9-1-1 Season 9 Premiere Recap: Athena's Grief Sends Her Spiraling... Into Space! Plus, Why Is Buck Jealous?

Not unlike a character Angela Bassett once portrayed on the big screen, Athena Grant desperately needs to get her groove back.

We don't mean romantically, of course. Like the rest of the 118, she's still heartbroken over Bobby's death when 9-1-1 Season 9 picks up after a six-month time jump. But personally and professionally, our girl is definitely off her game. For starters, a sting operation on which she's been working tirelessly gets snatched away from her by the FBI. And just to add insult to injury, the timing of said sting requires Athena to miss Bobby's plaque dedication ceremony at the firehouse. (What, the FBI couldn't have called her ahead of time? Come on, help a widow out!)

Athena's troubles continue at home, where she's shocked to discover that Harry has dropped out of high school and is now working at a coffee shop. She's furious, as any mama bear would be, but Harry and May basically tell her that she only has herself to blame for not knowing sooner. Athena has apparently been a bit checked out in the months following her husband's untimely demise, with Harry telling her, "You haven't been our mother since Bobby died." Ouch.

Already feeling like life is slipping through her fingers, Athena is further disturbed by a welfare check that hits a little too close to home. The woman in question, who is presumed dead until she suddenly jolts awake when least expected, feels like some sort of cautionary tale. By all accounts, this woman had a full life before she and her husband experienced a stillbirth, which caused her to slip into a depression from which neither she nor her life ever recovered. Could this be Athena's own future?

Not so fast, Hen says, reminding Athena that she's surrounded by people who love her. The problem is that Athena struggles to even spend time around the people who loved Bobby. All she wants is to talk to him again, and she knows she never will. Fortunately, Athena is always willing to look for the light, or in this case, a sign, telling Hen that she'll say yes to the next big opportunity that comes her way... which is how Hen and Athena end up in flight suits at the end of the episode.

So, how did we get from Point A to Point WTF? Earlier in the premiere, the 118 rescues hot-shot billionaire Tripp Houser (Riverdale's Mark Consuelos) from the mouth of a humpback whale — which just skyrocketed to the top of our list of reasons to never go kayaking. Anyway, Chimney's quick-thinking, Eddie's stunning diving form and Hen's CPR skills get the job done, and a grateful Tripp offers a sizable donation to the LAPD... on one condition.

In order for the department to get its hands on Tripp's evil billionaire money, Hen must take part in his upcoming space launch, alongside a guest of her choosing. Karen, the literal rocket scientist in the Wilson family, is obviously Hen's first choice, but her wife simply can't reconcile her own serious science career with Tripp's deeply unserious approach. So now we can jump back to Athena telling Hen that she'll say yes to the next opportunity that comes her way — and guess who just so happens to need a space buddy!

And it's not like Hen doesn't have plenty of other willing participants to choose from, with the the guys practically bending over backwards to earn that second seat. Eddie even has a ridiculous alien costume for the occasion! Alas, it's Athena who's on the greatest emotional journey right now — and in the world of 9-1-1, those journeys sometimes lead to outer space.

Other premiere developments we must discuss...

* The Robert Wade Nash Memorial Station?! "This is Bobby's house"?! Oh, just rip our hearts out, why don't you!

* Chimney is currently serving as the 118's interim captain, but that has to change soon, right? We all heard his speech in the Season 8 finale, not to mention his beautiful tribute at Bobby's dedication. That job should be his.

* In #Buddie news, while Chimney marveled at how great Hen and Eddie are getting along as new partners, Buck was stewing in the corner with Ravi, claiming it's "weird" how quickly they clicked. "Usually when you start working with new people, it takes a while to get used to each other, to find the rhythm," he whined. Ravi tried to remind Buck that Hen and Eddie have been working together for years, but there was no point. Jealousy is Buck's love language. Don't even get Buck started on Hen and Eddie going to the movies together!

* Did you also think Athena was on a real date (not a fake-out for her sting) at the top of the hour? And were you fully prepared to riot if so?

* Speaking of Athena, her new apartment may be swanky, but it doesn't really feel like somewhere she would live, does it? Then again, it also doesn't feel like somewhere Bobby would live, and maybe that's the whole point.

* Can every episode include a scene with Buck confessing his innermost feelings to Baby Bobby? That was pretty adorable.

Your thoughts on Part 1 of 9-1-1's out-of-this-world premiere? What are your predictions and hopes for Part 2 and beyond? Grade the episode in our poll below, then drop a comment with your full review.