"This Life We Choose" is the eighteenth and final episode of the second season of 9-1-1, and the twenty-eighth episode overall. It aired on May 13, 2019.
Synopsis[]
The 118 responds to calls from a stunt driver caught in a hairy situation, a teenage social influencer who is bugging out and the city is on high alert after two mail bombs go off. Meanwhile, Eddie's family comes to town and Buck faces a life or death situation.
Full Synopsis[]
Los Angeles is put on high alert after bombing incidents targeting criminal defense attorney Miranda Filson and insurance adjustor Kevin Dean. Units from the 118 are seen responding to calls with their recreational area empty. Meanwhile, the dispatch center is getting numerous false alarms, including a delivery vehicle, people with unusual names and an innocent courier mistaken for a culprit, attended by Linda, Josh and Maddie respectively. Maddie's caller sternly refuses to believe Larry, her usual mailman, was injured by an act of sabotage from the colleague on his shift and has her dog Titus attack him. She advises the woman to withdraw the dog immediately as emergency services will attend to the scene. Josh turns around in chagrin.
Maddie was then alerted to a report of a possible bomb at Brookside Elementary by a teacher. The occupants are evacuated as the fire alarm blares, while the 118, bomb squad and LAPD turn up. The firefighters take over the scene and usher civilians to safety while Athena briefs them on their discovery - The suspicious bag was unclaimed during recess and found by faculty. Buck doubts if it was ever the same perpetrator who mails bombs, while Chimney suspects a change in approach, and Athena suggests copycat crimes. The bomb squad acquires aerial recon and dispatch Carlos to investigate in a bomb suit. His scan is disrupted by a metallic object and inquires on the possibility of transport, but was denied by Jessie/Jim out of concerns on obscurity. Instead, Jessie/Jim authorizes a controlled detonation and Carlos places an explosive on the bag. Carlos leaves the area, while remaining units collaborate to shield evacuees behind the vehicles and Jessie pulls the trigger. Some civilians swarm after the explosion, which splatters the bag's contents everywhere, and Carlos discovers the payload as some grey paste. Emily admits she left the bag there as she merely dislikes tuna fish, much to the chagrin of everyone else. Chimney expresses his dismay of false alarms causing panic more so than real ones and Hen seems to agree. Buck doesn't believe the bomber is on the loose anymore, but Hen doubts it. As they board their vehicles, the real bomber is revealed to have prepared another explosive as a gift.
Bobby is sharing cake with Athena, May and Harry. May comments on how they are actually deciding the cake first instead of their wedding location, but Bobby specifies it is exactly what they mean. Athena also dislikes the idea of running around at lavish and extravagant locations so they narrowed down to three restaurants, with Bobby adding whoever that has the best cake has the order. May then questions their guest list, though Bobby tells her it may vary and hasn't been finalized yet, as Athena is refusing Chief Alonzo's attendance unless he reinstates Bobby within the week. Harry voices his disapproval, as while he's fine with the wedding itself, he fears dancing, wearing a tuxedo or carrying that ring. May objects Athena's attempt to comfort Harry, but Athena reasons that the wedding's importance to them lies in their acceptance to Bobby. They either all agree and attend, or it never happens. Harry concedes, but amuses everyone when he insists if he could ignore the tuxedo.
Eddie is attending a family reunion with Christopher, and discusses with his mother Helena on Shannon's funeral yesterday. Eddie's father Ramon takes the chance to criticize Shannon for betraying Eddie, much to Eddie, Helena and Josephina's disapproval along with other relatives. Ramon backs off and apologizes, while Helena wants Eddie to return to Texas as Shannon is dead anyway, and Ramon believes it doesn't make too much of a difference joining Texan fire departments. Eddie disagrees, as he is moments away from certification, and he definitely doesn't want to discard what he had in Los Angeles. While his sister Sophia comes to the table, Eddie accuses them of attending Shannon's funeral for unscrupulous motives. He considers his life in Los Angeles valuable and doesn't want to move himself or Christopher around again, as to him, the 118 is his family at work and he is unwilling to leave them. Ramon points out Christopher spent six years in Texas with his extended family, but Eddie argues what's best with Christopher is with himself, and he has the choice. Ramon suggests he could have picked something different, to which Eddie simply remains silent and sips some alcohol.
At a racing circuit, stunt actor Roy and his wife Maude complain on the bomber diminishing their audience from five-digit numbers to two-digits, and whoever's there are staring on their cell phones. Maude tells him the internet's accessibility reduced the popularity of live attendance to daredevils and stunt actors like him, to his vehement anger. She then blames him, the vehicle and the entire circuit's project. The car refuses to start and Roy, who continually defends his profession, cites he would at least try more before he retires for good. He goes to the engine for repairs as Maude criticizes him of the hazards, and while he admits he wasn't good with women because of this, he isn't ditching his car. As Maude walks away into the vehicle, he annoys her with a piece of cloth and gets her to start the vehicle. The engine unexpectedly runs and Roy's hair is entangled, and she dials for emergency services.
Units from 118 pull up to the scene and Maude stops trying to help Roy to lead the crew there. Chimney is given an overview while Maude continues to insult Roy until the rest of the team catches up and are informed as well. Chimney orders them to secure an overview. Hen discovers part of Roy's skin was torn off and orders him to stay still. Maude continues to criticize Roy for endangering himself, who still wants them to cut him loose without removing the hair, adding to Hen it isn't the worst injury he's had. Hen, however, ushers Maude away so the team may have more room. Eddie tells Hen since the hair is too deep in there, it isn't possible to just slice it away and feeing him will unnecessarily exacerbate his wounds. Buck suggests a side entrance and Eddie supplements that with the partial demolition of the engine, to Roy's wrath. Subsequently, the team began pulling various components from the vehicle, such as the hood, the radiator, the antifreeze tank and pistols, while also cutting the V-Belt. Hen goes underside to assist the team, but things take an unexpected turn when Maude's remarks caused Roy to move, pulling the wound open. Eddie notifies Chimney who warns the crew to accelerate. Hen announces she's nearly finished and Maude begs the crew to save Roy, who claims he will quit his job if he does survive. As they talk, Hen dislodges the turbine blades successfully and the crew move Roy to a stretcher. While they attend to his wounds, Roy reveals he was merely attempting to impress Maude, and she claims being alive is the best for them both. Hen summarizes Roy would definitely live through this, much to his delight as he orders Maude with some errands after his recovery so he can jump back into the game, enraging Maude.
Buck and Ali Martin are shown around a new apartment by a realtor and they both express their approval as they're looking for some private space and Buck needs his own crib. They deny their current relationship since Ali travels often. As they kiss, Ali jokes they should discuss about closet space.
Becca Dupre is on a live Instagram stream for beauty products after a trip and starts discussing her experiences, as that's what she chose for herself - Exploring the unknown realm to secure her viewers with quality merchandise. She then moves on to destroying the pimple on her face and starts applying pressure, only to collapse from the chair when a worm unexpectedly makes an appearance. She is able to dial emergency services via her iPhone's Siri.
The 118 crew respond and barge into her room, where Becca tells them her arm is injured. Buck and Eddie cameo on the stream when they try to rectify the collapsed platform, while Chimney and Hen help her up, deducing the occurrence of a fracture. They also learn of the worm's existence when Chimney brings it up, and while Buck finds it, Hen correctly determines Becca, a beauty and fashion influencer, was on a business trip in Central and South America. As Buck begins to remove and secure the worm, she denies, but Eddie remarks Belize is indeed located in Central America. Hen identifies the worm as a Botfly, a native species around the regions which reproduce by trapping mosquitoes and laying eggs within. When Hen claims there are even more worms that must be extracted at a hospital, Becca is disgusted and horrified by Chimney joking these as new followers, though Buck is amused. They help her on the stretcher and cart her away, ignoring her demand to grab her phone. Eddie and Buck momentarily remain, bidding farewell to the audience.
Harry, May and Michael return home, with May being annoyed by Michael praising Harry for achieving a good project score. Michael defends it with his engineering profession. Harry finds a package at the front gate and is about to pick it up when Michael stops him. The scene is soon secured by the LAFD, LAPD and the bomb squad, with Athena arriving off-duty and hugging the three. Michael remarks he had assumed the package was suspicious to begin with. Shawn Boyd, an ATF agent assigned to the serial bombings, suggests Athena might be targeted. A defusal bot is sent to retrieve the explosive and drop it in a container, with Shawn revealing Vernon Clemmons, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge that Athena knows of, being killed by a third explosion earlier today. The bot successfully deposits the package and Shawn mentions they are prioritizing transporting the explosive if it doesn't detonate, which happens when a slight oscillation from the box closing sets it off. Police investigators soon begin to question Athena and a concerned Bobby shows up as well, citing he had a hard time trying to reach the house. They have no idea on the culprit, with Athena unable to recall Miranda Filson and Kevin Dean, only Clemmons, though Bobby notes emergency workers don't tend to remember those they've met briefly. Shawn suspects the arson case on Guillermo's Eatery might be associated, as he would then learn both Athena and Bobby were involved in its investigation. Bobby assumes Victor Costas couldn't be the perpetrator, as he has served half of his six-year term, but they're shocked when Shawn tells them Victor has died in confinement of cancer three months ago. Recalling the agitated Freddie, they realize he was behind the schemes.
Detective Rick Romero begins to question Ellie Costas on Freddie's whereabouts but gets no answers. Ellie retorts his apology with how the authorities' were trying to lock away their family. Rick suggests it cannot be a coincidence - Miranda Filson, as a defense lawyer, has many enemies, but the second target, who's still on life support, eliminated the possibilities. Ellie vehemently tells Romero that authorities destroyed their family once and for all upon discovering the truth - insurance denied them, their debtors brought litigations, and they wasted all resources only to get Victor effectively killed. However, Rick isn't sure who else could Freddie be targeting. Just then, Shawn reports to Bobby his place wasn't targeted. They were initially relieved, but are aware Bobby could still be a target. Shawn even thought the bomb was merely on its way. Bobby, however, realized Freddie, unaware of his suspension, was trying to assassinate him by mailing the bomb to the station, and suggests them to warn the crew immediately.
The 118 units head out on an emergency call, and Bobby attempts to alert the crew. Before Chimney could get an answer, the bomb explodes and topples their ladder truck. Buck was thrown from the vehicle with his leg still stuck under it. A piece of glass collapses near him, much to his terror. Freddie was disappointed to discover that Buck wasn't Bobby.
The LAPD and FBI has the scene cordoned off from onlookers and LAFD, among them Athena, Shawn and Bobby. Maddie begins to cry in despair as people aren't helping Buck. Josh informs her they can't as long as Freddie is there. Freddie demands to see the captain, and Chimney, who was demanding SWAT support, approaches. Freddie refuses him, instead specifying he wants Bobby. Knowing he has no other choice and must save the crew, Bobby bids farewell to Athena and confronts Freddie, in spite of Shawn's advice, as he believes unless Freddie gets what he wants, other members of the 118 will be killed, and he isn't concerned if he dies. As he walks up, unidentified by the media, he gets Freddie's attention, while Athena dials Rick. Bobby brings up on the irony of Freddie harming and taking the rest of 118 hostage. Freddie threatens to detonate the explosives on him when Bobby gets closer, who cites while Freddie was indeed a victim, he lost his chances when he decided to exact his retribution. He further refutes Freddie with how everyone he's targeting are not conspiring against him, as their ruin were the unintended and unforeseen consequences. Athena and Rick escort Ellie to the scene on time just as Freddie begins to mention her suffering. Bobby, who notices them, distracts Freddie, telling him whatever he plans to do would end up worse. While Freddie has his back turned, Bobby sneaks upon him and begins wrestling for the detonator, allowing the SWAT to enter the fray. They seize the detonator and arrest Freddie without further incident, with Ellie being removed from the scene as well. Remaining emergency units pour in to assist Buck as Ali witnesses the chaos. Chimney, who was attempting to obtain reinforcements, informs Bobby there isn't much time. They fail the first two attempts, and Eddie suggests they could try it somewhere else. Bobby counters him, claiming they just need a couple more helping hands, and Chimney observes a swarm of onlookers approaching thanks to the authorities rescinding the lockdown, much to the relief of TV viewers. Securing their presence, Bobby gives the order a third time, and they lift the vehicle just enough to withdraw Buck. The crowd cheers on as Buck is loaded onto a stretcher by firefighters and transported. After Buck is inside the ambulance, Athena embraces Bobby for his reckless yet heroic act.
Buck recovers in the hospital ward and finds Carla, much to his relief. He learns he will have to accept some titanium reinforcements and may or may not return his job again. They poke fun at Ali's relationship with Buck just as Ali and Maddie appear, to his delight, while Maddie comments to Carla on how Buck seemed to ignore them, which amuses the two.
Hen and Karen tale Denny out for a walk while discussing Karen's new occupation, with half the salary but more time at home. Hen jokes if she ever worked at home, disaster will strike it first. Nevertheless, they are find Karen's response of having more housekeeping time hilarious, as she subtly implies awful people like Eva are also kept out. They don't have a plan for the future, but Karen is willing to mother Denny, and Hen agrees having their current family is the best for all.
The 118 received a new ladder truck to compensate for its destroyed counterpart. Eddie is initially disappointed until Chimney tells him it isn't loaned - The 118 owns it, provided if said vehicle doesn't get wrecked again immediately after. Bobby surprises them with his reinstatement, which they all attribute to his heroism in neutralizing Freddie and saving Buck and the pressure the fire department would face otherwise. Hen refutes with Chimney's claim as a good temporary captain, as Bobby's return is bringing forth order, though Eddie makes a subtle reference to Buck's absence.
Buck staggers into his new apartment with Ali's help, lamenting his future recovery that prohibits him from using his bed upstairs just because the truck fell on his leg. He pokes at fun of Ali suggesting him to quit his job and they kiss. He isn't really sure what to do after getting out of his plaster cast, although Ali predicts he will just return to his profession. Buck insists he did survive anyway, but Ali reminds him firefighters face deadly threats daily. Buck assumes she wants to coax him out of the job, but she denies, instead claiming that was how Buck is defined, though she isn't sure of their future.
Chimney encounters Maddie at the fire station, where they agree they should rekindle their relationship in another manner, as while they indeed couldn't have what happened before the attack, they could begin elsewhere. Chimney gets amused, declares his delight to see their reconciliation and they kiss.
Buck angrily condemns Maddie for tearing off his trouser legs, even when she reveals it can't be repaired. She then cites how Buck insists on moving around when he should have been resting, though he believes medical assistance will cure all his injuries, if any. He also reveals future potential surgeries, but insists having it instead of waiting around. Even though he is suggested to just stay back, his occupation is all he lives for. Maddie fails to fight his refusals, as he doesn't believe he will be himself ever again if he isn't on the team.
Bobby gives a speech at Eddie's inauguration ceremony, attended by 118 crew, their families and their friends. He recaps the importance of a firefighter's career, then moves to officially promoting Eddie, and everyone gives their applause. Christopher stumbles forward and gives Eddie the helmet to celebrate, while Eddie raises Christopher in his arms. As Athena's monologue plays in the background, they began feasting on the cake. Amidst the chatter and interactions between the guests, Eddie's family accepts his new life in Los Angeles.
Bobby later returns home and proposes to marry Athena immediately at a courthouse, with them, Harry and May. After Bobby amuses Athena, he proposes getting Harry and May from school, while Athena reveals she already has a wedding dress. They meet at the location shortly after, where Bobby grafts the ring to Athena. Harry and May embrace them as they kiss.
Cast[]
Starring[]
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Guest Starring[]
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Trivia[]
- The serial bomber is revealed to be Freddie Costas.
- Bobby and Athena get married in this episode.
- Bobby is reinstated as captain of the 118 due to his heroism when saving Buck.
- Chimney and Maddie get back together after breaking up at the end of the episode "Broken".
- Eddie is promoted from a probationary firefighter to a full time firefighter.
- This is the first appearance of Buck's solo apartment.
- Karen is starting a new job part time at Caltech.
- The episode title "This Life We Choose" is re-worded and said by various characters throughout the episode:
- Eddie to his parents at the BBQ- "I chose this life for a reason."
- Becca on her livestream- "That's the life I chose"
- Bobby at Eddie's promotion ceremony- "I think this life chooses us."
- This is the first season to finish the season with a major disaster/character injury episode arc and this pattern is continued in later seasons.
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