It goes without saying at this point that 911 is one of the most unpredictable shows on television. But in case you needed reminding, eight seasons in and that hasn't changed. The Ryan Murphy procedural has been thrilling viewers week in and week out for close to a decade now, and there are clearly no plans for that to change in the immediate future, as the show was just recently renewed by ABC for a ninth season.
Of course, that's a fantastic announcement as it ensures that more adventures await the 118 in the near-future. But on the very same day that ABC revealed its renewal, 911 surprised fans again as the eighth season will feature an unexpected two-part event that is sure to have audiences on the edge of their seats.
See what we mean: Unpredictable!
911's two-part Contagion event is coming
Immediately after the most recent episode of 911 season 8 aired, fans prepared to watch the promo trailer for the next episode, just as they had each week before that. But they got so much more than that, as ABC revealed that next week's episode will mark the beginning of a two-part event titled "Contagion", in which the lives of the 118 hang in the balance. That last part isn't anything new with this show, but the way it goes down is.
The event will see a fire take place in a laboratory that is specifically designed to contain deadly viruses. Like always, the 118 will head in to rescue people but a subsequent explosion results in Bobby, Hen, and Chimney ending up trapped inside. As the promo showcases, Buck will alert everyone he can that his friends are in danger, but he's warned by the officials that if they open those doors, they risk exposing everyone to a viral outbreak.
The event will kick off with season 8 episode 14, titled "Sick Day", while continuing on through to episode 15. The show will then take a one-week hiatus after that. And honestly, after the stress that these episodes will put everyone through, the 118 has earned that break.
Multi-part events are not new to 911 by any means, but the timing of this one caught fans off-guard. The show tends to open each season with a three-part event storyline and, over the years, audiences have watched as tsunamis hit Los Angeles, a cyber attack took place on the city, and Bobby and Athena's cruise ship capsizes. Season 8 already had an event, as it opened with the three-part "Bee-nado" story, which saw killer bees set loose on the city before nearly causing a plane crash.
Eight seasons in and 911 has no plans of resting on its laurels. It knows how to entertain, and it consistently finds new ways to do that without ever losing sight of its ambition. It knows how to go big and, with the season 8 finale (and who knows what else in season 9) on the horizon, it will clearly keep doing that. "Contagion" is simply the next part of that story.
911 season 8 airs on ABC on Thursdays at 8/7c.