Sometimes a show just needs a good old-fashioned dose of family drama to spice things up. And “9-1-1: Lone Star,” in its infinite wisdom, decided to inject a triple dose into TK Strand’s 30th birthday celebration. The result? A chaotic cocktail of estranged stepfathers, surprise FBI raids, and a health crisis that could reshape the 126.
First, we have the arrival of Enzo, TK’s stepfather, a man Owen clearly considers less welcome than a rattlesnake in a sleeping bag. Their strained relationship reaches its peak during an ill-advised hand-wrestling match, culminating in a dislocated shoulder and a slightly awkward 911 call. You’ve got to wonder, is there a support group for captains forced to rescue their sons’ irritating relatives?
Meanwhile, the 126 tackles its usual array of emergencies, from a suicidal woman perched precariously on a ledge to a man impaled by a tree branch, requiring some rather inventive field surgery. It’s all in a day’s work for our intrepid first responders, though one might suggest investing in some serious hazard pay.
Amidst the chaos, Tommy Vega has been quietly grappling with a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis. This episode forces her hand, a collapse at home prompting a tearful reveal to her daughters and a necessary leave of absence from the 126. The scene where her twins, armed with recently acquired CPR skills, help save their mother is undeniably moving.
Elsewhere, Wyatt demonstrates a surprising talent for crisis negotiation, successfully talking down the aforementioned suicidal caller. And in a moment of unexpected sweetness, a man trapped in a tree receives his stepdaughter’s blessing to marry her mother. It’s the kind of heartwarming moment that momentarily makes you forget you’re watching a show about people constantly facing near-death experiences.
But let’s get back to the main event: TK’s birthday party, which goes from festive to federally investigated faster than you can say “Miranda rights.” The FBI crashes the party and arrests Enzo for some unspecified white-collar shenanigans. The look on Owen’s face? Priceless. It’s as if he’s thinking, “Well, that’s one birthday present I didn’t have to wrap.”
Finally, Nancy steps up to fill Tommy’s considerable shoes as acting captain of the 126, a move likely to produce its share of friction in the coming episodes.
Tune in to FOX next Monday to see how the 126 copes with Tommy’s absence and the fallout from Enzo’s arrest.
