So there has been a lot going on for me again lately forcing me to take a step back from a few of my hobbies, but hopefully we are on the up now and I can return, but I'm taking it at a slower pace.
We've not been able to visit the cinema recently as I've been on call due to various emergencies and so I've been sticking to what is available on demand, and 9-1-1 gripped me from the very first episode.
This is the most traumatic TV show I've watched to date. Not every episode has a happy ending and there is drama every single episode, and there are only 10.
The show juggles many characters, but within the first responder sector. You've got:
Abby: The 9-1-1 call handler
Buck: Fire Fighter
Bobby: Fire Captain
Chim: Firefighter/Paramedic
Athena: Police Sargeant
Hen: Firefighter/Paramedic
And of course their various families.
The first episode introduces our characters and their immediate flaws. Buck is a sex addict and abuses his uniform to satisfy his addiction. Bobby has a secret he isn't sharing with the team in the form of a little black book. Athena has just found out her husband is gay and he broke the news to their kids, her life is falling apart. Abby's mum has dementia and is living in her dining room.
From this moment on it is fast action call outs, family drama, and comradery which gets us through and makes the episodes really speed by. I finished this season within 3 days, I was gripped. But the most memorable episode for me was the themepark. 2 men died when they fell from a rollercoaster and it was so realistic and traumatic that I am unlikely to get on a large coaster ever again.
During this season we find out why Bobby keeps a book with 148 spaces in and why he doesnt talk of his family. We see Chim face a near death experience when a rebar impales his skull. Athena divorces her husband after trying for too long to live in the past and expect it to work out. Buck and Abby get together despite the age gap. Hen cheats on her wife with her ex when she is released from prison and a custody battle ensues.
However, all is sort of resolved, but not in the way you think. Athena and Bobby get together. Abby's mum dies prompting her to leave Buck and go to Ireland. Chim recovers. Hen's wife moves back in. The first responder family grow so much closer by episode 10 even when a member leaves, but this means changes are afoot.
In terms of subject matter we see the first responders deal with murder, cannibals, plane crash, rollercoaster malfunction, suicide, domestic violence, and of course fire. It shows the full depth of what these people have to go through and while quite graphic you can just tell it is inspired by real life events and therefore is beyond realistic even with the character drama. It ties together nicely even if it does feel a bit rushed in order to tie up lose ends. But it was very good.
So I'm giving Season 1 of 9-1-1 a 9/10. It was graphic, terrifying, funny, and a comforting warmth came from the screen even as the horror unfolded. This is a typical Ryan Murphy series, I mean I love American Horror Story and am going to do a grand re-watch shortly so watch out for that. But 9-1-1, long may it keep the magic. We will see!
As always, recommendations are welcome, especially as the winter months come in. TV time and hot chocolate is my winter self care!
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