On a record-breaking hot day, the Travis County Fair experiences bizarre storm systems. Meanwhile, Owen learns a nasty secret about a bikers’ group he recently joined; Tommy has a equally bizarre series of meet-cutes with a newcomer and his daughter while on call at the fair; and as he and TK plan their wedding, Carlos reunites with someone from his past.
Tropes:
- All Bikers are Hells Angels: Judd has this impression about the group Owen met with, but some of their members are in fact retired/ current first responders.
- A Nazi by Any Other Name: After the terrible meeting at the bar, an upset Owen bemoans not noticing the Honor Dogs’ neo-Nazi features and compares the event to the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.
- Badass Biker: After season 3, Owen is revealed to have joined a biker’s gang known as the Honor Dogs, having acquired a motorcycle and excitedly talking about getting initiated. The excitement is significantly dampened after he hears the participants espouse anti-establishment comments and sees what the initiation ceremony entails, though.
- The Bus Came Back: While Michelle is away on an outreach trip to Ecuador, Carlos learns that Iris is still living in Texas and is in fact now an employee at Sanctuary Hearts.
- Continuity Nod:
- The close-up shot of Carlos’ unmoving yet nervous demeanor as he waits at the fire station for both the truck and ambulance to return from the fairground is framed similarly to TK’s own fidgety anxiety when waiting for the team’s return in “Austin, We Have a Problem”.
- In Carlos’ explanation as to why he married Iris, a major reason was his parents’ radio silence about his coming-out, which he told TK about back in “Friends with Benefits”.
- Iris and Carlos fondly reminisce about the latter being Michelle’s arresting officer, hearkening back to the sisters’ talk at the hospital in “Austin, We Have a Problem”.
- Owen quips that the last time he befriended someone (Billy Tyson, not in so many words), the latter almost took his position as fire captain, then shut down and nearly demolished the 126 firehouse.
- Cliffhanger: At the end of the episode, Owen answers a knock at the door to find a blonde and no-nonsense FBI agent who immediately recruits him into an undercover investigation of the Honor Dogs— the very same bikers’ gang he bailed on.
- Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Judd wonders if the people in his life moving on with their own ones have left Owen feeling like this. Owen denies this, chalking it up to loneliness, but the melancholy in his voice might imply it being both things.
- Exposition Cut: After Carlos pulls TK aside to talk about his “marriage”, the scene cuts to them in the bunk room with TK pacing and processing.
- Heat Wave: Travis County experiences a few days of record-breaking heat; by the time of the nighttime fairground emergencies, the temperature has increased to the point of melting (ice cream, butter sculptures, and the structure of a port-a-potty) or overheating (metal objects and a Ferris wheel control panel’s wiring) multiple objects and causing several cases of heat stroke among the fairgoers.
- Human Shield: While taking the ticket attendant to the ambulance, the 126 firefighters have to form this around her when the rain turns to gorilla hail.
- Internal Reveal: Carlos informs TK about his deeper connection to the Blake sisters beyond being Michelle’s friend and arresting officer.
- My Fist Forgives You: After excitedly hugging Carlos, Iris slaps him hard for not checking in earlier. She threatens to hit him again when he tries to apologize.
- Oops! I Forgot I Was Married: After he’s informed by a wedding venue that he and TK earned a reservation, Carlos has a look of worried realization. Andrea is quick to deduce what brought it on and exasperatedly tells her son to inform TK— it’s later revealed to concern his official marriage.
- Put on a Bus: During Owen and Judd’s passing discussion about the Honor Dogs, Catherine is mentioned to have moved to Washington, D.C. for a job offer.
- Rain of Something Unusual: The first storm system involves a mixture of heavy rain and… well, frogs; the next a passing gorilla hailstorm. By the next weather forecast, Paul is unappreciative of the Bible similarities.
- Paul: If [the forecaster] says “swarm of locusts” next, I’m out.
- Trevor and his daughter Melody are caught in this storm system at the start of the episode, with the former nearly swallowing one of those frogs when calling 9-1-1.
- Recurring Extra: Brianna and Caleb are among the fairgoers during the evening’s heat wave.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Owen and Judd are visibly uncomfortable with the neo-Nazi rhetoric and white supremacist comments they hear when chatting up Red and Mikey. Then the crowd starts cheering for Mikey’s initiation and raise their arms to show off a branded swastika-esque symbol, and Judd is the first person out the door with Owen right behind him.
- Shipper on Deck: Tommy’s budding attraction to Trevor after the rescue from the Ferris wheel is not unnoticed by Nancy, who convinces her captain to turn around and ask him on a (play)date.
- Shout-Out: Paul and Marjan compare one of the first storm systems that rained frogs to Sharknado, while Judd refers to the Book of Exodus.
- Wham Line: A deep-cut exchange to season 1 regarding Carlos and the depths of his relationships with the Blake sisters:
- Carlos: You remember Captain Blake?TK: Wait, waitwait— Michelle Blake is your wife?Carlos: Michelle is my sister-in-law. I’m married to Iris.
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You Look Familiar: How Tommy is introduced to Trevor in the episode after the frog rainstorm.- The rain has let up, and Trevor and Melody decide to go back to the Travis County fair for a do-over… until the heat wave causes the control panel for the Ferris wheel to malfunction, leaving them trapped near the top. They’re both rescued, and Tommy and Trevor are surprised to recognize each other in the medical tent.
- With the retiring of their recent reverend, a new member steps in to preach his own greeting— and Tommy is shocked to see that it’s Trevor.Tommy: Oh my Lord.Grace: (whispering) What is it?Tommy: I made a pass at my pastor.
