Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #48: 9-1-1's Ninth Season

It's been a while since I've posted a Fandom Friday and here are some of my thoughts:

I have a few thoughts on 9-1-1, first is the dynamics for the ninth season feel so off after Fire Captain Robert "Bobby" Nash was killed off last season. It really killed the dynamics and vibes of the show. For instance, I don't understand why the writers are trying so hard this season to make it seem like Evan "Buck" Buckley has a sibling connection with May and Harry Grant. Buck has never had any substantial scenes with May and Harry for them to be pushing this forced connection in the ninth season. I love May and Harry's sibling bond and they don't need Buck being forced into it. Buck might have had a sort of father and son bond with Bobby but he didn't have a sibling one with May and Harry. And not to mention Buck already has a sibling, his big sister Maddie Han (née Buckley). I think Buck being a mentor for Harry is okay even if seeing as Buck still needs to get his life in order. With that said, there was no need to force Buck in this sibling bond with May and Harry that was never there to begin with.

Second, the Showrunner and writers are back to separating fan favorite characters (and non-canon couple) Buck and Edmundo "Eddie" Diaz. They are now back to working with the same co-workers they were temporarily paired with in the fifth season. Eddie is with Henrietta "Hen" Wilson as firefighter/paramedics and Buck is with Ravi Panikkar as the firefighter duo. In the sixth season, they also reduced Buck and Eddie's screen time together. And in both the fifth and sixth seasons, it was very noticeable how the viewers were not a fan of either decision. And it threw off the vibes of the show and the characters with them sharing very little screentime together. I've been seeing where many fans are saying that this ninth season separation is because after the writers baited Buck and Eddie's potential romantic possibility last season and don't seem to want to follow through with it, they are now just separating the characters. And unfortunately they will probably put them in relationships with yet again more random love interests than with each other. I guess I'll see how the season goes for Buck and Eddie.

Third, so far the season opening space emergency is kind of boring. It just feels like the writers have run out of ideas and figured they could just add in a big space emergency in hopes of making it interesting. It just doesn't feel like an emergency that should be on this show. Instead wouldn't a big fire emergency have been more interesting as the season opening emergency. Especially if it's not just one fire they are dealing with but several. I could see someone targeting buildings and setting them on fire. This storyline could have given Police Sergeant Athena Grant a mystery to solve as well as possibly working with Hen or Interim Captain Howard "Chimney" Han. I could also see Eddie and Buck deciding to separately investigate because they had an idea that no one really listened to. So they could have followed a different set of clues. A storyline like this could have kept the firefighters very busy trying to put out all these huge fires that someone kept setting.

Finally, my thoughts on Bobby. I just think it would have been better to have had him survive the contagion storyline in the eighth season and then have him retire. Because he could have been given the cure and survived but side effects left him with a few health issues that would make it difficult to be an active firefighter. And with Bobby retired he would have still been on the show but he could have been like Michael Grant was as a non-first responder but still a main character. And Chimney could have been promoted without the sad aspect of Bobby's death haunting at the current moment his Interim promotion. I hope Chimney will get to be the actual Captain of the 118 and not the writers bringing in some random character to be Captain instead. And with Bobby retired, him and his wife Athena could have enjoyed the new house that they had built and she wouldn't currently be sad and depressed and using work and this trip to space as a distraction for her grief.

Quote: Athena Grant and Robert Nash (9-1-1) (+ a few 9-1-1 fandom thoughts)

Athena: Hey.

Bobby: I'm sorry, that was unprofessional.

Athena: Oh, no one bats a thousand. Not with the things we got to see every day. When I'm on duty, this is who I need to be. But the second I walk through my door at night, I turn into a completely different person. Everybody here today looks like they're holding it together. No doubt, they're going through a box of tissues tonight. Anything I can do to help you with this one?

Bobby: Yeah. Will you go somewhere with me?

~ Athena Grant and Robert "Bobby" Nash, 9-1-1 season 1 episode 10: A Whole New You


I'm still disappointed that the 9-1-1 Showrunner and writers so carelessly killed off Bobby and not only ended his story but also his and Athena's love story. The quote this scene is from, A Whole New You (season 1 episode 10) was the beginning of Athena and Bobby's love story.

Back in the episode Love is in the Air (season 6 episode 17), Edmundo "Eddie" Diaz asked Bobby about how him and Athena made it happen. And Bobby said, she sat and talked with him while they were at the scene of a really bad motorcycle accident. And she also went to Bobby's church with him and again sat and talked with him. During those two moments, they must have really got to know one other and from there they eventually (according to Bobby some days later) went on their first date which was shown at the end of the episode A Whole New You.

What Bobby was trying to tell Eddie was you can't force a special moment. Because earlier in Love is in the Air, Eddie was trying way too hard to try to meet someone but unfortunately for Eddie he still didn't quite understand what Bobby had said. So when Eddie re-met Marisol at the end of the episode, he thought that meeting was something special. But it was not, however, that's a post for another day.

Anyway, had Athena not taken the time to comfort a then acquaintance/growing friend, her and Bobby would have never found their second chance (well in Athena's case third chance) at love. The 9-1-1 Showrunner was so excited about "shaking things up" that he didn't seem to care how this was going to play out for Athena and Bobby. And not to mention how it was going to play out for fans who have been invested in these characters and their story for eight seasons. Ever since Bobby was killed off, it seemed to also have killed off a great deal of the 9-1-1 fandom's enjoyment and engagement of the series. Because now fans are left wondering if the Showrunner on another whim is going to decide to "shake things up" again and kill off another main character. It's funny, I haven't seen this much of a fandom deflation since the Game of Thrones' Showrunners ruined the final season of the show.

As a fan, it's so disappointing that Bobby was killed off and that him and Athena's love story came to an equally disappointing end.

(9-1-1 season 1 episode 10: A Whole New You)

Most Memorable Scene: Athena and Bobby's Casino Mystery (9-1-1)

I haven't started my 9-1-1 re-watch just yet but I'm looking forward to it. It's been a while since I've watched the show from the beginning. I was thinking about this scene from the episode Past is Prologue (season 5 episode 9) where Police Sergeant Athena Grant and her husband Fire Captain Robert "Bobby" Nash were at the casino trying to see if they could figure out how the "Biker Bandit" was able to get away with over a million dollars in stolen chips back in 1987.

Technically, this was Athena's case but her mystery loving husband Bobby was way too intrigue by this "Biker Bandit" (a name he coined) case not to want to help. Their investigation at the casino seemed like it was part date/part work especially since they got all dressed up for it. I like how they were trying to retrace the "Bandit's" escape route and as well as picking up additional information as their investigation went along.

A quote I like from this scene is:

Bobby: All right, let me have your purse.

Athena: Oh. It doesn't really go with that outfit.

Bobby: You don't think?

I have a question about Athena Grant in the 9-1-1 season seven premiere

I finally watched the 9-1-1 seventh season premiere episode Abandon Ships and it wasn't bad, a little slow moving in parts but not too bad. I do have a question, what was up with Athena Grant? I don't understand why she was going out of her way to avoid her husband Robert "Bobby" Nash while they were on this cruise trip. Bobby was trying so hard to connect with her but she kept avoiding him.

It's weird that she just kept making excuses as a way for not wanting to be around him. And I don't understand why? Athena is usually a straightforward and honest person, who totally speaks her mind, so I don't get this out of character storyline. I hope it will be answered in the rest of this three part opener. I kind of wish the opener was two episodes instead of three so the story wouldn't have to be stretched out.

I'll write more about the premiere later but I also want to say that this episode really emphasized that Edmundo "Eddie" and Christopher Diaz and Evan "Buck" Buckley are truly a family. Am I mistaken or did Buck sort of ask Eddie out on a date? Asking him to go go-karting in the desert sure seems like one? See this is why it's beyond time for the Showrunner and writers to finally make Buck and Eddie canon.

(9-1-1 season 7 episode 1: Abandon Ships)

Christmas Countdown Day #14: Athena, May and Harry Grant and Robert Nash (9-1-1)

It's 14 days until Christmas and I wanted to start a little countdown. In this scene from the 9-1-1 fifth season 10th episode Wrapped in Red, this was the start of the Grant/Nash family's plans for Christmas not quite working out how they would have liked. First Michael Grant and his fiancé Dr. David Hale were not going to be attending the family dinner/party because they were still in Haiti. David had volunteered for Doctors Without Borders and Michael as an architect planned to use his skills to help in rebuilding after the country had been hit with a devastating hurricane.

Second, May as a 9-1-1 dispatcher would be missing the event because she would be working during the holiday. And not to mention, Harry didn't seem to have the holiday gift giving spirit because all he wanted for Christmas was cash instead of a gift. And throughout the episode Athena and Bobby would get more cancellations from friends who weren't able to attend for various reasons. But by the end of the episode, there is a special celebration that has everyone embracing the spirit of the holiday.

Quote: Athena, Harry and May Grant and Robert Nash

Athena: You guys still decorating those pumpkins? How many are you making? Oh, and why so many ghosts?

Bobby: Well, they're for Buck. I'm gonna put 'em all over the firehouse.

May: Bobby says he thinks a ghost called 911.

Bobby: Mm.

Harry: That'd be so cool if it did.

Bobby: Well, Buck certainly thinks so.

May: But ghosts aren't real.

Harry: Tommy Sheridan's family used to live in this apartment where this little old lady died, and he said the lights used to flicker when they used the tea kettle.

Athena: Didn't that building get red-tagged after the earthquake?

Bobby: Yeah.

Athena: Yeah. Sounds more like faulty wiring than signals from the other side.

May: Harry, over 100 billion people have lived on this planet. Pretty sure a little old lady has died everywhere. Probably even in this very house.

~ Athena Grant, Robert "Bobby" Nash, Harry and May Grant, 9-1-1 season 2 episode 7: Haunted

Happy 9-1-1 Monday!

I really like this scene. It was such a cute little family moment with Harry and May helping Bobby carve and paint a bunch of pumpkins into ghosts in order to scare (or make fun of) Evan "Buck" Buckley. It's interesting that Buck is not the only one that seems to believe in ghost since Harry does as well. And who's to say that Harry's friend Tommy Sheridan's family's former apartment wasn't haunted? Just because Athena said that the apartment has been red-tagged doesn't mean it also can't still be haunted, right? I also like that May added a bit of spookiness in her response to her little brother Harry about the possibility of ghosts being in their own home.

(9-1-1 season 2 episode 7: Haunted)

The Story of Athena Grant and Bobby Nash (Video)

Happy 9-1-1 Monday!

I've said it before but I feel like the creators of 9-1-1 lucked up on casting Angela Bassett and Peter Krause as Athena Grant and Robert "Bobby" Nash because they have amazing chemistry together. For 9-1-1 Monday, I wanted to post this really amazing video that was made by Killiarious Youtube. It's a little long (a little over 35 minutes) but it's very well made and has scenes from seasons 1-5 that focus on Athena and Bobby's relationship.

What I like about their relationship is that they are both older characters who knew what they wanted out of a relationship. So there was no need for any one to play games or be indecisive of what they want. And Athena as a divorcee and Bobby as a widower who both work in highly stressful first responder jobs, ended up finding each other and getting to experience love for a second time. Earlier in the first season, they already knew each other but it wasn't a real or deep connection. They were more like acquaintances that were on their way to becoming good friends. Throughout the first season, there were little moments between them that on the surface didn't amount to much that is until the surprise ending with Athena and Bobby going on a date. The second season is when you really get to see them explore their relationship and grow from there.

Through all six seasons of the show, it's been shown that Athena and Bobby have the kind of relationship that can pretty much weather the storm so to speak. They have their ups and downs and in spite of that, they continue to fight for the love they have.

Hen and Karen's Vow Renewal Ceremony Deserved More Time

Happy 9-1-1 Monday! I still find it disappointing that in the fifth season finale episode Starting Over, the Showrunner and writers wasted so much time on random emergencies that ran way too long. Instead, that time could have been used for Henrietta "Hen" and Dr. Karen Wilson's vow renewal ceremony. This was a scene that felt so shortchanged because it could have truly used more time. Because their renewal was lumped into the ending montage that focused on all the main characters instead of letting this moment have the time it needed to shine.

I really would have loved to have heard their vows or anything else the couple may have said during the ceremony. From what little that was shown of the vow renewal ceremony, it looked beautiful. But they needed more time devoted to this scene. I also would have loved if more of the reception was shown besides the Athena Grant and Robert "Bobby" Nash scene of the couple planning to finally go on their honeymoon. I would have loved to have seen Hen and Karen's first dance and not to mention the toasts their family and friends would have given in their honor.

And on one final note, to add to my point about shortchanged scenes, the same can be said for Athena and Bobby because when they got married back in the second season finale episode This Life We Choose, it was also during a montage scene. And it would have been nice to have seen more of their wedding as well.

(9-1-1 season 5 episode 18: Starting Over)

Art of the Day: Bobby Nash and Athena Grant

Artwork: Bobby and Athena by jayh.sketch (jay.halstead macarenaandrad3)

Happy 9-1-1 Monday!

Looking back at the first season, I can see where the writers were setting up all these significant little moments throughout the season between Police Sergeant Athena Grant and Fire Captain Robert "Bobby" Nash. And these moments would eventually lead to the big surprise ending of the first season finale. I still think they lucked up on the great chemistry between the characters (and actors) because otherwise this relationship that was heating up (no pun intended) in the second season would have fallen flat and fizzled out real quick with both the characters and viewers.

Quote: Bobby Nash, May and Athena Grant

(9-1-1 season 6 episode 1: Let the Games Begin)

Bobby: All right, what do you think?

May: That you're a mustache away from giving serious Magnum P.I. vibes.

Bobby: Hey, I'm in full cruise mode here. I got to make sure my resort wear is on par with the competition.

Athena: Why don't you bring both of them? When else would you get a chance to wear those at home?

Bobby: Well, I would, but I already committed to one small roller bag.

May: Well, how many bags are you bringing, Mom?

Athena: More than one.

~ Robert "Bobby" Nash, May and Athena Grant, 9-1-1 season 6 episode 1: Let the Games Begin

I hope at some point Athena and Bobby will be able to go on another cruise since they couldn't go on this one after Athena's father Samuel had a serious medical emergency. And not to mention they ended up solving an old cold case surrounding a missing little girl.

Knowing how overly prepared Bobby was in planning this trip, I'm sure he immediately cancelled the cruise to try to get some of their money back as soon as they had to travel to Miami to check on Athena's parents. Maybe in the future Athena and Bobby will be able to take another trip (or cruise) because they still haven't gone on their honeymoon ever since they got married back in the second season finale episode This Life We Choose.

Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #19

Happy Friday! It's been an interesting week, which is why I'd love to know what are some of your fandom thoughts?

- One of my pet peeves is when comic book superhero/villain characters have on random regular clothes over their costumes. I don't know, it's just something that annoys me. It ruins the look of the costume and it looks weird.