Reviewer Rating: 4.2/5.0
4.2
If we want action and tragic moments, 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 Episode 3 delivers.
In keeping with its predecessors, 9-1-1: Lone Star makes the most of this cast and the characters we love, broadening the focus a bit while staying true to the original.
The train derailment culminated in an hour-long rescue effort, but also some tragedy.
Lieutenant campaign marks refreshing change of guard
The lieutenant race is fun because we have two highly qualified guys competing against each other for a position that they both have earned and would be awesome to do.
Interestingly, we saw Marjan’s stellar performance when she took charge in 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 Episode 2, and they made a strong case for why she’s the right woman for the job.
There is no doubt that she would be perfect for the role and still have the chops.
However, the hour also highlighted one of Marion’s flaws, and it was refreshing to see her recognize her own pitfalls and be willing to step back for a moment and let Paul take over.
Irving has a special relationship with Marion and Paul. Over the years they have shown us bits and pieces of these dynamics.
One of the most endearing aspects of Irving and Marjan’s dynamic is how similar they are in their willingness to sacrifice their own safety and dive headfirst into danger for the sake of others.
They don’t mind risking their lives and disobeying orders.
The similarities between Marion and Irving influenced his decision
Marian is similar to Irving in this regard, and in the end, it’s something of an indictment of Marian taking on this task now.
We don’t need another Irving in a house already led by Irving; we need an Irving. Challenging situations require a certain balance.
Judd provides some balance for Irving.
Paul can do the same thing because he has almost superhuman insight and attention to detail, so he considers everything carefully before acting and sees every scene in a different way and on a higher level.
Marion is a true hero, nearly sacrificing her own hands to save the world, and rebelling against Owen in the process.
How noble this is, but also reckless, and the problem with being a reckless leader is that it ultimately puts the rest of the team in trouble.
Ironically, Owen may have seen a lot of himself in Marion and may have even chosen her, since we never see the name in the paper or hear him whisper it in her ear after it’s all over What the voice said.
But Paul is level-headed enough to run this personal team, while Marian, who lives for excitement and action, still wants to focus on that, at least for now.
She would still move to 129 by the end of the series.
40-year-old Probie
Another interesting angle to the Lieutenant race is that Judd isn’t even a factor, no matter how Paul and Marion feel about it.
Judd’s return to the firehouse as a detective is a joy because it allows him to spend time with his work family and ensures we have more of him around.
It’s a nostalgic nod and a way to please the audience, even if it doesn’t make any sense or pose much of a challenge to Judd for a long time.
It felt like an escape. Sure, we’re open to it, but no one seems to be putting much thought into it.
It might be more interesting if Judd found a new avenue to pursue, or realized he could have more than one great passion in his life.
But in the interest of “you can always go home,” we let Judd humbly serve as a feeler for the people he helps train and lead in shifting power dynamics.
Judd was on the cusp of some interesting things, and now that we’ve recovered a little bit.
But we’ll have to see what the rest of the season means for him now that he’s back home with his firefighting family and having to adjust to being at the bottom of the ladder again.
TNT is the bravest of them all
It’s a hallmark of the series that a train derailment triggers so many crises at once.
But this puts TNT in a particularly difficult position, as they must race to stabilize and save casualties, as well as find new ones to save.
They are an indomitable force rooted in that special friendship that we see everywhere.
Tommy often balances multiple roles: mentor, sister, mother figure, and friend to Nancy and TK
They were so devoted to her that it would bring tears to your eyes, so it’s no surprise that they would follow her to the ends of the earth, clasping her hands, closing their eyes, hoping for the best while welcoming her arrival. Death occurs.
They are both committed to their work and to each other. I even think that loyalty to each other trumps everything else.
Treating the poor little boy’s chemical burns is difficult enough, but the added task of finding the news reporter also makes things incredibly tense and dark.
Even knowing the reputation of Lone Star and the series as a whole, you still find yourself hoping and believing that everyone they hope to treat and save makes it out alive.
Trina’s prognosis was bleak, considering her eyeballs were bleeding, her body suffered third-degree chemical burns, and her lungs may have liquefied.
Deep down, you know she’s dead, but that doesn’t make her death any less tragic, especially when she spends her final moments giggling thinking about that little boy, wishing she could have saved him.
You can barely bear the overwhelming sadness of this overzealous woman’s death, and then we’re faced with the possibility that TNT may perish, and that yellow gas creeps in and starts seeping out from under the door.
Tommy’s maternal instincts bring emotion to ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ Season 5 Episode 3
Tommy is such a weird mom.
Knowing she was about to face death, she had no qualms about telling Wyatt about her documents that would put marriage goals, Judd, and Grace in charge of her children, which isn’t surprising, but hearing that Still incredibly exciting.
She also doesn’t hesitate to grab Nancy and TK and grabs them with all her might as they face this together and she cares deeply about them.
Isn’t it tacky that the wind direction suddenly changes? Sure, but the emotional impact of that moment is still valid.
This season has done a great job so far, making all 126 heroes real heroes and allowing the series to celebrate by highlighting them all.
Irving still has his moments and stays in touch with both brothers
The series realized that Owen could still be a hero without having to dominate all the time, and that restraint gave us the best version of the character.
He couldn’t just sit back and watch, so it’s nice that he stepped in when it mattered most and stayed to save sweet Damon.
The call was especially resonant for him, considering he himself had lost not one but two brothers, and you knew there was no way Owen was leaving that boy behind.
He was determined to keep his word if it meant he could save anyone from experiencing the same type of devastation he had experienced.
It’s a very poignant moment for him, and an Owen who deals with grief in this way and faces it head-on is always going to be more interesting than a superficial version of the character.
By chance, a non-blood brother appeared to save him at a critical moment, and he was able to fulfill his promise to the boys.
Yes, Irving experienced tremendous loss, but he also gained a lot and still had a brother — a motivation he would never waver in.
Owen focuses all of his attention on his house and his firefighting family; he’s at his best in this role.
Playing with dynamics could be good for Lone Star
It’s hard to believe that Carlos and Wyatt have never crossed paths before.
They’ve done that and now Carlos and Trevor can spend some time together as well.
They may not have said much at Talos’ wedding, but it was nice for the characters to interact and for Carlos to act as a listening ear while Trevor worked things out with Tommy.
They’re delivering all these little moments and character interactions, and while it’s too late for the game for some of them, at least it’s finally here.
Thankfully, Trevor and Tommy are able to put their bickering aside as Trevor realizes that unexpectedly sending Tommy a Cassandra warning wasn’t the best move.
But Tommy is also able to get things resolved and recognizes the importance of Cassandra’s concerns in the hope that things will work out from there.
The two are so satisfied with each other that they don’t want to separate now.
Now that the train derailment is over, we’re probably getting back to normal, and that might mean focusing more on some of the other characters.
Centering around characters like Marion, Paul, Judd, and Tommy is a great way to really kick off the series.
But I’m also looking forward to catching up with some of the other guys.
After all, this is Lone Star, we know they have to give us more Tarlos content at some point, and obviously, there’s something underlying going on that TK may need to address ASAP.
Over to you, Lone Star fanatics.
Are you satisfied with Judd’s return to 126?
Did Paul get a lieutenant?
Sound off below with all your thoughts on 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 Episode 3!
Watch 9-1-1: Lone Star Online
