Nashville Is Interesting, But 9-1-1 Actually Abandoned Its Best Possible Spinoff 3 Years Ago

   

The 9-1-1 universe is expanding to Nashville, Tennessee, but the best spinoff opportunity for the first-responder drama has already come and gone. With star-studded names like Angela Bassett (Athena Grant) and all the intense disasters in 9-1-1, it’s no surprise the flagship series made a name for itself following its 2018 premiere. The procedural hasn’t been without its hardships, however.

There have been many heartwarming moments in 9-1-1 focused on the station 118 firefighters, but characters have considered leaving many times throughout the series. Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) moved to Texas for half a season and Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) even became 9-1-1’s first main character death. Yet, the best firefighter exit was set up and discarded in season 6.

9-1-1 Could Have Created A Medical Drama Spinoff Centered On Hen

The Main Character Had A Whole Med School Arc

Hen looking at Eddie in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 17

Despite being part of the core team, Henrietta “Hen” Wilson (Aisha Hinds) has been largely ignored as a character. Hen’s stories in 9-1-1 often echo sentiments of feeling disregarded but lack satisfying resolution. Nonetheless, Hen had a three-season-long arc that should’ve been a new lease on life: Hen decides to attend med school in the 9-1-1 season 3 finale.

Hen struggled to keep up with med school while being a full-time EMT, but 9-1-1 could have helped Hen achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. Better yet, 9-1-1 wouldn’t have had to abandon Hen if it created a spinoff focused on her new career, similar to how Grey’s Anatomy launched an in-universe offshoot following Station 19’s firefighters.

More importantly, however, Hen’s med school storyline would have felt necessary, and her departure from the 118 would have felt earned.

Hen could have attended to 9-1-1’s most gruesome injuries, setting up easy and frequent crossovers. More importantly, however, Hen’s med school storyline would have felt necessary, and her departure from the 118 would have felt earned. Instead, the plot feels like an insignificant blip in the grand scheme of things. Granted, 9-1-1 gave Hen a compelling reason to stay.

Why 9-1-1 Abandoned Hen's Medical Dreams (Can The Show Still Revisit The Plot?)

The 118 Was Too Special To Her

Eddie (Ryan Guzman), Buck (Oliver Stark), Hen (Aisha Hinds), and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) smile on 9-1-1 season 7 episode 8

The found family in 9-1-1 has always been at the center of touching ending scenes, team dinners, and motivational pep talks. When Hen’s wife and son are involved in a near-fatal lab explosion in 9-1-1 season 6, episode 6, everything is put into perspective for the prospective doctor, who decides family is more important than med school.

 

Sadly, the same explanation is used to write Hen off as a candidate for captaincy in 9-1-1 season 8, leaving the character in a state of total stagnation. Hen gave up her dream to stay with the 118, but she now seems too scared of losing her family to take any risk, even if the change would benefit them.

Since Eddie had an entire arc across the country, though, anything is possible in 9-1-1. Perhaps season 9 will make Hen reconsider her priorities and remember her dream. Conversely, Karen (Tracie Thoms) or Athena could intervene and encourage Hen to go after what she wants rather than stay stuck with all of her scrapped goals.