Ep 1. The New Abnormal

In the season 4 premiere of 9-1-1 titled "The New Abnormal," the first responders of the 118 face a series of intense emergencies in Los Angeles. As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the lives of the emergency workers have been drastically altered. They wear masks and take precautions to protect themselves and others while still providing life-saving aid to those in need.

The episode opens with an intense car crash involving a young couple who accidentally drove off a cliff. As the 118 team races to the scene, they face challenges caused by the pandemic as well as the rugged terrain. The dramatic rescue shows the team working together to save the couple's lives, despite the hazardous location.

The pandemic continues to impact the lives of the first responders in both their personal and professional lives. For Buck, the quarantine has been particularly isolating as he struggles with loneliness and the end of a long-term relationship. This subplot highlights the emotional toll that the pandemic has taken on many people globally.

A second emergency comes in the form of a faulty escalator that traps people at a shopping mall. The team uses their extensive knowledge of engineering to free the trapped customers. The pandemic again presents additional challenges as the team has to figure out how to safely sanitize the escalator while also performing the rescue.

The final event of the episode focuses on Athena's storyline. She is in her first day of detective training and is paired with a seasoned officer who doesn't seem to have faith in her abilities. The situation is made more complex when Athena discovers a hit-and-run case that appears to have been overlooked by her training officer. Athena's strong will and determination lead her to solve the case, proving her worth as a detective in the eyes of everyone, including her boss.

Throughout the episode, we see glimpses of how the pandemic has changed everyone's lives. The first responders wear masks, adapt to new protocols for responding to calls, and balance their work duties with personal responsibilities. These challenges are faced head-on, providing a sense of realism to the show that resonates with viewers who experienced similar struggles.

Overall, "The New Abnormal" episode of 9-1-1 provides an action-packed, emotional story that showcases the difficulties faced by emergency workers during the COVID-19 pandemic while still offering the beloved show's trademark high-stakes rescues.