911 Lone Star 5x01 'Both Sides, Now' Recap/Review

Owen Strand

Following the assisted suicide of his brother's death last season, Owen Strand (Rob Lowe) opens season 5 attending therapy to deal with the heavy weight on his shoulders from the secret he's keeping from telling TK Strand (Ronen Rubinstein)

Owen on scene - Photo by FOX

Paul and Marjan

Vying for the open Lieutenant position at the 126 firehouse, Paul Strickland (Brian Michael Smith), and Marjan Marwani (Natacha Karam), hilariously go through some back-and-forth one-upping of each other at rescues trying to impress Owen, as they aim to be the station's next Lt.

Paul and Marjan on scene at a 126 call - Photo by FOX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-UzzXbUO7c

Wyatt and Judd

Following his son's paralyzing accident last season, Judd Ryder (Jim Parrack) retired from the 126 in order to better care for Wyatt (Jackson Pace). In the months that have passed between seasons 4 and 5, Wyatt is now a 911 dispatcher, taking over for Grace Ryder (Sierra McClain) who does not make an appearance in season 5 due to being on a mission trip, leaving Judd to singularly raise their daughter Charlie. Owen paid Judd a visit, in which Judd asked for his job back. Owen refused, as it would take an opportunity away from Paul and Marjan's vying for the Lieutenant position, if he gave Judd his old job back.

Wyatt in his new job as a 911 dispatcher - Photo by FOX

Carlos Reyes

Season 5 opens 8-9 months after the events of season 4, and Carlos Reyes (Rafael Silva), has made the jump to a Texas Rangers career, to better solve his father's murder. Both Sides, Now, opens with the Texas Rangers working on an armored truck heist, where the suspects call in a road blockage to divert traffic to a side street, converge on the armored trucks and shoot at the drivers with armor-piercing bullets to cause an accident, and then make off with large amounts of money in the armored trucks. Following a lunch date with his husband TK, Carlos comes to a realization that the suspects are the ones calling in and causing the road blockages in order to divert the armored trucks to the street they need to get them to.

126 Emergency

The 126 respond to three emergencies this episode. The first one being to a rolled over armored truck on fire. With the passenger deceased on scene, the 126s focus is getting the injured driver out, and once he's extricated, Tommy Vega (Gina Torres) , Nancy Gillian (Brianna Baker), and TK work on putting a chest tube in their patient.

The 126 firefighters also respond to two comedic calls where Paul and Marjan jump at the chance to prove who should be awarded the Lieutenant position. Paul saves the day by jumping into oil at a fast food place to fish out a worker's prosthetic hand, as well as her wedding ring, and Marjan saves the day by jumping into the back of a moving pick up truck, whose driver had passed out due to a carbon monoxide buildup.

Tarlos

TK and Carlos seem okay at their lunch date, but by the end of the episode, fans find out how much Carlos is tied up into solving his father's murder. At the end of the episode, TK phones Carlos asking when he'll be home, and Carlos says not for a while, as he's looking into "that case." Realizing his husband won't be home for a while, TK makes Carlos promise not to eat his dinner out of a vending machine that night, insinuating the many nights Carlos has already done that.

Thoughts

I enjoyed having Lone Star back on my screen for the first time in 496 days. Due to the past writer's and actor's strike in the film industry, 911 Lone Star didn't start filming for season 5 until March of this year, so it's been a while since I've had my comfort show on my screen.

I loved the hilarity of Paul and Marjan vying for the Lieutenant position, and I'm excited to see which one of them earns it.

I loved seeing TK and Carlos finding time out of their working day to have a lunch date, because any Tarlos crumbs are good crumbs. I'm nervous to see how the show goes with Carlos' storyline and his obsession into solving his father's murder.

Next Episode

Both Sides, Now, ends with a train derailing off the tracks in Austin, Texas, setting up the next two-episode story arc of the 126 responding to the train derailment.

Episode 2, 'Trainwrecks,' airs on September 30.

5x02 synopsis: The 126 race into action when a major train derailment causes multiple injuries. Tommy makes a bold move in her relationship with Trevor. Paul and Marjan continue to compete for the open position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7o5Jy7M4kw