If there was any doubt after last week’s Eddie-less episode that we would see him again soon, this week’s 9-1-1 episode, “Disconnected,” quickly squashes that while giving a glimpse into his new life in Texas. Eddie (Ryan Guzman) is only there to be with Christopher (Gavin McHugh), so it’s not like his hopes were high about what life would be like there. Still, things are tougher than expected, with a leaky roof, the struggle to find a job, and Chris still living with his grandparents.
Back in LA, Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) is still dealing with the trauma of being abducted and having her throat slit by Amber Braeburn (Abigail Spencer) two episodes and five weeks earlier. This episode opens with what starts out as a dream where she comes back to work, that quickly turns into a nightmare where Maddie once again has to relive what Amber did to her. It turns out that Maddie has been having these nightmares for some time, but goes into the episode determined to return to dispatch.
In ‘9-1-1’ Season 8, Episode 12, Maddie Loses Her Voice
The next morning, Maddie wakes up early, set on going back to work. Chimney (Kenneth Choi) is concerned about Maddie returning this early, so Maddie opens up to him about her night terrors. She tells him that she feels like Amber still has control over her and is keeping her from helping other people, and Chimney supports her choice. Maddie then goes in for her first day back at work in five weeks, and it starts off well. Maddie gets to see Sue (Debra Christofferson) and Josh (Bryan Safi) again, and she is happy to be back, especially after reassurance from Josh. She soon gets a call from a child named Chance, who is in an apartment that is on fire alongside his unconscious father. Maddie tries to help him, but she loses the ability to speak in the middle of the call. Josh takes over the call and talks to Chance while the 118 comes in and saves him and his father, but Maddie is understandably terrified after what happened.
Maddie and Chimney go to the doctor, where they learn that there is no physical reason why she cannot speak. Her vocal cords and nerves are normal, as is her blood panel. The doctor tells them that Maddie is suffering from psychogenic aphonia. After what Amber did to her, Maddie is unable to speak, due to the trauma of what happened. “She took my voice,” Maddie says in a heartbreaking scene. Later, the 118 tends to a call where a man named Ozzy has crashed his car and is now hanging out of a multifloor garage.
When Ozzy can’t get out of his car, Buck wants to climb in (of course he does). Instead, Chimney uses Ozzy’s self-admitted weakness of “weaseling out” of things (including the court hearing that he was supposed to attend that day) to help him weasel out of the car. Ozzie then checks in with Athena (Angela Bassett) and gets taken away in handcuffs. Meanwhile, Chimney returns from the call newly-motivated to help Maddie fight her loss of her voice, and they try voice exercises together. It’s no use, though, and Maddie feels defeated by Amber.
In ‘9-1-1’ Season 8, Episode 12, Eddie Tries To Make It Work in Texas
Eddie goes in for an interview at a fire station in El Paso. Captain Morales is no Bobby Nash (Peter Krause), and his office is even decorated with dead animals, but he is nice enough. Eddie talks about moving into his new place and hints that it is less than ideal, and we see a montage of the house literally falling apart. Captain Morales then tells Eddie that Bobby says that he will always have a job at the 118. It should be a no-brainer for him to hire Eddie after this glowing recommendation, but Morales is worried that Eddie will up and leave after he gets settled there, just like the last guy did. Eddie reassures him that he is single and is here for Christopher, but Morales has his concerns, even after Eddie gives him his word that he won’t regret hiring him.
Eddie is optimistic nonetheless, as he later tells Helena (Paula Marshall), Ramón (George DelHoyo), and Christopher over dinner. It is then that Eddie’s PS5 for Chris arrives. Eddie uses this opportunity to hint at Chris moving back in, asking where he wants to set it up. Chris is unsure, but Helena infuriatingly comes up with a number of reasons why Chris should keep staying with them, while trying to tell Eddie what temperature his own son prefers. Ramon comforts Eddie by saying that he doesn’t need to buy Chris’ love, and then tells him that Chris was bragging the other day that his dad is a firefighter and has “the coolest job of any of the dads.” This is a nice moment, until the next day, when Eddie learns that he won’t be able to work as a firefighter so long as he is living in El Paso. While Eddie is certainly qualified, Morales doesn’t want to hire him. He says that there is a hiring freeze, but Eddie knows that Morales is just worried that he won’t stick around. Morales is not wrong, but it would have been nice to see Eddie get a win just once this season.
Eddie fills Buck (Oliver Stark) in on his situation over the phone, in what is their first time talking to each other on-screen since Eddie moved. Eddie seriously considers going back to LA and to the 118 so that he can at least still have a job, and Buck handles this incredibly well. He assures Eddie that he didn’t fail by not getting the job, and then tells him that he can’t come back to LA, because he’s there for Chris. After seeing how much Buck was struggling last week with Eddie gone, this moment of selflessness is incredibly meaningful. Buck has the chance of getting everything he wants with Eddie’s return, especially so soon after starting to question his own feelings, but he makes the selfless choice to tell Eddie to stay with Chris.
In ‘9-1-1’ Season 8, Episode 12, Eddie Ultimately Makes the Most of His Situation
Strapped for cash and without a job, Eddie takes Buck’s advice and tries to make the most of his situation. He trades the truck that he bought back in Season 3, and while it’s sad to see it go, Eddie is determined. He gets a new car that can fit more people so that he can become a rideshare driver, but Eddie has some trouble adjusting to the job. He is very chatty with each of his passengers, none of whom actually want to talk to him, or to have anything to do with him. A montage shows Eddie struggling on the job while pretending to his family like he got the firefighting job. He has to ask his parents for help to pay for Chris’ chess coach, and he even falls asleep at dinner one night because he’s so tired. Finally, one of Eddie’s passengers, a former rideshare driver, gives him some much-needed advice, and he turns things around. He stops talking to the passengers, learns to anticipate their needs, and even gets a $100 tip after bringing someone their forgotten phone.
Things are going well, until Christopher and his friends show up as Eddie’s passengers. It’s a devastating scene, as Chris pretends not to know Eddie. Eddie blames himself and equates this to the Kim (Devin Kelley) situation, because he has been “caught in a lie again.” He is unable to cut himself any slack. Buck talks him through it, though, and encourages Eddie to reach out to Chris right away. Eddie tells Buck that he appreciates him, then he texts Chris. Chris shows up later with the PS5, telling Eddie that he wants to return it, so that Eddie can use the money to stick around, and it’s a major breakthrough in their relationship. Eddie apologizes for lying about his job, and says that he just wanted Chris to be proud of him. Chris says that he is proud of him, and then they hug and say that they love each other, in what feels like a long-overdue scene.
In ‘9-1-1’ Season 8, Episode 12, Maddie Gets Her Voice Back
While struggling with voice exercises, Maddie gets a visit from Athena, who has come to check on her. Athena tells Maddie that Amber is still on her mind as well, and that she blames herself for missing all the signs. Athena suggests that fear is the reason why Maddie cannot speak, but Maddie insists that she is not afraid, until Athena opens up to her. Athena tells Maddie that she is always scared on the job, but that she chooses to put the need to help other people over the fear of being in danger again. Athena tells Maddie she will get there when she is ready, and she will be there for her in the meantime.
With the pressure off after talking to Athena, Maddie takes a break from her vocal exercises and goes with Jee-yun (Bailey and Hailey Leung) to the playground. While Jee is off playing with some new friends, Maddie briefly looks at a text from Athena. When Maddie looks up, though, Jee is gone. It’s a truly terrifying and emotional scene, as a voiceless Maddie tries to scream for Jee, but is unable to make a sound. Finally, Maddie gets her voice back and is able to yell for Jee. It’s a true tearjerker of a scene as Maddie reunites with Jee, who, as it turns out, was just playing out of sight. Jee points out that Maddie can talk again, and Maddie hugs her, relieved. Later, now armed with the return of her voice, Maddie goes back to work and takes a call.
