“9-1-1” is renowned for its blend of high-stakes emergencies and character-driven storytelling. However, some episodes that initially seem lighthearted take on a new, more poignant meaning upon rewatch. One such episode is “Jinxed” (Season 4, Episode 9), which, despite its comedic moments, unveils deeper emotional layers upon a second viewing.
When a major character death or a game-changing plot twist occurs late into a series, it can recontextualize old episodes upon a rewatch. This has been the case with the death of Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) in Season 8 of 9-1-1. There is an added level of sadness to moments like Buck (Oliver Stark) telling Bobby he doesn’t know what he would do without him while worrying about his exposure to radiation back in Season 3. It’s also painful to look back on the start of Bobby and Athena’s (Angela Bassett) love story, knowing that it ends with her losing him and selling their dream house shortly after.
9-1-1 certainly does the high-stakes and large-scale emergencies very well, but some of its best episodes are its funnier and more low-key installments. This includes episodes like “Jinx,” which sees the 118 deal with an especially busy shift full of bizarre calls after Ravi (Anirudh Pisharody) uses the word “quiet” at work. Another great one is “Ocean’s 9-1-1,” in which the 118 get in trouble for breaking into a bank vault on a call. One of 9-1-1’s funniest episodes, “Dosed,” is a hilarious installment on its own, but it is actually much sadder while rewatching in the context of Bobby’s death.
“Dosed” Sees the 118 Get High After Eating Hallucinogenic Brownies. 9-1-1 Season 2, Episode 6, “Dosed,” is best known for being the episode where Bobby, Buck, Eddie (Ryan Guzman), and Hen (Aisha Hinds) get high after unknowingly eating brownies that have been dosed with hallucinogens. Even before they get drugged, though, the episode is wildly funny. The 118 tends to a number of bizarre calls, like a cricket-eating contest where one of the contestants gets sick, and a bodybuilding competition where a competitor gets stuck in his position due to steroids and dehydration. Later, as a gift to help relax the firefighters, the eating contest moderator, Sandy (Susan Ruttan), gives the 118 brownies that she has dosed with hallucinogens.
It’s absolutely hilarious to see a sober Chimney (Kenneth Choi) have to try to work with his high friends as they tend to a call where two mothers have gotten into a physical fight at a children’s beauty pageant. During the ambulance ride, Buck and Eddie become convinced that they can see and hear the pollen, which they believe may have developed into “a new kind.” At the pageant, Buck, Eddie, and Hen have a hard time focusing, and they can’t stop giggling. Buck and Eddie are confused by how tiny the beauty queens are, and Hen believes that she can smell love on Athena. It’s a wildly funny scene that ends with Eddie crying when Athena handcuffs them all to keep them from getting hurt. This scene makes “Dosed” one of 9-1-1’s funniest episodes, even with Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Bobby’s much heavier storylines.
