9-1-1: Lone Star – Trainwrecks

Before I get started with this review, let me just note that I still don’t like how they decided to write Grace’s character off, however, I will not let that distract me from the rest of this season (or maybe I will, let’s see). 

Last night’s episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star started off sweet but ended, well, with literal disaster. Tommy, Trevor, and the girls are doing a TikTok dance and the family vibe brought the biggest smile to my face. Even when the adults were messing up, it made me feel cozy inside knowing how this unit first began; they’ve come a long way. The girls, embarrassed by the lack of coordination, leave while Tommy and Trevor try to learn the moves again. It truly felt like a family moment. So much so, Tommy, while in the moment, decides to propose to Trevor (I cringed, but that’s just the old school in me) and he says yes. What?! I loved this for them until Trevor said there was one condition. 

“Trainwrecks” – 9-1-1 LONE STAR – Pictured: Rob Lowe as Owen Strand. Photo: Kevin Estrada/FOX. © 2024 Fox Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Before we even know what this condition is, we know it can’t be all that good with the way Tommy is acting; overindulging on donuts that Carlos brought in (I’m sorry, I’m still struggling with him being a Ranger and not a Detective, but I’ll save that for another day), and while on a call where someone put a harmonica in their mouth, and yeah T.K. and Nancy could tell. When they confronted her, she told them how she proposed to Trevor and he said yes but on the condition that she be vetted by Trevor’s ex-wife, Cassandra. I get it – that would make me reach for donuts too, Tommy. We also find out that this condition is part of their divorce agreement; Trevor would be able to move to Texas with Melody only if when the time came for him to remarry, she would have to vet the woman who would be in her daughter’s life. Now, to me, that’s giving someone way too much power over your future happiness. However, for the sake of knowing who will be around her daughter, it makes sense for them to meet. 

Wyatt stops by the station to have a conversation with Owen about getting Judd his job back. Grace being on the other side of the world (which makes zero sense and is so out of character – but let’s put a pin in this for now), Judd is struggling and has even decided to try and take up a trucking job. Wyatt gives his best effort, but it isn’t working. Owen takes into consideration how great of a Lieutenant Judd was, but tells Wyatt that others, like Paul and Marjan who would be a great fit for the position, and it wouldn’t be fair to just give it back to Judd. 

Judd is torn; it looks like this truck job is as good as his, but only if he can do longer hauls. He thought he’d be able to stick to shorter hauls so that he’d be home with Charlie and longer hauls would make that a challenge. Going back to the 126 is no longer an option, and he’s unable to reach Grace to get her thoughts (which is sickening, but I digress); he may need to consider other plans to make this work. 

“Trainwrecks” – 9-1-1 LONE STAR – Pictured: Julian Works as Mateo Chavez. Photo: Kevin Estrada/FOX. © 2024 Fox Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Speaking of the Lieutenant position, Owen is finding it hard to pick between Marjan and Paul for the position and he enlists the help of Mateo. Mateo helps him figure out how he’s going to handle this – he calls Marjan and Paul in the office and tells them their AFD exam score will be the deciding factor, but funny enough when he looks at their scores, it was exactly the same – back to the drawing board then. 

The train derailment finally happens – here we go. 

It’s a mixed cargo train and there’s no telling what they’re dealing with before the manifest arrives. Marjan and Paul are really taking command of this scene (Can there be two Lieutenants?). The manifest is secured; this train was carrying a few mundane items – however, the cars carrying pesticides, chlorine gas, and toxic waste could definitely become a problem. The main concern, though, is the car carrying 28,000 gallons of propane. The team needs to keep that car cool or else… 

“Trainwrecks” – 9-1-1 LONE STAR. Pictured: Brian Michael Smith as Paul Strickland and Natacha Karam Marjan Marwani Photo: Kevin Estrada/FOX. © 2024 Fox Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Mateo made an impressive save of a civilian trapped in a car. Right before his car was hit by the train, he made a promise to his daughter that he wouldn’t miss any more of her recitals and I would’ve been so upset if he didn’t make it. Thanks to Mateo, he doesn’t have to break that promise. 

All is seemingly going well when all of a sudden the firefighters lose water. The supply line busted and all water lines are dead; there’s nothing left to do now. It’s no longer about containing that train car – it’s time to run. If there ever was a time to keep me interested in this show it was the last couple of minutes of this episode. I didn’t even realize when I started to hold my breath, but man was that intense. Marjan calls out, instructing everyone to fall back (which felt like a callback to the series premiere) and as she’s running, still too close to the burning train car, BOOM! Major explosion and then the credits roll. 

That was a lot and it’s not even over. What’d you think of last night’s episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star? Share your thoughts below or connect with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs.