10 Episodes Of 9-1-1 That Are Considered Masterpieces

9-1-1 has explored dramatic and absurd storylines alike throughout the years, but a select few episodes have garnered universal acclaim. At the heart of 9-1-1 is a found family made up of LAFD station 118: Henrietta “Hen” Wilson (Aisha Hinds), Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi), Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark), and Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman). Until 9-1-1 season 8, they were led by Captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause).

Alongside police sergeant Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) and dispatcher Maddie Han (Jennifer Love Hewitt), the 118 respond to medical emergencies and natural disasters in Los Angeles. The crew have experienced many heartwarming moments in 9-1-1, but the ensemble has also faced unimaginable traumas. Though each episode of 9-1-1 offers something unique, 10 outings stand out from the rest due to their exemplary plot, characterization, or general vibe.

“Chimney Begins”

Season 2, Episode 12

Nearly every main character has had an episode of 9-1-1 dedicated to exploring their backstory, denoted by the word “Begins” in the title. “Chimney Begins” explains how Chimney— known as Howard or “Howie” prior to his role in the 118— came to realize firefighting was his calling. While the flashbacks revealed details of Chimney’s upbringing, it was also interwoven with the character’s near-death experience in the present timeline.

Whereas other flashback episodes are somewhat divisive, “Chimney Begins” is widely regarded as one of the best episodes of 9-1-1. The way the structure bounced between Chimney’s potentially fatal injury and his past heartbreaks— including losing his adoptive brother in a fire— was captivating from start to finish. Plus, Kenneth Choi got to show off his rarely-utilized dramatic acting in a harrowing funeral scene that still haunts me.

“Fight or Flight”

Season 2, Episode 13

In many ways, “Fight or Flight” goes hand-in-hand with “Chimney Begins,” as it was Maddie’s abusive husband, Doug Kendall (Brian Hallisay), who stabbed Chimney and abducted her in season 2, episode 11. “Fight or Flight” explores the tense aftermath as Buck searches for his sister and Maddie tries to escape Doug. Though Maddie overpowers her abusive ex-partner in the end, “Fight or Flight” inflicted lasting wounds on her character.

Maddie’s experience with domestic violence was a delicate but important storyline, and the way 9-1-1 took an unflinching look at its effects was profound and profoundly disturbing. “Fight or Flight” has elements of a classic thriller with a sadly all-too-common conflict, and it poignantly showed that escaping an abusive relationship doesn’t erase the trauma. Irrefutably, Maddie and Doug’s final showdown remains the most horrific near-death experience in 9-1-1.

“Ocean’s 9-1-1”

Season 2, Episode 15

Yet, there are plenty of iconic 9-1-1 episodes that are remembered for their genre-shifting rather than their emotional storylines. Case in point: “Ocean’s 9-1-1,” a heist-themed episode from season 2. After the 118 responds to a call at a bank that is later robbed, the firefighters are falsely suspected of stealing from the bank’s vault. By the end of the episode, the convoluted truth is slowly unraveled.

 

Despite being an explicit homage to the Ocean’s 11 franchise, the episode maintains a unique flair, due mainly to the hilarious interplay between the characters. There are moments of pure comedy, like Buck’s earnest confusion during the high-octane interrogation scene, that make the episode feel akin to a well-done parody. It’s the closest 9-1-1 has come to a bottle episode, and its cult following speaks for itself.

“Sink or Swim”

Season 3, Episode 2

There have been many intense disasters in 9-1-1, but none come close to the infamous tsunami arc of season 3. Following the leg injury he sustained in the 9-1-1 season 2 finale, Buck was off-duty and left to his own devices. In order to distract him, Eddie had Buck take his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh), to the Santa Monica pier— only for a massive tsunami to hit.

Understandably, “Sink or Swim” is the highest-rated episode of 9-1-1 to date. With Buck anxiously searching for Christopher while Eddie is blissfully unaware, there’s a looming sense of peril that saturates the episode in sheer dread. So early in the series, nobody could predict whether 9-1-1 would kill such a beloved character, making the stakes impossibly high.

“Buck Begins”

Season 4, Episode 5

“Chimney Begins” showed a completely new side to a core character, but “Buck Begins” added new depth to a familiar relationship: the bond between Buck and Maddie. The flashback episode directly follows the reveal of Buck and Maddie’s secret brother in 9-1-1, who Buck never knew existed. It’s that lingering sense of betrayal which contextualizes Buck’s childhood memories and his estranged relationship with his parents.

Though her name may not be in the title, “Buck Begins” functions as Maddie’s backstory as well. 9-1-1 revealed their memories in tandem, showing how Buck traveled the country doing odd jobs while Maddie was stuck in her abusive marriage. The nuanced exploration of their relationship culminates in a bittersweet ending in the present, where Maddie shows Buck she saved every postcard she sent him over the years.

“Jinx”

Season 4, Episode 6

Aside from including the first appearance of Ravi Panikkar (Anirudh Pisharody)— the fan-favorite side character from the 118’s B-Shift— “Jinx” leans into the camp factor of 9-1-1, a rare but rewarding tonal choice. After Ravi says his shift has been “quiet,” a debate breaks out between the superstitious firefighters and Eddie, the lone skeptic. Some divine force seems committed to proving him wrong, case by case.

“Jinx” features some of the most over-the-top emergencies in 9-1-1, but that’s exactly what makes it such an iconic episode. Within a genre of such constant heartbreak and life-risking action sequences, there’s something to be said about embracing light-hearted plots every so often. There’s something comforting about the wild antics of “Jinx,” cementing it as one of the most rewatchable episodes in the entire series.

“Survivors”

Season 4, Episode 14

Everyone in the main cast has had a brush with death, but 9-1-1 usually builds up to it organically or sets up extenuating circumstances that make it feel inevitable. In a total departure from that pattern, Eddie is suddenly shot by a sniper at the end of season 4, episode 13. “Survivors” picks up immediately after the cliffhanger, following a waiting game to see if Eddie would pull through.

Throughout the episode, Oliver Stark’s superb acting is accentuated by stunning cinematography. There are striking shots of Buck’s stunned expression, Eddie’s blood splattered across his face and clothing. Buck later breaks down when delivering the news to Christopher, and the scene is ironically much harder to watch than the shooting itself, largely due to the palpable fear and guilt on Buck’s end.

“Boston”

Season 5, Episode 12

9-1-1 continued giving Maddie its heaviest storylines in season 5, when the dispatcher struggled with severe post-partum depression after giving birth to her first child. Due to Maddie distrusting her ability to be a good mother, she leaves LA without warning, leaving Chimney and Buck devastated. Maddie and Chimney’s break in 9-1-1 season 5 continued until the paramedic decided to go searching for the mother of his child.

Jennifer Love Hewitt gives a heart-wrenching performance as Maddie, including the chilling moment she recounts her suicide attempt to Chimney. The beauty of 9-1-1 is that it can shed light on realistic struggles without exaggerating the storylines for shock value or “entertainment.” In contrast to her accordingly volatile journey escaping domestic violence, Maddie’s post-partum depression deserved the grounded, almost subdued examination offered by “Boston.”

“The Devil You Know”

Season 6, Episode 3

9-1-1 may be set in California, but one of its best episodes takes place entirely in Florida. After Athena’s father suffers a cardiac event, he is wrongly accused of murdering a young girl from their neighborhood, a death that took place 45 years prior. Bobby and Athena are the only main characters involved in the mystery, solving the cold case in a tense, unfamiliar environment.

Aside from the thrilling narrative structure typically reserved for crime procedurals, “The Devil You Know” has some of the most impressive camerawork in all of 9-1-1. There’s a stunning needle drop (Jeff Buckley’s “Lilac Wine”) as Athena chases the killer through a scenic orange grove, and the moment she takes the culprit down is utter catharsis. Truly, it’s a one-of-a-kind entry that 9-1-1 couldn’t replicate if it tried.

“In Another Life”

Season 6, Episode 11

Still, in terms of distinctiveness, nothing beats out “In Another Life” from 9-1-1 season 6. After Buck is struck by lightning, he’s trapped in an It’s a Wonderful Life-style dream sequence. Throughout the episode, Buck explores what the world would be like if he had never joined the LAFD, oscillating between wanting to stay with his illusions and wanting to return to his real life.

Buck’s coma dream in 9-1-1 is easily one of the procedural’s most memorable storylines, despite being contained to a single episode. The uncanny atmosphere of the alternate universe clashing with the harsh reality of Buck’s medically-induced coma offers a captivating juxtaposition, and the resolution is simply perfect. “In Another Life” represents the very best of 9-1-1: a character-driven plot, unique technical elements, and a touch of whimsy that bolsters the story without distracting from it.