9-1-1 – Season 8 Episode 3″ Final Approach” Recap & Review

Final Approach

Episode 3 of 9-1-1 season 8 picks up where we left off, with Athena giving the co-pilot CPR. As the plane nears LAX, Athena finds a team to keep giving the co-pilot CPR while she lands the plane. Meanwhile, Bobby asks Maddie to try to call a passenger on the plane to help him connect with Athena. Athena is on the phone with Air Support and has been unreachable. Maddie promises to try to connect the couple and is surprised that Buck, Bobby and Brad stole a truck and are heading to LAX.

With Gem as her co-pilot and the air support talking her through it, Athena starts the descent. However, the plane’s rudder is blown away. Without the rudder, air support claims that Athena might as well be flying a missile directly towards the airport. Still, they try to find a different solution, but the buttons on the plane system are barely working. In the end, Athena loses multiple control services and is unable to turn the plane. In other words, she can’t land at the airport.

With LAX no longer an option, the air support team pivots and tries to come up with a new plan. They have 20 minutes to figure out how that jetliner will get on the ground safely. They can only hope that Athena doesn’t crush into buildings and cause more damage.

Thankfully, Maddie reaches one of the passengers and connects Athena to Bobby. In classic Bobby and Athena magic, the two come up with a new plan. The only option for Athena is the highway. Bobby starts clearing the highway to make a runway for Athena. The plane is running out of fuel and it will drop out of the sky sooner or later. Gem argues they will need about a mile of the freeway to land the plane safely. Buck commandeers a bike and continues to help Bobby shut down the freeway. 

Hen, Chimney and Eddie are surprised when Athena flies over LAX and chases after her. The air support team panics briefly but helps Athena to land the plane safely. Gem freaks out as he realises he has to help Athena land the plane. He is scared since he has never landed a plane safely in his simulation games. Still, Athena asks him to have faith and announces that they are making a rough emergency landing. 

It is a nail-biting experience as Athena and Gem struggle to land the plane. Miraculously, she lands it directly in front of Bobby. This man might as well be the husband of the century! Everyone jumps for joy as the plane slowly comes to a stop. Trust Athena to survive even in the apocalypse!

After landing, Bobby, Buck and Brad hurry to help the passengers out but Athena stays back to continue CPR on the co-pilot. Suddenly, the tail of the plane explodes. A fire starts and Dennis tries to get Athena to leave, but she refuses. She and the co-pilot remain on the plane, waiting for Bobby to rescue them. 

Bobby coordinates with Maddie to find out what part of the plane exploded and what it means for the plane. Maddie explains that the APU blew up. It carries jet fuel and is connected to lines lining the length of the plane. If Bobby doesn’t stop the fire, the plane will explode with Athena and the co-pilot in it. They can’t use the truck they stole since it is a fake TV rig and has no water.

Thankfully, Hen and the remaining 118 team arrive to help Bobby. Hen just goes with the flow and allows Bobby to take charge, even though she is the captain. Within minutes, the team gets to Athena and the co-pilot and escorts them out.

One would think that is where it ends, but you couldn’t be more wrong. The DEA officers arrive to try to take Dennis. However, Athena asks Bobby to misdirect them. Bobby lies to the agents that Athena and Dennis are heading to the hospital. Athena calls Elaine and learns that the fake DEA agent she arrested in Texas is gone. Given the situation, Athena can only trust Bobby, so she brings him along with Dennis to find Max’s library. 

Dennis leads them to the airport. Max hid the library in his car, which he left in the airport parking garage. They are able to retrieve the black book containing QR codes. However, the fake DEA agent from Texas shows up and threatens to shoot Bobby. Dennis ends up taking a bullet for Bobby and Athena arrests the rogue cop after Dennis sheaves him. It turns out that he wanted the black book because his name was on it.

After surgery, Athena gives Dennis her blessing to take the deal and gives him a family reunion. Athena is happy to come to terms with Emmet’s loss and is at peace. Dennis promises to be a better man moving forward.  The episode ends with the return of Gerrard. He is mean to everyone but hugs and thanks Buck for saving his life. He promises to take Buck under his wigs. Buck’s expression is everything!


The Episode Review

Hats off to Athena! The plane landing scene was romantic and cathartic at the same time. She and Gem pulled off the impossible. Gem is an amazing kid. Someday he might make a great pilot if he chooses to be one. Either way, he has an epic story to tell his grandkids. Then we have Brad, I can’t believe he fainted after seeing that girl’s leg. That was so unexpectedly funny! 

We also have to commend Athena for finding it within her heart to forgive Dennis. Forgiveness is not an easy gift to give anyone, even ourselves. It is nice to know that she is at peace and Dennis has paid for his crime. Let us hope he is worthy of the second chance she has given him. We might be in for a new bromance.

However, I am not sure Buck feels safer under Gerrard’s wings. The next few weeks will be entertaining. 

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