9-1-1 on FOX won’t ignore the coronavirus in its storylines

9-1-1 on Fox will keep things real when it returns

While some series may ignore the coronavirus and proceed with usual storylines, others, like When Calls the Heart and When Hope Calls,  may have to do so because of the time period of the shows. Still others like  9-1-1 on FOX will address the pandemic. How this will affect the characters and where they left off at the end of season 3 remains to be seen.

While showrunner, Tim Minear, doesn’t want to ignore the pandemic, he also doesn’t want the show to end up revolving around it, either. He imagines that by the time the show returns, the characters will have endured what the world has endured. They will have gone through the days of quarantine and faced the uncertainty of the future.

"Probably what you’ll find is when we come back, our characters will have been through what our audience has been through. They will have been through this period of quarantine. They will have learned what the protocols are to get by in day-to-day life."

Will this decision affect the ratings for 9-1-1 on FOX?

Unfortunately, though, one wonders if this could have an affect on the ratings for the successful drama. Most people watch television to be entertained and to escape the realities of their current situation. Television shows offer us the chance to step into a fantasy world for an hour and attempt to forget about what is facing us when the program ends.

Of course, Minear does say the characters will have been through which could signal his intention to put the pandemic, or a portion of it, in the past. This would prevent the characters from having to wear masks for the duration of the episodes. Perhaps by the time 9-1-1 starts filming for its mid-season debut, a vaccine will have been approved and the social distancing measures will be at an end.

9-1-1 has had strong ratings for the past three years, but there’s no telling how much hard-cold reality will affect the viewers. Hopefully, the series will maintain a sense of balance that won’t cause fans to turn to a different channel.

Are you disappointed that 9-1-1 isn’t ignoring the pandemic? Share your thoughts in the comments below.