The 126 just got a whole lot shakier. “Built To Last?” served up a hefty dose of Texas-sized drama, complete with shocking betrayals, career crossroads, and enough emotional baggage to fill a firetruck. Let’s break it down, shall we?
First off, Carlos Reyes finally gets some closure (and a whole lot of heartache) regarding his father’s murder. Turns out, the corruption within the Texas Rangers ran deeper than a rattlesnake’s burrow, with none other than Captain Bridges himself revealed as the killer. Talk about a twist you could choke a longhorn with. While the truth brings a certain grim satisfaction, it also forces Carlos to confront the complicated legacy of his father and the impact it has on his present-day life and relationship with TK.
Speaking of complicated relationships, Owen Strand finds himself wrestling with a career-defining offer: Fire Chief of New York City. It’s a shiny apple, no doubt, but one with a few worms wriggling inside, considering the department’s current turmoil and internal politics. Kristin Triola, acting as the Big Apple’s envoy, lays out both the dazzling opportunity and the gritty reality of the job, leaving Owen with a lot to chew on. But before he can book a one-way ticket to the Empire State, a crisis closer to home throws a wrench in his plans.
Judd Ryder is battling a serious drinking problem, and Owen, ever the loyal friend, puts his own ambitions on hold to help Judd get the support he needs. Judd’s struggles with alcohol addiction, a sensitive and all-too-real issue, provided the episode’s emotional core. The scenes between Judd and Owen, stripped of the usual wisecracks and camaraderie, showcased the depth of their bond. While it’s a heavy topic, the writers handled it with a commendable lack of preachiness.
Amid the murder investigations and career crises, TK and Carlos navigated the minefield of their own relationship. The adoption storyline with TK’s half-brother, Jonah, could easily have veered into saccharine territory, but the writers, to their credit, kept it grounded in the couple’s complicated emotional landscape. TK and Carlos agreeing to start a family felt earned rather than forced.
“Built To Last?” ends up being a mixed bag. Some threads – like the somewhat paint-by-numbers villain reveal – felt a bit underdeveloped. Still, the episode effectively juggled multiple character arcs, delivering some genuinely affecting moments amongst the standard-issue 9-1-1 theatrics. While the big questions surrounding Owen’s job offer and Judd’s recovery remain unanswered, “Built To Last?” leaves enough dangling threads to keep viewers tuning in as the series moves towards it’s big finish in the New Year.
9-1-1 Lone Star airs Mondays at 8/7c on FOX.
