What the Hell Is Going on With Eddie’s Story This Season on ‘9-1-1’?

Editor’s Be aware: The next incorporates spoilers for Season 7 Episode 9 of 9-1-1.

9-1-1 is certainly recognized for its over-the-top moments. Every season highlights a loopy large-scale catastrophe, equivalent to an earthquake or a tsunami. Season 7 alone encompasses a capsized cruise ship, an escape from a drug cartel, and an enormous fireplace that overtook Bobby’s house. However in between all the outrageous emergencies, the present usually sticks to extra genuine plots with its characters and their relationships. That’s, till the writers of the ABC drama determined to throw in a brand-new love curiosity that’s simply plain unhinged.

Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) is mostly one of many extra even-keeled characters on the present. He’s a veteran who’s a tremendous single dad to his son, Christopher (who has cerebral palsy). Eddie did battle along with his psychological well being after getting back from service, however tried to make issues work along with his spouse, Shannon (Devin Kelley). Shannon finally ends up leaving for 2 years, and Eddie does his finest to boost Christopher on his personal.

In Episode 7 of Season 2, Shannon returns and needs to be in Christopher’s life once more. Eddie and Shannon reconcile, however not with out a entire lot of sophisticated emotions from either side. A number of episodes later, Eddie tries proposing, however Shannon shuts him down, saying that she nonetheless has loads to course of with a purpose to be the very best mother she might be to Christopher, and she or he isn’t concerned about turning into a spouse once more. She shocks Eddie by as an alternative asking for a divorce. In Episode 17 of that very same season, Shannon is fatally injured in a street incident. She finally ends up dying on the way in which to the hospital, and Eddie does his finest to maneuver on. He dates a number of individuals within the seasons that observe and battles Submit-Traumatic Stress, however as of Season 7, it looks like he if lastly completely satisfied along with his new girlfriend, Marisol (Edy Ganem). However, after all, that’s when 9-1-1 determined to make issues bizarre.

Who Is Kim in Season 7 of ‘9-1-1’?

This season, in Episode 7, Eddie is strolling by a retailer when he notices a lady within the window who seems precisely like Shannon. In truth, she’s performed by the identical actor that portrayed Shannon, in a creepy twist that’s taken straight out of your common cleaning soap opera. Eddie flirts along with her, and she or he tells him her identify is Kim. Eddie then has a weird dream about sleeping along with her after assembly her. Eddie remains to be very a lot relationship Marisol, however he decides to take Kim out on a number of dates behind Marisol’s again. Nonetheless, it’s not instantly clear what Eddie is making an attempt to get from this relationship with Kim (different than simply persevering with to stare at her once they’re out collectively).

In Episode 9, Kim brings brownies to the firehouse for Eddie, however Buck (Oliver Stark) sees her and might’t recover from how a lot Kim seems like Shannon. He confronts Eddie about what he’s doing along with her, and Eddie is then pressured to confess to Kim that she truly seems similar to his lifeless spouse, and that’s the explanation for his or her connection. Kim understandably freaks out and leaves. However, if this entire storyline isn’t unusual sufficient, the 9-1-1 writers determined to take issues one step additional. Later that night time, Kim reveals up at Eddie’s home with dyed hair to match Shannon’s after which convinces Eddie to say every little thing to her that he by no means received the prospect to say to Shannon. They each cry after which embrace, just for Marisol and Christopher to stroll in at that actual second. Completely confused, Christopher simply asks, “Mother?” However Christopher isn’t the one particular person dumbfounded by this entire state of affairs; the viewers can also be left questioning what the hell is occurring?

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As a result of not each episode can have Buck rescuing Christopher from a tsunami.

Eddie’s Storyline Would possibly Be a Step Too Far for ‘9-1-1’

There are a variety of causes that this plot line for Eddie makes zero sense. First, there should not a variety of duplicate strangers simply strolling round Los Angeles. The chances that Eddie would spot somebody who seems precisely like his lifeless spouse are means too unbelievable to be a critical plot level for the present. It’s corny to have the identical actor play Kim and Shannon, too; it virtually feels just like the writers assume the viewers is just too dumb to not see how foolish all of it is. Plus, though Eddie has had his fair proportion of struggles, he’s at all times been pretty level-headed and is a non secular one who cares loads about being a very good human. So, Eddie dishonest (even when it’s simply emotionally) on Marisol feels uncharacteristic. The scene the place Kim is pretending to be Shannon might be meant to be an emotionally charged second the place Eddie will get to lastly naked his soul. As a substitute, it simply comes throughout as awkward and unbelievably preposterous — why is Kim okay with Eddie utilizing her as an emotional crutch and stand-in for his lifeless spouse?

Probably the most egregious a part of this storyline (in addition to its clear jump-the-shark ridiculousness) is the truth that Eddie’s actions may severely have an effect on Christopher. The writers have spent a variety of time increase their father-son relationship and displaying how Eddie is such a devoted dad. It’s illogical that he would throw away their connection (and probably Christopher’s well-being) to pursue a lady who seems like his lifeless spouse. There’s no clear motivation for ruining his relationship with Marisol or for damaging Christopher’s psychological well being, aside from that the 9-1-1 writers needed to get a bit of kooky with their story-telling.

The sequence has performed with the concept Eddie and Christopher haven’t totally recovered from Shannon’s demise. Nonetheless, this plot with Kim feels out of left subject, and actually, Eddie ought to have simply remained single. It’s attainable that the sequence needed to indicate that Shannon was Eddie’s soulmate, and that’s why he can’t appear to carry onto a girlfriend or have a wholesome relationship with one, however their previous scenes and dynamics don’t actually help this, because the two had been simply not a very good couple. Or perhaps the writers needed to painting the truth that Eddie must course of extra of his emotions concerning her demise in order that he can formally transfer on. Nonetheless, it does seem to be there may have been different avenues through which Eddie may have explored his feelings moderately than counting on a cleaning soap opera methodology that’s steeped in melodrama. There’s just one extra episode left in Season 7, however right here’s hoping that the following season steers fully away from all cleaning soap opera tropes: no evil twins and folks with amnesia, please.

New episodes of 9-1-1 air on ABC on Thursday nights and can be found to stream the following day on Hulu.

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