Station 19 Season 2 Episode 16 Review: For Whom The Bell Tolls
Jasmine Blu
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Funerals for servicemen and women are as beautiful as they are tragic.
Lucas Ripley was laid to rest on Station 19 Season 2 Episode 16, and the crew handled it in different ways.
Naturally, Vic had the hardest time of all of them.
It was a few days after Ripley's tragic death, and the station was gearing up for his funeral, but Vic was adamant about not attending.
Both sides of this were understandable. Travis and everyone else knew she should attend for some form of closure, and they didn't want their friend to do something she would regret.
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It would be her time to say goodbye to him and have the support of others who loved him too. She couldn't get the closure she needed if she was in denial though.
Travis being the one to spearhead most of the prodding and pushing was suitable for many reasons. For starters, he's her best friend and knows her best, but also he has experience with losing the person whom he loved most in the world.
However, when Vic went into explaining why she felt the way she did, her reasoning had some legs. She didn't know what she was to Ripley. She knew how much Ripley loved her and how he wanted to marry her, but she was also a secret from the rest of the world.
Montgomery: Vic, you have to go to the funeral.
Vic: No I don't.
Montgomery: Yes, you do. You can't just skip it.
Their relationship was a secret from the majority of the people they knew. Most of the unit and others didn't know about it until Ripley was in the hospital. She didn't have an official title, and in the aftermath of his death, she didn't know what her place was.
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Funerals put things into perspective because of the various protocols.
She wasn't his wife, so she didn't feel right planning the funeral all the fire stations in Seattle would be in attendance of, and she didn't feel right sitting in the first row reserved for Ripley's family.
She had a bit of an identity crisis in the middle of her grief. It kept driving her to the one place she felt as though she had a semblance of the life they were supposed to have. She went to their diner where their favorite server thought of her as one half of the happily married couple.
The funeral reminded Vic of how she lost Ripley before they could have the next stage of their life together. She was in limbo. When she put it that way, it compounded her grief and explained why she felt as she did.
Travis: Trust me when you lose a spouse--
Vic: I didn't lose a spouse. We never got married. I didn't get to lose a spouse.
Her friends had to walk a fine line between being supportive of her and pushing her away. Sometimes their constant prying and checking in was overbearing for her. People grieve differently, and you cannot impose your way of grieving onto someone else.
It would get frustrating if someone routinely told you to go home if what you needed most was to work and distract yourself. It's annoying if someone keeps asking you if you're OK when they know the truth.
The turning point for Vic came in the form of Levi making a cameo appearance and bringing her a replica of the bouquet Ripley was getting for her the day he collapsed.
Levi is such a sweetie, and it was touching for him to do that. It made me misty-eyed. The action put into perspective how Ripley did intend to spend the rest of his life with her.
Fortunately, Jennifer was less of a jerk during this hour, and she wanted Vic there with her too. She wasn't excluding her from the process, and she wanted her right beside her. Not only did Vic get to walk in and walk down the aisle with Jennifer, but she got to sit beside her in the front row like she would have if she were Ripley's wife.
Vic, he would've wanted you there. I need you to be there. I need you by my side.
Jen
It's what Ripley would've wanted. I'm so happy she made it to the funeral because of it being a beautiful affair. The bagpipes and everyone dressed in their uniforms and saluting are stunning, but the bells are chilling.
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The bells rattle your bones. Sullivan had no idea what to say at the funeral, but after seeking advice from Travis and Andy, he opted to speak from his heart. His words were perfect.
It's interesting how surprised Andy is that other people see the sparks flying between her and Sullivan. How can she be so blind to them? Ryan threw her off when he mentioned it, and then he blindsided her again with the news he may be leaving for a new job opportunity.
The casual way he told her may have made her think about how they aren't as close with one another anymore. Andy has a way of taking Ryan's presence for granted and then being shocked when she doesn't know what's going on with him.
Ryan's news was unsettling for Andy, but is it because of her lingering feelings for him or something else? It's hard to determine.
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Andy also reached a point where she could speak to Maya again, and it seems the friendship is back on track. After Ripley's funeral, and knowing what Sullivan said about getting to make things right before it was too late, the girls' spat was silly.
Maya apologized again for not telling Andy the truth, and Andy accepted Maya dating Jack and even claimed she would be OK if Jack came by. It's progress, and I'm pleased the women reached a mature resolution.
Maya and Jack are a legitimate couple now. They make each other happy, and whatever is going on with them, it works. It's funny how Miller played a wise relationship expert and helped the two of them work through their issues.
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Miller waxing poetic about sea anemonies was a bit much, but it's part of his charm. He also knows a bit about what's he talking about with his new relationship with Nicki who is the perfect fit for him and gets along with the group.
Overall, Maya and Jack are more entertaining than Jack and Andy, and their relationship brings about different sides to both of them we haven't seen. Maya's uncontrollable crying, for example, was unexpected but a softer side to her we don't see often.
Of all the team members, Travis is the one I'm most worried about at the moment. He did his damn best trying to help Vic through her grief. He's an incredible friend.
We miss you Luke, we wish you didn't have to leave us so soon. But since you did, you had to, you need to know. We're all good. You were so good.
Sullivan
The relationship between the two of them is one of the best dynamics on the series. Travis was willing to be Vic's punching bag; he wanted her to take everything out of him to make herself feel better.
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Vic didn't lash out on him as much as she could have; she barely did it at all. However, she commented on how he still wears his wedding ring years later.
It's something which got in the way of his relationship with Grant too. Between Vic's comment and Sullivan's eulogy, Travis took his wedding band off. It's a significant moment for him, but it didn't feel like progress based on his behavior at the bar.
Travis mentioned before how his way of grieving his husband included sleeping with other people and some other behavior which could pose a problem.
He must have been triggered by the funeral; he got super drunk and didn't want to stop even at Ben's suggestion. He was on his way to picking up that douchebag with the pornstar mustache too had the guy not made those inappropriate comments about Vic.
Travis' emotions and the alcohol got the better of him, and he started a whole brawl with this guy. While I hope he won, his behavior is disconcerting. It seems like he may be heading down a dark path.
It's like the funeral and death prompted reopened old wounds and trauma, and with that, Travis may be slipping back into some bad habits.
Vic found a bit of closure and some peace in her sweet scene at the diner speaking to the waiter who always served her and Ripley, but Travis is the one who may be spiraling. Isn't it crazy how grief and trauma work?
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The funeral and those adjacent to it took up most of the hour, so there was only one call. It was harrowing for Andy and Ben, and it's always a treat when Ben gets to apply his knowledge as a surgeon to his work out in the field.
He's going to kick butt in his newest career.
Over to you, Station 19 Fanatics! Did Ripley's funeral make you emotional? Did you love Levi's cameo?
Do you think Andy still has feelings for Ryan? Are Jack and Maya a real couple now? Is Travis headed down a dark path? Hit the comments below.
If you missed anything, you can watch Station 19 online here via TV Fanatic!
Jasmine Blu is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. She is an insomniac who spends late nights and early mornings binge-watching way too many shows and binge-drinking way too much tea. Her eclectic taste makes her an unpredictable viewer with an appreciation for complex characters, diverse representation, dynamic duos, compelling stories, and guilty pleasures. You'll definitely find her obsessively live-tweeting, waxing poetic, and chatting up fellow Fanatics and readers. Follow her on X.
