I feel like this episode was a mixed bag. It had high highs and low lows, but I do think the highs for the most part outdid the lows. That being said, I do think the showrunners and writers need to take a good, hard look at what didn't work here, because this episode had the ingredients to be a perfect 10 and they really dropped the ball in some areas.
First of all, I loved everything about Eddie's storyline in this episode. Ryan Guzman KILLED it and you could tell he really gave himself over to the breakdown scene. You can't beat Eddie, Buck and Christopher scenes, and my only complaint about it was that we didn't get more. The end of the scene felt very abrupt, but it sounds like we're getting a continuation of their conversation in 5x14 and I really look forward to Buck helping Eddie in his journey to recovery. I also really loved the storyline of Maddie conquering her fear of giving Jee a bath, and the scene at the end of Chimney watching them was really sweet. I really wish we would've gotten to see the break-up on-screen (or at least hints of it in Boston), but we all know they're going to get back together eventually, so I'm not too pressed about it.
I did feel like the emergencies were lacking in this episode though. They all went on way too long, and I think there's room for improvement with the pacing. I also still continue to be perplexed at the assassination of Buck's character. You can say this is "character development" all you want, but there's no reason to have him continue to lie to Taylor by omission about who he kissed! The cheating was already bad enough, and I hate being put in a position to sympathize with Taylor of all people.
On a similar note, I really hope that those in charge are seriously reconsidering Lucy's role on the show going forward, if any was planned at all. And it's unfortunate, because I really liked Arielle Kebbel in John Tucker Must Die, and I was hoping for similar energy here. But man, the way she's delivered all of Lucy's lines so far have been uninspired, dull and borderline cringey. There's no feeling, no emotion, just flat as a pancake. The "hE's gOt iT bAd, cAp" and the way she said the line about how she worked at a dive shop in Redando were laughably bad. The crack about Chimney's height was just gross. And for as much as they're trying to push that Lucy has great chemistry with the 118, she doesn't seem to gel with them at all. All her interactions with everyone feel clunky and stilted, and the fact that she suddenly turned into an expert paramedic was eyeroll-worthy. It's very much giving "One of these things does not belong". Ironically, Bryce Durfee has tons more chemistry with the 118 as Jonah, but it's already been announced he's not sticking around, so it's just more wasted potential. Absolutely nothing about Lucy has been compelling so far - in fact, what he know about her family of cops is in the running for most uninteresting backstory I've ever heard on a procedural drama - and I really do not wish to see more of her. Eddie can't come back soon enough.
First of all, I loved everything about Eddie's storyline in this episode. Ryan Guzman KILLED it and you could tell he really gave himself over to the breakdown scene. You can't beat Eddie, Buck and Christopher scenes, and my only complaint about it was that we didn't get more. The end of the scene felt very abrupt, but it sounds like we're getting a continuation of their conversation in 5x14 and I really look forward to Buck helping Eddie in his journey to recovery. I also really loved the storyline of Maddie conquering her fear of giving Jee a bath, and the scene at the end of Chimney watching them was really sweet. I really wish we would've gotten to see the break-up on-screen (or at least hints of it in Boston), but we all know they're going to get back together eventually, so I'm not too pressed about it.
I did feel like the emergencies were lacking in this episode though. They all went on way too long, and I think there's room for improvement with the pacing. I also still continue to be perplexed at the assassination of Buck's character. You can say this is "character development" all you want, but there's no reason to have him continue to lie to Taylor by omission about who he kissed! The cheating was already bad enough, and I hate being put in a position to sympathize with Taylor of all people.
On a similar note, I really hope that those in charge are seriously reconsidering Lucy's role on the show going forward, if any was planned at all. And it's unfortunate, because I really liked Arielle Kebbel in John Tucker Must Die, and I was hoping for similar energy here. But man, the way she's delivered all of Lucy's lines so far have been uninspired, dull and borderline cringey. There's no feeling, no emotion, just flat as a pancake. The "hE's gOt iT bAd, cAp" and the way she said the line about how she worked at a dive shop in Redando were laughably bad. The crack about Chimney's height was just gross. And for as much as they're trying to push that Lucy has great chemistry with the 118, she doesn't seem to gel with them at all. All her interactions with everyone feel clunky and stilted, and the fact that she suddenly turned into an expert paramedic was eyeroll-worthy. It's very much giving "One of these things does not belong". Ironically, Bryce Durfee has tons more chemistry with the 118 as Jonah, but it's already been announced he's not sticking around, so it's just more wasted potential. Absolutely nothing about Lucy has been compelling so far - in fact, what he know about her family of cops is in the running for most uninteresting backstory I've ever heard on a procedural drama - and I really do not wish to see more of her. Eddie can't come back soon enough.