We’ve spent years watching Bridget Regan raise unimaginable hell on shows like Batwoman, Agent Carter and Jane the Virgin. So when she showed up on Thursday’s 9-1-1, the first episode of a two-part “Contagion” event, we knew the 118 was in for a rough couple of hours. Let’s be real—9-1-1 has never been a show that plays it safe. But the ‘Contagion’ episode? That took intensity to a whole new level. From the first minute, it had us gripping the edge of our seats. This wasn’t just another dramatic rescue—this was a full-blown crisis that shook every member of the 118 to their core.
Sure enough, the red-haired renegade formerly known as Sin Rostro played another troublemaker on the ABC procedural. And unless the situation takes a dramatic turn for the better next week, she’ll be responsible for killing one of 9-1-1‘s most beloved characters. In the world of 9-1-1, Regan plays Moira, an overzealous scientist conducting reckless experiments on a virus affectionately referred to as “Ebola’s nastier cousin.” When her boss discovers that her unsanctioned efforts have allowed the virus to strengthen at an alarming rate, he intervenes, turning Moira from a disgruntled lab worker into a full-blown villain. So, how does Moira cross paths with the 118? They actually don’t cross paths, which is precisely the problem. Moira disappears after setting the lab on fire, leading to what soon becomes the show’s deadliest call yet.
An explosion in the lab leaves Hen with a collapsed lung, but Chimney can’t operate on her because (oh my stars!) he’s showing early symptoms of Moira’s deadly virus, aka Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Chimney successfully walks Bobby through the procedure, saving Hen’s life, but then (sacré bleu!) he goes full Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rogue, coughing up blood into a mask. And we all remember how that ended for ol’ Satine.
Buckle up, because this roller coaster is just getting started. We find out there’s a cure for Chimney’s illness, but the Army won’t sign off on it because it hasn’t been tested. In fact, Ravi is specifically told that he’ll face prison time if he retrieves it. Fortunately, Ravi is a damn hero (I don’t care what that lady’s baby says!), so he bravely stands up to the Army and proudly inputs the password to unlock the cure. It’s an epic moment for Ravi, a character whose time in the spotlight is long overdue, but it’s tragically short-lived… because the canister is empty! As Athena immediately deduces, Moira snatched it on her way out, and the ending confirms that with a shot of the lab-coated lunatic disappearing into a crowd.
To recap: Hen is barely clinging to life, Chimney is actively dying of consumption, Ravi is potentially facing prison time and Moira is on the lam. Plus, it’s not like Bobby is out of the woods; he’s also trapped in the burning lab with a deadly virus in the air. In other words, none of them are safe. The ‘Contagion’ episode of 9-1-1 wasn’t just television—it was an emotional rollercoaster. It brought high drama, real-world parallels, and a cliffhanger that’ll live rent-free in our minds for weeks. As fans, we’re desperate for answers. But more than that, we’re ready for the ride.
