I Think This Firefighter is Silently 1 of 9-1-1’s Best Characters (But the Show Fumbled His Storyline)

Unlike its competitors, 9-1-1 places a great deal of focus on its characters. The cases are still important to the show, but how the firefighters respond to them is the procedural’s biggest draw. The 118 are passionate heroes, but the show allows fans to see the nuances of their personal lives, which gives 9-1-1 an added scoop of drama.

However, it’s fair to say that 9-1-1 would be less impressive without Howard Han. Complete with a unique charm and a kind heart, Han showcases the high levels of compassion needed to work in this line of work. Despite being a main character for eight seasons, I can’t help but think that the show has repeatedly undermined him. As such, 9-1-1’s clumsy writing has reduced one of its best characters down to a silly running joke.

Chimney’s Arc Relies Too Much on a Running Joke

Howard Han has been an integral part of 9-1-1 from the start and is also one of the longest-running members of the 118 crew. After struggling to find a stable career, Han and his foster brother enrolled in firefighter training. While this process was entirely arduous and selfless, he passed and was sent to the 118 firehouse. In the beginning, Han was forced to do the donkey work and wasn’t allowed to take part in many serious incidents. Yet, during a particularly bad building fire, he alerts the members of a gas leak and saves countless civilians. From there, he gained a ton of respect and admiration from his peers. Since then, Howard has been a key part of the show, and fans have enjoyed seeing him blossom as a firefighter, husband, and father.

While his arc sounds very serious, Howard is associated with a very clever running joke. While he initially introduced himself as Howie, his teammates call him Chimney. There are a plethora of theories surrounding how he got this nickname, but 9-1-1 keeps us in the dark about it. Some argue that the story is just too explicit to mention on TV, and others just believe that he got stuck in a chimney during dispatch. Regardless, the story is teased multiple times throughout the show. For example, in Season 3, Episode 11, “Seize the Day,” Albert, Howard’s half-brother, asks how he got the name Chimney. Just as Hen is about to spill the beans, the screen cuts to black.

This joke occurs again in Season 2, Episode 4, “Stuck,” when Hen tries to tell Christopher Diaz how he got his nickname, but Howard interrupts the conversation in a desperate attempt to change the subject. In reality, not even the actor Kenneth Choi really knows how Howard got his name and has a lot of his own ideas. Overall, it’s a funny gag and easily separates 9-1-1 from its more serious competitors. Yet, I’m getting tired of Han having this elusive backstory that no one knows about. It was funny at first, but after 8 seasons, fans deserve to know more about this integral protagonist. Even if the root of the nickname is silly, it would still be nice to know more about Howard instead of his life being shrouded in mystery for the sake of a quick laugh.

Howie Remains in the Shadows of Other Firefighters

According to Season 2, Episode 12, “Chimney Begins,” Han joined the 118 team in 2005. This makes him one of the longest-running crew members, especially when compared to people like Evan Buckley, who joined the force in 2017. Despite his history, Howard hasn’t experienced much growth in his career. Thus, I can’t help but feel like he rests in the shadows of other protagonists. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that there are only a handful of Howard-centric episodes, all of which are arguably lackluster. Take, for example, in Season 1, Episode 8, “Karma’s a Bitch,” Han organizes a blood drive to help support the local community. However, the only person who doesn’t participate is Bobby due to his fear of needles. Yet, after much convincing, Bobby offers a donation, and later, the audience discovers that he has a rare blood type that could save countless children. Han is, of course, overjoyed and extremely supportive of his friend. But, Bobby lashes out because he doesn’t want to save other children, he wants to chance to save his own children again. Now, it’s important to note that I fully understand the impact of this episode. It’s the first time that the audience sees Bobby emotional and showcases the truth behind his animosity. However, “Karma’s a Bitch” makes a conscious effort to steal the spotlight from Chimney and forces audiences to listen to Bobby’s trauma all over again. Again, it feels like 9-1-1 is purposely pushing Chimney out of the frame to make more room for other characters.

After Bobby’s shocking suspension in Season 2, Episode 16, “Bobby Begins Again,” Chimney becomes the 118 interim Chief. In the next episode, “Careful What You Wish For,” the rest of the team is ready to follow Howard’s orders and is looking to him for guidance and support. Yet, Chimney is quick to mention how Bobby should still be on the team and that he’s only standing in for the Chief on a temporary basis. Although it’s tooth-achingly sweet that Howard still supports Bobby, even after his suspension, I truly believe that Han deserves a more superior position. He’s been in the crew a lot longer than Bobby and hasn’t made the same fatal errors. 9-1-1 is obviously trying to make Howie the bigger man, and while that matches up with his character profile, it does nothing for his growth. As such, it wouldn’t hurt to give Chimney a promotion or even a tad more recognition.

Han Deserves a Slice of the Action

Like many other fans, I enjoy Howard’s presence because he’s stable. While Hen is dealing with the latest family drama and Athena is busy landing planes, Han remains consistent. While this is a sign of good writing, this stability acts as a stumbling block to the character’s growth. Even his relationship has fallen into a state of monotony. Howie and Maddie suffered their issues in Season 5 after the latter suffered a bout of post-partum depression, but eventually, the pair got back together in the end. Admittedly, it’s nice to see Howie and Maddie all loved up because it gives fans a break from Hen and Karen’s latest turmoil, but again, it just makes Chimney feel stuck. He’s a loving father and husband, so it feels like 9-1-1 has closed off that chapter in his arc.

Compared to his peers like Eddie and Athena, Han seems a lot more reserved. However, I believe that it’s Howard’s turn to be the action hero, and he deserves to revel in all the credit. Aside from being stabbed in the head with a pole in Season 1, he is very rarely included in high-stakes cases. This makes him appear meek, which isn’t what I want to see in an intense procedural like 9-1-1. After 8 seasons, I expect to see every main character pushed to their limits, and I want to experience the same thrills as the people on screen. With regard to Howie, I feel like I’m watching a teen drama centered around the ups and downs of marital bliss. Overall, it seems a bit odd that an actor like Kenneth Choi isn’t at the forefront of this drama. He’s appeared in countless Marvel movies, all of which work to build up the stakes, and he’s also worked on hit dramas such as Sons of Anarchy. Thus, I feel like 9-1-1 just doesn’t know what to do with Chimney anymore. It’s almost like the show is too scared to let anything bad happen to him in case it upsets the audience, and it doesn’t want to let him grow in case it messes up another character’s story. But unless 9-1-1 acts quickly to save Han’s character, I’m afraid that the character will fade into obscurity throughout the latter part of Season 8.