Don’t be, don’t be afraid, we promise Buck will keep Chris safe.

All aboard the fire engine life raft! Han, Cil, Rachel, and guest host Niki wade into the waters of Season 3 Episode 2 of 9-1-1 titled, “Sink or Swim.”

Buck is using his firefighter training again, but at what cost? May gets a taste of being a first responder as she helps keep a woman alive while Athena takes charge in a post mani-pedi pileup. Maddie is triaging dispatch and setting up a field hospital while the 118 (minus Buck) are saving lives and surfing waves. The episode cleverly contrasts the innocence of childhood with the harsh realities of adulthood and we highlight how moments of crisis shift perspectives in our favorite characters.

We discuss how the tsunami acts as a catalyst for growth, pushing Buck to reassess his purpose and identity as a guardian. Buck embraces his role as a protector, striving to keep Christopher safe while also confronting his own fears and insecurities. We zoom into how Buck's firefighting instincts serve as both a literal and metaphorical lifeline, enabling him to save several people and most importantly, Christopher, until he’s swept away by the receding tide.

Bring your ponchos and arm floaties for this splash zone and make like Dory and Christopher and just keep swimming! 

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1‘s Oliver Stark Breaks Down Buck’s ‘Mind-Blowing’ Rescue Mission, Shares ‘Emotional’ Stories From the Tsunami, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Star Oliver Stark on Buck’s Mid-Tsunami ‘Do or Die’ Cliffhanger With 8-Year-Old Christopher, The Wrap

📰 ‘9-1-1’: Peter Krause Talks Filming Underwater for Tsunami Episode, Ronda Rousey’s ‘Perfect Casting’, The Wrap

📺 Video

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Chief on Premiere’s Tsunami Cliffhanger and How They Sunk the Santa Monica Pier, The Wrap

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Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:52) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:02:47) Introducting Special Guest Host Niki!

(00:08:48) General Thoughts

(00:12:50) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:23:00) Needle Drop

(00:25:13) Red String Corner - Parallels & Foreshadowing

(00:31:12) Color Theory Speedrun

(00:32:59) Flashover - Themes

(00:36:28) Who’s Cookin’? - Athena & May

(00:48:47) Maddie

(00:55:11) Catching Up with the Rest of the 118

(01:00:31) Eddie

(01:06:44) Buck

(01:13:40) Buck & Christopher’s Fire Truck Life Raft

(01:22:57) Bonding with Christopher

(01:36:17) Slow Burn - Bi Buck & Buddie Watch

(01:40:14) Take a Buddie With You & Outro