Okay 9-1-1 fans did you see that midseason premiere? If you blinked you might have missed the HUGE twist. After weeks of waiting our favorite first responders are back and things got intense real fast. We knew Maddie was in trouble but the how and the who? Nobody saw THAT coming!
Detective Deception: The 9-1-1 Twist Reveal That No One Predicted
For weeks promos teased Maddie Buckley played by Jennifer Love Hewitt was getting kidnapped. We all braced ourselves for a nail-biting rescue mission. And yes Maddie was indeed abducted. But here is where things go sideways in the best way possible. The kidnapper? Not some random bad guy. It's Detective Amber Braeburn played by Abigail Spencer! The very detective working with Maddie and Athena all episode long! Mind. Blown.
Showrunner Tim Minear mentioned this storyline came from a real creepy case about a serial killer who called 911. They took that idea and cranked it up to 11 giving us this detective twist. Genius right?
Maddie's Mayday Calls and Jennifer Love Hewitt's Take: "Feral Woman" Mode Activated
Those 911 calls in the episode? Seriously intense. Jennifer Love Hewitt was totally in her element. She said she was excited to film them thanking Tim Minear for always giving her these challenging storylines. Hewitt sees Maddie as a "feral woman" a "fighter" and "survivor". She feels Maddie is made for these crazy situations. And while they scare her "s---less" as she put it they are also "really fun" for her to play. She really goes all in on these emotional scenes.
Hewitt also shared a cool behind-the-scenes tidbit. For those phone call scenes she didn't actually hear the distorted voice of the kidnapper during filming. She had to imagine it all reacting to the script supervisor reading lines off-screen and Abigail Spencer played around with different deliveries to help set the mood when they filmed scenes together in the precinct before the big reveal. Talk about acting skills!
Mama Bear Mode and a Questionable Choice: Maddie's Killer Instinct Kicks In
One key moment in those calls? When the kidnapper mentions Maddie's daughter Jee-Yun. Hewitt said she felt strongly that line needed to be there to trigger Maddie's "mama bear" instincts. That threat against her child she believes is what pushes Maddie to make a drastic decision. And what is that decision? Maddie shockingly tells the caller he should end his own life to stop hurting people. Whoa.
Hewitt herself admits it was "crazy and not a well thought out decision". But she sees it as Maddie the survivor thinking she has to stop this killer from hurting anyone else even if it means saying something extreme. She also wonders how much that choice will haunt Maddie going forward. It's definitely a dark turn for her character and raises some big questions about her state of mind.
Detective Braeburn Unmasked: The Twist and What's Coming Next Episode
Let's talk about that ending. Maddie gets home things seem okay then BAM! Someone attacks her from behind. As she fades in and out of consciousness we see her assailant unmask and it's Detective Braeburn! The detective was the kidnapper all along! Jennifer Love Hewitt's reaction to this twist? "Wait what? No way! But also Yes way! Let’s have a drop dead gorgeous terrible person on TV . I love this!” She was as shocked and thrilled as we were.
Showrunner Tim Minear confirmed this detective twist was the plan from the start. And get ready because episode 10 is going to be even darker and more intense. Minear teases "Everything will be unearthed in the next episode. How involved is she? And why is she? And who was making those calls? All of that will be revealed." Hewitt adds it will be "torturous" and makes Maddie's previous kidnapping look like "a little stroll". They are promising a real "thriller" driven by "badass bitches" - their words! It sounds like we are in for a wild ride.
Eddie's Texas Two-Step: Will He Actually Leave the 118?
While Maddie's kidnapping is front and center don't forget about Eddie Diaz. He dropped a bomb in the midseason finale about moving to Texas to be closer to Christopher. Showrunner Tim Minear confirmed that Eddie is "dead serious" about this move and yes we WILL see Eddie and Christopher in Texas onscreen. So it looks like Eddie is actually going through with it.
What does this mean for 9-1-1? Well Buck is not happy about it at all. He tries to sabotage Eddie's plans at first showing some serious abandonment issues. But eventually Buck comes around and the friends reconcile. Even though Eddie is moving to Texas it sounds like it might not be permanent. Minear is keeping things vague teasing that Eddie might return making his time in Texas all the more meaningful.
Key Questions for 9-1-1 Episode 10:
- Why is Detective Braeburn the kidnapper? What's her motive?
- Who was making those creepy 911 calls? Was it Braeburn or someone else?
- How dark and intense will episode 10 get? Will Maddie survive this?
- Will Eddie actually stay in Texas long-term or will he return to the 118?
- How will Maddie's extreme decision in the phone call affect her moving forward?
Get Ready for Torture and Twists: 9-1-1 is Back and Not Holding Back
The 9-1-1 midseason premiere was definitely a shocker setting up a seriously intense storyline for Maddie and Chimney. Detective Braeburn's reveal as the kidnapper is a twist no one saw coming and Episode 10 promises to be even crazier. Plus Eddie's move to Texas adds another layer of drama to the mix. If you thought 9-1-1 was losing steam think again. This show knows how to keep us on the edge of our seats and we can't wait to see what happens next!