In upcoming episodes of 9-1-1 and its Nashville spin-off, both airing January 29 on ABC, characters face personal challenges tied to their pasts. Chimney experiences 'captain's remorse' over new recruit Harry Grant's first day with the 118, while Don Hart panics over a call from his dark history. These sneak peeks highlight the emotional depth of the franchise's firefighting drama.
The January 29 episode of 9-1-1, titled "Handle With Care," airing at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, centers on Harry Grant's debut as a probationary firefighter with the 118 crew. Chimney Han, now acting captain, wakes from nightmares about his new probie on Harry's first official day. When his wife Maddie asks why he seems scared, Chimney admits, "Yeah, I did [want Harry in the 118], but now I think I'm having captain's remorse."
The episode logline states: "Harry's first day as a probie proves to be more challenging than Chimney expects." Actor Elijah M. Cooper, who plays Harry, told TVLine, "The cool thing is that Harry knows everybody in the 118. This is his family, these are his people, so it allows him to come into a nurturing environment, one that's not going to treat him softly, but one where he knows he has people looking out for his best interests."
Meanwhile, the episode also involves Eddie Diaz and Hen Wilson facing court over a former patient that "brings back some old demons."
Switching to the spin-off 9-1-1: Nashville, Season 1 Episode 10, "Let It R.I.P.," airing at 9 p.m. ET, explores Captain Don Hart's troubled backstory. While training his team, the 113—particularly Blue—for a street hockey game against other firehouses, Don receives a phone call from an inmate at a correctional facility. He quickly hangs up and ignores a follow-up, visibly spiraling in fear.
Showrunner Rashad Raisani explained Don's complexity: "On the surface, he seems like the most put-together [of all the '9-1-1' captains], but still waters run deep, and there's something dark in Don." He teased an origin story in Episode 11, including Don's "original sin" from childhood damage and an inner rage, tied to a love triangle with Dixie and Blythe. A prior episode revealed Don survived a fire that killed his parents when he was 10 years old.
These episodes underscore the franchise's blend of high-stakes emergencies and personal reckonings, building on the original series' legacy.