We’re more than halfway through 9-1-1 Season 9, and it’s time to get a temperature check on how we’re feeling.
It’s one of those seasons where a lot happens, yet nothing does.
Ultimately, it leaves you constantly confused, trying to figure out whether you’re entertained or upset. Or even worse than that: indifferent.
(Disney/John Fleenor)
When the season started with 9-1-1 in space, some people wondered if the show was jumping the shark. And it was a valid critique because what other procedurals are traveling to space for a multi-episode arc?
The space storyline was fun, yet like most big emergencies, it ended quietly.
Like the cruise ship disaster, the space emergency won’t stick with audiences. Spending nearly a quarter of the season on something with little lasting effect is a lot.
Since then, Buck returned to dating and left again, Maddie battled AI at work, and Harry pursued firefighting.
(Disney/Christopher Willard)
One thing did eventually come out of the space extravaganza: Hen’s illness.
After withholding her illness from everyone (a curious decision to this day), Chimney fired Hen on 9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 7, leaving the 118 down a team member.
Thankfully, Harry’s graduation paved the way for him to end up at the only firehouse he was ever going to be at, the 118.
That does sound substantial. But despite all the movement, the opening hours have been serviceable yet sometimes underwhelming, with many one-off episodes that did little to advance long-term arcs.
Eddie, for instance, had a beautiful and devastating story in 9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 5, in which he confronted his faith and then lost his abuela.
While the hour was strong and incredibly moving, the show never revisits this story thread.
(Disney/Christopher Willard)
The series has a habit of doing that, and it’s extremely frustrating because it doesn’t have to be this way.
After all these seasons, there appears to be no shortage of ambitious and wacky emergencies. However, some of the characters are starting to feel stagnant.
Yes, this is a procedural at the end of the day, meaning the emergencies will reign supreme.
But the characters and the relationship dynamics will always be at the heart of the series, which has made 9-1-1 such a beloved show for so many years.
As we head into the second half of 9-1-1 Season 9, there are some storylines that will carry over, of course, but there’s also a lot of aimlessness.
And it’s the lack of narrative momentum that’s leaving this season feeling so adrift.
(Disney/Christopher Willard)
The good news is that 9-1-1 can course-correct, and I expect them to.
When the show leans into its characters and all their messy, complicated glory, it’s one of the best shows on television, and that’s not hyperbole.
They have the pieces and a proven track record, so it can be done again.
The show has certainly changed, and there’s no getting around it. That said, there’s still plenty of time left in the back half for the show to remind us why we keep answering the call.
I may be optimistic, but I see the comments week in and week out. I know many of you aren’t quite in the same boat as me.
(Disney/Christopher Willard)
For those feeling disconnected, what would reignite your passion for the season?
Which plotlines or character moments have resonated with you this season? Which ones have fallen short?
What storylines would you like to see moving forward?
I’d love to hear how everyone feels about the series right now, so please leave your comments below so we can discuss!
You can watch 9-1-1 on Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.
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Best Medicine keeps asking Sheriff Mark to be okay about Louisa, but he may need Dr. Martin’s friendship more than Port Wenn realizes.
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It’s time to let a character go on Chicago PD. Kevin Atwater is the most underused character going, and there’s a story to write him out.
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Chicago Fire just introduced a character who could have shaken things up in a great way. It’s a waste to kill him off immediately.
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