9-1-1 is a TV show full of extremely likable characters. Seriously, I’m not sure I’ve ever watched another show where I like every single important character. It made it rather difficult to figure out this list and even the characters at the bottom are still great characters.
I’ve decided not to include the children in this list (Denny. Mara, Jeeyun, Chris, Harry etc.) but just know that I love them all!
So, here’s my ranking of all of the main characters (and some recurring ones!) from worst to best.
Be warned: there might be mild spoilers!
14. Abby Clark
Played by Connie Britton, Abby Clark was only in the show for one season so it’s probably not a surprise she’s at the bottom of the list. However, even when watching the first season I found myself bored with her storyline. At this point, it’s kind of easy to forget that she was even a main character, and it didn’t feel like the show missed her when she left.
Maybe the storyline with her mother might’ve been more impactful if I cared more about her character but I’m not sure. Her relationship with Buck was fine but doesn’t seem to be something she was ever that invested in (I mean, she did leave and never communicate with him…) so it was hard to become invested in that, either. I’m glad she introduced us to Carla though!
13. Athena Grant
The best thing about Athena Grant is that she’s played by Angela Bassett and that means I can’t ever fully hate her character. And, the thing is, I don’t hate Athena, but I do have a hard time enjoying her character as a whole. I love seeing her relationships with her children, with Bobby, with the rest of 118 (we need to see more of her friendship with Hen!). Pretty much all of her character stuff that happens outside of her job is pretty good. I loved seeing her coming to terms with her husband revealing that he’s gay and eventually becoming, like, best friends with him.
But, we can’t ignore the police stuff. Athena abuses her power all the time, and it wouldn’t be such a big deal if the show didn’t do storylines about other bad cops that end telling us that Athena is ‘one of the good ones.’ It’s super annoying because Athena isn’t one of the good ones! As I said, she abuses her powers all the time. And, don’t get me started on her initial reaction when her family was pulled over by the police and her young son was almost shot.
12. Josh Russo
So, Josh isn’t a main character but he’s in the show enough and interacts with enough characters that I feel like he’s important enough to rank.
I don’t dislike Josh at all, but I think they don’t really give him enough to do (especially in the past few seasons!). But the thing I like about Josh is the relationships he has with the other characters. His friendship with Maddie is nice, and as much as people dislike what he said to Eddie, I kinda liked it. Eddie did take over without asking and that’s not his job.
He’s been on the show for a while now so I hope to see some more development in the future!
11. Michael Grant
Michael Grant is one of the only non-first responder main characters. Or, is he the only one outside of the children? I think he might be. I think Michael on his own as a character is a little bit dull and I don’t really care much for him. However, I love his relationship with Bobby, Athena and his children. I love them showing this extended family that ends up being so close. His friendship with Bobby is a lot of fun to watch! My favourite episode from him is the Rear Window one.
10. Karen Wilson
I love Karen and sometimes I almost forget she’s not a main character because she just seems so essential to the show. Hen’s character and storyline would just be so different without Karen.
I would really love to see more storylines for Karen that aren’t just about her and Hen losing children because I think she could have some great interactions with other characters in the show. She has such a cool job as well and it would be fun to explore that side of her character a bit more. Like, I know this is a first responder show but a little bit more development for her character would be much appreciated.
9. Albert Han
Albert Han was such a fun addition to the show. It gave us a bit more of a look into Chimney’s backstory but he was also fantastic on his own.
His developing relationship with Chimney and the storyline about following him into being a firefighter only to realise he didn’t really like being one was really great. I also enjoyed him being Buck’s roommate although it never really made sense to me. Was he just sleeping on the couch the entire time?!
8. Ravi Panikarr
I think that if Ravi was a main character he would definitely be higher on this list. He is just such a fun and refreshing character. I just know I’m going to be having fun.
I can’t believe we haven’t seen him in season 8 yet, but Tim Minear (the showrunner) has recently said he’d love Ravi back so let’s hope they manage to get him back for Season 8b!
The only complaint I have about Ravi is that he’s a landlord. Why would they do that?!
7. Edmundo ‘Eddie’ Diaz
I have a hard time with Eddie Diaz. I kind of love his character but it also feels like they’re constantly just going round in circles with him. I’m hoping that after season 8 he’s gonna become a bit more of a steady character and can have a bit of happiness. His character is interesting and sometimes it feels like he’s been there right from the beginning.
Eddie’s relationship with his son is one of my favourites so season 8 has been a bit of a difficult watch (but it looks like this is gonna be sorted pretty soon!). I think Eddie has a lot of issues but his character has a lot of potential. I’m personally hoping that Eddie will come out as gay at some point because if he doesn’t then I’m just gonna have to come to terms with the fact that he just treats women horribly for no reason.
Also, I miss the mustache.
6. May Grant
I didn’t really have many opinions about May before she graduated high school. I’m not sure if that’s how everyone else felt but I feel like unless I’m currently watching the early seasons, I kind of forget what happened to her then (except in the second episode of the show, of course!). But as soon as May started working at dispatch she quickly became one of my favourites. I’m happy that the actress appears to be happy at college, but I wish she’d come back as a main character!
I love seeing May working at dispatch but I also love her relationships with pretty much everyone she interacts with. Her relationship with Bobby is one of my favourites, but every scene she is in is a delight to watch.
5. Robert ‘Bobby’ Nash
My favourite thing about Bobby Nash is that it almost always looks like he’s about to burst out laughing. If you haven’t noticed it yet then you definitely will now and you won’t be able to unsee it.
Bobby’s backstory is just so heartbreaking and his begins episodes are fantastic. Bobby is such a fantastic character because he is such a fantastic leader and has the best relationships with all of the characters. Peter Krause is also just a fantastic character that you just fall in love with Bobby almost immediately.
4. Howard ‘Chimney’ Han
Chimney Han is just such a lovely character. He starts as someone that has been through so much (though we don’t really know that until Chimney Begins – an episode that always makes me cry!) and it’s clear he just wants someone to love him and to have a family.
Maddie is the best thing for him and their relationship is one of the best parts about the show. I also adore his friendship with Hen and you just know you’re gonna have a lot of fun when they’re both with Buck and Eddie. Chimney is just so much fun but can do the serious and dramatic acting so well. I also think Kenneth Choi is one of the best actors on the entire show.
3. Maddie Buckley
One of the best things that 9-1-1 has ever done is hire Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Buckley. I just can’t imagine the show without her.
I just adore Maddie and while she often doesn’t get the most exciting storylines (this might be changing soon if the teasers are anything to go by!) but she’s always just there being my absolute favourite. They needed someone to replace Abby at Dispatch and I can’t think of anyone better.
I will also always be grateful that Jennifer Love Hewitt is playing this character because she’s just an incredible actor and she decided she wanted Maddie to end up with Chimney so they took her storyline in that direction!
2. Henrietta ‘Hen Wilson
I started the show liking Hen but by the end of the first season I really wasn’t her biggest fan. I hated her cheating storyline and I’m glad that she became such a fantastic character that you’re able to look past it.
Hen is a very fun character and my favourite relationship of hers is definitely the friendship with Chimney but it just doesn’t feel like we get to see a lot of that anymore! She was also the thing that kind of brought Athena more into the lives of the 118!
However, I will never understand why they decided to have her go to medical school and have her really love it knowing that it would mean that she’d either have to leave the 118 or drop out?
1. Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley
I know a lot of people weren’t his biggest fan in the first season but I just knew he was going to be my favourite right from the beginning. It’s always characters like him that draw me in because you just know they’re gonna get the best development. And, he did! Buck is definitely the character that has changed the most over the show. He’s also just a lot of fun onscreen. I’m not sure the show could do anything to make me dislike him at this point.
Buck also has important relationships with pretty much every main character on the show which is probably part of the reason he has so much screen time. His relationship with Maddie is my favourite of the whole show.
Images from ABC and FOX
