S05.E03: C12

[KeithJ]

Quote

The 126 race to contain a toxic chlorine cloud of death unleashed by the train derailment. Owen names the station's new lieutenant. Judd finds a path forward.

 

Edited October 2 by KeithJ

[agathapenny]

I enjoyed parts of this. It was probably my favourite of the first three episodes of this season, but it was still a little meh.

The chlorine gas was resolved way too quickly and easily. It felt like they wasted all the dramatic tension. 

Liked Paul getting the promotion, liked Judd coming in and saving the day. Glad the brother was saved.

Felt like a totally wasted opportunity for some father/son moments with both TK and Owen in danger but neither knowing about the other's peril and so no reaction from either of them. Their relationship has always been a cornerstone of the show so it seemed weird to me.

Also weird was Tommy giving final instructions for her loved ones while Nancy and TK sat beside her and — didn't apparently have anything to say as their own imminent deaths approached.

But overall I did think the pacing was better here and there was more dramatic tension.

[KeithJ]

I still don't understand why Judd has to come back as a probie.  You'd think the FD would always be looking for experienced fire fighters and making people return as probies would just deter people.  I really hope they get all of the probie tasks out of the way quickly.

[Raja]

1 hour ago, KeithJ said:

I still don't understand why Judd has to come back as a probie.  You'd think the FD would always be looking for experienced fire fighters and making people return as probies would just deter people.  I really hope they get all of the probie tasks out of the way quickly.

Head canon time 🤓

Perhaps the fire department is still under the consent decree that saw the recruitment of the dream team and diverse balance still has to be maintained.

The city has rules like Los Angeles used to have and didn't take transfers back in, with the federal monitors making a special exception for this fire station.  That was the premise of The Closer, Chief Johnson could not transfer to LAPD as a Lieutenant it was either as a Chief (who didn't have to be a qualified California police officer) or a" "boot", probie on this show. And she promptly broke the deal and annoyed all of the Captains Commanders and Chiefs by acting like a Chief and not a Lieutenant who just carried the title and pay.

After a year he lost his qualifications and the next testing period comes around the time of the series finale when he goes from probie to Captain of his own house.

[Raja]

21 hours ago, agathapenny said:

The chlorine gas was resolved way too quickly and easily. It felt like they wasted all the dramatic tension. 

The story of a captain who killed her crew on what everyone told her was a recovery, not a rescue mission being bailed out by  offscreen angels Monica and Tess acting for God. I don't know of any other way to write themselves out of the box the medics were placed into from the very start when treating a boy onsite instead of scooping him up and running with the gas cloud right there in sight.

Edited October 9 by Raja

[BooksRule]

I knew that somehow they would work Judd into the rescue efforts.

I liked the food-themed quotes near the end:

Paul: 'Look at him up there. Just buttering Cap up like garlic toast.'

and:

Owen: 'Some even might say that I waffled.' Mateo: 'Oh, you waffled, Cap. With syrup and a side of bacon.'

[agathapenny]

3 hours ago, KeithJ said:

I still don't understand why Judd has to come back as a probie. 

Because drama for television, that's why, lol.

3 hours ago, KeithJ said:

You'd think the FD would always be looking for experienced fire fighters and making people return as probies would just deter people.  I really hope they get all of the probie tasks out of the way quickly.

I could see him having to do an evaluation to make sure his skills were still sharp, even a basic refresher course of some kind, but yeah, starting again at the bottom doesn't seem realistic. I hope the whole probe thing isn't a big part of they storyline. I can see him clashing with Paul though, at some point, when they disagree about what to do. That would actually not be uninteresting.

[mojoween]

I guess I missed how Paul’s heart issue was resolved?  And I’ve watched every ep of this show, heh.

Marjan should have been fired for insubordination, not promoted.

[eel2178]

1 hour ago, mojoween said:

I guess I missed how Paul’s heart issue was resolved?  And I’ve watched every ep of this show, heh.

He had a pacemaker with defibrillator placed which would disqualify him from any job as a fire fighter.

1 hour ago, mojoween said:

Marjan should have been fired for insubordination, not promoted.

Nancy should also be up for some disciplinary action. She unilaterally made the decision to euthanize the news reporter and endangered 2 other members of her team in the process. All 3 were only saved by pure, dumb luck (or maybe divine intervention depending on the writers' beliefs). 

If I remember right, this isn't her first foray into playing the Angel of Mercy.

[sundaytunes]

What do you guys think about nancy's decision with the reporter? seems kinda risky, no?

[agathapenny]

6 hours ago, mojoween said:

Marjan should have been fired for insubordination, not promoted.

I was surprised anyone thought that stupidity was going to get her a promotion rather than, at the very least, a reprimand. Lying about your own physical condition and the condition of your equipment is a very serious breach, not to mention stupid. Being that much of a glory hog was dangerous to her and everyone around her.

[iMonrey]

16 hours ago, mojoween said:

Marjan should have been fired for insubordination, not promoted.

On TV, heroic deeds outrank insubordination. You can break all the rules you want so long as you "save the day."

14 hours ago, eel2178 said:

Nancy should also be up for some disciplinary action. She unilaterally made the decision to euthanize the news reporter and endangered 2 other members of her team in the process.

It was Tommy who ordered 15 mg of morphine, not Nancy, no? Nancy was the one who double-checked that she didn't mean 5.

Trevor's kid is going to be a handful. She's already vocally lusting after Carlos right to his face. 

[eel2178]

3 hours ago, iMonrey said:

It was Tommy who ordered 15 mg of morphine, not Nancy, no? Nancy was the one who double-checked that she didn't mean 5.

I stand corrected.

Next question: why didn't the 3 of them have gas masks on when they made their decision to possibly need to euthanize themselves to try to save a patient who they then decided couldn't be saved? Have we learned nothing from the aftermath of 9/11?

[tennisgurl]

I'm no expert, but should people be going into a situation involving toxic gas be wearing masks? It feels like a lot of drama and not a lot of payoff with the toxic gas. 

I know that she was trying to be all heroic and that leaving someone like that would be awful, but it was pretty fucked up of Tommy to run off into such a dangerous situation so haphazardly, bringing Nancy and TK, that couldn't have been the best way to handle this. Her daughters already lost their father young in a random traumatic way, maybe she could be a bit more carful with her life so they don't end up orphans? Then she didn't even let Nancy and TK give a dramatic goodbye speech to their loved ones over the dispatch! Did she also mercy kill the reporter? What a day on the job.

I'm glad that they didn't waste a bunch of time on acting like Judd wasn't coming back, so while I am happy that he's already back bumping him all the way back to probie seems silly. I can see him not being Lt anymore, but why waste such an experienced firefighter doing random newbie stuff? Paul being captain is a good call, I hope he keeps the position. 

Glad that the kid on the train made it.

Edited October 9 by tennisgurl

[Raja]

On 10/8/2024 at 8:28 AM, agathapenny said:

Because drama for television, that's why, lol.

I could see him having to do an evaluation to make sure his skills were still sharp, even a basic refresher course of some kind, but yeah, starting again at the bottom doesn't seem realistic. I hope the whole probe thing isn't a big part of they storyline. I can see him clashing with Paul though, at some point, when they disagree about what to do. That would actually not be uninteresting.

I was assuming for comedy hazing purposes 

[iMonrey]

On 10/9/2024 at 1:52 PM, tennisgurl said:

Then she didn't even let Nancy and TK give a dramatic goodbye speech to their loved ones over the dispatch!

I didn't even take particular note of this at the time, but it does bug. Because I think the emotional beat here is driven by the fact that Tommy has two kids, whereas TK and Nancy are childless, which makes them "less than," as far as the gut punch the show was looking for. 

[Raja]

4 hours ago, iMonrey said:

I didn't even take particular note of this at the time, but it does bug. Because I think the emotional beat here is driven by the fact that Tommy has two kids, whereas TK and Nancy are childless, which makes them "less than," as far as the gut punch the show was looking for. 

Yet the gut punch this casual viewer got was the two medics guilt tripped into following their captain to their deaths.

[possibilities]

They weren't guilt tripped. She told them to leave and they refused.

[shapeshifter]

On 10/8/2024 at 11:28 AM, agathapenny said:

I could see him having to do an evaluation to make sure his skills were still sharp, even a basic refresher course of some kind, but yeah, starting again at the bottom doesn't seem realistic. I hope the whole probe thing isn't a big part of they storyline. I can see him clashing with Paul though, at some point, when they disagree about what to do. That would actually not be uninteresting.

On 10/9/2024 at 6:14 PM, Raja said:

I was assuming for comedy hazing purposes 

Yes. 
Hopefully the writers will make use of the comedy relief set up. 

 

[yanksno1]

I take it the Grace actress left the show and they wrote her out? She's one of my favorite's, def missed her so far this season.

[Kel Varnsen]

The whole chlorine gas thing was stupid. They were acting like it was only bad if your face was right in the green stuff you could see. But I am pretty sure if you are that close to the green stuff, like when TK escaped from the ambulance, the concentration in air your are breathing would still be really bad.

And the part where the wind changing can suck the gas back out from under the door was funny.