Station 19 season 7, episode 2, “Good Grief” balanced business as usual in the firehouse with new challenges, all bringing forward the stories of Station 19’s firefighters and their loved ones closest to the show’s end. Letting some time pass from the events of season 7’s premiere, Station 19 season 7, episode 2 centered much of its story on saying goodbye to Jack as a firefighter, having a final firehouse dinner together and showing the clinic open day, one of the projects Jack always cared about the most through the years.
From Jack’s insistence not to worry his firefighting family and even trying to avoid the dinner to a temporary lockdown due to a patient possibly carrying an infectious, lethal disease, Station 19 season 7, episode 2 was full of intense developments. Sully’s marriage proposals to Natasha continued and Maya and Carina finally received an answer about fostering Liam, although the future might hold some challenges, especially for Carina and her lawsuit. Andy continued to run the firehouse to the best of her ability in Station 19 season 7, episode 2, proving herself once again as the right choice for captain.
Jack’s Retirement Marks One Of Station 19’s Biggest Changes
Station 19 didn’t have such a central character leave since Pruitt Herrera
Station 19 season 7, episode 2 rightfully included an emotional ending that coincided with the firehouse’s final dinner for Jack after he emptied his locker and his signing the firehouse table, also signed by those who couldn’t be active firefighters anymore. Jack’s 19 family tried to look at the positive sides of retirement to cheer him up. However, Jack was struggling to adapt to his new reality, not wanting to worry them, but also not wanting to impose on them, despite him losing them just as much as they lost him in their daily work life.
Jack’s forced retirement is the biggest change among Station 19’s ranks since Pruitt’s retirement. While Andy was temporarily transferred to Station 23, her being moved as a punishment guaranteed she could have returned to her firehouse. Instead, Jack’s permanent condition stops his firefighting career, making the adjustment difficult for Jack, but also for Station 19 who always believed they could count on him. Although this doesn’t mean he won’t be part of Station 19 or its firefighters’ lives, it will still remove Jack from calls altogether, essentially destabilizing his life both through the new diagnosis and the forced career change.
Andy’s Determination Showed A Glimpse Of Her Future As Captain
Andy was tough but fair with Kate, Jack & Sully, being empathetic but firm
While learning about Jack’s scarred brain and handling the difficulties he had waking up from the surgery led Andy to struggle with what her new captain role required of her, Station 19 season 7, episode 2 showed Andy employing a different approach. Sully might have suggested a harder stance to Andy when she gave Kate the possibility to choose her tasks, but her toughness was never really in doubt just because Andy left Kate some choice, instead proving she could be firm in her decisions and simultaneously tactful.
Andy’s self-confidence throughout Station 19 season 7, episode 2 never wavered, and her decisions were firm even if previous captains didn’t think so. Despite feeling shattered by Jack not returning as a firefighter and almost tearing up as she relayed the decision, Andy still clearly explained to Jack why that was the case and didn’t let him change her mind. Similarly, Andy didn’t bend to Kate’s will by giving her options, because both tasks were still needed, and when Sully complained about overseeing the clinic, Andy didn’t let him back down, because it was her decision to make.
Travis’s Refusal To Leave Emmett With Eli Hints At Lingering Feelings
While he may love Eli, Travis still can’t let Emmett go
Emmett and Travis’s grief-induced hookup in Station 19 season 7’s premiere seemed impulsive, but doing so at Michael Dixon’s funeral wasn’t. Despite Travis and Emmett’s relationship being full of ups and downs in Station 19’s seven seasons, they always found their way to each other. Doing so while Travis dated Eli nevertheless resembled how Emmett and Travis met just like Emmett highlighted, and that it startled Travis doesn’t make it any less true.
Hearing the hard truth might have led Travis to have an epiphany about what to do. While he may very well choose to forget what happened with Emmett and avoid him, Station 19 season 7, episode 3’s synopsis mentioning Travis and Eli being at a crossroads hints at Travis finally coming clean. Eli and Travis breaking up might be a possibility, but Travis having feelings for both men suggests other alternatives might be more likely, whether they were to include polyamory or Travis starting a new relationship with either of them being honest from the beginning.
Beckett’s Return Redeems His Station 19 Season 6 Behavior
Vic’s Crisis One proposal offers him even more chances to help the community
Vic accompanying Beckett to his uncle’s wake proved a minefield for his alcohol addiction, but one he overcame brilliantly despite the difficult hurdles. Sean’s steadiness in facing his family’s problematic behaviors and never hesitating to do the right thing for him despite being often challenged to stray convinced Vic he truly was better. Vic’s offer to run Crisis One with her wasn’t one of pity as she reaffirmed when Sean objected, but a result of seeing him handle his difficult family in the best possible way and with calm.
Beckett’s presence during Jack’s last dinner as a firefighter at the firehouse quietly hinted that he might be willing to take her up on her proposal, putting his newfound clarity and skills to good use. This could redeem Beckett from his Station 19 season 6 story arc that led to one of his oldest mentees dying as a result of his negligence, finally letting him feel better while also doing good for the community the firehouse serves
Carina’s Clinic Managing Convinced Her Patient She Should Sue Her
While it hasn’t impacted the fostering, it can impact Maya & Carina adopting Liam
The events during the clinic day at Station 19 were extreme enough to forget about the patient explicitly wanting to see Carina to be treated, but Station 19 season 7, episode 2’s ending quickly explained the reason behind her and Carina’s odd interaction. While the patient’s behavior seemed weird and confusing, knowing that she was about to serve Carina with a lawsuit explained her insistence by pointing out Carina forgot about her.
Carina having to ignore her because of the dengue fever patient only confirmed to the patient she was right to pursue a lawsuit, as Carina didn’t remember her and didn’t even examine her in the mayhem of the firehouse lockdown. While the lawsuit evidently didn’t stop them from fostering, it might still lead to Carina and Maya not being Liam’s adoptive parents in the long run. The development highlights how Carina will need Maya’s support even more, as she’ll have to face a lawsuit while simultaneously learning how to parent their foster child.
Sully Continuing To Ask Natasha To Marry Him Might Break Them
Her hesitancy shows they’re in different places in their relationship
Station 19 season 6’s ending established Natasha and Sully’s deep love for each other and commitment to be together in the open. However, Sully’s insistence on asking Natasha to marry him, having already done so twice in Station 19 season 7, episodes 1 and 2, might hurt their relationship as a result. Natasha’s opposition to Sully’s marriage proposal in Station 19 season 7’s premiere was motivated by a valid reason as it stemmed from a thorough analysis of their behaviors, which often included impulsive life-changing love declarations.
Sully’s continued proposals might seem romantic, but they also routinely ignore Natasha’s points, as he asked her again to be his wife in Station 19 season 7, episode 2 without addressing her worries. Both Sully and Natasha have shown to be prone to grand romantic gestures without the work to back them up, making Natasha’s hesitancy to say yes legitimate. Sully not addressing what Natasha brought up only to repeatedly ask her to marry him shows he hasn’t really listened to her, and this would be a very bad starting point for their marriage.
Jack’s Reliance On Marsha Shows He Won’t Lose Himself Despite Losing His Career
Jack resisted going to the dinner but wasn’t alone at Station 19 season 7, episode 2’s end
Jack learning about his retirement from Chief Ross and Andy showed him visibly shaken, even if he tried to tone his sadness down with the other firefighters by saying he was okay. However, despite being inevitably deeply affected by the news, his words might still hold the truth. After all, he didn’t want to bother Station 19’s firefighters with the dinner, but he also didn’t choose to be alone, dining with Marsha instead.
Jack’s past proved his tendency to isolate himself from those who cared about him when suffering, as finding out the truth about his biological family proved. However, joining Marsha for dinner in Station 19 season 7, episode 2 marked a difference from his past behaviors, showing Jack accepted help and companionship from someone who loved him even if he didn’t want to impose on his firefighter family. This can only hint at Jack’s better handling of this major change in the future, hopefully letting him find peace even without firefighting.
Maya & Carina Being Approved To Foster Just Hinted At How Their Story Will End
Maya is finally happy with her job & might become a captain again, but not now
Maya might have needed more time to wrap her head around parenting, but once she did in Station 19 season 6’s finale, she truly was all in. Her reaction to picking up Liam in Station 19 season 7, episode 2 proved it, as she was just as boundlessly happy as Carina, and wanted it as much as her wife did.
Maya and Carina finally left their marriage problems in the past in Station 19 season 6’s finale, with Maya realizing she wanted to put their relationship before her career. However, her unflinching confidence in proposing to adopt Liam also suggests her happy ending in Station 19 will consist of her and Carina’s family. Such an outcome wouldn’t stop Maya from becoming a captain in the future, as she could be an amazing one in the right mindset, but the events in Station 19 season 6 showed Maya what really mattered to her, making her finally prioritize her well-being and Carina.
