An earthquake can also bring structural problems, so it's not surprising that we're going into a building collapse in the 911 season 8 finale. The question really is whether all members of 118 will survive.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for the 911 season 8 finale.
There's no doubt that Athena and the 118 are still reeling from the death of Captain Bobby Nash. Everyone needs to move forward, though, and that means saving more lives. After all, there's a whole apartment building that has collapsed thanks to the (admittedly rather minor if you've been in earthquake before) earthquake.
We jump back just a few moments before the collapse, giving us a look at some of the other people who live there. One of them is a young woman just moving into her first apartment in a city other than her own, and her mom isn't impressed. Well, maybe the building collapse will settle the mom's feelings considering there isn't an apartment left and the search needs to start again!
Athena calls for help in the 911 season 8 finale
The episode takes us inside the laundry room, which is where the kid from the last episode went back in. The thong was likely trapped in the lint trap, and we see him searching all the washers and driers for it. The three from 911 season 8, episode 17 are in the laundry room as the building collapses. As we know, Athena radios for help.
At the 118, everyone is enjoying cake. It was supposed to be for Hen, but she breaks it to the group that she didn't want to be Captain of the 118. While they are all certainly shocked, Buck shares that Hen just needs to do what's best for her. So, is Buck throwing in his hat? Not at all.
There's more shocking news. Buck has put in for a transfer, noting that the 118 is "just a number now." What a blow. We all said that Bobby was what made the 118 a family, and that was clear in the previous episode as Buck realized that everyone was starting to go their own way.
There isn't time to really discuss this, though, as Athena's call goes through. She does what she can to help people while she waits for backup, and she even puts herself inside the rubble. You would think she'd know not to do that. She does get into the laundry room (well, what used to be the laundry room) to find where everyone is. Only the girlfriend is able to move around, with Donny, the boyfriend, trapped under a lot of rubble and unable to breathe.
It's all hands on deck in 911 season 8, episode 18
The mother and daughter from the start of the episode are in an apartment that no longer has a roof. At least the ceiling is still there, but the wall has come down. It allows the daughter to call out for help, as the 118 and other fire department houses turn up, but the mom is trapped. Hen and Chimney realize how injured she is, but when they roll her over, the large-scale damage to her head is not what she expected.
It turns out that the damage is air, which is putting pressure on the brain. Hen needs to operate, and that goes smoothly.
Once the two are off the top of the building, Chimney learns that Athena is in the laundry room. He immediately rushes to help her. It's time for the two of them to clear some air, and surely, Chimney needs to feel like he can save Athena since Bobby gave up his life for him.
Meanwhile, dispatch needs to help manage all the 911 calls coming in, and Maddie (yay to using the surname Han!) is able to hear enough to help a victim. It really is all hands on deck in the 911 season 8 finale.
Another injury gets more 118 firefighters inside the building
With Chimney going in to help Athena and this being the 911 season 8 finale, it was only a matter of time before more would end up going in and risking their lives. Maddie manages to find out which apartment the call came from and sends Buck inside. Ravi goes in with him, and it turns out that Apartment 912 is now Apartment 712. It fell, just a little.
It now explains why Flint was struggling to talk to Maddie. He's underneath a wardrobe and other rubble, and Buck decides they need to go to Narnia to get to Flint. While they get him out, there's another shake, because everyone
Chimney makes it to the laundry room, and he immediately gets to work. The two remain professional despite all their personal issues.
There's another shake, as it turns out the gas line goes out and causes another explosion. This traps Athena and Chimney in the laundry room and Buck and Ravi with Flint in Apartment-No-Longer 912.
Eddie's plans to return to Texas don't work out
While all this goes on, Eddie is getting ready to return to El Paso so he can return to work. It's timely that Captain Gerrard managed to get Eddie his uniform — something that happens at retirement usually — because Eddie could put it on. As he watches the news, he looks over to it and considers the option.
Hen goes into the building, knowing her team is in there. We head back to Chimney and Athena, who are looking for a way out, but Donny takes a turn for the worst. It's up to Graham, the cop cart guy, to help save his life. He has to put the pads for the defibrillator on Donny's chest to bring him back, and now Athena and Chimney can get back to work on getting them all out.
Sure enough, Eddie turns up in gear and we get a cheesy '80s movie moment. I feel like we entered an episode of Hotshots for a second. It's a good thing he's there as he looks for a way to get to Buck, Ravi, and Flint, who have made it to one of the side walls. They're able to use the line gun to create a zip line, which at least gets Flint and Ravi out.
What about Buck? He gets n the zip line, just as there are more explosions that threaten to take him out. It's just in time, so that's two members of the 118 out.
Inside the building, Hen and others are trying to get Athena and Chimney out of the laundry room. So there are three in danger.
Does everyone make it out alive in the 911 season 8 finale?
As Hen and the rest of teh 118 gets into the laundry room and work is started on getting everyone out, I couldn't help but feel like something would happen. Well, it turns out that Graham had been impaled by rebar. He'd been bleeding internally the whole time.
Athena and the entire 118 face a boy who chose to sacrifice himself to save someone else, saying "it was the right thing to do." Donny had a chance to be saved, but he knew he would likely die. He was fine throughout the whole process with Donny because the adrenaline was running, but with the adrenaline gone, he felt the chills and passed out. This is sure to bring back memories of just three episodes ago as Bobby gave his life.
Chimney refuses to give up on Graham, and he's relieved to feel a pulse. It's time to get Graham out of the building, giving him a chance of survival. The 118 and Athena need this win. We need this win.
Athena shares that Bobby always knew that Chimney was a smart paramedic and would make a great leader. I almost feel like this is foreshadowing that Chimney really should be the new Captain of the 118. With all that, Athena and Chimney hug it out, making it clear that they are back in a good place again.
There is even better news, as Captain Gerrard shares that there were no fatalities in the building collapse. Now it's time to focus on what's to come for the 118 now. Chimney refuses to let Eddie leave for Texas or Buck to transfer out. With an impassioned speech, we see that he finally accepts Bobby's sacrifice for him, because Bobby would ahve done it for any of them. They are all his legacy, and while they will mourn him, they can't disrespect him by throwing away the 118.
"Copy that, Cap. I mean, Chim." Hen said everything we were thinking!
It turns out that Athena has decided to sell her and Bobby's dream home. With Eddie returning (with Christopher!), it means Buck needs to find another place. Hen and Karen get to sign Mara's adoption agreement. Of course, the big moment is seeing Athena walking down the hallway of a hospital. Where is she going? Maddie has given birth to her and Chimney's baby, who is called Robert Nash Han.
Nope, I'm not crying. It's just the allergies!
It's a powerful way to end 911 season 8, making it clear that nothing will be the same, but there is hope for everyone to be able to move forward with their lives. Bobby will never be forgotten.
911 is available to stream on Hulu.