‘Tacoma FD’ season 3 episode 13 review: Big drama at the station

Is this the end of Tacoma FD as we know it?!

December 9, 2021

On the season finale of Tacoma FD, an event at the fire house establishes a new normal for everyone but could it spell the end of Station 24 as we know it? To foreshadow the dark things to come, Terry interviews to be a fire chief at a local theme park. It’s quite a lucrative offer and enough to entice him away. That’s not the only drama that’s coming the crew’s way.

The episode has plenty of the signature outlandish comedy the series is known for. Terry’s interviewer is fitting for a pirate themed amusement park complete with eye patch and peg leg. At the station, the group participates in a “Put Out the Fire” web challenge creating a hypnotizing Rube Goldberg machine.

Many of the scenes early on set the stage for things to come in a predictable manner. There is no finesse or subtlety to it when the gang comment on the irrational behavior of fire victims jumping into danger to save prized possessions. When Station 24 catches on fire, Eddie, Ike, Andy, and Lucy mirror the same actions. Even some of the melodramatic acting seems mailed in including Marcus Henderson as Granny pining for his ventriloquist dolls. Though, it’s pretty humorous the items each risk everything for and the fact that they keep them at the fire house instead of their own homes.

tacoma fd 3.13.2 — Photo: Scott Everett White/truTV

The season three finale of Tacoma FD also contains plenty of amusing callbacks from throughout the series. There’s mention of Andy’s Flame-O character and another McConky/Penisi pops a nut saving a downed colleague. Some fan favorites make a return such as Joe Pantoliano as Eddie Sr. and fellow Broken Lizard, Paul Soyter, as Wolf Boykins. I know it’s on par for the character, but Boykins is exceptionally stupid and annoying this episode while making matters far worse in an unbelievable way.

The result of Boykins’ incompetence leaves the show on a down note. It’s a cliffhanger that keeps things interesting to see how everyone responds. Despite the playful nature, season three has been skewing a little towards the darker side and the added drama can spice it up and provide a fresh new angle on Tacoma FD. Let’s just not make it permanent because it is an ensemble comedy after all.

The finale runs out of steam for an otherwise, hilarious season, with some mailed in performances and overly predictable outcomes but does manage to shake the status quo up with a provoking cliffhanger.