911 – Lab Rats – Evaluate: That’s the Finish, In all probability, and That is the Unhealthy Place

Enormous spoilers forward! In case you have not watched tonight’s episode, beware.

Okay, that is going to be powerful. It is most likely the hardest overview I’ve needed to write up thus far.

Often, there’s a fast recap of every little thing that occurred in the course of the episode so I can level out how I felt about this second, and that one, and that one… However I don’t suppose this can work tonight.

In any case, Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) is lifeless.

Lab Rats continues the 2-part occasion 9-1-1: Contagion, with Athena (Angela Bassett) and Buck (Oliver Stark) becoming a member of forces to seek out Moira (Bridget Regan) and the treatment she created so Chimney (Kenneth Choi) could be saved; in the meantime, nonetheless caught within the lab, Bobby makes certain that Hen (Aisha Hinds), Chim, and Ravi (Anirudh Pisharody) don’t die.

For those who ignore the ultimate minutes of this episode, the entire thing is a typical thrilling, nail-biting emergency, with Athena and Bobby teaming up with many characters — together with Karen (Tracie Thoms), in a scene that had me tremendous excited — to seek out the treatment and rescue the 118. The scenes within the lab proceed to be nice — there’s one which stands out to me, wherein Chimney calls Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) to have what might be their closing dialog. Then Chim talks to Bobby and asks him to look out for Chim’s household after he’s gone, and these are highly effective scenes brilliantly performed by Choi, Hewitt, and Krause. Then, ultimately, every little thing’s proper, the dangerous man is caught, the treatment works, and the 118 is protected.

Till Bobby refuses to depart the lab and divulges to Buck that he’s been contaminated by the illness after the explosion ripped part of his swimsuit. Whereas Bobby was taking care of his crew, he was dying inside. And as soon as it turned clear that there was just one shot of the treatment, Bobby knew that was Chimney’s. So he determined to sacrifice himself and never inform anybody in regards to the an infection.

Bobby says goodbye to Buck — and it’s a really emotional scene.

Then, it’s time to say goodbye to Athena. The 2 fundamental characters reunited finally. Athena isn’t prepared to depart Bobby. We share these emotions with you, Sergeant Grant-Nash. The scene can also be very emotional, and it’s one of the crucial potent, gut-wrenching issues each Krause and Bassett have completed on this present. Krause particularly is exceptional right here, spitting blood, lastly in a position to give in and say his final prayer after his crew is protected.

And that’s it. We minimize to the 118 struggling with the information of their captain’s dying, every of them alone, every of them unable to achieve out to one another. The tip.

How do you, reader, really feel about this? As a result of I nonetheless can’t consider it. I spent the entire time watching these scenes pondering “Okay, this is 9-1-1! They will find a way to bring him back in the next episode, no need to worry!”, after which I went on-line and browse a letter written by Peter Krause confirming he’s leaving the present. After which I learn some autopsy interviews they usually all say the identical — Bobby’s lifeless. That occurred for actual and he’s not coming again. Do you guys consider this? As a result of I’m in denial, maybe I am solely beginning to consider what I noticed as I write these phrases.

9-1-1 has been a particular, comforting factor for me since 2021, after I began binge-watching season 1 whereas season 4 aired, ending all of the episodes simply in time to live-watch loopy issues occur throughout 4×13 and 4×14. I bear in mind the joy I felt in that finale, and the way it felt good after it ended and everybody was fantastic. That’s it, I suppose — some reveals unceremoniously kill fundamental characters each season, however this foolish goofy firefighter present right here saved us on the sting of our seats for 8 seasons with none massive dying. We count on every little thing to be fantastic, however we’re apprehensive anyway. We chortle, we cry, we’re jumpscared, we complain, and we cheer, and it’s like driving on a rollercoaster — we’re used to ending the trip protected and mesmerized, desirous to expertise this as soon as extra within the subsequent week… Besides that this time, the rollercoaster exploded simply as we had been about to seek out consolation.

As a reviewer, I might say it’s regular for a TV present to do one thing like this after eight seasons. It’s an incredible factor that can change every little thing, and generally a present must get dangerous, it wants to depart the consolation zone so it may well develop and alter and turn into extra. However truthfully, as a viewer/fan, I don’t want 9-1-1 to turn into the rest than it already is. I do not need it to be life like, all critical, and darkish. I’m not enthusiastic about new characters taking Bobby’s place, I don’t wish to see everybody mourning him for weeks, I don’t wish to really feel like every other fundamental character might die each week. I really like this foolish goofy present for what it’s: all of the unserious issues that occur are a part of the enjoyable. So two weeks from now, I’m anticipating Bobby to rise from the lifeless throughout his funeral and say he’s fantastic. I received’t ask questions, I’ll settle for no matter excuse they provide you with and transfer on — I am hoping the lyrics from the Hozier track that performed tonight imply one thing and no grave can maintain Bobby down and he’ll crawl residence quickly.

Anyway, in case that doesn’t occur, we’ll most likely enter uncharted territory. This present won’t ever be the identical with out Bobby, and truthfully, I don’t know if it has what it takes to proceed with out him. Don’t get me unsuitable, I really like all the principle characters — season 5 was probably the most difficult for me as a result of Maddie was gone, so Chimney went after her and left the 118 for some time, and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) turned a dispatcher, and every little thing was misplaced… So it’s extra that I don’t suppose this present works with none of the mains, and I’m unsure if it’ll discover a approach to work with out Bobby, THE fundamental character. Do not get me unsuitable once more, however even when that is an ensemble present, it has two fundamental characters, and certainly one of them is Bobby. And normally, not less than in my expertise, when the principle character of the story dies and the present continues, the present itself could be very close to the tip…

Maybe I’m simply in denial. I’m actually permitting myself to interrupt the overview protocols I established so I can course of all of the unhappiness I’m feeling. The reality is that I’m afraid 9-1-1 would possibly bury itself with Bobby in his coffin. And I don’t wish to lose this present, as I really like having the craziest, funniest, most devastating rides each week with it. However after the rollercoaster exploded, I’m pressured to marvel what number of rides the present can nonetheless provide us earlier than the inevitable finish.