How do we start to say goodbye to somebody who has been such an enormous a part of our lives and had such a profound impact?
It was this query the firefighters of Station 19 discovered themselves grappling with this installment.
And the outcomes have been commendable, as Station 19 Season 3 Episode 13 proved to be the present’s finest general examination of grief.
What made this installment stand out was the way in which it approached loss of life.
It wasn’t merely Andy shutting down like she did on Station 19 Season 3 Episode 3 when she misplaced Ryan.
Nor was it the new mess that ensued following Rigo’s loss of life on Station 19 Season 3 Episode 10, making it look like the writers had no thought the place they needed to the story to go.
Pruitt: For those who see a hearth put it out, then transfer on to the subsequent one. No matter you do, don’t stick round as soon as the hearth’s out. There isn’t a life to be lived within the ashes. Allow them to blow away.
Andy: Good night time, daddy.
Pruitt: Good night time, Andrea.
Andy: Goodbye, daddy.
Pruitt: So long.
As an alternative, the sequence was good in acknowledging that not all types of grief look the identical.
Whereas Andy was grief-stricken in mattress, coping with her fair proportion of unhealthy desires, Vic channeled her despair into elevating cash for Pruitt’s funeral, and Jack discovered a approach to honor Pruitt’s reminiscence.
That sensible method helped, however the main a part of its success is that Pruitt is a personality close to and expensive to everybody’s hearts.
Characters and viewers alike have been genuinely torn up by the late captain’s passing, versus followers barely batting a watch when Rigo bit it.
We had spent practically three seasons attending to know this man, and whereas he was removed from excellent, his coronary heart was at all times in the appropriate place.
His loss of life could not have been as heartbreaking as when Derek died on Grey’s Anatomy Season 11, nevertheless it nonetheless harm.
For Andy although, Pruitt’s loss of life surpassed any type of measurement, because it wasn’t only a former captain she misplaced, however her father, the person who raised her.
Whereas Andy spent the vast majority of the episode in mattress — a certain signal somebody is depressed — she appeared to be dealing with her father’s passing remarkably properly, contemplating all the things.
Once I was a child, my dad used to do that factor after I was unhappy. He would open all of the blinds and let all the sunshine in, and say, ‘Casas brillantes, corazones brillantes.’ Brilliant home, brilliant hearts. He was so good at… at pulling me again.
Andy
There was no shutting down or partaking in self-destructive conduct.
As an alternative, she discovered herself being open and weak with Sullivan about what she was feeling, which could be very in contrast to the lady viewers have gotten to know over the previous three seasons.
Possibly it is a signal of progress and her being in a greater place mentally. Possibly it is as a result of she knew her father was dying and had time beforehand to course of his loss of life. Possibly it is as a result of he acquired to exit on his personal phrases.
Regardless of the cause, Andy was capable of come to phrases together with her father’s loss of life.
And whereas she will not be randomly bursting into track any time quickly, she looks like she’s in a spot the place she will deal with shedding her father.
A part of that has to do with Sullivan.
Regardless of her proclamation of being an orphan, Andy shouldn’t be alone.
Andy: I’m an orphan. I’m an orphan.
Sullivan: Me too.
Andy: What? Uh, why didn’t I do know this?
Sullivan: I don’t speak about it. Aircraft crash.
Andy: Oh my god. What… that… how previous have been you?
Sullivan: Um, 16.
Andy: And then you definately acquired married, after which your spouse died, after which your buddy Ripley died. We’re all we now have.
Even when she would not rely Station 19 as her legit household, Sullivan now falls into that class, because the star-crossed lovers secretly acquired hitched on Station 19 Season 3 Episode 12.
One in every of Pruitt’s fears when he discovered he was dying was that Andy can be alone for the primary time in her life.
It is the principle cause why he dragged Ryan again to Seattle.
And if not for Sullivan to lean on, she’d most likely be in far worse form.
Although skeptical of this relationship from the beginning, it is changing into extra clear they in some way work.
Regardless of the craziness of their private lives, Andy and Sullivan are capable of be there for one another in a means I did not suppose potential.
And craziness will probably be coming, as their relationship will proceed to be put to the check now that Ben is aware of about Sullivan’s drug dependancy.
Sure, Ben lastly acquired affirmation from Emmett this episode that Sullivan stole some vial of Fentanyl from the PRT and discovered that Sullivan overdosed whereas on obligation.
With onerous proof, Ben can not ignore his suspicions and plans to report Sullivan to the upper ups.
Ben: All proper probie, I do know you’re new, however uh look this… this could’t have been the worst factor you’ve seen? Oh that’s proper, you, uh, noticed your battalion chief OD on fentanyl. So it was him. Did you see the syringe? You give him Naloxone?
Emmett: Yeah.
Ben: What’d he even say to you?
Emmett: Effectively, uh, he mentioned he had a prescription. And he mentioned that this station runs on belief. And if folks don’t belief one another, then folks get harm.
Ben: That’s uh, that’s a great one coming from him.
Sullivan will need to have an inkling that is coming, nevertheless it would not make it any simpler to take care of.
Although viewers have not seen Sullivan going to conferences or working a twelve-step working, the battalion chief appears to be coping with his dependancy off display screen, which is nice.
Although not an skilled in getting sober, your complete course of appears to ivolve honesty.
Whereas Sullivan has admitted a few of his wrongdoings to Andy, he nonetheless has an extended approach to go.
Till he can come clean with what he did and inform these round him — aside from Andy — the reality, it is at all times going to be this soiled secret that looms over him.
And viewers know the way a lot Dixon loves these.
No, as soon as the hearth chief finds out this, it’s going to be tougher for Dixon to look previous Sullivan’s transgressions.
Dixon gave Maya hell for not stopping Pruitt, after they each know Sullivan was simply as culpable.
Dixon: So that you’re admitting that you simply knowingly let a civilian go right into a important scene and put his life at risk?
Maya: No, sir. I knowingly allowed a lauded and unanimously revered captain go right into a important scene that was sure loss of life.
Dixon: Bishop, pull your self collectively. Don’t make me remorse endorsing a lady for captain.
Maya: My former captain knowingly sliced by means of a roof and fell to his loss of life to save lots of my whole workforce. These are tears of gratitude and tears of amazement and marvel, and I can’t apologize for having them. You suppose I didn’t cry after I gained the gold medal? I did. You watch 250-pound athletes cry after they win Tremendous Bowls, and it doesn’t make them any much less heroes. You’re asking me to relive a day that my hero died and my workforce lived. I can’t apologize for having feels about that. The flexibility to care whereas doing my job is a high quality Captain Herrera each modeled and lauded. My skill to care whereas doing my job is what makes me superior, not inferior to those that can’t.
Nevertheless, since Dixon promoted Sullivan, it would not replicate properly on the hearth chief if Sullivan was held accountable.
It is simply another excuse why Dixon is the worst, as if viewers wanted extra cause to hate him.
What sort of chief thinks an invite his son’s engagement social gathering will make up for the truth that he is not funding a line of obligation funeral for Pruitt?
They are saying you might be what you like, and Pruitt cherished firefighting.
He could have technically been a civilian on the time of his loss of life, however he was a firefighter by means of and thru.
His closing actions have been to save lots of his fellow firefighters by sacrificing his life. If that does not say hero, then what does?
On account of Dixon’s insensitivity, Vic took up the cost and tried to lift the cash by placing collectively a calendar picture shoot.
Sure, as hilarious because it sounds — and it was at instances — this subplot ended up being particularly transferring.
Hey, we’re alive due to Pruitt Herrera. Emmett acquired to stay lengthy sufficient to come back out due to Pruitt Herrera. We get to snigger and… and clap and make chili due to Pruitt Herrera. We get to breathe. We get to stay, OK. All of us get to stay due to Pruitt Herrera.
Vic
For Vic, elevating this cash was a approach to honor Pruitt.
It was the one factor she might consider on the time that might even start to repay this insurmountable debt.
Pruitt died, so all of them might life, and Vic is having a tough time with that.
Though she knew he was dying, it would not diminish his sacrifice.
She’s experiencing what’s often known as survivor’s guilt and is making an attempt make sense of issues round her.
Vic normally tries to placed on a courageous face, however she could not assist herself from breaking down just a few instances this episode.
It is simply one other reminder that there isn’t any one proper approach to grieve, and everyone seems to be entitled to their very own emotions.
Jack, alternatively, paid Pruitt’s sacrifice ahead by serving to others.
He went above and past for a mom and son when he orchestrated a plan to get them away from the lady’s abusive husband.
You deserve a cheerful life. You each do. You deserve so a lot better than you’re getting. You have been born into this one life. Your baby was born into this one life. You don’t need to be hit. You don’t need to be scared. You deserve higher. Let me show you how to discover it.
Jack
Whereas Jack initially related with the mom and son as a result of the younger boy is deaf, similar to his former foster sister, he is aware of what it is like to not really feel protected in his personal home.
Rising up in foster care, Jack by no means actually felt that sense of security and safety, so he needed to offer the mom and son with one thing he wasn’t fortunate sufficient to have.
It was good how issues got here full circle and the mom and son ended up staying with Marsha, also called the previous lady Jack introduced groceries for on the finish of Station 19 Season three Episode 10.
If not for Jack reaching out to Marsha just a few episodes in the past, he could not have been capable of assist the mom and son.
It was a pleasant reminder that even little issues — like shopping for groceries for an previous lady — could make a giant distinction.
Some stray ideas:
Did anybody else wish to give Emmett a giant hug when he got here out? There’s nonetheless numerous stuff he has to determine — like how he is engaged to a lady — however I could not be prouder of him.
It was a giant step in accepting who he’s, and it is nice that he felt snug sufficient to share his reality with Station 19. He could not have identified them for lengthy, however they made him really feel like a part of the household. Good job!
It was candy that Ben agreed to be Prue’s authorized guardians ought to something occur to Dean, however he most likely ought to have talked it over with Bailey first. Since Bailey did invite a teenage boy into their house with out consulting him, I do not suppose she has any floor to face on.
With Dean finishing his will this episode, ought to followers be fearful about him? This has been a really lethal season in spite of everything.
Watching the calendar picture shoot was hilarious, however my favourite scene needed to be Travis “teaching” Maya on how one can look attractive. That half had me in stitches.
So what did you suppose Station 19 Fanatics?
What are your ideas on Pruitt’s sendoff?
How did you anticipate Andy to react?
How a lot scorching water will Sullivan discover himself in?
Remember to hit the feedback beneath to let me know your ideas. For those who occurred to overlook the newest episode, bear in mind you’ll be able to watch Station 19 online at TV Fanatic.
Jessica Lerner is a workers author for TV Fanatic. Observe her on Twitter.