Ryan Murphy's Fox procedural "9-1-1" is billed as a show about heroes. More specifically, the show follows first responders — firefighters, 911 operators, and cops on the front lines of disasters. As such, the audience is always encouraged to root for the main characters as they face danger and emotional devastation to get the job done. That doesn't mean that every character in the show is endlessly lovable, of course. These first responders all have their demons to contend with — demons they must put aside while in the field.

If "9-1-1" were filled with totally unlikable characters, it wouldn't work. This is a show about selfless people who run toward the fire, not away from it. Nonetheless, while every character in the series gives 100 percent to the job, their personal lives are another matter. Some characters deal with their problems better than others, and that's what makes the show interesting. Nobody's perfect, not even someone who saves lives for a living.

"9-1-1" argues that people are inherently good and will come together to help one another in times of crisis. But whether or not someone makes a compelling character is a different matter. Read on for a rundown of every main character in "9-1-1," ranked from worst to best.

Eddie Diaz

Sorry to all of you Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) fans out there, but Eddie doesn't pass muster, especially compared to the rest of his fellow first responders. Eddie is a talented and dedicated firefighter, which gives him extra points in the goodness department, but as far as the rest of Eddie's personality goes, he doesn't have much going for him. The best thing about Eddie is his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh), whom everyone loves deeply. Yet, Eddie tends to treat Christopher as an inspirational idol rather than a distinct individual with his own needs and perspective.

Not all of the irritants of Eddie's character are his fault. The storyline involving his now-deceased wife, Shannon (Devin Kelley), was poorly written and didn't make a whole lot of sense. The real reason Shannon left in the first place (presumably because she was struggling with her mental health, but who knows, really) is never adequately explained, and Eddie's relationship with her is kind of off-putting

Eddie is the kind of guy who is not great at dealing with his feelings, which means he's not exactly an outlier. It's just too bad that his bottled-up emotions negatively affect the people around him, like Shannon, Ana (Gabrielle Walsh), and his best bro, Buck (Oliver Stark), who only wants to be there for him.

Josh Russo

Josh Russo (Bryan Safi) is a reliable presence at the call center. He's always got a joke and a smile at the ready to cheer up the operators under his charge, and he's very good at his job. The main reason Josh doesn't top this list is that we don't know very much about him as a person. He remains pretty underdeveloped for most of the series. That doesn't give us much to go on.

Josh finally gets his own storyline in Season 3 when he has a first date that goes wrong. The following episodes are interesting, but they don't give us much insight into who he is, apart from the fact that he's lonely and gun-shy when it comes to dating. This isn't a particularly interesting fact, nor does it endear us to him, although it's probably one of the more relatable storylines in the series. (The fact that he finds dating difficult, not that his date turned out to be a criminal mastermind.)

Josh's jokes and pep talks also tend to be a bit corny, though that element of the series is not endemic to Josh alone. I don't harbor any ill will towards Josh, and he certainly would be able to talk me through an emergency, but he's not a character who keeps me coming back for more.

Michael Grant

Athena's ex-husband, Michael (Rockmond Dunbar), is one of the few characters on "9-1-1" who is not a first responder, which means he's not normally at the center of the action. This isn't a bad thing, necessarily, but it's kind of difficult for Michael to compete with the other characters in terms of heroism. Although Michael doesn't always have much to do, it's clear he deeply loves his kids and is a good father, which gives him extra points in my book.

Frankly, the best thing about Michael is his relationships with his loved ones. One of the sweetest relationships in the series is between Michael and Bobby (Peter Krause), who become close despite their unconventional blended family situation. Michael is also a very supportive (ex) partner to Athena (Angela Bassett), who he is still close with after the divorce. His relationship with his fiancé, charming doctor David Hale (La Monde Byrd), is also sweet because it means Micahel is no longer moping around feeling sorry for himself.

There's nothing particularly bothersome about Michael as a character, but his presence on the show is only necessary because of his connection to the other characters, which means he's never been a cornerstone of the series. There's nothing controversial about Michael, but there's not a ton to praise him for, either.

Athena Grant

Athena Grant is "9-1-1's" only cop, which narratively puts her in a strange position. While the firefighters of the 118 are busy with team bonding and going out on emergency calls, Athena rides around in her squad car alone, responding to calls of a different variety. Athena saves the day several times on her own, but the contrast between what she does and what the firefighters do, like catching a kid who's been stealing cars vs. saving a dozen people from a burning building, for example, makes it hard to root for her sometimes.

Athena is a very strong-willed person, and while this serves her well, it doesn't always help in her personal life. Athena can come on a little strong with her kids (especially her eldest, May) and sometimes forgets that they are their own people. No one can say that she doesn't care, but her son Harry's (Marcanthonee Reis) accusation that she sometimes focuses too much on work at the expense of her family isn't entirely off the mark.

The best thing about Athena is that she is played by none other than award-winning actress Angela Bassett. Frankly, it's somewhat bizarre that such an illustrious actor would star in a network procedural (as fun as it is). Still, it's a treat to watch Bassett deliver some of the silliest lines on the show with her indomitable gravitas.

Henrietta Hen Wilson

An expert at saving lives, Hen (Aisha Hinds) is one of the resident paramedics at the 118. She's calm and determined and has a reassuring bedside (or ambulance-side, as it were) manner. She's someone you can count on in a crisis. Unfortunately, Hen isn't always the best at dealing with trouble in her life, which becomes slightly irritating over time.

Like her friend Athena, Hen is very strong-willed and sometimes steamrolls over other people trying to help her. Her insistence on staying in contact with her unreliable ex, Eva (Abby Brammell), despite her wife Karen's (Tracie Thoms) feelings on the matter, was infuriating. She tends to assume that her feelings and her way of doing things are the only valid ones, something we see play out when she gets angry with Karen for not being more upset about their foster parent situation.

Despite her flaws, Hen is a good friend and a good firefighter. She's there for her loved ones when they need her and gives good advice when the time calls for it. Her self-importance and inability to let things go are exasperating at times, but nobody's perfect.

May Grant

May Grant (Corinne Massiah) is Athena's eldest child, and she's a formidable person — just like her mother. When we first meet May, she's a moody high school student who keeps her true feelings close to herself. Her parents are shocked when she attempts suicide because of a group of bullies at school. She never seemed all that upset.

May has grown a lot since we first met her, and as her mental health has improved, so has her sense of self and her confidence. May sometimes butts heads with her mother. That's unsurprising, considering Athena's heavy-handed parenting style. And it's hard not to take May's side during these arguments. Watching May gather up the courage to be openly critical of Athena's work as a police officer is refreshing, especially since people so rarely stand up against Athena and walk away in one piece.

May sticks to her guns when she decides to become a 911 operator against her mother's wishes. May is fundamentally a good person who wants to help people and make the world a better place. Through her work at the call center, she can live out this goal. May is also a surprisingly good 911 operator for someone so young, and it's exciting to see her impress her coworkers and take pride in making a difference. Like Maddie, May has already been through a terrifying emergency of her own, which makes her great at her job and a stronger person than she may appear.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Abby Clark

In Season 1 of "9-1-1," Abby Clark (Connie Britton) is the narrator and one of the main characters. Abby is a 911 operator and the only person we meet inside the call center for the entire season. Abby is excellent at her job, but she also struggles in her personal life and spends most of her time looking after her mother, who has Alzheimer's. Abby also begins a relationship with newbie firefighter Buck, who finally gets her to loosen up a little bit.

Abby is an endearing character, which is not surprising considering how lovable Connie Britton is, but her departure from the series feels somewhat abrupt. As it turns out, Britton was only meant to star in the first season, so the writers always knew we would grow attached to her only to have her taken away from us.

So much of what makes Abby a compelling character is Britton's performance, as she imbues Abby with a delightful girl-next-door quality. Abby's biggest shortcoming is stringing along Buck, which annoyed fans of the 118's favorite muscly puppy dog. She never explicitly tells Buck she is leaving him, just that she's leaving the country for a while, giving Buck false hope that she will return. This wasn't very considerate of Abby, though the reasons she left are valid.

Howard Chimney Han

Initially, I didn't like Chimney all that much. He seemed to always be complaining about not getting to do the "cool" jobs, and the chip on his shoulder was pretty heavy. As the series has gone on, Chimney has matured as a person, and his backstory has aided in making him a much more interesting character.

We've since learned that Chimney has lost a lot in his life. As a teenager, he lost his mother and subsequently went to live with family friends, and his best friend (who was essentially his brother) died in the line of duty. Chimney also struggled to prove himself to an inhospitable crew, which explains his occasional bitterness.

One of the main things that allow Chimney to blossom as a character is his relationship with Maddie. Before meeting Maddie, Chimney is in an unfilling relationship with a woman with whom he was never really honest, but with Maddie, Chimney is finally able to be himself. What's more, Chimney proves himself to be a great partner for Maddie and never pushes her to move any quicker than she is comfortable with. Chimney loves his family and his job deeply, and while he sometimes struggles to balance these two things, he's committed to growing as a person and doesn't let his mistakes define him.

Maddie Buckley

Season 2 saw many changes for "9-1-1," many of which stemmed from Abby's departure. Someone needed to replace Abby as the voice of the call center, and that someone was Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Buck's big sister. Maddie initially moved to Los Angeles to escape her abusive husband, Doug (played by Hewitt's real-life husband, Brian Hallisay), and to be with her little brother. When Buck suggests that Maddie, who used to be an emergency room nurse, become a 911 operator, it turns out to be a perfect fit.

While Abby is stoic, Maddie wears her heart on her sleeve. She feels deeply for all the callers because she knows what it's like to fear for your life. Maddie's storylines are some of the most melodramatic, but that's not necessarily bad. If you're not into melodrama, you're watching the wrong show. It's rewarding to watch Maddie get back on her feet after finally leaving Doug, and her relationship with Chimney (Kenneth Choi) is incredibly sweet.

If you're a fan of Jennifer Love Hewitt, you know she is perfect for a role like this. Maddie cries in nearly every episode, and no one does anguished tears like Hewitt. Though Maddie's behavior can be erratic at times, her instinct to flee is the result of the trauma she endured, and it's easy to sympathize with such an open-hearted character.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Bobby Nash

Without Bobby Nash, captain of the 118, everything would fall apart. This is true both in terms of the health of the fire station and the success of the show. Luckily, Bobby is a lovable guy, and that's a huge part of why the show is so watchable. Capt. Nash is the kind of fictional leader who is so inspirational and good at advising that it's hard to believe someone like him exists in the world. Thankfully, Bobby is not a perfect person. That makes him more interesting.

One of the biggest shockers is the secret of what happened to Bobby's family. As the story goes, Bobby struggles with alcoholism and unintentionally sets a fire in his apartment building, killings his wife and children. Bobby has lived with this guilt ever since, and at the start of the series, he is very serious and closed-off about his personal life. As Bobby opens up to his team more, it deepens their bond and increases his effectiveness as a leader.

It's hard not to root for a character whose whole reason for existing is to inspire (think Coach Taylor from "Friday Night Lights"), and Bobby is no exception. Sure, he may come off as a stereotypical "good boss" at times, but Peter Krause always makes sure there's a twinkle in Bobby's eye to let us know he doesn't take himself too seriously.

Evan Buck Buckley

If you can't get behind Buck, you probably shouldn't be watching "9-1-1" in the first place. While Bobby may be the team leader, in many ways, Buck is the heart and soul of the show, acting as our eyes on the world of firefighting. Buck is a himbo (male bimbo, for the uninformed) with a heart of gold. Or, to put it another way, he's a golden retriever who acts before thinking.

When we first meet Buck, he's not particularly lovable. He's arrogant, lacks boundaries with women and sex, and doesn't follow orders well. Still, Buck grows more than any other character, and it's hard not to love him for it. His first real learning moment is his relationship with Abby, which teaches him how to slow down and communicate his feelings. Bobby and the 118 also teach Buck much about being part of a team and putting others first.

Buck has probably made more mistakes than any other character in the series, but his sad puppy energy makes him endlessly winsome. As with the 118, the audience can forgive Buck for his (many) misdeeds because we know his heart's in the right place. He may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he makes up for it with his endless energy and generous heart. He still has a lot to learn, but we fans will always be here, eagerly awaiting his next life lesson.

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