I’m only three seasons into 9-1-1 on ABC, and it’s truly beyond me how Angela Bassett’s performance as Athena Grant has yet to be recognized at the Emmys. In reality, I’ve been doing this job long enough by now that I know and recognize the patterns of streaming versus network television, but it’s still so shocking that she isn’t a large part of the conversation.
And again, I’m only three seasons in. I’ve seen gifs of upcoming episodes, and knowing Bassett’s range as an actress, I know there’s so much more coming. Athena Grant is effortlessly the character who’s easiest to fall in love with when you first start watching the show, and it’s entirely because of what Bassett brings into every frame. She’s complex, soft, angry, funny, loving, and so well-rounded as a character that every bit of growth we continue to see reveals that so much of the reason why she’s memorable is because of Bassett.
The writing and characterization are incredible, yes, but it’s Angela Bassett who makes her memorable. It’s how she steps into a scene, talks to a character, laughs, and cries that make it so easy to feel every emotion she’s feeling. One of the details that often makes an actor tremendous is when we can separate them from other characters they’ve played in the past. And Bassett is the type of performer who embodies characters so brilliantly that this is always the case with her.
No matter the role, every move is deliberate, distinct, and full of something worthy of deconstructing. There’s not a moment on screen where she isn’t giving us the best of her abilities, even if Athena is merely standing in the background. Silent beats scream with depth, sadness hits so hard, and her joy always results in some of the sweetest moments. Angela Bassett is consistently delivering some of the most substantial scenes on the small screen, and we aren’t screaming about it nearly as much as we should be. There’s also something so poignant about how she brings out the best in all her scene partners, too. It’s a true gift to get to see the work Bassett puts in weekly, allowing 9-1-1 to also stand as a series that’s worthy of constantly applauding. Sure, some of the plot points are wildly over-the-top, but everything about the performances (from the whole cast) grounds the series in a place that makes it stand out from similar procedurals like it.
All of this to say, it’s time we accept that procedurals also deserve mass critical recognition because the work Angela Bassett is doing is worthy of endless praise. We need to be screaming about her week after week because whether the beat of acting is subtle or loud and open, she’s consistently delivering something worth recognizing. She’s delivering something faultless in every episode. 9-1-1 starts with the type of episode that could’ve pushed a lot of viewers away, but then Bassett steps onto the screen, and it’s over—you’re in, you’re invested, and you know that she’s going to consistently deliver something impeccable. And she does through and through.
9-1-1 on ABC is now streaming on Hulu
First Featured Image Credit: ©ABC