Wow, this show never slows down for a minute, huh?

Fresh off an exhilarating freshman season, 9-1-1 Season 2 Episode 1 comes back guns blazing with a series of crazy emergencies that throw our favorites right into the fire. Well, not a literal fire but you know what I mean!

Grenades? Yes. Severed Limbs? Of course. A head cemented into a microwave? Obviously. Would it really be 9-1-1 without this level of disaster?

Within the first few minutes of the hour, there are a series of accidents that enlist the help of LA's finest, and they really come through in the clutch. Most notable being the severed limb Buck fishes out of a pool, for a man who got a little to close to a manhole.

Much like 9-1-1 Season 1, the series doesn't shy away from the gore or the behind-the-scenes horror that some shows don't have the time to explore. Take for instance the scene in which newcomer Eddie and Buck are tasked with removing a live grenade from an overzealous former teacher.

Eddie goes into intimate detail about the intricacies of the grenade and everything that must be done to ensure that everyone leaves this situation in one piece. It's a great scene with a tremendous amount of tension, interspersed with some light humor and a lot of heart.

Eddie: What's your problem man?
Buck: Okay. You. You're my problem. Your comfort level. You're, you're not just supposed to just walk in here like you've been here for years. It's meant to be a getting to know you period. You're meant to respect your elders.
Chimney: You're not his elder, Buck.

Permalink: You're not his elder, Buck.

For a premiere that introduced some new characters and potentially said goodbye to others, it really just felt like an ordinary few days in Los Angeles.

Buck is still Buck. Loving on himself and Abby, as he is want to do. But now his sister is in town, and she's not in town to just check in on her devilish little brother.

When the Jennifer Love Hewitt casting broke, I think we were all wondering just how she would fit into the narrative that had already been woven. Would she be a new police officer? Perhaps a new firefighter at the station? Or even a new love interest for Buck.

But then the news broke that she'd be Buck's sister, and you probably started to wonder just how would she organically fit in? Instead of just already having her conveniently be a 9-1-1 operator, it was a nice touch to have her be a nurse that still wanted to use her skills but be a little less visible.

Having her become an operator will certainly seem like she's the Connie Britton replacement, but I never once thought about her or Abby throughout this premiere.

Will she be missed? Of course. But Jennifer Love Hewitt is a seasoned television veteran, and from the minute Buck awkwardly saw his sister in the shower, I was interested to see what she was all about.

Maddie: But you're still together?
Buck: Yeah. I mean, I mean she said I should, you know, do whatever I wanted while she was away. But what I want is for her to come back. I like the me that I am with her.

Permalink: Yeah. I mean, I mean she said I should, you know, do whatever I wanted while she was away....

There's a joke about everyone assuming that Abby broke up with Buck and him not realizing it yet, which I expect to run for some time. Honestly, I'm okay with single Buck, but it does suck that we won't get to explore more of the Buck and Abby dynamic because it really was a highlight of the first season.

But if Buck and Abby are flailing, Bobby and Athena are rising higher and higher.

Bobby: How long are we supposed to sneak around like this? Because I'm not going to be satisfied with stolen kisses and take-out containers. I don't like keeping us a secret. It feels like lying.
Athena: You kept your secret about your past from everyone else for years.

Permalink: You kept your secret about your past from everyone else for years.

That first date we saw at the end of 9-1-1 Season 1 Episode 10 clearly went well, as four months into the future the twosome are live tweeting Claws together and making out in broad daylight.

Athena's apprehension to go public with her new beau makes a lot of sense when you think about what she's been through. She's afraid, and she's guarded. She's feeling the emotions many women feel after they've gone through a breakup, especially if you're re-entering the dating scene after a long layoff.

But Bobby also makes sense, and it's understandable why he wants to be public. After being unhappy for so long, he's finally happy, and he's not afraid to show the world that he's happy.

I'm glad that Michael was the one to get through to Athena and allow her to see that what she was doing was okay. All of the characters have been through the ringer, but Athena especially deserves some happiness. And she's never smiled more than she smiled when she was around Bobby.

As much as the action and crazy rescues are embedded into the fabric of this show, it's the little moments like Chimney lamenting over his chances to make it into a calendar and Buck sizing up the new guy, that truly make this show such a joy to watch.

Loose Ends

Eddie seems like a good guy and a good fit at the station. Having him and Buck be at odds for episodes on end would have gotten stale fast, so having them find some common ground early was nice to see.

Of all the emergencies, the head in the cement was the one that made me scratch my head the most. I know people will do just about anything to go viral nowadays but really?

It feels like the LA earthquake is going to have a ripple effect that will be felt throughout this entire season and I can not wait!

Alright guys, now it's time to throw it over to you! What did you think about 'Under Pressure'? Do you like the new characters thus far? What are your hoping to see this season?

Make sure you leave your comments down below and watch 9-1-1 online via TV Fanatic right this minute before 9-1-1 Season 2 Episode 2 premieres real soon!