck decides not to fight against Eddie leaving Los Angeles. However, he doesn’t want Eddie to just completely give up his place. They’ll need to find a subletter for Eddie’s current place and Buck will help with that. It's cute that Buck tries to help but fails. I couldn't tell whether Buck was intentionally causing problems for Eddie or was just being completely dumb.
Eddie decides to kick Buck out for the next showing, which is when Buck starts to overhear Eddie's comments about having no ties in Los Angeles. To be honest, Eddie isn't wrong. Friends are great, but they're not ties. As much as it hurts Buck, he has to remember that Christopher is Eddie's whole life and always has been. Christopher will always have to come first. As much as I feel for Buck, I'm firmly on the side that Eddie has to do what Christopher needs right now.
Buck decides to get passive aggressive with Eddie and mentions his move to the whole firehouse. Everyone else understands Eddie's need to move and supports him. This is what Eddie needs from Buck right now.
Animals cannot die, 911!
Did anyone else fear that something would happen to the animals at the shelter that caught fire? Well, in some excellent news, all the dogs make it out with minimal injuries. Buck does risk his life to save one of the runaways, who is aptly named Buddie!
When the shelter owner/manager explains that the sister shelter will take the animals in and then it’s all about praying they all find a home, it’s clear the 118 feel bad about Buddie leaving. Is it possible that the firehouse will end up with a firehouse dog? This is something that happens a lot in real life, so let’s see it happen!
I don't think it's that surprising when Buck decides to adopt the dog he saved. He did it for the wrong reasons, but I think this could be good for Buck. Just don't mess little Buddie around, who is going to be called Blaze. Well, the dog doesn't stay around for long, but not because of Buck. It turns out that he has a family that happened to lose him when he ran away from fireworks.
It takes saying goodbye to the dog that Buck realizes that he's been a nightmare to Eddie. He decides to give notice on his loft and sublet from Eddie, making sure Eddie could move to Texas with Christopher. I love this, as it shows that Buck is supportive of his friend, but Buck gets a piece of Eddie in his life at all times. It also ensures that there is a place for Eddie and Christopher should they return.
It really does seem like it's goodbye to Eddie at the end of this episode. Of course, everything could change with the way things actually ended. You see, Maddie wasn't taken by the serial killer during the episode. There is a lot more to those 911 calls, and the serial killer ends up attacking Maddie and taking her.
The killer also isn't a man. Amber is behind it all!
911 airs on Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC. Catch up the following day on Hulu.
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