This week’s episode of 9-1-1, aptly titled “Holy Mother of God,” was filled with major revelations for Buck (Oliver Stark) and Bobby (Peter Krause) but for many fans, the return of Anirudh Pisharody’s Ravi Panikkar was the real surprise. The fan-favorite supporting character has been appearing since Season 4, but over the years, Ravi has had few of his own storylines and has barely been given any time to shine. In fact, it even seems like Ravi is aware that he still isn’t a core member of the 118: the episode saw Ravi accidentally called Eddie (Ryan Guzman) multiple times and being used by Buck to fill the void in his absence. In the wake of Eddie’s absence, it’s the perfect time for Ravi to earn a place as an essential part of the team.
Ravi’s Backstory Is Worthy of His Own ‘Begins’ Episode
Over the eight seasons of 9-1-1, one very rare episode format has strayed from the show’s usual procedural structure: ‘Begins’ episodes, which explore the origins and backstory of core characters of the show. All the show’s leads have gotten their own ‘Begins’ episodes – Bobby even got a “Bobby Begins Again,” which saw the character reckon with his own dark past. These episodes have become staples of the series, but with every main character having received their episodes, we haven’t gotten a ‘Begins’ episode since Season 4’s “Buck Begins.”
These flashback episodes have become fan favorites, and the hints we’ve gotten over the years of Ravi’s backstory make him the perfect contender for the next character to receive his own episode. While Ravi hasn’t been given much time to talk about his past, what we know about the character is fascinating. And no, I’m not talking about the Season 6 reveal that Ravi owns three apartment buildings… yet. In Season 5’s “Defend in Place,” which revolved around a hospital fire, Ravi revealed to the team that he had spent his childhood battling cancer. “Those doctors and nurses become your family,” he said. “It was chemo on the weekends instead of soccer tournaments, but those people cheered me on just the same. They saved my life.” Ravi’s childhood sickness is unlike anything else that the characters of the 118 have gone through. Having his own life saved as a child motivated Ravi to become a firefighter, and seeing that journey could make for a great episode.
Ravi Has Great Chemistry With the Team
The most recent episode of 9-1-1 proved that Ravi will never be Buck’s replacement for Eddie (as much as Buck tried!) – but Ravi has his own unique position within the team that would make him a great permanent member if he was to stick around. Ravi has shown time and time again that he has the same life-saving instincts as the rest of the team, from revealing he once jumped into the water while on a drive to save a family of crash victims in Season 6 to descending into a sewer to save someone who’d fallen in in Season 7. It’s not Ravi’s ability to save lives that makes him a great permanent addition to the team, but his dynamic with his teammates in more comedic and emotional situations.
While Ravi and Buck got off to a rough start, with Buck channeling the way he was treated in his probie days onto Ravi and apparently pranking him with “packing peanuts in his locker and ketchup packets in his shoes” as per “Holy Mother of God,” Ravi has become an invaluable friend to his coworkers. Episodes like Season 4’s “Treasure Hunt” saw Ravi assisting Buck and Eddie and ultimately beating the rest of the 118 in a wild goose chase to find an author’s missing treasure, and Season 6’s “Performance Anxiety” saw Ravi confiding in Chimney (Kenneth Choi) about his fear of saving the wrong person. Even Hen (Aisha Hinds) knew where to find Ravi when he was hiding from an overzealous Buck, hiding under Cap’s desk in Season 5. It’s time that Ravi is given the spotlight for more emotional and comedic moments with the other members of the 118, as the few we’ve gotten are already some of the show’s most iconic.
During this season of 9-1-1, the characters we know and love have all entered very different phases of life since when we first got to know them. Hen and Karen (Tracie Thoms) have worked through relationship struggles and found an important work-life balance for their son. Bobby finally forgave himself for his alcoholism and the tragic mistakes that resulted in the addiction and found love with Athena (Angela Bassett). Chimney and Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) have their second baby on the way after facing a number of struggles on the journey. Whether or not you’re a Buck and Eddie truther, it’s pretty clear that those two are figuring out what they mean to each other and, at least for a while, will be focusing on themselves over any other relationships.
This means that currently, no members of the 118 are on the market for a relationship… except, of course, for Ravi. The dating world and single life have provided some of 9-1-1’s funniest moments, from Bobby’s dating profiles to Buck’s many relationship mishaps. As every other character is paired up in their endgame relationships, Ravi can provide an important sense of comedic relief if he is given his own storylines to explore the world of dating and romance. Those storylines can maintain the original spirit of 9-1-1 while keeping things fresh in the face of every other character settling into a more mature phase of life.
Ravi is still a probie and therefore new to the world of first responders compared to the other seasoned members of the 118. The members of the team we see every week have frankly seen it all: plane crashes and tsunamis, as well as earthquakes and fires. Ravi’s fresh eyes and perspective mean that he may not know how to handle these situations like the other members of the team, providing him with opportunities for conflict and growth that would make for great television.
Ravi Deserves a Spot on the A Shift
Image via Fox.
As a whole, Ravi has so much potential to become a more important character in the world of 9-1-1, and he deserves his chance to prove that to audiences. From his tragic backstory to his dynamic with the team, Ravi represents a new class of firefighters for the 118. With Eddie temporarily out of the picture, there’s no time like the present to get audiences acquainted with this B-shifter – and maybe even bump him up to the A shift permanently.
