9-1-1 (TV Series) Pay It Forward (2023) User Reviews

Amazing episode until...

[cas1967 · 7/10 · 16 May 2023]

Absolutely loved the bridge collapse and revisiting all of the 118's past trauma. The actors did an amazing job and you could tell how hard they worked on the scenes. I'm really excited for Maddie and Chimney's relationship going into the next season as am I looking forward to Hen and Karen's adoption storyline.

However, Buck and Eddie being pushed into relationship in the last 10 mins of the episode seemed like sloppy writing. They just keep going in circles with no development and it's getting a little boring as the show progresses. Putting them in relationships was rushed and actually backtracks on the character development they've had this season.

For example, Eddie didn't want to date two episodes ago and now he's asking someone out? That someone whom he also met on a call which, and I quote Eddie Diaz saying this, "never ends well".

And Buck talking about how he doesn't want to rush into another relationship only to get with someone within a few episodes. The writing seems to be going around in circles as we saw this in season 4.

I do hope that the writers stick with the character development they portray and I hope season 7 will resolve some of these issues.

Overall good action, but too fast ending

[ekhart · 6/10 · 16 May 2023]

The entire emergency for the first half+ of the episode was fantastic. I was worried the whole time wondering if they'd actually go through will seriously hurting/killing a character.

The end however felt rushed. I get thay maybe they thought this was the end, but the love interest storyline for Buck/Eddie didn't have enough build up. Mostly though...we're did the adoption thing come from for Hen/Karen?!?!? Did I miss something? I thought rhey were focused on fostering.....

I'm just happy this show will continue with ABC...but kinda wish there was a new showerunner. Too many rinse/repeat storyline. Buck is happy with himself, let's give him a love interest too quickly (taylor and now natalia). Eddie feeling like he needs to be in a relationships Bobby telling him it's OK to let himself feel things so he gets with Ana and now Pepa trying to set him up so he won't be alone...despise being fine before she said anything, and now suddenly with Marisol). Hell, even the hen/karen storyline is slightly similar to previous ones.

I don't know...I love this show, but it needs new storylines.

mediocre and rushed

[meripereira-slb · 6/10 · 17 May 2023]

Loved the emergency but it was so rushed and should've been AT LEAST two full episodes. The potential for more was there. The propane tank Eddie mentioned, a concussed Hen, Chimney with being stabbed by a gurney. More urgency and worry about Bobby to make the stakes higher.

Instead there was barely time for the audiences to worry about these characters like previous emergencies because everything just felt so fast.

With Bobby injured and no one knowing where he was I thought we would see a Buck being extremely anxious and almost breaking down because after all that's his father figure. Plus he told Maddie that since the accident he always calls Bobby first to know how he is. I thought we would have another sweet moment since the coma episode. I'm extremely disappointed that after all that happened between Buck and Bobby in the coma episode, there not a single follow up scene of them for the rest of the season.

Also why did Chimney remove something that stabbed him and then go "that's no good" ?? Are you not a trained paramedic? Isn't that something that you SHOULDN'T do? And he fixed it with some morphine and a bandage? And Eddie was running around like he didn't have any broken ribs like c'mon now.

Hen and Karen are still fostering and we didn't even get a storyline on that but we had to have a storyline on how a lesbian couple will never be enough because a boy needs a father. They could at least have ONE mention of it during the season. At least they might be adopting a baby and I really hope they do because for some reason all their storylines involve them suffering. Can they get a happy storyline for once?

Eddie's storyline should've been a season long instead his tia sets him up once and he goes spiralling and out of nowhere he feels alone and no longer feels happy with his life. It truly felt like a whiplash. And then we got a woman that showed up for 1 minute at the second to last episode and suddenly everything he expressed before is nul? Where did all his anxiety and worries go? She just helped him pick out whatever that was and he went "that's exactly what I'm looking for" He speaks to ONE woman and he found the one? Also I know Eddie is supposed to be bad at dating and flirting but why was their phone call so cringey? And where did he even get her number?

The sperm donor storyline went nowhere and the conclusion was so underwhelming. Although I loved that Buck was very selfless throughout the season and knew where he stood with the baby, I thought it would relate with his search for happiness but it didn't? No lesson learned, no ultimate conclusion for Buck. Literally just existed because Buck "could" if I am to quote him. Also the whole birth was extremely fast paced it was laughable. All this for Natalia to be awed by Buck like anyone even needs help for that. (He's extremely lovable.) The father couldn't even be present for the birth of his child all for a Buck and Natalia moment.

Natalia is cute but aren't they moving too fast? What do we even know about her? She got upset and ran away from Buck like he has been lying to her for months and it wasn't just the second date. Which she admits she overreacted. But also in the coma episode Bobby says something along the lines of "if how people see you matters to you then you haven't learned at all" and then Buck says that Natalia sees him and maybe even more than he sees himself. And in the finale she says she doesn't understand why Buck even became a sperm donor. It's like every line just contradicts itself?

I thought the point of that couch conversation he had with Eddie was that he was gonna end up picking a couch for himself when he would find the secret to happiness. And with the coma episode being about him being himself and putting himself first that would also relate to it. Isn't picking a couch with someone defeating the whole purpose of that and not caring how people see you? Because Natalia picking with him implies that her opinion on his life matters doesn't it? At least that's the way I saw it.

Why are Buck and Eddie putting into a relationship to the first women they say hi to? What happened to getting to know each other? What happened to developing friendships into relationships? What happened to exploring and experimenting with dynamics? How am I supposed to root for a relationship where one half of it is literally a stranger to me?

Have no complains about Bobby and Athena as they were perfect and finally going to their much deserved honeymoon cruise. Loved to see them act like giddy teenagers.

Well sorry this is very long. I enjoyed the whole season and then this episode just felt so underwhelming for a finale.

Was this supposed to be a finale?

[stillnotyourbusiness · 16 May 2023]

You're telling me not only did they write this as a finale of the season, but they also had suspicions that this may be the show ending if ABC didn't pick it up. Wow, I'm in shock.

They promoted the emergency so much that I thought it would be like the earthquake or something similar, but it was the animals on Hollywood all over again. No one was really hurt, nothing too dramatic and it was wrapped in like 15 minutes. Such a let down.

I'm happy for Bathena, although I feel like Athena and Bobby didn't have much going on this season. Except for those two arcs which were more about random characters than themselves.

Glad to see Maddie and Chimney happy. For a second there, I thought they were going to make them elope and I was ready to fight for their right to have a nice celebration.

They remembered Hen and Karen were supposed to be foster parents after two seasons? What a miracle!

Don't get me started on Buck. That boy has not learned anything in the last 6 seasons. The actor is talking about Buck 6.0 and it's literally Buck 1.0 time and time again. They just throw random bland girls at him and hope one of them will stick. To do so, they may want to introduce a character that actually has a personality, played by an actual actress that knows how to act, and with some development instead of of just picking any 'actress' with no chemistry with Oliver and make them date after 15 minutes. Who in their right mind asks a person who fled his house as soon as she saw he wasn't the nice perfect firefighter who died to go look for a new couch? He is literally a manchild and this is the same thing they did with all his previous love interests. It's just so boring.

And last but not least, Eddie. The poor guy didn't have a single storyline in 18 episodes, people were complaining so the writers were like: Ok, let's give him an arc about dating (again), let's pick some random latinas and choose the one who had the least chemistry or interactions with. It would have made more sense if he called Vanessa back, or even that woman from the Cursed emergencies, but this one? It makes absolutely no sense, and it is pretty clear that the actor just doesn't like having these romantic scenes, because he just looks so fed up every time they have him in one of these weird dates.

On a last note, so sad to see almost no May (although it is because the actress is busy, but I just love this character); and Chris once again being there only as a cute complement for his father or to make Buck look good. He deserves arcs of his own.

When the move to abc was announced I was pretty happy because I saw this show going downhill since season 4 and I thought this may change things. But you can't fix something that is rotten from the inside. Unless they change the showrunner, half of the writing team (all those new faces with no experience we have seen since the pandemic happened and the show started having money problems) and even some actors, then everything will just stay the same, but in a different network.

This show looked so promising back in season 2 and 3, I can't believe how it turned out. Imagine having this main cast (please, Angela Bassett is there!) and such a poorly written show, what a waste of talent.

ABC you have your work cut out for you

[cpdisraelb · 10/10 · 17 May 2023]

I'm normally not very critical of the TV i watch and honestly, i was at first perfectly content with the episode as a whole (though the fandom part of my brain had complaints but i won't dock those against the episode) but the more i thought about it, the more issues i thought of. First of all, this massive rescue was teased for WEEKS! Oh no what could possibly happen who will make it out alive and then...it's yet another quick rescue. That's not to say that each actor didn't do a phenomenal job because they did. But this whole massive problem was solved ridiculously fast and then three characters faced massive injuries and went back home basically immediately after. Bobby faces a masssive crush injury and left the hospital that night. Chimney was stabbed (AGAIN) and left the next morning. Eddie broke multiple ribs and not only was he walking around after, he didn't stay at the hospital and later appeared entirely not in pain when he called marisol (i know that was a while later but come on) and now i want to address the elephant in the room which is natalia and marisol. I want to like these girls. I really do. But kristen and the people in the writers room keep saying buck and eddie are evolving in their relationships and realizing what they need and then they keep dating the first woman they make eye contact with. It's absurd! I'm not saying they have to go the route that everyone wants them to take but at least have the decency to create chemistry instead of just any old person. This was the culmination of a season of saying buck needs to put more thought into his dating choices and needs more life experience to gain leadership skills and then he stumbled into YET ANOTHER relationship and demonstrated leadership but acted the exact same as normal so we just have to believe in our hearts that something has changed.

Fantastic Emergency, Failure to Land

[mouldypeach · 8/10 · 16 May 2023]

So this episode is getting beaten with low star ratings - somewhat, but not entirely unfairly.

The first 35 minutes of the episode are tense, with the spectacular practical effects we love from 911 and a real sense of "anything could happen" with everyone in true peril; I could absolutely believe that any one of the Main Characters were at risk of being killed off.

Then it was all hand-waved away and they were all home or out of hospital in a matter of hours despite life threatening injuries.

Karen and Hen have a lovely season end, and I'm so please Bobby and Athena get their cruise (although, that's got Speed 2: Cruise Control written all over it). Chim and Maddie, similarly in a great place and that's lovely - can't wait to see their wedding in S7.

However! 6B has once again relegated Eddie Diaz to basically a supporting character, and now he's been squished into a relationship with a woman that had worryingly strong chemistry with her brother's character...

Buck had all these indicators that he was growing up, that he was learning to be his own man and that was just punted into the sun as he falls into another relaationship with a woman from a call, and doesn't even choose his own couch in the end.

I'd also like to see them remember that Buck and Eddie are supposed to be these great friends - they barely even talk these days!

I'm glad it wasn't the last episode ever, because that would have been an unworthy ending to the 118.

Should have been a 2 hour episode

[cibelekzm · 8/10 · 16 May 2023]

Okay, I'm going to start this on the positive parts, because I know this page is about to be a meltdown for very specific reasons that are valid.

First of all. I did love the emergency sequence entirely It was the best part of the episode, it might be my favorite emergency of the show tbh. It's not on tsunami levels of production (although props to them for spending two weeks and making majority of the effects in this scene practical), but it was a emergency in a concentrated in a single place, that involved all the team in danger hence why it impacted me more. Although I would say this would have worked better as a 2 hour finale as they could have played with the characters injuries a bit more rather than skip it.

I Loved the "heart of a champion" boy playing an essential part in saving Bobby and then realizing later it was the people that helped him. Great sense with the episode tittle.

BATHENA CRUISE FINALLY. They deserve it.

I'm interested in some of the story lines setups for next season we have here. Not sure if they will follow or skip through that, since they let those storylines solely because they thought the show was ending hence why they're open to interpretation. We have new Henren adoption arc, Madney marriage and Bathena cruise, that could possibly be the opening disaster of S7? I mean, I can dream on the ideal setup being Cruise disaster opening season 7 and ending 7A with the Madney marriage.

Now for the negative parts.

I don't think I need to extend much on that, but I know this will be a big deal in the reviews of this episode knowing the fanbase. So I will have to point the let down of the episodes, Buck and Eddie getting random LIs as usual... I'm disappointed, but not surprised... I expected it would be that way, I stopped fooling myself believing Buddie would happen while KR is in charge. In fact, to me this couch theory started as a theory about Buck and Buck only, as a metaphor to his relationships. Even though, I was wrong in have faith that if the writer weren't intending to make Buddie canon, they would at least do the "it's the 118" route, they definitely snapped and pulled the worst possible option ever... When Oliver said in the interviews that the couch theory would play till the end, he wasn't lying. It played till the end, however not the one we wanted it to be. The show surely didn't help itself with the implications that did stir excitement on the people invested enough to over-analyze, but that were not enough implications for GA audience to even grasp a romantic evolution between Buddie at all.

Sadly, a metaphor for a character that is constantly walking in circles and had just regressed a progress point, would result on an underwhelming conclusion with said character making the same mistake again. So again, disappointed but not surprised.

Well, even if I was disappointed with that aspect of the episode I still think it was a good episode. However I stand by what I said, that this should have been a longer episode, because the latest minutes felt really rushed as we jumped from the hospital, to baby birth, to what is possibly weeks after with everyone fine. Being longer would make it possible to play with the characters injuries, give breath to the viewer and still set the characters in a good place without rushing it.

Poor realism

[andreolimarco · 6/10 · 13 August 2023]

I know this is fiction, but in this episode there are too many things that can't be real.

A single truck makes a major bridge to fall? Seriously?

Air ambulance crew usually have specific equipment, for instance helmets with radio communication stuff...

Then an expert paramedic with a puncture in his stomach is so naive to pull off what's preventing him to bleed to death?

And, eventually, the fastest labour in history of medicine! Usually, primigravida women have pretty long labours...

Ok, again, it's just fiction...

Hope the new season will be more interesting and not just about Buck's love agony..

Not the best finale, but still full of great moments!

[LibertyMia · 8/10 · 16 May 2023]

While it may never top the fantastical finale of Season Two, this was still a great episode! Seeing the 118 work together to save themselves was such a wonderful thing to see. After watching Buck being rescued in 6x10, to getting to see him rescue them was a perfect narrative for the "Pay it Forward" title.

Unfortunately, whenever these massive disasters happen towards the end of a season, we are left without the fallout or aftermath which is sad. Chimney, Bobby and Eddie were significantly injured but we just saw them return to work. With them, and especially Chimney, it would be nice to have an arc about recovery that the show does well with Buck, but often misses the mark with the rest of the ensemble.

This episode did feel like an end. I wonder if they were uncertain of the show's future when there were discussions about Fox letting it go. The ending in some ways felt cramped compared to first half an hour which was brilliant. However I understand wanting to leave it wrapped up, for the worst case scenario but hope Season 7 gives each character the perfect and equal arc they deserve.

A real Disaster of a finale

[elis17 · 1/10 · 18 May 2023]

Where does one even start with this episode?

The disaster. Literal (the bridge collapse) but also metaphorical (whatever was going on in that writers room). To say that this emergency was rushed would be an understatement. The entire team is healed and just fine in three seconds, everyone is rescued in ways that would make first responders all around the world scream and cry and shake (a trained paramedic removing the object that was impaling him and then being surprised that he was bleeding to death? Yeah). There are no repercussions, not one conversation over what happened. The impact on the characters? Error 404 not found. If you closed your eyes for the first 25 minutes of the episode you wouldn't even know that the collapse happened, that's how bad it was. The resolution of this disaster? Poorly planned, poorly written, poorly executed. How come these writers sat around a table, came up with this and went "oh yes this is a brilliant call for an even more brilliant finale" when everybody walked out of this emergency in 5 minutes max and with nothing to tell (when the parallels to their pasts were right there). It's a shame to see so much potential being thrown away for the sake of dedicating more screen time to storylines that literally no one asked for.

A question for the writers: who do you hate more? Your own characters or your own fans?

We have Buck, who spends the entire season focusing on "not making the same mistakes", "not wanting to pick the wrong couch", "looking for the secret of happiness", just to end up in a supposed serious relationship with some woman he met 2 minutes ago, just because she showed the slightest interest in his experience, the same woman who already walked out on him because his life is "too complicated". Yikes. If I had a nickel for every time that a LI left Buck in a hurry because they thought that he was too much, then came back with half an apology resulting in the start of a romantic relationship, instead of Buck facing his own trauma by going to therapy, I'd have way too many nickels. Which is definitely weird, because you'd think that professional writers would know better than to throw this guy onto the same wrong pattern over and over and over again. They never let him learn. It's boring, it's irritating, it's frustrating. It's disheartening to see his character demolished to the ground every other episode. But, I guess, why have him deal with his mental health, his ptsd, his experience with death, let him choose by himself when you can just throw him right into another awkward relationship? It's obviously gonna make every issue disappear. Of course. Especially with that kind of (non-existent) chemistry. I'm starting to believe that these unnecessary, underdeveloped romantic arcs are all these writers know.

Not even gonna mention the sperm donor arc, which had so much potential for his personal growth, to teach a lesson about family, and yet it still resulted in nothing (could be because they forgot about it until it was too late and then suddenly went "oh that's still a thing"? Who even knows atp).

Was there a great premise to his storyline? Yes. Did they deliver? Absolutely no. I have to assume that they just hate him too much to even care if he regresses.

Same for Eddie, who's always paid dust anyway. No idea what to do? Yeah, let's give him another dating arc that's gonna amount to nothing, a copy and paste of what made him miserable in the past. They tell him he should date so he chases after the first woman he meets and we enter, again, the never-ending cycle of the most meaningless, embarrassing relationships you could ever encounter in your life. Not to mention the utter, absolute, lack of chemistry (if you told me, back then, that the girl who we all thought was gonna kiss her own brother on the mouth would come back for this... I would have laughed in your face). Never have I ever felt so much second-hand embarrassment. If you ever put those scenes in my line of vision again, it's on sight.

They set this interesting storyline about fear, loneliness and grief and then just forget all about it to favor the first bland relationship that they can come up with. Again, not even gonna go there. Is this the magical, epic, filled with chemistry, love story that they're gonna give to Eddie? I'm in hell.

Should a romantic arc actually be set up, @ writing room, maybe you should just redirect your attention to the relationship that you all have been building for over 5 seasons and yet refuse to fully acknowledge. It's always been right there, and you all never fail to use it from time to time to bait viewers and then paint them as delusional for seeing right through it. The reason this relationship is not actively happening, I will never understand. Logical and natural outcomes for these characters arcs scare you, I guess.

Bathena on their cruise? Henren adopting another kid? Madney, finally happy, planning their wedding? The saving grace of the absolute disaster that this finale was, but still not enough to pretend that this showrunner even knows what her job is. It's like they completely forget that this is an ensemble cast, and there are not enough words to rant about some of the terrible storylines they introduced this season (especially for Hen and Karen, who are always mistreated and put through hell for whatever reason I will never even begin to understand), not to mention how inconsistent s6 has been.

If the possible cancellation was the reason behind this sudden rush, absolute drop in quality and change of heart in the middle of the season, in the vain attempt to tie up loose ends... they fumbled the bag for real. To think that they really believed that this could be even far from satisfying as a series finale, it's terrifying. Do better, and I'm saying it as somebody who's way too attached to this show to ever give up on it, do better.

If this is what production believes we the audience long for, then they're the most disconnected from reality people to have ever walked on earth. I've never seen a showrunner who's more detached from her fans than the woman - who shall not be named - who's been burning this show to the ground since the day she stepped up. She's not afraid to destroy every single character if that means spiting her own fandom. Until she's around, nothing's ever gonna change for the better. We can only hope that the move to ABC brings a real breath of fresh air to this show, because it's becoming unbearable to watch the same recycled storylines, the same characters being sidelined, the same bad writing choices.

A piece of advice @ ABC? Fire That woman, first and foremost. Otherwise... good luck, you all might need it over there.

What amazing episode

[lynntiffany-18137 · 10/10 · 16 May 2023]

This was an amazing episode I was on edge the whole time I didn't know what was going to happen to the 118 I was scared. And the ending was absolutely perfect I can't wait to see season 7.

From the beginning the show started I didn't know what to expect but what's going to happen within the first 15 minutes I was on edge my nerves were shaking and I couldn't believe what I was watching. I'm so glad the ending was left on a positive note and with no cliffhangers. I was worried it was going to end with me wondering and questioning who's alive who is it what's going to happen next. This episode for me with 10 out of 10.

Firefam feels can't save recycled plots and bad pacing

[CeeCeeLove21 · 4/10 · 18 May 2023]

This was the planned series finale? The show has known since before October that FOX was not renewing the show and didn't know ABC was taking over until after the show wrapped and THIS is what they chose to do with this season as a whole (mostly filler and wasted time) and this episode as the culmination of 6 years? The cast, the fans, the characters, and their storylines ALL deserved better than this.

First, some things I liked: -Bobby being captain dad and his favorite children of the 118 all making him look bad by talking in class, being on their phones in class, daydreaming, and being late, was hilarious. 118 bottle episode stuck in the firehouse when? I need a whole episode of JUST them together.

-Athena cradling Eddie's head sitting him down at the hospital made my heart smile. She is the Station Mother

-Hen being hurt but trying to wipe Buck's face was so sweet and I love their dynamic together.

-Hen and Karen fostering again and getting an adoption call would have worked better if this had come up at all this season, but I'm happy for them and they deserve this.

-Maddie and Chim are adorable and I hope Bobby gets to marry them in their backyard after some fun wedding delay shenanigans -Bathana finally going on a cruise, good for them! I hope we open season 7 with the cruise disaster we should have had this season.

Now for everything else: Kristen's inability to pace a show and manage an ensemble cast strikes again. This should have been like seasons 2-3 where the build up to the big finale disaster started in the previous episode and took most of the finale. This set up could have been SO good and the start of the collapse WAS. We got everyone in danger, Maddie was finally on a call with the 118, and it looked like we were going to have a lot of desperate rescues and lots of firefam feels! And while the actors absolutely delivered and the practical effects this show uses helped make everything feel real (can't wait for that Disney budget so we can get more stuff like this again!), the episode and firefam were once again absolutely let down by the writing.

The emergency was tense for a moment but suddenly everyone got rescued in a couple minutes? Buck just yanked Hen and Eddie out and we moved on, he took two seconds to get Chim (don't get me started on him pulling that bar out which the show itself has told us MANY times is not the right thing to do), and Bobby's rescue took the longest but we didn't actually get to spend a lot of time on people looking for or worrying about him. There were multiple parallels to past traumas for all the main characters and the show didn't touch on a single one of them! Eddie's fear of dying alone plus being "buried" again, Hen having a crash behind the wheel, Chim being stabbed, Bobby's back being injured again and being buried like last season, Ravi watching a vehicle going over a bridge, Buck having to watch the people he loves being hurt and worried he can't save them in time. It's all just...right there and they did NOTHING with it. And while Buck taking charge would be an nice bookend to the premier, the journey across the season lead him absolutely nowhere so this feels unearned and doesn't make sense. We didn't see him learning lessons and gaining leadership skills, and working to study up or anything at all! He's always been a favorite character of mine and he got so much screentime this season and it was almost all wasted time on plots that went nowhere or didn't inform his character or let the audience know what he was thinking. Also, if they wanted to pay homage to the series and with a title like "Pay it Forward" it was the perfect time to showcase dispatchers we know and love collaborating to save the 118 for a change and to bring back more than one familiar face from emergencies past (the one kid didn't even get to talk about who he was or to say it was his chance to help Bobby back or anything) or had the crowds rush in like 2x18 to help save the people who normally save them. We did get a tiny bit of that with Maddie calling in outside help (nice to see her getting to do that again, I've missed her at dispatch) but not nearly enough.

And then the whole team is out of the hospital except Chim and Bobby who are almost ready to be released (the Maddie/Athena moment was a bright spot) and the next thing we know everyone is fine and at work with no problems and jumping around like nothing ever happened. Recycling season 4's finale right down to no injury recovery moments and Taylor (left and came back because Buck got injured (just like his parents) and still doesn't understand him but we're forcing it anyway) and Ana (personality-less blank slate Latina Character) 2.0.

Any and all things they tried to do or say for Eddie and Buck all season were thrown out in this episode as if they never happened just so the showrunner could end the series with them paired up with any woman, doesn't matter who or what it does to their characterization or story arcs as long as they have a woman tied to them. Eddie says not to date people from calls, and needs to stop getting into relationships because others tell him he needs to? He's suddenly materialized this random character's phone number and no longer has any hangups or reservations about performing and calls her after other people push him about dating! Buck needs to stop being passively suicidal and choose himself and stop making the same mistakes? He picks out a new couch with the first person to look his way, who happens to think him dying was "so freaking cool" and who left the second his life became about more than his death only to come back after he nearly dies and is interesting again in a recycling of season 4 and Taylor/the Buckley parents and their conditional love attention and interest. How original. Kristen would rather ruin their individual characters and arcs rather than face the fact that the show built them together into the perfect partners for each other and their own family unit and allow that story to be told, and in a way and at a time that makes sense. They're running out of time to do it right and to not do it at all is a slap in the face to their own narrative they built.

The sperm donor arc was nothing but missed opportunities to delve into really interesting and meaty arcs for Buck and his emotional state and choosing himself and his own mental/emotional wellbeing over making others happy at his expense just because he can. It instead brought about a baby no one wanted or needed, only to make the whole thing about the guest characters and THEIR relationship and nothing at all interesting done for Buck. The labor was ridiculous and Natalia is frankly unwatchable as a character, the only thing good coming out of this was Kameron's actress being surprisingly funny and actually a good actress. Not even the "big man tiny baby" of it all made any of this worth it when we've seen better with babies on emergencies and when Buck is already a dad to a wonderful kid and has a little niece we could see more of him with.

Final thoughts: -Buck never interacted with his sister after she got engaged -A parting shot for Kristen keeping Ravi out of the closing montage when she had no problem forcing Lucy in front of and over Eddie in the season 5 finale moment that was supposed to be his big return to work -This show has never once needed an air ambulance but of course we had to have one this week just so Kristen could wedge her fave Lucy in one last time to be "bad@ss" and talk with the 118 like she's still besties with all of them when we don't even hardly get to see them talking like that and being besties with EACH OTHER. The only good thing was her time was blessedly short, even though her line delivery was even worse than usual to make up for it. This show has such talent in even one off emergency victims, but between Taylor, Lucy, Ana, Marisol, and Natalia, I can't believe they have picked this many talentless women to waste screentime on just to throw someone, ANYONE at Buck and Eddie to avoid putting them together.

ABC has to do better. They HAVE to. This cast is so good and this show used to be so refreshing and unlike any other tired procedural out there with so much heart and joy and depth. Kristen has turned it into a shallow, vapid, cheap shell of itself. Everyone deserves better than this.

The finale blew me away. In a positive sense.

[Emelyemmma · 10/10 · 16 May 2023]

I don't know where to start? The big emergency? It was so good. The whole 118 in mortal danger. You could feel the fear and tension through the screen.

Buck helps deliver the baby for which he was sperm donor. His reaction when he had the baby in his arms was heartbreaking. Oliver Stark rocked this scene. Great.

It's closure for Buck's trauma as a donor baby for his brother with cancer. He thought he was a spare parts donor with defective parts. I feel like he can make peace with that now.

Natalia and him are cute together. I know a lot of people don't see it that way because they want Buddie. But she is great. She doesn't see him as a victim. He is a man with a lot of trauma and she still sees Buck.

Maddie and Chim are planning their wedding, I can't wait.

Hen and Karen may get the opportunity to adopt a little girl. I wish it for them with all my heart.

And of course Athena and Bobby. They finally get to go on their cruise. Even though they haven't told anyone. I would love to see everyone's reaction.

It was great!

Only this 🤡

[emmak-52820 · 1/10 · 16 May 2023]

It's just me or these sneak peaks were more dramatic and exciting than the whole episode. Everything seemed so rushed and I'm not going to mention Bobby's rescue. It took about a minute and he is ONCE AGAIN completely fine.

After "4 years anniversary" foreshadowing in 6x17, I was looking forward for something BIGGER. Not to mention the fact that he had a back injury in the past, and after that crash, I was expecting something related to that.

So, what was that about? What was the POINT of his fall? Or what happened to May? Where were Bathena's home scenes? They've barely been together since 6x13. This is really terrible. Instead of them, we got like 8 minutes for Buck and his girlfriends. I'd rather see him be a strength for Bobby as Oliver TEASED in one interview. So what is it? Am I watching the RIGHT show?

And we already know new storylines for season 7 (because RECYCLING is good not only for the enviroment but also the "health and patience" of fans): Buck and Eddie dating storylines, because once again is not ok being single in this world, Henren's adoption story, something like with sperm donor in s3 and Nia's adoption in s4, Madney with crying Maddie and always injured Chimney.

And we'll be glad to see with the CURRENT situation at least 10 seconds of Bathena at work each episode because they probably can't spend time in their house anymore (Bathena's screen time since 6x13 💀). I won't count the honeymoon because the season definitely begins with their return from it.

And not to mention the fact that we're coming up to season seven and we still don't know who Bobby's PARENTS are or at least his brother? Do they know where he is or that he remarried? What about his back injury or any other injury he had without any consequences. Did he forget about his past family?

But no, we rather watch Buck's DATING DATING DATING storylines. At this point, you should just bring Eddie's sister to date Buck so we finally can have a Buckley-Diaz family.

It's sad that not even Andrew and Bradley will save this crumbling show. Yes, Tim, keep taking care of that R*b and R*nen show over show with Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Jenniffer Love Hewitt, Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, Ryan Guzman and amazing crew behind.

I thought it was going to be bad... but not that bad

[icecreamsundae · 1/10 · 16 May 2023]

I didn't expect much but damn that awful. The whole Eddie/Marisol and Buck/Natalia was incredibly forced just so they wouldn't end up alone?? You know you can be happy and single. Having a pretty girlfriend doesn't solve all your problems. I can only hope they break up quickly in s7 because having to sit through storylines we've done before is just having buck and eddie going in circles.

Great that maddie and chimney finally missed again but why couldn't hen and Karen kiss??? And why didn't Maddie and chimney kiss when it was their proposal last episode?? Meanwhile Buck and Natalia can kiss all they like (with no chemistry). Feels very unfair.

Buck at the beginning of the season saying he didn't want to make the same mistakes again and what did he do you ask. He made the same mistakes.

Hope Bobby and Athena have a good cruise. They deserve it. At least they haven't fallen to character massacre (cough Buck)

Overall It all felt incredibly rushed and just a terribly written finale in general and I haven't found a single positive comment about this episode. Good reflection of the episode.

Bridge goof

[skej-58518 · 14 June 2023]

When the helicopter is about to land there's a view of the bridge from overhead. The bridge is over a river, But the semi truck was driving on the road under the bridge when it hit the pillar and caused it to collapse, it would have more sense to have a large boat or barge hit it. I guess they didn't want the characters in the water, maybe making rescue more difficult? , if so they should have chosen a different bridge. Also when the accident happens they are in the middle of the bridge but when they show the bridge cracking the fireman and vehicles are at the end of the bridge. Someone in continuity or editing should have caught this. Did anyone else notice this? I had to rewind it a few times and pause it to be sure.

Are you all crazy!

[aberry-94633 · 10/10 · 25 February 2024]

I'm only commenting to those who said this wasn't a good finale.... I just binged the entire series and granteded their were a few filet episodes i disagreed with the reviews the majority of the time. Ithought this season finale was amazing.... I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I am glad i only just finished the season so i don't have to wait as long andI realize everyone is entitled to their opinions but all I have to say is I can't wait until season 7 comes back in a few weeks. I love each and every character on this show and the way they all work together and love each other.... they are a true family!

Ruined two of the most beloved characters

[frankma-27541 · 1/10 · 16 May 2023]

Buck used to be my favorite character but these past seasons any "character development" he ever seemed to have was destroyed by the relationship he got into. And in this episode they did it AGAIN.

I was already frustrated when they had him getting back with Taylor because as someone who remembered how their relationship in the past went I was very distrustful of her. I was sure it was going to go the same way it did the first time they dated. Then they were together for a good while and the showrunners really put in an effort to get you to like her but by the time i stopped actively disliking her for her actions in the earlier season she did the exact same thing that ended their first relationship. So what was the point? It was such a huge waste of time!

And now during this entire season they set up so many storylines of ways buck wanted to improve his life and contemplating why his relationships have always failed so far. Wanting to find someone who loves him for who he is. Only for him to rush into another relationship with a woman he JUST met a call who is only obsessed with the fact that he died for a bit. Not to mention her freaking out and running off when she found out about him being a sperm donor. It's literally just another Taylor. Any epiphany he had about wanting someone who loves him with no compromise? Out the window!

Buck is nothing but a pushover at this point. What is the point of setting up all of these arcs of buck trying to better and find himself if it all just ends with him dating another taylor character we don't care about? I was already annoyed that they gave his parents a completely undeserved redemption arc for simply by chance being there when he was in a coma. Let's not act like they would've come to see him if they hadn't already been there for a visit.

Same problem with eddie. Why are they backtracking on everything eddie has been saying for this past seasons in this episode? He said he didn't want to date someone just two episodes ago and now he's doing twirls giggling because of marisol. And whatever happened to eddie exclaiming that you shouldn't date someone you met at a call? I would've preferred him to just realize that he isn't lonely and that he doesn't need to date someone to feel fulfilled if they are just going to have him date a random character we haven't even known long enough to care even slightly about. Worst of all they have zero chemistry and their phone call made me cringe so hard.

Another thing that's been bothering me is how little attention they paid to buck's and eddie's relationship to eachother. What happened? They used to be inseparable friends, buck was shown as a co-parent to christoper and now? They didn't even show eddie by buck's bedside when he was in a coma, they showed basically everyone except him both in the hospital and the coma dream.

I'm definitely not watching their next season at ABC, it seems like Buck and Natalia are going to be a thing for a while and I'm not putting myself through another season of Buck and Taylor and Eddie and Ana 2.0.

So much potential, so much disappointment.

[mleecottle · 1/10 · 16 May 2023]

It started so well. The first forty minutes of the episode was done so perfectly well. And then they immediately ruined it. Viewer's tip: stop after everyone gets to the hospital, then fill in the blanks with your imagination. And whatever you imagine will be leagues better than what we actually got.

What's worse is that the season wasn't Bad. The first half of it, and the initial trio of 6b, were amazing and well written. And then the episodes after that weren't bad, per se. They were just pockmarked with disappointing plot developments.

Do the people writing this show actually LIKE this show? Or did they go to the D&D School of How to Ruin Character Arcs?

Maybe the bridge was a metaphor for the entire episode?

[alsmrt · 2/10 · 16 May 2023]

The emergency was really good, the spectacular collapse of the bridge and Buck saving everyone was heartwarming and it kept us on the edge for the entire scene. Everything was fine, really, until the hospital scene, where it all collapsed like the previous bridge.

Bobby crushed under debris and locked in a container? Just one breath and it's fine. Eddie with broken ribs? Yes, he was in pain but the scene after he exults like a football supporter, screw the broken ribs! Chim almost stabbed to death again? Everything OK. And Buck, hit by the ambulance and smashed against the glass? Completely fine (given also his trashy ending scenes).

It's just not acceptable to close a season like this, especially if you can almost consider it a series finale. This embarrassing search for love interests to give to everyone, not caring about the individual storylines; especially compared to the other couples in the series, that are solid, happy and perfect. It's doesn't match and just seems like a mock.

Feels like S4 2.0, and not in the sense that it improved

[gabrielajunqueirapereirap · 3/10 · 17 May 2023]

It's becoming so tiring seeing female characters being reduced to love interests. The show doesn't even pretend or try to give them a personality that goes beyond their profession and their relationship to the male character. Liking a two dimensional female character just for the fact that she's a woman is not the #feministslay you think it is. Both Marisol and Natalia(and actually, Ali and Ana, too) deserved so much more. I, personally, want to know more about them, but it's never organically put on the show's story.

Also, Natalia coming in, almost kissing Buck, running away, and then coming back to be his girlfriend? Where have I ever seen something like that before?

And PLEASE, let Buck keep his character development? Coma! Bobby telling him that if he's caring about what people see of him, then he's learned nothing, only for Buck to describe his (less than two minutes long for us, viewers) date with Natalia as her "seeing" him? It feels like the show doesn't know what to do with him anymore, and that could be the time to put his story a tiny little bit on the back burner and focus on the other characters, but well...

Eddie doesn't need a romantic relationship to not feel lonely! Even if Chris is growing up, he's never not gonna be his son. He has his family, by blood and found. This loneliness arc could be such a good way to show that you can't enter a relationship just for fear of ending up alone... Which, actually, was something out of Buck's playbook. And the writing was NOT consistent on his character. He just says he feels weird dating, like he needs to pretend, only for a couple episodes later look like a teenage with his first crush with Marisol. He says it's not a good idea to date someone you met on a call, only to ask a girl he met on a call on a date. This whole thing felt rushed, and was not really shown on screen beyond his talk with Bobby, which wasn't leading to a relationship so soon. Also, the GA didn't even remember Marisol, and those who did thought that her brother was her boyfriend.

Madney are amazing and Maddie saving the day without even being on scene??? That's my girl! But it felt, again, rushed on Chim's recovery. He had a stretcher's handle impaling him, lost a lot of blood and just... Walked away, with no consequences?

The lack of stakes was also something that irritated me with Bobby. He was buried alive, the second time in two seasons. The first time, ok, he walked away with a pinched nerve and that was the end of it, which wasn't good, but eh. This time around? Not even that. Not a sling for his arm. Not anything. But at least he got to go on that cruise with Athena, god KNOWS they've been through the ringer these past two seasons.

Henren my most beloveds. The show finally remembered that they were fostering, after what...? Two, three seasons? At least they're safe and growing their family!!

Anyways, missed the couples kissing (because Madney can't kiss while literally getting engaged but Buck can exchange spit with Natalia all he wants).

Wish there was a May cameo, I miss my baby so much. Also, the Lees were in the guest cast list and nothing from them :((

To everyone saying that there's too much negativity in this fandom, and that we shouldn't criticize: I'm happy your experience was enjoyable. Mine wasn't. I didn't enjoy what I saw in the finale, that I guess they thought was show finale, itself. And I have a right to say what I didn't enjoy. It's not because I have points to criticize that I don't love the show, or anything. It's actually the opposite: I know they can tell beautiful stories and I'm hoping they have the chance to on ABC.

Anyways, that's my two cents on the finale.

So it wasn't a coma dream?

[YouGotTimeForASinner · 3/10 · 16 May 2023]

Wow. I've held of reviewing any of the season 6 episodes until I could witness the conclusion because I didn't want to jump the gun. I will say, the season started quiet well, it seemed like we were getting back into the swing of true 911 (albeit with a lot smaller budget). The end of season 5 left us in a good place. I could look past the lack of interesting emergencies because it felt like we were possibly getting meaty character work. But alas, that has all fallen so flat. And so did the high stakes emergency of a finale (what was it, like 20 minutes? And then they...meditate?). Buck's whole journey has been laughable considering he's right back where he started - what even happened to feeling at ease or the age of absolutely? How is anything we saw showing him at ease? What life experience did dying bring to him considering he seemed to come to terms with it 2 episodes after the fact? How is Natalia not a repeat of Taylor in season 4? Do they honestly believe this is something any facet of their audience will enjoy?

Whoever leads this show has to have some kind of blinders on. The parental redemptions for EVERY character was unbelievable enough, let alone thoughtlessly shoving in female love interests for Buck and Eddie at the last minute (removing the fact that they make narrative sense and have great chemistry and would be so interesting to explore - how does the show not lean on their family dynamic to conclude this season - there was so much going on for Buck, he did not need a new girlfriend, and all they've built to show his role in Christopher's life is just thrown away? Because now he's seen a biological child and will have some kind of baby fever? How did this arc not end in him understanding he already is a father figure to Chris?). I'm left with the most sour taste in my mouth watching that sperm donor arc play out.

The last few episodes of 6b were almost unbearable to watch, a Maddie and Chim engagement and Hen and Karen family addition, couldn't even save the overwhelming sense of disappointment. This could've been the end of the show, and it's baffling to think this is the direction they've chosen.

If the show wants to have any legs at ABC, they need to do some serious re-shuffling because every aspect of the show has been underwhelming - the emergencies, the pacing, the existing relationships and the personal stories. So many crucial developments seem to happen off screen as well - please stop doing that. Or I mean, do, because I won't be tuning in for the 7th season unless there's some drastic changes going forwards. The showrunner wasn't wrong in saying this season was experimental- and felt like a social experiment at times. And I mean that in the worst possible way!

Much love to the actors though - they continue to bring their A game even when given very little to work with.

So disappointed...

[sabsv · 2/10 · 16 May 2023]

What an absolute let down. I will not be following this show to ABC if the people who wrote, directed, and produced this are still in charge.

No creativity. No follow through. No hope from this fan. We all deserved better.

We spent all season watching Buck suffer, for him to end up with another woman who walked away and crawled back? Another woman he's going to buy a couch with? Like he learned nothing?

Eddie ended up with someone he met on a call? After saying to Buck how it was a bad idea?

Too many writers and no consistent characters. They all suffered. I love hen and Karen - but I couldn't even be happy for them. When did they get all those kids? We didn't even see them talk about fostering again?

I'm so sad. And I'm going to miss this show. It could have been amazing. Kristen Riedel used the buddie shippers for ratings and views. And is laughing at every single one of them right now.

I wish all the writers the best in their negotiations. But this whole season was such a let down. And I put the blame on her. She has no vision, no creativity, and no idea how to keep an audience entertained.

The season ended (they likely thought the show) and us as fans are supposed to be happy buck and Eddie found their happily ever after with women we don't know anything about.

Not this fan. The only thing this episdoe was good for? I'll never watch a show produced by KR again. She's not good at this, and someone should tell her that. Cause she clearly thinks she is.

Horrendous writing!!

[seika-28154 · 1/10 · 17 May 2023]

This episode managed to undo two seasons of character development. Two love interests for two main characters thrown in as an after thought (to satisfy the no homo crowd). No chemistry and no emotional development between them. Instead of spending screen time with characters the audience doesn't know (and honestly doesn't seem to care about), it would have been great to focus on the people we do know.

The way characters reacted during the emergency felt dull. No consequence after suck a big trauma, with everyone fine and healthy at the end.

Henren continue to be an afterthought and seem to be there just to tick the box for diversity.

Maddy has had nothing to do all season and the story line continues to be extremely shallow!

Please get a new showrunner and some new writers as this show is now unwatchable.

What was that...

[breelottchea · 1/10 · 16 May 2023]

As sure as I am that the back half of the episode was just some thrown-together-tie-up-loose-ends-in-case-we-don't-get-picked-up ending, I'm really disappointed that THATS what they came up with.

The first half of the episode was really good. The emergency concluding as early as it did felt a little rushed but it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was nervous for Chim. I was nervous for Bobby. My eyes were glued to the screen during the entire thing.

And then it was done and all of a sudden everything is back to normal like nothing ever happened. Like Chim wasn't just impaled by the gurney. Like Eddie didn't just break 3 ribs. Like Hen didn't have a concussion so bad she was throwing up on the scene. It was all just never brought up again.

I think that there were a lot of ways to turn that episode into a potential series finale without butchering the growth and development of half of your characters. For the writers and the actors to be so invested in the fans picking up on the couch metaphor to then go and have it conclude in the same way it started. The ENTIRE point of that metaphor was that he needed to pick a couch for himself, not pick one out with someone else that he just met. Buck's throwing himself into a relationship with someone he met on a call that he really doesn't know all that much about. Sounds familiar.

And Eddie's meet cute at the hardware store with Marisol was drenched in EddieAna. Are we expected to believe that Chris, who was against Eddie dating Ana in the first place, who Eddie was worried would react badly to him ending things with Ana, is now suddenly all for his dad dating another random woman? Okay.

As much as I love Chim and Maddie and was shouting from every rooftop for their engagement to happen, it felt rushed. It felt like it was all thrown together as quickly as possible to tie up another loose end.

Hen and Karen and Bobby and Athena are the only two tied up storylines I actually appreciated. I'm so stoked for Hen and Karen to start this new chapter with their little girl. I'm glad Bobby and Athena finally got the honeymoon they deserved.

For the rest of the characters, it was rushed. It was lazy. It was the worst possible way to finish out their storylines if that was the intent behind the second half of this episode.

Point is that these characters deserve better and, for seasons now, Kristen has proven she doesn't know how to do that.