Nashville Series Premiere Is Dripping in Soapy, Southern Twists — Grade ABC’s 9-1-1 Spinoff!

Y’all, we need to talk about 9-1-1: Nashville.

Following months of aggressive promotions (featuring a “Ring of Fire” cover that will never leave our brains), the latest chapter in the first responder franchise finally two-stepped its way onto ABC on Thursday. The question is: Now that we’ve gotten to spend some time with the 113, do we think Nashville is a worthy addition to the world of 9-1-1?

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Let’s break it all down: The spinoff stars Chris O’Donnell as rodeo star slash fire captain Don Hart, a stand-up guy with a slightly checkered past. (But hey, isn’t that part of the job description by now?) He looks to the firefighters on his team like members of his family, whether they’re battling firenadoes or rescuing country music star Kane Brown from a collapsing stage.

This family dynamic takes on a special meaning for Don’s son Ryan (Michael Provost), who is proudly following in his father’s footsteps as a member of the 113, but it really extends to everyone in the firehouse — including Taylor (Hailey Kilgore), whose vocal chops fit perfectly in a place called Music City, and Roxie (Juani Feliz), a former trauma surgeon and self-proclaimed thrill seeker. Though not technically part of the 113, dispatcher Cammie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) might as well be a member of the team, as she sneaks in songwriting sessions with Taylor over FaceTime in-between emergency calls.

Don’s wife Blythe (Jessica Capshaw) also spends her days getting her boots dirty, albeit at the horse stables. Her family’s deep pockets afford the Harts a lifestyle that Don never could have imagined as a child, and there’s a part of him that will always feel like he doesn’t belong in her world.

But Don’s picture-perfect life comes crashing down when a local male stripper named Blue (Hunter McVey), who just so happens to be dressed like a sexy firefighter, stumbles upon the 113 at the scene of an emergency. Immediately springing into action, Blue successfully applies a tourniquet to a bleeding bride-to-be, proving that being a first responder might just be in his blood. And there’s a good reason for that… he’s also Don’s son!

Yes, our boy Don found himself romantically entangled with a spitfire named Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes) a few decades back, resulting in the birth of, well, the glorious creation you see on screen. As Don explains to Ryan, he and Blythe briefly separated when Ryan was little, during which time he reconnected with his ex, a singer named Dixie. “I was at Disney World for your third birthday when I found out she was pregnant,” Don tells Ryan — you know, just in case he hasn’t been traumatized enough for one day.

Ryan’s anger intensifies when Don goes out of his way to get Blue a job at the firehouse — again, despite having absolutely no training whatsoever. Don tries to convince Ryan that randomly meeting his half-brother on a call is proof that the universe is working as it should, but Ryan is going to need a little more convincing. It also irks Ryan that Blythe apparently knew about Blue’s existence all along, though Blythe insists that Dixie didn’t allow them to say anything to anyone, including Ryan and Blue.

Dixie’s reputation as a bit of a schemer is confirmed when she encourages Blue to get close to his dad in order to get “what they’re owed,” but if Dixie really does need the money for a life-saving surgery, it’s hard to judge her too harshly. Besides, if she’s telling the truth about convincing Shania Twain not to call her song “Man, I Feel Like a Lady,” she deserves the world.

The premiere ends with the 113 arriving at a country music festival, where an impending twister has torn apart the stage, resulting in several life-and-death crises. Cammie advises the 113 to take shelter until the tornado passes, but Don refuses to leave the injured parties behind. Kane Brown also refuses, rallying his crew and fans to help the 113 lift a heavy piece of metal that’s crushing several people.

Their victory is short-lived, however, when they discover one more person trapped in the scaffolding at the top of the stage — and that twister’s coming in hot.

Our knee-jerk thoughts about 9-1-1: Nashville | First of all, this definitely isn’t your daddy’s 9-1-1. Or maybe it’s exactly your daddy’s 9-1-1, we don’t know your daddy. But it definitely has a vibe that sets it apart from its two predecessors. McVey, previously an influencer before landing his first series-regular role on Nashville, was one of the pilot’s more pleasant surprises, proving himself fully capable in heavier scenes as well as lighter moments. And Rimes, who’s also relatively new to acting, is an intriguing treat as Dixie, the type of villain (if it’s fair to call her that) we haven’t seen on a 9-1-1 before. The show’s emergencies, ranging from high-octane to high-larious, all feel very true to 9-1-1, though we’re pretty sure a farting bridesmaid is a first for the franchise. And while the characters don’t feel like a family quite yet, it’s only Episode 1 — we’re willing to see how this one develops.

What did you think of the 9-1-1: Nashville series premiere? Are you already hooked, or are you going to need more convincing? And who are your favorite (and least favorite) characters so far? Grade the 9-1-1 spinoff below, then drop a comment with your full review.

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