'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
9-1-1 season 8 premiered episode 12, Disconnected, on ABC on March 27, 2025. In this episode, Maddie Buckley began working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher again after surviving the kidnapping incident.
She found returning to work more challenging than expected because a panic attack during a distress call showed she wasn't ready to come back yet. Eddie Diaz developed new challenges after exiting the 118 fire station and living in El Paso, Texas.
When Eddie's department closed all recruitment, he turned to rideshare driver work to help his son, Christopher. The show revealed his emotional challenge and the strain of maintaining appearances, leading to a heartwarming reunion with Christopher.
Trending
In 2018, Fox started airing 9-1-1, a procedural drama developed by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear. The show follows Los Angeles emergency crews who manage public safety crises while undergoing professional and personal growth.
9-1-1 season 8 episode 12 recap
Maddie's return to work
Following her five-week recovery period after getting kidnapped, Maddie Buckley restarted her 9-1-1 dispatcher job as she tried to regain her old routine. Even though nightmares kept bothering her, she believed that returning to her job would help her recover from her PTSD condition.
When Maddie returned to work, she developed PTSD symptoms that displayed themselves through bad dreams and psychogenic aphonia that were set off by emotional stress. The symptoms made it hard for her to proceed at work.
During her duties, Maddie answered an emergency call from Chance, who told her that his father just collapsed while fighting a fire at home. However, during the call, she had a panic attack; Maddie lost her voice and needed Josh's help to guide the boy to safety.
Eddie's new life in Texas
In 9-1-1 season 8 episode 12, Eddie Diaz moved to Texas hoping to become a firefighter, with a strong endorsement from Bobby Nash, his past captain. However, the department system freeze stopped Eddie from receiving onboarding opportunities, so he started looking for other ways to support his son Christopher.
Eddie sold his truck for a more economical car to compensate for his lack of funds and started work as a rideshare driver. Eddie's new job made active tasks challenging, as he struggled to maintain relationships with colleagues while pretending to his family that he was still a firefighter.
Other subplots of the 9-1-1 season 8 episode 12
In 9-1-1 season 8 episode 12, the show subplot focused on Ozzy, a pizza delivery driver. A car accident caused Ozzy to crash through the bottom floor of a garage, with his vehicle still hanging from the top level.
The 118 team reached the scene, and firefighter Howard "Chimney" Han gave Ozzy instructions that helped him escape from the vehicle through the trunk.
The show featured an important meeting between Athena Grant and Maddie Buckley. Since Athena noticed Maddie was still dealing with lingering trauma from her ordeal, she made a house call. Athena told Maddie how strong she was during their conversation and offered emotional guidance.
How did the episode conclude?
The 9-1-1 season 8 episode 12 ended with Maddie and Eddie having personal self-growth. During a panic moment at the playground when Maddie briefly lost sight of her daughter Jee-Yun, Maddie regained her speech after mind trauma caused by psychogenic aphonia.
The unforgettable moment helped her resume her job duties, proving she had overcome her hardships.
At the same time, Eddie came to terms with his situation. He had been grappling with job insecurity and the challenges of supporting his son, Christopher, in Texas.
During their talk, Christopher told his dad he felt proud of him, no matter what kind of work he was doing. Eddie and Christopher's sincere talk deepened their connection as Eddie discovered a new direction in life.
Watch new episodes of 9-1-1 season 8 on ABC.
