Many procedural shows tend to only focus on one group of law enforcement officers or first responders but 9-1-1 does things better by covering different groups. On the FOX show, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers all interact on a regular basis to attend to victims in Los Angeles.
In 9-1-1's 5 seasons that have aired so far, fans have gotten to interact with plenty of amazing characters. Thanks to great arcs and intriguing subplots, there is hardly any member of the core group of characters that would be considered weak. However, a few sit at the apex because they are more fleshed out than the rest.
Athena Grant-Nash
The LAPD field Seargent can be counted on to be at the center of most cases. Away from police duty, Athena spends time bonding with her children. And after divorcing Michael Grant, her marriage to Nash appears to be going well.
A number of things make Athena an alluring character. She is arguably the bravest since she is always seen patrolling alone. Her fighting skills are also good enough to make her get the better of most of the best female action stars in movies if there was ever such an opportunity. So far, Athena's relationship arcs have been brilliant too. Through them, fans have learned the importance of not giving up on love after one marriage or relationship fails.
Robert "Bobby" Nash
The captain of LAPD's Station 118 tends to be reserved but is generally adored by everyone. Before relocating to Los Angeles, he served as the captain of the St. Paul Fire Department.
Bobby stands out because no other character has been given a better backstory than him. Having lost his family after a heater he forgot to switch off caused a fire, he has partly redeemed himself by dedicating his life to rescuing people from fire accidents. Through him, themes of depression and drug addiction have also been explored, with the important message that such challenges can always be overcome.
Evan "Buck" Buckley
The youngest of the Buckley sibling is shown to be extremely good at his job. He starts out as a womanizer but meeting Abby changes him, making him keen on long-term relationships.
Buck's tendency to talk before thinking might seem offputting but it has made him come up with some of the show's best jokes. He is great at brushing off burns that are sent his way too. Buck has also been used as a model for change, proving that it's possible to change and be a better person, no matter how attached you are to your old ways. The firefighter also tends to make impressive and surprising decisions on a regular, with the best example being dropping a lawsuit that he was pushed by friends and family to pursue because there was lots of compensation money at stake.
Henrietta "Hen" Wilson
The LAFD firefighter paramedic keeps saving lives in ways that are near miraculous. Additionally, her resume is quite large as she has tried her hand in different careers before, including serving as a lifeguard and a sales representative.
Hen's great relationship with Karen is super adorable and it has made her qualify for inclusion among TV's best LGBTQ characters. Hen also gets to juggle a lot during her time on the show, including school work since she decided to pursue a medical degree. This paints her as a hardworking and focused person. When dealing with patients, she is normally compassionate too.
Edmundo "Eddie" Diaz
The firefighter previously served as an army me3dic stationed in Afghanistan. Away from work, he is a single father who deeply adores his son Christopher.
Having spent a good number of his years in war zones, Eddie not only has the courage and composure needed to handle emergency situations effectively but also has the skills needed to solve problems without backup. Generally, he is been shown to be one of the smartest characters in 9-1-1. While his dedication to his work is impressive, he impresses even more by how good of a father he is.
Abby Clark
Abby is introduced as a very caring 911 operator. After her mother's death, she quits her job to tour the world but comes back in the third season. She then gets engaged and moves to Arizona.
911 operators are rarely a major part of procedural crime shows Abby's inclusion felt refreshing. She's also a different kind of 911 operator since she normally guides callers on how to get themselves out of danger even before help arrives. She greatly pushes the family theme, showing that at times one has to choose loved ones instead of work
Howard "Chimney" Han
The firefighter paramedic enjoys his job but his father disapproves of it. Consequently, the two are estranged. He is also has a great relationship with Maddie and together, they have a daughter.
Han is ever cheerful and always cares about the welfare of his colleagues. On many occasions, he has put their needs above his own. Following his story is fascinating as he is fast dragged through a loveless period before finding a person who really complements him in Maddie. Together, they make one of the best couples in 9-1-1. Moreover, from the moment he fills in for Bobby, he is shown to be a great leader.
Maddie Buckley Kendall
Like Abby, Maddie also works at the call center. In one of her best storylines, she manages to escape from an abusive marriage by killing her husband in self-defense before starting a relationship with Chimney.
Thanks to her medical background, Maddie is able to guide victims on how to do first aid during cases of emergency. Her professional skills aside, she has great relationships with everyone. Her husband adores her and so does her brother. Through the character, the important issue of domestic violence has also been addressed.
May Grant
Athena and Michael's daughter. is just as adorable as her mother. After graduating from high school, she chooses to train as a 911 operator.
Away from work, May is the ultimate social justice warrior. She cares a lot about making society about a place, a trait that makes her very disciplined. Additionally, her character development has been applause-worthy. Initially used as a tool to highlight Athena and Michael's complicated relationship, she has morphed into her own woman, with plenty of arcs that don't involve her mother.
Taylor Kelly
The TV reporter dates Buck in Season 2 but the two break up. They then resume their relationship in Season 4 and since then, she has had a larger role.
Taylor is never content with simply reporting the news and heading home. Even though she isn't an investigative reporter, she does her best o get to the bottom of matters. His penchant for digging has proved beneficial to law enforcement officers since she sometimes does their work for them. Her relationship with Buck isn't perfect but Taylor has frequently demonstrated that's she is always ready to forgive and hope for the best.