The brainchild of Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear, the best 9-1-1 episodes are difficult to choose. Almost every installment of the character-driven procedural features drama, action, romance, and plenty of high-stakes danger to boot. Hour-long dramas about first responders are some of the most popular shows on TV today. They are exciting, heart-pounding, and challenging shows, and emotions always run high for the characters when their lives are on the line. 9-1-1, currently airing on FOX, is no exception to this excitement. The show follows the high-pressure experiences of police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers as they save those who are most vulnerable.
9-1-1 features a stellar cast, starring Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, and Aisha Hinds. Some characters have come and gone, such as Connie Britton's 911 operator Abby Clark or the season 2 addition of Jennifer Love Hewitt's Maddie Buckley. What makes the series so unique is that the characters aren't just connected through their careers, but also their personal lives as patrol Sargeant Athena (Bassett) and station Captain Nash (Krause) are husband and wife, Maddie (Hewitt) and Buck (Oliver Stark) are siblings, and the children of these responders are often involved. The best 9-1-1 episodes contain high-stakes disasters, a bit of family drama, and plenty of heroism from its cast.
“Ocean’s 9-1-1” — Season 2, Episode 15
Many of the best 9-1-1 episodes are in season 2 of the show, including this exciting heist-themed episode. The fire department is brought in when a bank manager’s going away party turns into an emergency medical situation — and a mysterious chemical agent is the culprit. Hen is trapped in a vault with a dying man and no medical supplies to really amp up the excitement. Meanwhile, things go off the rails when the first responders are accused of trying to pull off a daring heist, à la Ocean’s 11. Highlights of the installment include a clever plot involving an armored vehicle and various heist movie callbacks.
“Broken” — Season 2, Episode 14
One of the highlights of 9-1-1 is watching first responders from different lines of work come together to solve a problem as a team. In “Broken” firefighters and dispatchers come together to solve a particularly tricky puzzle, making it one of the best episodes of 9-1-1. The call center deals with a system-wide power outage and a firefighter is who solves the problem with old-school tactics. Meanwhile, the firefighters are dealing with explosions in multiple homes in a subdivision. It leads to a bunch of schoolchildren being stuck at the firehouse. But the most touching part of the episode is probably the difficult baby delivery, and Hen’s heartwarming reaction.
“New Beginnings” — Season 2, Episode 11
The best 9-1-1 episodes have over-the-top emergencies, and "New Beginnings" goes full-throttle from start to finish. Athena suspects something more might be going on in a distressing 911 call. The LA Fire Department first responders must help out a man who has gotten his arm stuck in the jaws of a shark. Meanwhile, Bobby meets Athena’s parents for the first time. Athena’s mother stirs up some trouble and Athena must make the future very clear for her family. There’s also some heartwarming conversation between Maddie and Buck as they spar in a boxing ring. It's the perfect blend of family drama and action, which is what makes 9-1-1 so great.
“This Life We Chose” — Season 2, Episode 18
The season 2 finale is one of the best episodes of 9-1-1. In this installment, a serial bomber is on the loose, sending packages through the mail until he ups the ante. The first responders try to take care of it, but are thwarted at every turn. Buck suddenly faces a terrifying life-or-death situation when the firetruck he was driving exploded. Meanwhile, cake tasting turns emotional as Athena and Bobby try to plan their wedding and one of the kids have something to say about their plans. The installment provides insight into Athena and Bobby's complex relationship and provides the high-stakes action that the series is famous for.
“Merry Ex-Mas” — Season 2, Episode 10
Just as in real life, the holidays are a busy and dangerous time for first responders. In one of the best 9-1-1 episodes, some of them have to deal with a dangerous stampede at a toy store, an all too common problem these days, while the others help a man trapped in a present, a mistletoe stunt gone awry, and a neighborhood Christmas light showdown. The team also sits down to a lovely holiday dinner together, Chimney tries to cheer up Maddie, and Bobby contemplates his future with Athena. It's one of the best 9-1-1 episodes as it deals with both relationships and topical dangers of the holiday season.
“Worst Day Ever” — Season 1, Episode 4
First seasons are notoriously difficult while a show first finds its footing. And yet, the fourth episode from season one is still one of the best 9-1-1 episodes. A deadly plane crash just off the beach leaves the team scrambling to try to evacuate all the passengers before the plane sinks completely. They face water covered with flaming jet fuel, terrible injuries, and not enough boats to get them all back to the beach. Meanwhile, Athena Grant has to try to keep things at the airport from devolving into absolute chaos. 9-1-1 truly set the width of its scope with "Worst Day Ever" and it’s heart-stopping and anxiety-inducing.
"Heartbreaker" — Season 1, Episode 6
Another holiday-themed season 1 installment turned out to be one of the best episodes of 9-1-1. The episode primarily covers a string of 9-1-1 couples romances going wrong, and it's a refreshing and comical break from all the intensity. Buck and Abby have a disastrous date ending in a tracheotomy and a man tries to propose to his girlfriend on a plane to deadly results. However, Athena has the most eventful Valentine's Day, as she ends up in both a high-speed chase and is confronted by a serial killer. "Heartbreaker" sees some of Ryan Murphy's personal brand of humor, and it's one of the most entertaining episodes of 9-1-1.
"The One That Got Away" — Season 3, Episode 16
Buck is one of the most likable characters on 9-1-1, so it was great to see an episode where he got to be front and center. Season 3 saw Buck make an unexpected friend in Red, and their friendship causes him to question a lot of his life and decisions, fearing he'll become just as bitter. In one of the best 9-1-1 episodes, he does something to try and make Red's final moments better. He brings a group of firefighters to the hospital to salute Red on his way out, as he's allowed to ride in a fire truck one last time. This episode of 9-1-1 isn't action-focused, but Buck's development as a character is worth the center-stage role that it takes.
“Chimney Begins” — Season 2, Episode 12
Flashback episodes can be hit or miss, but this one about Howie ‘Chimney’ Han’s decision to join the LA Fire Department is incredibly heartwarming and one of the best episodes on 9-1-1. He relives a moment when he saves a woman’s life after her clothes caught on fire in a bar, setting him on a path to becoming a firefighter and paramedic. Meanwhile, in real-time, he calms a man down who is having a panic attack. Many people loved seeing actor Kenneth Choi’s range and thought he deserved an Emmy for this episode. The acting is great throughout "Chimney Begins", the pacing is perfect, and the episode is an all-around success.
“7.1” — Season 2, Episode 2
Any emergency response show set in LA must do an earthquake episode. It’s practically a rite of passage. Luckily, 9-1-1 does it really well, and it turned out to be one of the best 9-1-1 episodes. The first responders rush to a high-rise hotel that is crumbling after an earthquake. Naturally, phones are dead and the widespread damage means first responders are spread really thinly. While the LA Fire Department is at the hotel, Athena helps a man whose car flipped when the earthquake destroyed a highway overpass collapse. No show does a natural disaster quite like 9-1-1, and this episode will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
"Under Pressure" — Season 2, Episode 1
The premiere of season 2 saw a lot of changes for the first responders, but even in a time of transition it still ended up being one of the best episodes of 9-1-1. The installment features some truly unhinged emergency calls setting expectations for the season high, such as a tour bus driving off a cliff and an electric worker's severed arm landing in a nearby pool. In equal measure, personal tensions are also tight as Buck fears Eddie will take his job and Athena is insecure about going public with her relationship. Somehow, 9-1-1 manages to force heart-pounding action and heart-wrenching drama all in one 45-minute runtime.
“Fight or Flight” — Season 2, Episode 13
9-1-1 takes a surprising twist when first responder Maddie goes missing. Audiences have heard of her abusive ex in the past, and watched her slowly heal as she works through her trauma and begins dating Chimney. Even though they can’t work together professionally on this case, the crew must rally together to find Maddie in the woods. Jennifer Love Hewitt delivers an amazing performance as Maddie in one of the best 9-1-1 episodes. Viewers gush over this episode’s deft and considerate handling of a story of domestic abuse. It’s an inspiring story of how to fight back when being threatened, and the redemptive power of love.
“Sink or Swim” — Season 3, Episode 2
For a show set in Los Angeles, there were surprisingly few beach-themed worries for the first responders to contend with in early 9-1-1 seasons. That all goes away in the nail-biting season 3 installment "Sink or Swim" — one of the best episodes of 9-1-1. A massive tsunami hits the Santa Monica pier, placing Buck and Chris’s lives in danger while also doing devastating damage to the coastal city. It's one of those installments that really hits home the scope of the series and what tragedies real-life first responders occasionally must deal with. Audiences especially praised the amazing effects — the image of the Ferris wheel half-sunk in seawater looked disturbingly real.
"Defend In Place" — Season 5, Episode 8
Proof of 9-1-1's longevity is that the episodes have only gotten better the longer the series has gone on, and the season 5 installment "Defend in Place" is one of the best 9-1-1 episodes. The episode sees hundreds of lives in danger, along with characters related to 9-1-1's cast that audiences have come to know and love, such as Michael's boyfriend David. It all starts with a hospital fire that leads to the evacuation of newborns and a cancer survivor sacrificing himself for one of his nurses. It's a tear-inducing high-stakes installment that culminates in a moving prayer session between Michael, Athena, and a woman whose boyfriend is in surgery.
"Desperate Times" — Season 5, Episode 2
One of the very best 9-1-1 episodes is the season 5 installment "Desperate Times," which features generous amounts of chaos and heartbreak from start to finish. Athena and Henry's son Harry is kidnapped by a sociopath, Maddie is struggling with post-partum depression, Bobby and Hen face a rabid alpaca, and May comes up with a brilliant plan involving solar power to save a young boy's life whose ventilator has run out of batteries. 9-1-1 is such an incredible show because it doesn't hold back in terms of its action while seamlessly blending in its relational drama. "Desperate Times" is the prime example of 9-1-1's successful formula put to use.