I’ve been getting a real kick out of the 9-1-1 fandom.
Don’t get me wrong, like 90% of the people tweeting about the show are hilarious. But it’s been a real trip the last few days, ever since the trailer for tonight’s episode dropped.
Let me quickly, briefly, and badly summarize it. The trailer shows the team helping a woman with a child. There’s a brief shot of Eddie’s girlfriend Ana, and then “the scene”. It’s implied that a main character get’s shot by a sniper.
The camera focuses on Eddie right before the sound of a gunshot. The call for “firefighter down” is heard from the captain of the 133.
So, why does this make me laugh? It’s simple. Trailers are designed to entice someone to watch whatever they are advertising. A bad trailer can cause a decline in projected sales or viewership.
But the thing is, trailers, especially trailers for TV shows, are designed to hook someone. And they lie. A lot.
Take the last episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star. There’s a shot in the trailer that shows Carlos in his apartment at the top of the stairs, calling for TK as flames fill the area. The way the shot is framed, it looks to imply that TK is downstairs in the living area, where the fire is.
In reality, TK and Carlos were having a moment in bed (ok, they were on their way to second base) before TK smelled the smoke. Carlos beat him to the top of the stairs by about a second. TK quickly pulled him back into the bedroom as there wasn’t a safe way downstairs.
See what I mean? The trailer was meant to make the viewer worried for TK’s safety, as if he was in the middle of the firestorm that was their living room. In reality, they were both upstairs.
The same can be said for most movie trailers, as they are meant to sell the basics of the story without giving away major plot points or the ending of the film. Of course, some marketing companies seem to have forgotten that in recent years… as I’ve lost count of how many times I see a trailer and it basically shows the entire movie. In all honestly, I’ve stopped watching most trailers at this point for exactly that reason.
The reason I bring up trailers is because the reaction to the 9-1-1 episode trailer has been fierce. I’ve lost count of the amount of people that have written fics saying that Eddie gets shot. Or Buck, who is on the street as well, in normal clothes instead of his uniform. Or both of them.
The thing is, I can almost guarantee that tonight’s episode will go one of two ways with this. One: we’ll get the gunshot and “firefighter down” without seeing who it is, then do a time jump to before. Or two: this lovely plot point will be a cliffhanger ending for the episode, leading into the finale.
I’m leaning towards option two.
Do I want anyone to actually get shot? Ok, look. Let’s not look at my AO3 History, got it. But seriously, no, not really. Is it going to happen? Probably.
Is this what breaks up Eddie and Ana, because there’s no possible way she’ll be strong enough to deal with her boyfriend being injured and not just a “hot firefighter”? God I wish, but the show already went that route in season one with Chimney and his ex Tatiana after the rebar to the skull incident, as well as Buck and Ali, who left him in the season two finale after the firetruck explosion. (Tatiana broke it off before Chim was released from the hospital, while Ali at least waited until Buck was home before talking it out and leaving.) Honestly, I’d be okay with either option. Or if they break up before the shooting.
… Look, I just don’t like Ana’s character, ok? And I wasn’t exactly happy when she popped up in the trailer. She’s a two dimensional character that has no personality and only exists to be a love interest. She’s made ablest comments to Eddie’s son previously. She doesn’t seem to realize that dating Eddie could be an ethics violation. She and Eddie have no chemistry. (I have nothing against Ana’s actress, to be firm. She’s fine. She just have NOTHING to work it. Honestly, I feel for her, because the entire fandom is up in arms about this. Luckily, no one is directing it her way, because it’s not her fault. But still.)
But back to trailers.
I’m hoping that there’s gonna be a surprise ending. Like someone we don’t know getting shot. Or the wound is minor. Or something. It’s leading into the season finale, and the show has some big shoes to fill. Season One’s ending didn’t have an explosive ending, just upheaval, with Abby leaving (and going on to ghost) Buck, but also Bobby finally moving forward with Athena. Then there’s Season Two, with the aforementioned firetruck bombing, and the fallout of Buck’s injury. Hell, Season Two also opened with an earthquake, which sets the stage for a pattern that is followed in the next season (natural disaster start, catastrophic accident at the end… oh.). Season Three opened with the Tsunami, which has a major effect on the 118 (Buck and Christopher are in the damn thing, and then Christopher get’s swept away from Buck, it’s a whole thing. Chris is fine, though. He’s a national treasure.) and ended with a horrific train derailment, and the return of Abby (and fucking closure for Buck.)
There is a pattern. Shit.
… Eddie’s getting shot.
Buck is his best friend. They are practically co-parents to Christopher. They’ve been partners since day two. (Day one, Buck was jealous of Eddie. It’s a whole thing. He got over it.)
…
Hey trailer guy? If this is right, I’m gonna cry.
(That moment when you start putting two and two together. Lovely. I’m rambling, and derailing. I’m gonna go sit in front of the TV now. It’s almost time.)
Until next time!
