9-1-1 Recap: The Hot Zone

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When watching “9-1-1“, I make an effort to keep politics at bay as this series provides a much-needed escape from real-life turmoil and isn’t expected to reflect my personal political views. However, the episode titled “Sick Day” challenged me; it’s hard not to feel uneasy about a storyline involving a potential lab leak and pandemic threat, given our current global situation. I don’t believe that 9-1-1 is promoting any specific COVID origin theory, but the connection felt uncomfortable. To be honest, I wasn’t pleased with how the researchers were portrayed. Nevertheless, “Sick Day” was so captivating that it eventually won me over. I may not be perfect, but I can appreciate a well-crafted story.

9-1-1, conversely, might be an outstanding show, or perhaps not – I found myself ambivalent about the last episode – but it excels at narrating compelling stories. The tale commences, much like many captivating yarns, with a bus colliding into multiple vehicles. Upon arrival, the 118 leaps into action, mirroring an installment of Hotshots. Most individuals escape unscathed, but when Ravi extracts a woman from her car, he overlooks a baby in the backseat. Fortunately, Bobby exhibits a propensity for risk-taking by returning to retrieve the baby, narrowly escaping a massive explosion before exiting the smoke cradling the most laid-back infant I’ve ever witnessed. (Indeed, much like Hotshots.) To be candid, this incident holds little relevance to the remainder of the episode, except for some character growth regarding Ravi. Over drinks with Buck – glad they’re genuine friends now – he expresses his intention to resign from the 118 due to his mistake. Buck has grown tired of colleagues departing for the year, encouraging Ravi to rejoin the firefighting force. “You must suppress your doubts,” he advises, “because once you allow them in, it’s like a virus.

In relation to viruses, let’s dive into a tense situation reminiscent only of the drama in 9-1-1. Researchers Allen and Roz, along with their colleague Moira (whom they have strained relations with), are working under high-risk conditions in a lab, evident by their protective gear. Moira, in her spare time, has accelerated the incubation period of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) to 90 minutes for testing an antidote on a lab rat. Both Allen and Roz are amazed by the antidote’s quick effectiveness but also deeply concerned. Their supervisor, Dr. Francis Banting, shares their alarm, as Moira has inadvertently made a highly dangerous pathogen even more perilous. Interestingly, Moira makes a compelling argument that following protocols too rigidly is hindering research progression, especially considering the expanding habitats of ticks carrying CCHF due to climate change. This is indeed a chilling reality, as documented in this study if you wish to forego sleep tonight. “If we don’t adapt as swiftly as our climate is changing,” Moira warns, “we risk being left behind.” At least I can find solace knowing that 9-1-1 supports the notion of climate change.

It appears that Moira is undeniably unstable. After being dismissed by Banting, she returns to the lab, attacking Allen and taking his key card to gain access. We’re unsure of her activities within, but the next mention of SoCal Tech Biomedical Research Laboratory involves Banting calling 9-1-1 due to a fire at the facility. The concern escalates as the 118 arrive, with Maddie explaining that the lab’s virology unit follows tier-four safety protocols for “deadly and unusual viruses.” This is worrying enough, but the situation becomes even more alarming when Banting reveals that the fire is in the level where researchers are working on CCHF, a virus that Hen describes as “Ebola’s more dangerous relative.” This virus is highly contagious and almost always results in fatal bleeding. I must admit, I’d prefer not to be aware of these details.

Bobby continues to disregard the seriousness of entering the lab, even managing to acquire Banting’s badge to bypass security restrictions. Upon arriving, they locate and extract Allen who mumbles Moira’s name before collapsing. A shocking surprise awaits as Roz is discovered trapped in a cryo room, hidden behind a melted door with bulletproof glass. Buck and Chimney navigate through vents to reach her, an ordeal that feels more like a scene from ‘Alien’ than ‘Die Hard’. Once they free Roz, she refuses to remove her suit, prompting them to disconnect her hose and guide her out through the vent by having her hold her breath. As they exit, Bobby notices a fire caused by isobutane, but Ravi insists on searching for Moira due to past regrets. Moira isn’t an infant, Ravi, she is a scientist with delusions of grandeur. However, before anyone can explain this, the isobutane fire ignites an explosion. A security wall collapses as the lab enters lockdown mode, trapping Bobby, Chimney, Hen, and Ravi inside.

The situation here is critical: It’s possible that the blast dispersed the virus particles, which could pose a significant threat if the door is opened. Despite Buck suggesting to disregard protocols, it’s crucial we don’t do so. Athena arrives and Banting informs her that it will take approximately 24 hours for the lab’s air filtration system to completely recycle all the air. This would be manageable, were it not for two major issues: Hen, who was injured in the explosion, is suffering from a collapsed lung requiring immediate medical attention within the next 10 minutes; and Chim, whose protective gear was blown away during the blast, has potentially been exposed to the virus.

In the meantime, Colonel John Hartman from U.S. Army Infectious Diseases is here to assist in evacuating the 118 personnel by constructing a heavily filtered passageway. Although there’s a more intricate explanation for this process, I don’t have the means to simplify it at the moment. Hartman estimates that it will take at least two hours before Bobby and his team can be safely extracted from the lab.

Chimney isn’t given two hours, however. As he prepares to perform an emergency thoracostomy when Maddie (still connected!) informs him that if he’s ill, he could contaminate Hen during the operation. Wearing a thin medical mask, he isolates himself and assists Bobby in chest tube placement, with Ravi’s help. At one point, Bobby must insert his finger into the incision made and force through the muscle. “Cap, you’ll need to push really hard,” Chimney advises because 9-1-1 is notorious for being gruesome. Bobby manages to place the tube, and Hen begins breathing again, but Chim is faring poorly. He coughs blood into his mask and then his nose starts bleeding. “Hey sweetheart, I’m not sure I’ll make it home for dinner,” he tells Maddie. “I think I picked up a virus at the office.” If I ever start bleeding from various openings, I can guarantee I won’t be as witty.

In the open air, Roz reveals a secret: Banting has hidden something from everyone, namely that Moira was conducting research on the virus that accelerated its incubation period drastically, to possibly just a few days. The military then decides to halt their rescue mission, as Hartman explains they can’t risk releasing the virus further. “We have a pandemic in a container here,” he says, “and I am not about to open it.” Understandably, Athena and Buck are unwilling to accept the loss of their friends and acquaintances. Fortunately, Roz has additional information: Moira has also developed an antidote! However, Hartman can’t use the sole dose on Chimney because they would need it for creating a vaccine if the virus escapes again. Regrettably, Hartman isn’t on our side, but his reasoning is strong. In a tense turn of events, Ravi is threatened with terrorism charges as he opens the lab freezer to retrieve the antidote—only to find that it has vanished. Moira has stolen her most significant discovery, presumably for reasons other than insanity. We’ll learn more about this next time!

Call Log

While it’s important to clarify, this isn’t about dismissing the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), it does have an amusing aspect when the users are wearing their HAZMAT suits and their voices become muffled.

It was surprising, considering the usual seriousness associated with safety matters, that these first responders appeared so relaxed. However, after witnessing numerous instances of nonchalance about safety protocols during COVID-19, I shouldn’t have been shocked. Frankly, watching Buck attempt to bypass the decontamination process made me want to express my disapproval quite forcefully.

It’s pleasing to observe Ravi becoming a more integral part of the team, and I hope this isn’t just a short-term adjustment until Eddie comes back. There seems to be plenty of space for both of them on the team! In fact, if a character were to pass away in next week’s episode, as I’m trying to convince myself they won’t, there would still be room for everyone.

This week, there are some other less pressing events such as Maddie and Chimney receiving a mistaken gender-reveal cake and causing confusion for Jee-Yun, and Bobby and Athena working on the construction of their new home. However, the deadly virus steals the spotlight, overshadowing these scenes. I apologize for any inconvenience to these events.

If you’ve recently experienced encephalitis, it seems reasonable that you might not get CCHF, at least based on my understanding!

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2025-04-11 17:55