Amac Productions

Carina put her ring back on!

Carina moved home!

Maya chose Carina and her mental health state instead of being captain or fighting through more chaos!

GAH!

So much to talk about! Let’s dive right in!

First things, first!

I know a lot of people are ragging on Carina for being too harsh at the beginning of the episode, but I disagree. For Carina, this was like living with her father.

Both Maya and Vincenzo denied their mental health, letting themselves spiral out of control.

For Maya, she ended up in the hospital.

For Vincenzo, he killed people he operated on.

Both put Carina down in their effort to escape the truth. Instead of looking at themselves, they blamed Carina, or played the victim.

For Carina, neither home was safe.

I don’t think what she said was unfounded at all.

I actually think Carina was right.

After Maya put herself in the hospital and was forced to come to terms with her trauma, things have been better in her life.

Beckett was gone. He wasn’t making her miserable at work any longer.

She revealed the truth about bringing him the bottle of booze.

Her return to work was relatively welcomed and easy. She had a new captain in Theo that she could trust and respect.

Life has been smooth since her meltdown.

Yes, Carina was in danger.

But it was one moment. One thing that passed without a huge issue for them.

Maya has been working on her life to be more peaceful, more calm. To be present for herself, her wife, and the future they want.

But Maya’s newfound calm hasn’t been tested.

Not until this episode.

Not until she had the chance to step forward for captain and didn’t take it.

And we know based on a previous conversation with Carina that she still wants the job.

But she knows this will be absolute chaos. She’d be against Andy. Again. Theo is slowly losing his mind over everything and this is going to be picking a fight with him.

And that doesn’t even cover the massive amounts of history and anger between her and Sullivan.

This will be a bloodbath.

And Maya wants no part.

She even says it to Jack. She’s happy not to be in the feud. She’s at peace with her choice.

Do I still think she got the short end of the stick? Yes.

Am I proud of her for recognizing what she needs right now? Yes.

I’m also proud of her for not making this choice about Carina either.

While I do agree that what Warren said has some merit. That Carina is what she wants most in the world. I don’t think this choice not to step forward was all about Carina.

She didn’t mention it to Carina or discuss.

Maya made this choice for herself.

Right now, she’s not ready for this. Right now, she doesn’t want to be in the center of chaos. She wants to focus on getting healthy and being there for her wife. Her priority is not work right now. Maybe – one day – she’ll have another chance. But she’s accepted that right now is not the right time for her.

That’s some growth right there.

Le sigh. And while I know this will never happen, because this is Station 19, and not a fair and just world by any means, I wish Ross would give it to Maya anyway.

That scene where Andy, Theo, and Sullivan are fighting like little kids proves none of them are right for this role. Pretending otherwise is foolish. Thinking Andy had actually grown and would prove to be the right fit, finally was a mistake on my part. Nothing has changed.

Funnily enough, the right person for the job – doesn’t want it.

It should be Maya, given that she’s the only lieutenant acting like a responsible human being.

I digress, I’m not here to discuss my issues with the show as a whole.

Carina.

I love that Warren and Bailey have been a guiding light throughout this, for Carina and Maya.

And I even loved his little interference with Ross. And that Ross could stop hating Maya long enough to tell the truth and smile at Carina with it.

It was nice to see what we’ve all known since season four.

Maya would burn her career to the ground for Carina.

I know Carina doesn’t see it, because we get to see things she doesn’t. But it was nice that someone finally told Carina – in story – that Maya loves her beyond anything else.

And for her to believe it.

Carina needed a sign.

Something to tell her, this calm, peaceful Maya won’t return to an angry, spiteful Maya when things are perfect at work.

Welp, nothing is perfect at work right now.

For Maya – though – it doesn’t matter.

Her wife and her are slowly reconnecting.

She understands herself better.

I loved that Maya agreed to go home after her spin cycle. (Hilarious BTW.) Another perfect – yet small – example of her growth. She didn’t argue or fight back, she agreed, and got ready to go home. Loved it.

If there was one thing I wish, is that the directors would care as much as Danielle and Stefania do, and had the sense to show Carina putting the ring back on!

I’m convinced that she did it while she was waiting for Maya outside the bathroom.

Which is whole layers of cute! Because it means she’s had her ring the whole time. She’s been carrying it around, waiting and hoping for the right moment to come along so she could put it back on! My goodness, that’s some A plus romantic OTP shit right there.

Why couldn’t we have had a decent angle of that? Huh?

Then the entire moment with her and Maya following her exit from the bathroom was so sweet.

However, I needed that scene to be so much longer!

The end of the episode felt like it was trying to cover so many things in such a short amount of time, that Maya and Carina felt a little lost in the shuffle.

Yet another reason why we need a few less main characters, or just give Maya and Carina spin off of their own. Please and thank you.

Someone on Tumblr mentioned that they thought the towel slipped during that scene and it speaks to the level of comfort between the two actresses that they just kept going. Although, I have a sneaky suspicion that Stefania may have ad-libed a little there. At the end of the scene it felt like Danielle and Stefania being silly and comfortable together.

Their chemistry translates so well on screen.

And they are talented women.

Danielle played Maya’s hesitant excitement over Carina wanting to come home with her. And then her full on happiness was amazing.

Side note – another thing I saw people complaining about is that Carina said she was traumatized by their home the last time we saw her and that this seems too soon.

I somewhat disagree.

This is TV so things are always a little rushed, especially since we’re one episode from the finale now. So yes, a little odd.

Overall, it still fits well.

Carina was upset.

But Maya was there during that.

Maya held her. She promised to do better. She keeps showing up, time and time again.

Carina – in that scene – finally let out her fears. Let out how alone and afraid she was without Maya. That she wants to be Maya’s safe space.

Maya agreed.

She didn’t fight back or deny that she messed up. She promised she would do better from now on. And she’s proved that with every action.

Especially turning down an opportunity to become captain again.

It’s been Maya’s whole identity since they met.

But this time? She chose Carina, her health, and their future over her own pursuits.

Yes, she might still feel unsettled at home. But she has the reassurance that she will never suffer alone in that room again.

Without a doubt, she knows Maya is there. Her Maya.

The one who held her when her brother died. Who raced from a call to make sure she was okay. Who held her hair.

Is there anything either of them can’t face if they have each other?

Maybe the bedroom doesn’t seem as scary now, because she knows when she rolls over upset, her wife will be there.

Carina and Maya against the world. As it should be.

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