Fans often appreciate 9-1-1’s outlandish plotlines and believe that it’s a big part of the franchise’s charm. Like many other modern procedurals, the members of the 118 crew often have to juggle difficulties in their personal and professional lives. Of course, these aspects only make the show more entertaining for fans.

Yet, the show is also criticized for taking things a tad too far. While it’s important for fans to extend their disbelief in situations like this, 9-1-1 sometimes makes this impossible. As such, the show risks making certain plotlines so unbelievable that not even avid fans can take them seriously.

A Woman Is Saved by Her Weighted Blanket

Season 3, Episode 9, “Fallout”

Meteorites are dazzling aspects of nature and can be quite frightening at times. Yet, any fan will know that if you’re hit by one of these giant rocks, you have a very small chance of surviving. However, in “Fallout,” the crew meets Olivia, who uses her weighted blanket to protect her from a falling meteorite.

Despite the rock leaving a huge sizzling crater in her body, Olivia manages to survive the blow and is treated in hospital. Although the writers should be praised for thinking outside of the box, it’s very unlikely that a simple blanket would save a person from such a shocking impact. As such, this episode proposes a unique solution, but ultimately it doesn’t work.

Chimney Survives a Devastating Blow to the Head

Season 1, Episode 3, “Next of Kin”

When it comes to gruesome moments, Chimney’s accident ranks quite high on the list. While trying to calm down after an argument with Bobby, Chimney’s vehicle collides with a utility truck. The truck then unloads a collection of steel rods, one of which travels straight through his forehead.

Any longtime fan will remember this episode as it still sends a shiver down their spine to this day. Although he received some treatment in hospital, Chimney returned to work just a few weeks later with little to no long-term side effects. Admittedly, it is possible to survive a trauma like this, but returning unscathed is pretty ludicrous.

Maddie Gets a Bit Carried Away on a Call

Season 6, Episode 14, “Performance Anxiety”

Jennifer Love Hewitt, who plays Maddie, is adored for her beautiful singing voice and has received a lot of acclaim throughout her music career. But hearing Maddie sing a lullaby to a student who is having a panic attack on a 911 call is just unprofessional. Although her voice is to die for, fans can’t help but find this moment incredibly cringe-worthy.

9-1-1 is a very comprehensive show and could have shown off Hewitt’s skill in a number of more realistic ways. Instead, they encouraged fans to believe that an operator would take the time to sing to a patient while there were other calls waiting on the line. Overall, this moment just feels very out of place and doesn’t give Hewitt a lot of space to express herself as a dramatic actress.

Buck Becomes Intimate With an Ironic Candidate

Season 1, Episode 2, “Let Go”

Ever since the first episode of 9-1-1, Buck has been portrayed as a bit of a dreamboat. He never struggles to find an attractive woman to hang off his arm and even matches up with a fellow hunk in Season 7. Yet, in Season 1, he recruits a therapist to help him overcome his potential sex addiction.

But, instead, Buck and his therapist decide that the best course of action is to sleep together. Obviously, this is entirely unprofessional and is a complete breach of conduct. Yet, because 9-1-1 likes to add a few steamy scenes to its hoard of drama, some fans can excuse the therapist’s awful behavior.

The 118 Crew Meet Some New Furry Friends

Season 5, Episode 1, “Panic”

“Panic” provides audiences with heaps of dramatic tension as it explores Eddie’s relationship with anxiety as well as the return of a serial predator. Yet, the episode quickly takes things from the sublime to the ridiculous by introducing a plethora of wild animals. As the 118 crew arrive at the prestigious Hollywood Boulevard, they’re met with elephants, camels, and lions, all of which roam around like they own the place.

Although it’s clear that this scene is purely for comic relief, moments like this can undermine the more serious points. So, while the characters are trying to overcome their emotional hardships, the audience is more concerned that animals are wreaking havoc in Tinsletown. This is where 9-1-1 can sometimes go wrong, as it can sometimes struggle to find the appropriate balance between comedy and tragedy.

A Man Manages to Outrun a Gruesome Foe

Season 1, Episode 8, “Karma’s a Bitch”

Sticking with the theme of zoos, “Karma’s a Bitch” introduces us to a cruel dentist named Sean Coopertino. Despite having his own practice, Coopertino is best known for murdering Ellie the lion during a previous illegal hunting trip. During a trip to the zoo with his nephew, he throws a pine cone at a tiger to help rile it up.

As expected, the tiger makes a huge leap over the fence and is determined to get revenge. However, instead of lunging straight at its prey, the tiger takes a leisurely stroll around the zoo and manages to lose track of the dentist. Considering that tigers can run 30-40 mph, it seems a bit odd that the dentist managed to outsmart this creature. Eventually, the tiger murders Sean, but it just seems strange that it took so long for the tiger to attack.

A Skydiving Excursion Takes a Turn for the Worse

Season 3, Episode 11, “Seize the Day”

Skydiving is a terrifying experience for most people, but “Seize the Day” takes it to a whole new level. A mother and daughter duo join Stefan, an instructor, and are all set to have the adrenaline rush of their lives. However, Stefan hits his head and becomes unconscious, leaving the entire party stuck in a very compromising condition.

To make matters entirely worse, Stefan’s body begins to slide, and he ends up hanging out of the plane. Instead of calling air traffic control or even alerting the skydiving company, Buck and Bobby stand on top of their fire truck and try to catch the instructor as he travels lifelessly through the air. This scene makes the whole situation just seem silly and really takes the audience out of this tense moment.

A Car Wash Employee Has a Very Hard Day at Work

Season 1, Episode 5, “Stuck”

As audiences can tell by the title of the episode, “Stuck” sees tons of people trapped in compromising situations. Although the crew faces a lot of troubling problems, one of the calls is just completely ridiculous. An employee at the local car wash gets stuck in one of the brushes and continues to spin at high speeds. Of course, Buck and his buddies find this extremely funny and proceed to rewatch the clip on CCTV.

However, the man isn’t in any danger and could easily release himself from this trap. Again, this is obviously a lighter moment and highlights 9-1-1’s use of humor. But, after such a sad episode, this scene reduces the gravity of the situation. Plus, some fans still don’t know how he managed to get wrapped up in the brush.

118 Experience the Buzz of Something Sinister

Season 8, Episode 1, “Buzzkill”

Now on its 8th season, it comes as no surprise that the show is keen to expand its storytelling techniques to help keep things fresh. But, when the 118 crew confronted a tornado of bees, a lot of audiences felt that the show had fallen off track. A trailer filled with bees crashes on a busy highway, creating a swarm of insects. They eventually attack a woman’s car, who just so happens to be allergic to bees.

Aside from the absurdity of this story, the special effects bring the episode down. When in a large group, the bees look more like clumps of black dots, which can also make them seem a lot less intimidating. Thus, it’s clear that 9-1-1’s decision to explore a different side to life-or-death cases sadly backfired.

Athena Transforms Into the Ultimate Action Hero

Season 8, Episode 3, “Final Approach”

Avid fans of 9-1-1 will agree that Athena Grant can do anything she sets her mind to. However, flying and landing a broken plane might be taking things too far. Not only does Athena manage to control a massive aircraft with the help of a gaming-obsessed boy, but she manages to land the plane directly in front of Bobby.

There’s no denying that these scenes were incredibly tense, and Angela Bassett handles this episode with an impeccable level of professionalism and passion. But everything works out a bit too perfectly to be taken seriously. So, although the audience is provided with a handful of heartfelt moments, fans can’t help but roll their eyes at the craziness of it all.