Hen and Eddie in this episode: I don’t know why I am the way I am.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel try to compute Season 3 Episode 8 of 9-1-1, “Malfunction,” where Hen's life is in full-on meltdown mode and Eddie is busy trying to gaslight himself around his grief. We dive into Hen and Eddie’s psyches and how grief can manifest in very different ways.

Hen’s family is normally the rock upon which she stands, but the fallout of the IVF failure has destabilized her home life, and her attempts to maintain her usual composure at work are visibly unsteady. Hen and Karen’s relationship is strained with the heavy weight of grief, making them both feel alone even when they’re together. We reflect on Hen’s struggle with compartmentalizing, a skill she usually excels at, as it’s thoroughly tested, leading to an emotional crescendo with the ambulance crash that leaves us questioning how far one can go before breaking down completely.

Meanwhile, we explore Eddie’s no good, very bad choices, particularly the reckless behavior as he grapples with the aftermath of Shannon's death, the tsunami, and not being able to talk to Buck. His misguided attempts to beat his thoughts and feelings into submission via illegal fights reveals a pattern of self harm, destruction, and punishment. What he really needs and longs for is a deeper connection and to be understood, but he isolates himself in his own pain instead.

We applaud the intricate use of sound design and cinematography in the episode, particularly the fights and ambulance crash, where it helps create a visceral experience that brings the audience right into the characters’ inner worlds.

This episode has us discussing how unexpected tragedies can alter characters' trajectories, with Hen's emotional breakdown paralleling Eddie's impulsive decisions and the consequences that follow. They both try to scrape themselves off the pavement, but they’re not quite strong enough yet.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 Ryan Guzman: Eddie Diaz of ‘9-1-1’, Faith, Loss, & Filing Forward (Full Episode), Zach Sang Show on YouTube

📰 Yo-Yo Ma on how Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 gives us all the code to rebuild after disruption and tragedy, Classic fm

📰 What’s that tear-jerking string music in The Last of Us?, Classic fm

Episode Title inspired by “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius

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I'll find you in the morning sun and when the night is new I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be seeing you.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss the super uplifting contents of Season 3 Episode 7 of 9-1-1, “Athena Begins.” We dive into Athena's past as she confronts the resurfacing of a cold case linked to the tragic loss of her fiancé, Emmett.

Have you rewatched this episode since 8x15? No? Well, strap in folks, because that bittersweet ending is not so sweet anymore. We explore the not inconsequential number of parallels between her quest for closure with Emmett and the emotional aftermath of Bobby’s death in Season 8. As she navigates the deluge of memories and unresolved feelings, we see her grappling with the desire for justice and her career, her relationship with her mother and extended family, and the expectations everyone places on her.

Through flashbacks, we see young Athena, vibrant and full of hope as she embarks on her journey in law school, contrasting sharply with the heavy burden she carries as an adult (2 dead loves of her life and 1 gay ex-husband later). We examine the road Athena takes from law school to the police academy, inspired after her meet-cute with Emmett on her college campus. Their story would almost pass for a rom-com if we didn’t know about the tragic ending going into it. We dissect the scene where Beatrice tries to control Athena’s life and how this juxtaposes with the mother we saw depicted in the rest of the flashbacks prior to Emmett’s death. Ah, there’s the Beatrice we know and barely tolerate.

In the present we follow Athena’s search for closure, not just for herself but for Emmett's mother. When she finds Dennis Jenkins, she is forced to face her assumptions about the “monster” who killed her fiancé. At the end of the journey, we see Athena finally break down and let Bobby support her, physically and emotionally.

Here’s a fun idea, listen to this episode, then watch 8x01, 8x02, 8x03, and then 8x16. Let us know if you can breathe through the tears!

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 ‘9-1-1’s Angela Bassett Teases Athena’s Origin Story Episode, TV Insider

📰 9-1-1‘s Angela Bassett Talks Athena’s ‘Surprising’ Origin Story, Including How She Helped Cast Her Younger Self, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Star Angela Bassett on Athena’s ‘Messy’ Romantic Backstory, Future With Bobby, The Wrap

Episode Title inspired by “I’ll Be Seeing You” by Billie Holiday

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What the people need is a way to make 'em smile!

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel go on a musical interlude from our regularly scheduled programming to celebrate Han’s birthday with songs for Buddie Canon!

We each share a few songs we believe could elevate a scene to new emotional heights. Get ready to picture Eddie and Buck’s individual feelings realizations, their first kiss, and some bonus activities to the soundtrack of our dreams.

We dissect why the tracks resonate with us and how they perfectly mirror the emotional journeys of our boys. From deep, soulful ballads that tug at your heartstrings to upbeat anthems that get you pumped up, we analyze how each song choice can enhance a scene's impact.

We also touch on the idea of fan edits and how they can create a new narrative with just the right soundtrack.

By the end, we hope to leave you with a playlist that not only complements our discussions but also resonates with your own experiences with these characters. Do like The Doobie Brothers do and listen to the music, all the time!

🎶Check out our Songs for Buddie Canon Companion Playlist and listen along!

📔 References Mentioned

🎼 Listen to the Music • Songs for Buddie Canon • Our Episode Companion Playlist

🐤 Eddie’s “gold rush” eyes tweet, quoted by ircnshield, original by eddiecnvs on Twitter

🎶 Hozier - Do I Wanna Know (Arctic Monkeys COver in the BBC Live Lounge), on YouTube

🎞️ Cil’s Dean & Castiel || I Want to Love You edit to Neptune, by ircnshieldedits on YouTube

🎞️ “peace” Buddie Parallel edit, by thehumforever on Twitter

🎞️ “Talk” Buck and Eddie edit, by makaylasalena on TikTok

Episode Title inspired by “Listen to the Music” by The Doobie Brothers

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The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

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