9-1-1 – Brawl in the Cell Block Review/Recap
9-1-1 – Brawl in the Cell Block is the sixth episode of the fifth season. Before we start there was some confusion; the episode Ghost Stories was originally was supposed to air on Monday, November 1st; instead, is now pushed back to November 8th.
Synopsis of 9-1-1 – Brawl in the Cell Block:
Responding to a fire at a prison, Bobby (Peter Krause) and the 118 find themselves trapped in a deadly riot.
Warning: This article contains spoilers from Monday night’s episode Brawl in the Cell Block. Read at your own risk!
Jamestown State Prison
The episode opens up at Jamestown State Prison, a guard is taking an inmate, Mitchell (Mark Pellegrino) on a walk, and just as they are heading back to the cell walking past a group of prisoners, one of them attacks Mitchell’s guard. A riot broke out throughout the prison, the inmates have started multiple fires through the prison and the ventilation system is pushing the smoke through the prison. As the 118 is called to the scene, they learn that the inmates have destroyed the sprinkler system. The team is escorted by armed guards to the fire as the riot is still ongoing.
While the fire was being put out, the riot in the prison was getting worse. As they were heading out, they heard wheezing from a cellblock that was supposed to be secured. The team finds two bodies of two inmates. The team decided to take the injured inmates. Buck (Oliver Stark) and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) have one inmate, as Bobby, Hen (Aisha Hinds), and Ravi (Anirudh Pisharody) are with the other. Bobby and Hen’s victim started getting worse, making Buck and Eddie take their guy to the gurney outside.
Separated
With the threat of the riot now coming towards them; Bobby and the others must find somewhere safe; the infirmary. While Buck and Eddie now taking their guy to the hospital with a guard escort. It was at this moment with the doctor saw who Bobby brought in they discovered it was not an inmate but it was a guard. Bobby quickly informs Buck and Eddie of the situation and that their guy was not who they thought it was; the guards who were ‘escorting them’ were inmates who started the riot.
Gun Point
After the guys are searched, Buck and Eddie are faced with Mitchell Trent and another prisoner at gunpoint on the side of the road. The boys are trying to think of what to do and how to get out of the situation. Mitchell goes through Eddie’s wallet and finds out he has a kid and reads off Eddie’s address; using this information as a threat. Buck takes a few steps forward causing the other inmate/guard to hit him with the butt of the gun.
911 dispatch sent an officer to the location of where the ambulance was, but when the officer showed up all he found was the tracker on the ground. Athena (Angela Bassett) and Captain Elaine Maynard (Claudia Christian) are looking into the two inmates who have Buck and Eddie. It is discovered that Mitchell has local ties that had put him in jail for the last 18 years to who he just started writing letters to.
Trouble in the Infirmary
Back at the prison, it’s not looking good as the inmates are back in the cell block trying to break into the security pod using a metal bench. Bobby is fully aware that the small group in the infirmary needs to find another way out; when Bobby has the idea of asking the unconscious guard. Hen and the infirmary doctor wake him up and were able to get some information about laughing gas. Bobby comes up with a plan using Ravi on how to get the laughing gas to work.
Mitchell kept his word to Buck as the ambulance arrived at the hospital for the injured guard. Buck must bring the injured guard and the other inmate into the hospital. Just as Buck noticed how empty the hospital was, Athena and the officers comes out and takes them down. Mitchell takes Eddie as a hostage and reveals to Eddie that Mitchell’s son has heart failure and that he’s been waiting for a heart for over a year, and that he’s at the hospital because he wants to give his son his heart. There’s a flaw though, death row inmates cannot be organ donors.
The Plan
Back in the prison, Ravi has disguised himself as an inmate for he can move around while Bobby is in another part of the prison, still in his gear, getting to the gas. Ravi makes to the breaker and turns on the air filtration system as Booby released the laughing gas to the entire prison. The plan works as the team was able to get out without any further harm.
Stand-Off
Athena is talking to Buck about the situation of Mitchell and why exactly he has escaped. At the same time, Eddie is talking to Mitchell encouraging him to turn himself in and that they will find a way to save his son. Mitchell agrees and has Eddie step out first; as Mitchell steps out, he has Eddie promise him that he won’t tell his son where the organ came from then proceed to shoot himself.
The moment Mitchell’s body hits the ground; Eddie immediately starts chest depressions to keep the heart pumping. Athena and Elaine managed to find a way so that the heart can go to Mitchell’s son, Nolan.
After the eventful shift; Bobby spots Ravi lost in his mind and offers to get him coffee and to not talk about the day they just had. Eddie goes home to be with his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh), and snuggles in to be next to him in bed and tells him that he’s really glad he’s his kid; as a response, Chris tells his dad that he’s weird.
