8 Biggest Unanswered Questions & Mysteries After The 9-1-1 Season 8 Finale

9-1-1 season 8 has come to an end, but not every storyline earned a satisfying conclusion. At the heart of 9-1-1 is a found family comprised of firefighters from LAFD Station 118— Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark), Henrietta “Hen” Wilson (Aisha Hinds), Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi), Ravi Panikkar (Anirudh Pisharody), and Eddie (Ryan Guzman)— and their family members. Angela Bassett’s Athena Grant is also a key member and the widow of Peter Krause’s Bobby Nash.

The 9-1-1 season 8 finale followed the long-running procedural’s typical formula: an intense emergency results in a dangerous rescue mission that ties into the overarching narrative. “Seismic Shifts” takes the form of a 19-story building collapsing after an explosion, which brings the 118 and Athena together to save upwards of 300 civilians. Though the team inevitably saves the day, not everyone in the ensemble cast got a perfect ending in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 18.

Who Will Be The 118’s Next Captain?

There's A Clear Set-Up For Season 9, But There's Room For Surprise

Arguably the most pressing issue that 9-1-1 season 9 will have to answer quickly is which character will be the next fire captain at Station 118. While unconfirmed, the season finale of 9-1-1 set up Chimney as Bobby’s possible replacement. After Hen told the group she turned down the job offer, her best friend and paramedic partner came out of the woodwork as the leading contender.

Nevertheless, there’s always time for 9-1-1 to flip the script and bring in someone entirely new for the role. The first conflict in 9-1-1 season 9 may be the 118 struggling to deal with an outsider joining their team, leading to Chimney fighting for the position. Alternatively, another firefighter may throw their hat in the ring. After Bobby’s shocking death in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15, there’s no way to predict the first-responder drama’s next move, regardless of how obvious the clues seem.

Where Is Buck Going To Live?

Eddie's LA Return Isn't Without Complications

When Eddie moved to Texas just after 9-1-1’s midseason return, it was with the comfort of knowing his home was being taken care of by Buck, who decided to sublet the property. However, Eddie and Christopher (Gavin McHugh) have officially moved back to LA, meaning Buck is now displaced. Given that Buck gave up the lease on his controversial loft apartment in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 9, he’ll have to find an entirely new place to live.

The ending of 9-1-1 season 8, episode 18 briefly showed Buck apartment hunting with a real estate agent, but the scene didn’t inspire much confidence about finding a match any time soon. Buck mentions what he’s looking for, explaining he wants to find someplace with the same “character” Eddie’s house had. The realtor asks why he even left, to which Buck replies it wasn’t really his home. Whether Buck will be settled down or still looking when 9-1-1 returns is a mystery.

What’s Next For Athena?

She's Been Occupied With Her Grief

Although the 9-1-1 season 8 finale had Athena reconciling with Chimney and letting go of her resentment surrounding Bobby’s death, the police sergeant may have reached a narrative stalemate. Athena’s grief in 9-1-1 has kept her in a state of perpetual anger and sadness in the closing episodes of season 8, but it’s unclear where the lead’s storyline is heading from here.

Now that Athena has put her and Bobby’s house up for sale, her career may be the only avenue left to explore. Athena mentioned in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 7 that she’d be open to training a rookie officer in the future after a failed partnership with Officer Sparks. If that’s still the case, 9-1-1 may bring back Graeme the “cart cop” as Athena’s official mentee. Otherwise, there’s nothing glaring in Athena’s character that needs further development.

Why Was The Government Withholding Bobby’s Body?

There's A Prevailing But Unlikely Theory

Following the twist ending of “Lab Rats,” many held out hope that Bobby wasn’t actually dead. There were subtle discrepancies that could have explained a false death, including the fact that Bobby’s dead body was never shown on-screen (unlike other minor characters who died, like Shannon). When 9-1-1 season 8, episode 16 opened, Athena even revealed that two weeks had passed without the authorities releasing Bobby’s body.

After Chimney badgered them enough, they eventually relinquished the remains for his funeral. Bobby’s burial in 9-1-1 went off without a hitch, but it was never explained why the government was withholding the body. Some took it as evidence that Bobby is secretly still alive and part of a government conspiracy, but it’s more likely that there wasn’t a meaningful explanation for 9-1-1 to disclose. Nonetheless, it’s strange that 9-1-1 never revisited the conflict or gave proper context.

Is Buck In Love With Eddie?

Season 8 Raised The Complicated Question

The characters who ended 9-1-1 season 8 on the most confusing note were undoubtedly Buck and Eddie. Though the latter half of the season made an entire storyline out of Buck potentially having romantic feelings for his best friend, seemingly following the typical slow-burn formula of feelings denial preceding a realization of true feelings, Buck and Eddie barely interacted in the 9-1-1 season 8 finale.

Buck and Eddie’s future in 9-1-1 is uncertain, but the procedural needs to commit to one possibility or the other. Having a character like Maddie say it isn’t “crazy” to imagine Buck in love with Eddie reads like it’s setting the stage for that to become true. If Buck and Eddie are truly just friends, there was no point for 9-1-1 to include Buck’s ex calling Eddie his “competition.” Unfortunately, it seems like 9-1-1 is oscillating between platonic and romantic in order to appeal to both sides of the audience.

What's Really The Story With Chimney's Name?

It's 9-1-1's Longest-Running Mystery

Although Chimney has been around since the pilot episode of 9-1-1, his nickname has never been explained. In one of 9-1-1’s best episodes (“Chimney Begins”), he’s called Howard and Howie, a jarring change that emphasizes how Chimney feels like the character’s real name because of how often it’s used. Even his wife calls him Chimney most of the time rather than his birth name.

Eight seasons in, the mysterious circumstances surrounding how Chimney earned his nickname have become a running gag. Characters either refuse to tell the story or are interrupted before they can reveal the details. It’s entirely possible that 9-1-1 could end without ever having revealed the backstory behind Chimney’s nickname. With how much build-up it’s had, that may even be the wisest decision, since whatever real story 9-1-1 comes up with won’t possibly be able to live up to almost a decade’s worth of hype.

Is Ravi Going To Stay With The 118?

He Was Initially Eddie's Replacement, But He Deserves A Permanent Spot

Despite Ravi being introduced in 9-1-1 season 4, the character has been largely absent since his prevalent role in season 6. Yet, Ravi gets his time to shine after Eddie moves to Texas and the past “probie” transfers to the 118’s A-Shift. During the high-octane events of Contagion, Ravi proves he deserves to be with the 118 permanently in 9-1-1. However, there’s been no official confirmation regarding Ravi’s role in 9-1-1 season 9.

If Chimney does become the 118’s captain in 9-1-1 season 9, the procedural could easily keep Ravi by making Eddie a paramedic. Exploring Ravi’s character could breathe some much-needed new life into 9-1-1, especially considering how the glimpses into his backstory— like his experience with childhood cancer— have already been interesting. If 9-1-1 ignores a character with so much potential, season 9 will start off on a very disappointing note.

Can 9-1-1 Survive Without Peter Krause's Bobby?

The Main Character's Death Will Have Many More Repercussions

While Bobby’s replacement is the most time-sensitive issue for 9-1-1, a much more consequential question is whether the fallen captain will take the series down with him. Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 was incredibly divisive for many reasons, but it’s undeniable how much killing off a main character has permanently changed the series. Widespread criticism has rolled in consistently since Bobby’s death, with each subsequent episode seemingly posing another problem for the procedural’s longevity.

In many ways, a version of 9-1-1 died with Bobby, but now it’s a matter if another version can successfully take up the mantle. 9-1-1 season 9 will be a make-or-break moment for the long-running drama, and it may very well determine whether the series will make it to season 10. Bobby’s absence has been palpable since his season 8 death, but the 118 will allegedly preserve his legacy. Sadly, only time will tell if 9-1-1 earnestly carries out that promise.