Originally airing on Fox before moving to ABC, 9-1-1 has become a staple among first-responder dramas—even if many viewers question its approach.
Fans enjoy watching the 118 crew tackle massive emergencies, but the sheer number and absurdity of incidents in the fictionalized Los Angeles often stretch plausibility. While suspension of disbelief is expected in any first-responder show, 9-1-1 consistently pushes the limits.
From a man being swallowed by a whale in the season 9 premiere to past storylines featuring bee tornadoes, the series has cultivated a campy, exaggerated style that asks viewers to overlook realism. Some fans accept this more easily than others, but the show is very specific about what it wants audiences to suspend disbelief for.
When it comes to disasters, viewers are encouraged to forgive physics-defying scenarios. Yet in matters of characterization, 9-1-1 expects the audience to find realism in tragedies like Bobby’s entirely preventable death. This uneven approach has left many questioning the show’s reliance on a single, absurd narrative crutch.
9-1-1 Often Relies on Disasters Over Character-Driven Stories
9-1-1 has always been a show about pushing boundaries. Throughout its run, the series has tested just how extreme its emergencies can get before viewers push back—and then pushed even further. In many ways, 9-1-1 has become the defining disaster series of our time, with unmatched creativity in its high-stakes scenarios.
However, the show’s disasters have increasingly felt like a crutch rather than an organic part of the storytelling. Take the season 9 storyline featuring a man swallowed by a whale: it functioned more as a plot device than a true narrative. The impulse to “go big or go home” is losing its impact.
As season 9 unfolds, viewers are reminded of the series’ other extreme emergencies—from tsunamis and cruise ship disasters to bee tornadoes. While the show continues to reach for ever-larger spectacles, this focus on outdoing itself comes at a cost: character-driven stories are sidelined, and spectacle often takes priority over substance.
Bobby Nash’s Death Gives 9-1-1 a Chance to Evolve
While a show in its ninth season doesn’t necessarily need a major shift, 9-1-1 season 9 opens the door for a new era. In the aftermath of Bobby’s tragic death, the 118’s grief is laid bare, and the premiere leans into the emotional struggles of the team.
This moment gives the series a chance to pivot toward more character-driven storytelling. Emergencies will always be central to 9-1-1, but the show can now use them as a backdrop rather than the focal point, letting raw, real emotions drive the narrative. Bobby’s absence creates an opportunity for the series to explore the personal lives, vulnerabilities, and growth of its characters in ways spectacle alone cannot.
By embracing character-focused stories, 9-1-1 can address past critiques and rebalance its identity. The cases that once dominated the screen can instead support the characters’ journeys, allowing the series to feel more grounded and emotionally resonant without sacrificing the thrilling emergencies fans enjoy.
9-1-1 Should Refocus After Its Space Storyline
Sending Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) and Hen Wilson (Aisha Hinds) to space was classic 9-1-1 spectacle—over-the-top, larger-than-life, and exactly what viewers have come to expect. While the storyline stretched plausibility, it also presents an opportunity for the series to refocus. Athena’s time in orbit could serve as a catalyst for her personal growth, particularly as she continues to navigate life after her husband’s death.
While 9-1-1 will likely never abandon its high-stakes emergency scenarios, grounding these events in the characters’ emotional journeys could be a major improvement. Instead of using disasters solely to shock or thrill, the show could use them as a lens to explore its characters’ inner lives, making the spectacle feel meaningful rather than gratuitous.
After sending two of its main characters on a perilous space mission for little narrative reason, 9-1-1 now has the chance to recalibrate. Moving into its post-Bobby era, the series can lean into character-driven stories while still delivering action-packed emergencies. If it takes that step, the show could emerge stronger and more emotionally resonant by season 10.
