9-1-1
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Harrowing rescue series has trauma and drama.

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9-1-1
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Based on 7 parent reviews
More preachy than entertaining
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Age 11 with parents, 14 alone
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What's the Story?
Co-executive-produced by Angela Bassett, 9-1-1 is a procedural drama that follows the professional and personal lives of a team of Los Angeles first responders. Bassett plays LAPD patrol sergeant Athena Grant, who is juggling her hectic professional life while trying to come to terms with her dysfunctional marriage to husband Michael Grant (Rockmond Dunbar). Meanwhile, Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) must handle the pressures of the job with paramedics Howie "Chimney" Han (Kenneth Choi) and Henrietta "Hen" Wilson (Aisha Hinds), while mentoring rookie firefighter Evan "Buck" Buckley (Oliver Stark). Taking the emergency calls is 911 operator Abby Clark (Connie Britton), who, when not on the job, is taking care of her mother (Mariette Hartley), who is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer's. Their lives aren't simple or easy, but they work together to help those they can, and support each other when they need it most.
Is It Any Good?
This dramatic (and often traumatic) series, based on real-life emergency responder stories, takes viewers through harrowing crises and climactic rescues. It turns up the tension a few notches by often showing brutal injuries and people meeting their demise. Some of the characters' personal conflicts are equally intense.
Thanks to the sensational way accidents, attempted suicides, and other distressing events are presented, the show isn't always easy to watch. But 9-1-1 also features some solid, well-developed narratives, making it worth tuning in if you can handle it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role of first responders such as those depicted in 9-1-1. What makes their jobs so challenging? How do they manage the pressure that comes with their work?
9-1-1 is based on real-life experiences of emergency response teams. Is the way these stories are being told more dramatic than the experiences really were?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 2, 2018
- Cast: Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Connie Britton
- Network: Fox
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 13, 2022
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