9-1-1 is currently one of the most popular procedural dramas on the air. The show follows Sergeant Athena Grant of the LAPD in tandem with the Los Angeles Fire Department 118, as they deal with all manner of accidents and natural disasters. The series started fairly realistically, with Bobby Nash providing a clear grounding point if anything got too outlandish. Unfortunately, after Nash's death, the show seems to be spiraling, unsure of what direction to go in.
Most television shows, especially procedural dramas, heavily dramatize events. 9-1-1 was no stranger to this, but with Bobby Nash at the helm, everything seemed to fall into place. Unfortunately, now that the beloved fire captain has passed, the show has thrown all sense of realism out the window. Dedicated fans are still tuning in to watch 9-1-1, but many are worried that the once-grounded procedural drama will never be the same.
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9-1-1 Began With At Least One Foot In Reality At All Times
Most Dramas Heavily Dramatize Events, But 9-1-1 Felt Different
9-1-1 started in 2018 as a procedural drama focusing on first responders, police and firefighters. The show revolves around three distinct groups that work in tandem to handle every accident and natural disaster: the 118 Fire Department, the 911 dispatchers, and Sergeant Athena Grant of the LAPD. Together, these distinct groups formed a tight-knit team that captured America's heartstrings.
The show became an almost instant classic. Week after week, audiences were tuning in to see Bobby Nash lead the 118 into whatever perilous journey they had to face for the week. As a procedural, 9-1-1 always had a certain sense of drama and disbelief, but stoic and interesting characters like Nash provided a clear grounding point. Unfortunately, the show felt that it had to continue to raise the stakes to keep things interesting.
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What started as a somewhat grounded procedural drama began to take a noticeable turn as the seasons progressed. Action sequences got progressively more intense, and characters were faced with more dire situations every week. Despite somewhat intense changes, the 118 continued to distract audiences from the increasingly outlandish incidents taking place.
9-1-1 certainly focuses on three distinct groups, but the 118 is easily given the most focus. Many fans rightfully consider them the glue that holds the show together, especially their beloved captain. In an effort to keep ratings up and stir the pot, however, 9-1-1 would make a decision in Season 8 that would change the series forever.
After the Death of Fire—Captain Bobby Nash, 9-1-1 Is Spiraling
9-1-1 is Trying to Expand in Several Different Directions
As early as season 1, Bobby Nash provided a concrete and stable authority figure for every member of the 118. He helped each of them progress and process almost impossible drama. Nash does have somewhat of a checkered past, but he used that as motivation to continue doing the right thing. Unfortunately, during the climax of season 8, 9-1-1 showrunner Tim Minear, felt that Nash's character had run his course.
In an effort to increase the shows' realism, Minear had Bobby Nash sacrifice himself to save several members of his fire crew. During a contagion outbreak, he and several of his team were exposed to a deadly virus. Nash nobly chose to sacrifice himself so that his team could live, leaving the show forever. His death had a lasting impact not only on the series, but on the fans as well.
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The decision to kill the Captain of the 118 was so controversial that the actor, Peter Krauss, had to put out a statement assuring it was what was best for the character. Nevertheless, Nash's death left the show with a major sense of uncertainty which has actually had the opposite effect Minear intended. Many fans have rightfully concluded that the series has essentially "jumped the shark" after Bobby's death.
All Sense of Realism Has Gone Completely Out the Window
There Is No Disaster Too Unrealistic For 9-1-1 To Tackle
No matter the difficult situations the 9-1-1 team has had to deal with, they have all had one thing in common: they took place on earth. Bizarrely, in the series' consistent effort to raise the stakes, 9-1-1 Season 9 takes some completely outlandish turns. Sergeant Athena Grant and LAFD First Responder Henrietta Wilson are gifted with a once in a lifetime trip to space. As to be expected, things quickly go awry, and turn into the most unrealistic set of disasters 9-1-1 has ever seen.
Grant and Wilson must find a way to navigate their way through the vacuum of space, while a series of satellites rain down all over the earth. The acting is as impeccable as they have always been, but audiences are finding it difficult to continue suspending their disbelief. Angela Bassett is a talented actress, but not even she can save a series helplessly spiraling out of control.
The show was understandably lambasted on social media, with many believing 9-1-1 taken an unavoidable turn. Now that several characters have been to and survived the void of space, what else can the show throw at them? Many fans have begun asking themselves similar questions, and although ratings haven't dropped too far, Season 9 is performing considerably worse than its predecessors.
There's No Telling What's Next For the Once Popular Procedural Drama
Clearly the Sky is No Longer the Limit To This Once Grounded Series
9-1-1 is an incredible show, and with the right direction, it could find the stability it once had. All the series has to do now is prove to its audience that it can be grounded and somewhat realistic again. This process could become infinitely easier if the show could decide what to do with the new 118 Fire Captain Howard Hahn.
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Howard Hahn is one of the most popular characters after Bobby Nash and was recently appointed Fire Captain after a great deal of personal turmoil. This is a great decision, but since he was appointed, the character has continued to struggle with the weight of the role. The show needs Hahn to fill a similar void as Bobby, if it wants the show to be successful again.
Based on 9-1-1's current ratings, many fans are still holding out hope that the show will find its footing again. That could certainly be the case, but until the show figures out what to do with characters like Howard Hahn it is doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Hopefully, the show finds another way to ground itself before it completely spirals out of control and loses the few fans it has left.
- Release Date
- January 3, 2018
- Network
- ABC, FOX
- Showrunner
- Tim Minear
- Directors
- Bradley Buecker, David Grossman, Brenna Malloy, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Jann Turner, Jennifer Lynch, Marita Grabiak, Sarah Boyd, John J. Gray, Barbara Brown, Robert M. Williams Jr., Kristen Reidel, Marcus Stokes, Tasha Smith, Millicent Shelton, Juan Carlos Coto, John Gray, Greg Sirota, Alonso Alvarez, James Wong, Kevin Hooks, Varda Bar-Kar, Shauna Duggins, Sharat Raju
- Writers
- Tim Minear, Andrew Meyers, Brad Falchuk, David Fury, Ryan Murphy, Christopher Monfette, Nadia Abass-Madden, Nicole Barraza Keim, Erica L. Anderson, Matthew Hodgson, Stacey R. Rose, Taylor Wong, Tonya Kong, Adam Penn
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Guzman, Corinne Massiah, Gavin McHugh, Marcanthonee Reis, Rockmond Dunbar, Bryan Safi, Tracie Thoms
- Creator(s)
- Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Tim Minear
