One of the Best TV Episodes Ever

 

I’ve been talking up the 911 on Fox episode of April 27, 2020. It ranks in my top three episodes ever on a TV show. Buck, a firefighter, made a daring rescue and wanted to celebrate. He is still pining over his former girlfriend. Everyone at the station had plans, most with significant others, which he does not have. He went to a bar and sat next to a retired firefighter, Red, who was always consumed by his job. They became friends. Buck went to Red’s home and saw a photo of a woman from a long time ago. He inquired about her. Buck ends up finding out that her spouse died. He takes Red to her home to get them reacquainted. It turns out she has Alzheimer's and didn’t recognize him. He was kicked out. Red is mad at Buck. He has mesothelioma and a heart attack and goes to the hospital. Red, who has no one in his life, eventually forgives Buck. Red advised Buck all along, don’t work too hard and don’t have any regrets. When the man is discharged, in dramatic fashion, Buck arranges for firefighters to stand at the exit and salute and applaud his way to a seat on a fire truck, one last time before he died. The song, "Keep Me In Your Heart," by Warren Zevon, which I had never heard, is playing. I’ve played it numerous times a day since. Shouldn’t all of our heroes be recognized that way?

My other two favorites are M*A*S*H when the doctors arrange the clock so the soldier doesn’t die on Christmas Day so that his family won’t always have to remember that. And on Northern Exposure when Holling arranges a Christmas mass for his girlfriend, Shelly, though they were an odd couple. She was dejected that she wouldn’t have her childhood memories. They were in Alaska. She walks to a little church and it is aglow with candles and Hollings steps out singing Ave Maria.