[Warning: The next incorporates spoilers for Thursday’s episode of Station 19. Learn at your personal danger!]
Station 19 did not pull any punches in its winter finale because the present tackled police brutality and the overlooking of black girls after they go lacking. Our core group of firefighters discovered themselves in a authorized quandary after they discovered a mom hysterically screaming exterior of Mya’s (Danielle Savre) neighbor’s home, as a result of he had the mom’s daughter and her finest good friend locked inside his home.
Regardless that our crew was off obligation, they spent a lot of the episode making an attempt to assist the lady relax and collect proof to make a case for going inside the person’s home to search for the lacking women. With out badges and even uniforms, it proved a lot simpler mentioned than finished. When the police finally arrived and took the home-owner’s aspect, it turned apparent the firefighters must get inventive with a view to see justice served. Within the meantime, the women — who actually had been locked within the basement — managed to start out a small hearth, giving Dean (Okieriete Onaodowan) and Sullivan (Boris Kodjoe) sufficient cause to go inside the home.
They rescued the women, however when their alleged kidnapper insisted they broke into his home and began the hearth unbeknownst to him, tensions flared. Dean charged on the man and surrounding law enforcement officials, prompting them to sort out him to the bottom and arrest him. When Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz) tried to intervene, she was shoved to the bottom, prompting Sullivan to get entangled. Weapons had been drawn and he was additionally put in cuffs. The episode ended with Dean and Sullivan being taken away behind a squad automobile.
TV Information chatted with Barrett Doss, who performs Vic on the sequence, in regards to the tense episode and the way that is going to vary issues for all the station heading into the second half of the season.
Barrett Doss, Station 19
What was your response if you first learn this episode?
Barrett Doss: After I learn this episode, I felt two type of conflicting issues. I used to be thrilled that we had been getting the chance to debate a few of the inequities and a few of the very actual points that exist in our tradition and in our nation, almost about police brutality, with the exploitation of Black and Brown girls and women, and to attract some consideration to that and shed some gentle on that concern. But additionally, after all, it is painful to stroll in these characters’ sneakers, and to know that as on a regular basis heroes that they don’t seem to be proof against the racism that permeates our society. So after I take a look at, clearly, what occurs to Dean and Sullivan, for instance, to not point out Joyce and Shanice, the 2 visitor starring characters, the moms, and naturally, the women too, that basically after we’re out of uniform, we’re all in the identical boat. We’re all Black individuals, and with that comes a selected kind of vulnerability and a selected kind of danger.
There was some worry going into it having to stroll within the sneakers of those characters and expertise this trauma. Taking part in the scene, we even have to look at it occur. So it was extremely emotional. It was very tense on set, not in a damaging approach, however simply in honoring the reality of the occasions, it was an intense expertise. I used to be anticipating that after I learn it, it didn’t disappoint in that sense. But it surely was thrilling and likewise uncomfortable.
What are you hoping individuals take away from this episode?
Barrett Doss: Effectively, I hope that they see that nobody is proof against the the racist methods that we exist in, that the characters that we all know and love are simply as susceptible as anybody else. I feel that that might be shocking to a few of our viewers partly as a result of we’ve not had such a blatant dialogue of the implications of systemic racism and the connection between Black individuals and the police. I feel it is scary to problem these methods. It is scary to indicate that to individuals, however I feel it’s going to be actually very difficult, I feel, for individuals to see Dean and Sullivan on the fallacious finish of a weapon, and in a really susceptible place. And to see all of our crew members have to look at that, after which course of the aftermath of that trauma.
It additionally did not happen to me till the top of the episode that Dixon is now head of Seattle PD, so Dean and Sullivan are in much more bother than we predict after we final see them.
Doss: After we learn the scripts, we all know, and because the viewers does, that our characters are firefighters and we overlook that after we’re out of uniform, nobody else is aware of that. We all know them to be the characters we all know and love, and the heroes of Station 19, however no one else really is aware of who they’re. If we do not have a relationship with these specific law enforcement officials, they don’t have any cause to imagine that we’re firefighters. In order you mentioned, the complication of Dixon now working for the police division makes it a very susceptible state of affairs for Sullivan and Dean, and the remainder of the crew. On prime of every part else, what they did is towards protocol. So it isn’t only a susceptible level when they’re arrested, nevertheless it places the station in jeopardy once more, for continuing right into a name with out grounds. So it is a actually harmful state of affairs each actually and figuratively for our characters.
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What sort of psychological state are we going to see Vic in after these arrests and the occasions of this episode?
Doss: I feel it is placing Vic in a state of affairs the place she is pressured to reckon along with her actuality. I feel all of those characters have been put in a state of affairs now the place they should query what does it imply if the best way I do my job will not be sufficient to guard me from the system that I work for. And so I feel it is, it is going to give Vic a chance to reexamine her relationship to her job, to reexamine her relationship to the crew. I feel it places all of us in a state of affairs the place we now have to have a look at how we take care of our type of new actuality. It is not likely new, nevertheless it’s clearly a violent and traumatic state of affairs that we have all been put in at this level. And the way can we get again on the identical web page? How can we work as a crew? And the way can Vic with all of her makes an attempt to convey everybody collectively and to get together with everybody, how does that pressure her to take care of her relationships along with her coworkers? I feel it’s going to be a it’s going to be a time of progress and questioning for Vic.
On a lighter word, Vic has two extraordinarily good-looking males vying for her affections. Might we see a real love triangle within the again half of the season or is she going to be preoccupied with different issues?
Doss: I genuinely do not know but. I imply, conserving in thoughts, after all, that Vic does not know that Dean is into her. I feel she is set to proceed to imagine that they’re mates, that they are shut, however she’s not I feel opening herself as much as that possibility. And I feel that with the flip of occasions that takes place on this specific episode, I feel that every part goes on the again burner. Not solely is she already questioning going out with Theo due to COVID, however to not point out, after all getting concerned with one other firefighter is tremendous dangerous for her specifically, emotionally. I do not know if she’s prepared to leap into one other relationship.
I do not know if she’s prepared to leap into one other relationship. She’s at all times been, I feel, concerned with individuals who she perceives as outranking her, both actually within the case of Ripley, or with Jackson, the place I feel she questioned herself rather a lot. I feel it is an attention-grabbing new state of affairs when there’s any individual who she sees as an equal, and he or she will get to be the type of picker. I feel that it will be a enjoyable, new expertise for her to see the place she takes that energy.
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Even when Vic hasn’t realized how Dean feels about her, how do you Barrett really feel about the potential for Dean and Vic being a factor?
Doss: It is powerful. I feel I might be hypocritical if I mentioned that she will be able to’t get entangled with a firefighter on the station as a result of it is mainly occurred earlier than, however I feel it is tough Dean and Vic have at all times been such good mates. They established such an incredible brother-sisterly relationship, and particularly along with her serving to with Pru. I do not suppose she ever noticed herself within the function of mothering. I do not suppose she needs kids of her personal at this level. I feel that getting concerned with Dean would convey extra battle than she is prepared for proper now, not solely with him, but additionally with the station and inside herself. So it is onerous to say. I at all times invite complication as an actor, nevertheless it’s onerous as a result of I form of love their relationship as it’s. I hope we’re enjoying the lengthy recreation right here. I feel it will be actually attention-grabbing to see how this kinds itself out or does not over the subsequent 12 months or two.
What are you able to tease for followers in regards to the again half of the season?
Doss: Ooh. I am excited for followers to get to see some difficult points between Vic and Travis. We’re so completely happy to have them again collectively once more, as shut mates and now as roommates, however the different shoe is gonna drop. So I am wanting ahead to followers attending to see that when it arrives.
Station 19 returns in 2021 on ABC.