9-1-1 Has Rushed Hen’s Recovery Arc — And Not In a Good Way

The last thing we ever want is to see our favorite characters suffering, and, in a way, 9-1-1 probably thought it was doing a good job of avoiding that.

However, while we don’t want to see a character suffer, we do want to see perseverance. We also want to see our favorite actors get the chance to actually act.

So, when 9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 11 opted to speed up Hen’s recovery, it left some disappointed.

Hen Deserved a Powerful Storyline

There was all this build-up to Hen’s medical diagnosis that I feel we were cheated out of the recovery during 9-1-1 Season 9.

The process of realizing that something was seriously wrong with Hen began in the midseason finale, when she experienced tremors and collapsed at home.

It wasn’t until the next episode that the truth came out. People learned that she was ill as, once again, she collapsed.

The next episode continued to focus on Hen’s illness and the fight with Chimney, finally allowing everyone to get to the bottom of the health problem.

So, you would think that with three episodes to get to the bottom of the health problem, it would likely take around the same amount of time to see a recovery.

9-1-1 didn’t opt for that. We got one episode that flashed us through weeks of physical therapy and darkness, until Hen’s mom made it clear that it was time for Hen to read her diary.

Suddenly, and I feel out of nowhere, we got this story of Hen being shot as a teenager.

Now, I know that must have come up at some point, but it just felt like they added it in as a way to give Hen a push to get out of the depressive darkness that she was in.

Then, suddenly, she’s better again!

During 9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 11, her doctors cleared her to return to work, as if the knowledge that this was progressive and that there was no cure was just something to brush off.

This is where it gets disappointing, because Aisha Hinds deserves to show off her acting skills.

She deserved a storyline that gave her the chance to reach that darkness many people feel when faced with what seems impossible.

Those scenes end up impactful, even if you’re not going through the exact same medical problem. There’s a profoundness to those types of arcs.

Sure, depression can make for a somewhat boring storyline if it’s not handled well, and it’s almost like the 9-1-1 writers were too afraid they couldn’t do it justice, so they decided not to go there.

It’s not like the writers haven’t managed to do it before. Maddie’s postnatal depression created a dynamic storyline that continued even well after the storyline had come to an end.

Hen could have had this powerful, soul-searching arc, one that she deserves.

On top of that, we could have had a realistic storyline that left us wondering whether Hen would ever be able to work as a paramedic again.

Chicago Fire just recently had one with a character who was no longer able to work as a firefighter until he passed his physical, but was able to work as a consultant until then.

9-1-1 had an opportunity to do something similar.

9-1-1 Has Contradicted Itself After That Poor Season 8 Decision

Instead, we got this fairytale ending, which would be fine if 9-1-1 had remained fairytale-like, with everyone getting through the most dangerous situations unscathed.

The whole point of Bobby’s death during 9-1-1 Season 8 was to bring an element of realism to the show.

Firefighting is a dangerous job, and that was a necessary reminder.

The problem is that we’ve had characters survive injuries that they really shouldn’t have. Just look at Chimney and the rebar through his head!

The realism comes from the loss of patients now and then, and from lives being put on the line but eventually saved.

Because, yes, miracles can happen. The wind can change direction, or a second team comes in just in the nick of time.

9-1-1 had built us up to expect that.

To say that Bobby’s death was a matter of realism and to then have Hen recover from an autoimmune disorder that was progressive in a fairytale timeline is simply a contradiction.

It adds to the disappointment of not offering Hen this influential storyline, which could help people facing their darkest days.

We deserved to see Hen hit rock bottom, and it wouldn’t have hurt to see her lashing out at more people.

9-1-1 needed to commit to this arc to show us the hard work and grit that Hen put into the recovery once she found the strength to fight.

Now, sure, there could be moments now that she’s back with the 118 that connect back, and it is something 9-1-1 has done with Maddie and Chimney after Maddie’s arc.

But we’re operating on the hope that the writers remember and can effectively add it in.

We’re operating on the hope that ABC will renew the show.

There are too many unknowns when 9-1-1 could have taken just one more episode to fully give Hen that heartfelt recovery we needed to see.

What did you think of Hen’s recovery arc? Did you want to see more?
I love to hear other perspectives, as I only have my own lived one, so leave a comment or hit me up on social media to share your insights!