Critical Take: 9-1-1: Lone Star's Shocking Portrayal of Mercury Poisoning Sends Medical Experts into a Frenzy

Summary

The 9-1-1 franchise deliberately embraces extraordinary emergencies and fully indulges in its exaggerated nature to inject liveliness and entertainment into the narratives.

While some viewers criticize the recent episodes for lacking excitement, the show's most memorable moments offer an enjoyable viewing experience.

A real doctor ridicules 9-1-1: Lone Star's portrayal of mercury poisoning. This storyline originates from the episode "Yee Haw," which dates back to the second episode of the 9-1-1 spinoff. The episode revolves around the show's main characters urgently working to uncover the source of a peculiar outbreak of mercury poisoning, which results in bizarre and abnormal behavior. Written by the series' co-creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear, this installment includes the expected family and personal drama, but it is primarily remembered for its extraordinary case of the week.

Real-life family physician, Doctor Mike, is now critiquing the infamous 9-1-1: Lone Star episode in a dedicated YouTube video. He humorously mocks the initial reactions to the outbreak, the characters' wardrobe choices, and the approach of certain Lone Star characters. However, his harshest criticisms are saved for the mercury poisoning reveal. Quoted below are his scathing remarks.

“Is she withdrawing from heroin? Or maybe just acute intoxication with a substance?”

"He’s wearing cross stripes on a shirt that has plaid on it. My man, pick one or the other.”

"Alright. It appears to be a form of psychosis, specifically psychosis-induced excoriation, where the individual begins to scratch themselves under the false belief that there are insects crawling on their body."

"Dude. She's actually stabbing herself with a fork! Could you please demonstrate some empathy?"

These colleagues I've encountered are the most uncaring individuals I've ever come across in my entire life. One of them is casually scratching herself with a fork, seemingly experiencing a medical issue, and yet the rest are simply irritated and unbothered.

Merely claiming to be two years sober does not necessarily equate to actual sobriety. Furthermore, as a police officer, it is crucial to respect someone's refusal and move on without insisting further in situations like this. The appropriate approach would be to test the person's blood to ascertain the truth.

"I would immediately evacuate everyone from the building because we cannot determine if this is related to inhalation or ingestion. The situation seems unusual."

"Did the individual speaking, who appears to be a police officer or paramedic, already know that this is a case of mercury poisoning before opening the sandwich? No, that's highly unlikely. Moreover, the type of mercury involved is not easily absorbed through the digestive system, but primarily through respiration, where it can then travel throughout the body. It has neurotoxic effects and can harm the lungs. The real danger lies in the mercury becoming aerosolized, for example, through the use of a vacuum or a fan. It is concerning that they are all casually breathing it in, which is far from ideal."

The Silliness Of 9-1-1 & Its Spinoff Is Part Of The Charm

9-1-1, being a franchise, delivers exactly what viewers would expect from the creators of American Horror Story. In one scene, the characters discuss their everyday problems, including work-related concerns and personal insecurities. Then, they are thrust into an emergency where a man has managed to injure his buttocks with a gas pump. Both the original 9-1-1 and its Lone Star spinoff deliberately embrace these elements, injecting a vibrant energy into the franchise.

This also allows the show to be easily criticized and corrected, as demonstrated by Doctor Mike, but it adds to the enjoyment. Even with highly acclaimed shows that follow a "case of the week" format, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The X-Files, the individual cases can sometimes become tedious. To prevent this, emergencies in 9-1-1: Lone Star are extravagantly outlandish, like a body being propelled out of a plane.

Viewers have expressed mixed feelings about recent episodes of 9-1-1: Lone Star, finding them less exhilarating compared to the franchise's previous electrifying moments. However, Doctor Mike's comments emphasize that the first responder series truly shines when it embraces its unconventional side, resulting in truly unforgettable moments.