Overview
- Episode 5 uses the holiday setting to deepen Season 9’s ongoing themes of grief, legacy, and personal belief, with Eddie’s reflections foregrounded.
- A mystery in Buck’s new house resolves with a grounded explanation that prompts an act of compassion meant to honor Bobby’s influence.
- Athena and Harry’s family tensions escalate over his firefighting ambitions, with emotions sharpened by the meaning attached to Bobby’s gear.
- The installment balances character beats with offbeat emergencies, including a runaway inflatable, a headless-horseman mishap, and an exorcism that has a medical twist.
- Critics say the series is leaning heavily on mourning arcs, noting concerns about repetitive tone and limited Buck–Eddie interaction as the midseason break approaches.