Station 19 1x05 "Shock to the System" Episode Review
Alright Grey's Fans. If you're not watching Station 19 by now, I really think you should because this show is pretty outstanding and Miranda Bailey made another appearance to see her husband Ben Warren. The cast is incredible and the action scenes are fast-paced. Even the recap "previously on this episode" montage goes quickly. It's hard to keep up with sometimes. But if you're only interested in Grey's Anatomy, my review on the latest episode is here.
Spoilers are approaching. My review for the latest episode:
Like I predicated, Papa Herrera is not pleased about Andy and Jack. Besides his personal discomfort seeing his daughter be with his right-hand man, he is more upset about them hiding the relationship from the rest of the team. He is making them disclose their relationship to the rest of the team, despite the fact they broke up when he caught them together.
This gets put on hold when Andy and Maya are dispatched to a police raid. They're only there if shots are fired and people get hurt. Otherwise, they wait in the Aid Car until they get the signal to come busting in. Maya is still upset with Andy about her secret relationship with Jack and their issues are brought to the surface while they wait inside the vehicle.
Andy is angry with Maya for not telling her what's wrong. But Maya knows better. She can tell her best friend is holding a lot in and wants to talk about Jack. They get explosive and shout at each other because Maya feels like she can't talk to her anymore. Then Maya goes further and berates Andy on how she handled her relationship with Jack... weeks away from peer review!
Their argument was a long time coming and trapping them inside that Aid Car was the perfect way for them to sort out their issues. I enjoyed seeing them so vulnerable with each other. Maya is becoming my favorite character.
Andy wonders if they would've been friends if they hadn't become firefighters... that's how they met. Then Maya, all worked up over their fight, goes on an imaginary run inside her head because she can't physically run outside.
Once she finishes that up, shots are fired! Oh crap! Andy thinks it's Ryan and gets the engine running. Maya stops her from running in there without the call, and they wait. I got worried too because I was still in Grey's mode when it came to dying characters. This show does that too but with fire victims.
Why am I watching two shows that kill off characters and then make me feel their loss with the surviving characters?
Ryan is not shot thankfully! It was a random cop. I felt bad saying 'thank goodness' when someone did get shot and needed medical attention. Sorry but you're not a major character I invested in! But he makes it out alive too in case you wondered.
Andy is relieved and Maya notices because she always does. Five episodes in, and I'm acting like I have all these characters figured out. I need to slow my roll here a bit. Maybe?
Maya opens up to Andy about Ryan helping her with her brother. Andy is disgusted with herself for going on about a boy when her best friend had more pressing matters going on. They restored their friendship at this point, and I'm so happy they worked it out.
Back at the station, the team is wondering why Captain Herrera is giving Jack a hard time, and they assume it's because he is backing his daughter to become his replacement. He even makes Jack install car seats for a pregnant woman who stops by for the assist.
When Ben brings Miranda Bailey to the station to meet his coworkers, she is not pleased to see the Captain. At first, I thought he had a crush on the doctor is why he became nervous, but it turns out she knows he is not supposed to be out and about in his current condition. I hope these small crossovers keep happening, I love how Shonda is trying to keep the shows connected in these small ways.
When the pregnant woman starts getting fatigued though, the two of them put their differences aside to check on her. I thought they were going to deliver the babies, but it didn't happen. Bummer.
The rest of the crew (Jack, Travis, Ben, Dean, and Vic) head out when the alarm goes off again. Miranda is surprised this happens so frequently and exclaims that's why Ben lose weight... I noticed it too. Good to know I wasn't seeing things. Ben looks slim-fit!
They come to a crash site where live wires are electrifying the streets. The car crash victim, Marshall, is stuck in his car. Which is the safest place for him at the moment. Warren converses with him to keep him calm and to sit tight until the electrical power is turned off.
The situation worsens once Vic notices gas leaking out of the car. If one of the sparks ignites it, the car will explode and kill Marshall in the process. This is where I started to get stressed. I saw no possible way this man will live. Then they instruct him to get out of his car carefully and hop out like a bunny. They tell him like a bunny exactly to keep his feet grounded like the birds on the power lines.
This confuses Marshall who is unsure whether to act like a bunny or a bird. This actually happened in the episode. But he goes with bunny and hops, sticking the landing without getting fried. The logic behind this took me a minute to figure out. He keeps hopping successfully, inching closer to Ben. Marshall gets excited and promises to give Ben a hug once he makes it to the other side.
In his last hop to freedom, Marshall loses his balance and gets shocked to the system on the ground. The power gets turned off too late. Ben freaks out and grabs medical gear with Travis to save his life. They shock him back to life, who jokes about not making the last hop. My heart can't take much more at this point.
Travis believes Marshall has internal bleeding and thinks he won't make it. Ben refuses to believe that and denies Marshall's request to call his wife. After thinking about the situation, Ben relents and dials the phone. The wife turns out to be the pregnant woman at Station 19; this is too much! An obvious connection but damn I'm tapped out.
Their conversation was too normal. He didn't tell her he was a goner and instead begged for an "I love you" from her. He told her he loved his babies too despite not meeting them. Please make it stop. I can't take it anymore. I went numb. And so did Ben.
He lost his first firefighter victim. Meredith's speech to Penny back in Grey's Anatomy season 11 about their firsts echoed in this moment. Marshall is Ben's first. His face will haunt Ben forever, changing his perspective on the job. He refuses to even discuss this with his wife and cries himself to sleep. I will do the same, Ben Warren. It was a rough night for all of us. But on a real note, Ben keeping his pain to himself will have consequences to the relationship.
Back at the station, Travis tells Dean and Vic about Andy and Jack. Dean is upset because Jack didn't tell him about it, and Vic wonders if they did it in the hose room. Flashback to the pilot... Yes they did do it there. Gross.
Toward the episode's closing moments, Jack and Andy tell the team about their relationship. Warren is the only one surprised because everyone else was informed beforehand. It was a hilarious moment especially when you see the crew on one side, Captain Herrera in the middle, and then Ben on his lonesome being shock by the news.
Travis brings up an interesting question during this discussion. If one of them makes captain, will the other one leave the station? I wonder if this will happen once the captain is chosen. We'll have to wait and see.
Dean finally goes on his date with JJ, the cute girl he rescued in episode 2. They instead kiss and go into her apartment for some alone time. Nice work Miller!
The final scene has Andy running next door to Ryan's, but she runs away before he answers the door. I thought Maya was going to be inside with Ryan for some reason. I l enjoy love triangles; I'm an advocate for them. I hope Ryan chooses Maya because it would be too easy for him to pick Andy right away.
Drama!! I recommend giving this show a chance if you hadn't already. Comment below for your latest thoughts and feelings on this episode. We're halfway there! Five out of ten episodes aired. Time flies!