9-1-1 Just Broke Its 8-Year Streak (And It Could Spell The Beginning Of The End)

9-1-1 season 8 isn’t over yet, but the two-part thriller known as Contagion could have long-lasting consequences for the series as a whole. Season 8, episode 15 picks up directly after the events of “Sick Day” and explores the fallout from Bridget Regan’s 9-1-1 character, Moira Blake. The evil scientist, driven by her goal of becoming a Nobel laureate, stole the last antiviral dose to kickstart a pandemic and try to earn critical acclaim by mass-producing her cure. After Athena Grant-Nash (Angela Bassett) and Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark) apprehend her, however, it’s anything but a happy ending.

The sheer number of near-death experiences in 9-1-1 is staggering, but every character has been put through the wringer as a member of LAFD station 118. Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) was trapped under a collapsed well, Maddie Han (Jennifer Love Hewitt) was abducted and nearly killed on multiple occasions, and Buck was caught in a tsunami, pinned under a fire engine, and struck by lightning. 9-1-1: Contagion wasn’t without its scars, as Henrietta “Hen” Wilson’s (Aisha Hinds) lung collapsed and Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi) was infected with a deadly pathogen— the twist ending, however, revealed he wasn’t alone.

Bobby Is The First Main Character To Be Killed Off In 9-1-1

The First 7 Seasons Were Only Close Calls

After the rest of the team evacuates at the end of 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15, Captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) slowly walks back into the quarantine room and shuts the door. After he takes off his helmet, Bobby reveals he was also infected by CCHF (Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever) and had been symptomatic for hours. Buck and Athena ask why he didn’t say anything, but the answer is obvious: there was only one antidote, and Bobby would sacrifice himself for his team every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Still, the ending is unbelievably painful.

For all of 9-1-1’s gruesome injuries, the 118 has always managed to prevail. That’s the heart of the show, the indomitable human spirit that brings the found family together and drags them out of certain peril. Yet, Bobby couldn’t escape death this time, and 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15 ends with the army and FBI carrying out a body bag. Every character has an extreme reaction to it, with even Ravi Panikkar (Anirudh Pisharody) breaking down as he tells Hen’s wife, Karen (Tracie Thoms). Just when it seemed like the 118 were out of the woods, their captain died— permanently.

Why Peter Krause Was Written Out Of 9-1-1

Showrunners Wanted To Raise The Stakes

The decision to kill off such an important member of the series has already garnered extreme negative reactions, but 9-1-1’s showrunner, Tim Minear, believes the choice was justified. As Minear describes, “the audience [got] a little complacent because it’s like, well, we all know it’s going to all work out fine in the end” (via Deadline). Though every character in 9-1-1 has experienced traumatic circumstances and nearly died, Minear believes that not killing any main character until now made the show less exciting. Without the lingering question of who will make it out alive, 9-1-1’s biggest emergencies have lower stakes.

Tim Minear is right, to an extent. 9-1-1’s intense disasters are often jam-packed with action and emotional investment, but there remained a certain sense of security that the fan-favorite characters would scrape through, hurt but still breathing. Even when set photos surfaced of a procession and a turnout coat reading “Nash” hanging above a coffin, Bobby’s funeral in 9-1-1 seemed like a red herring. Due to the years of characters surviving impossible circumstances, Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15 still feels like a fever dream, but the farewell posts from cast members and exit interviews seal the deal.

Bobby's Death Might Actually Be Bad For 9-1-1

The Procedural Has Always Been A Comfort Show

Now that 9-1-1 has broken the seal on main character deaths, the show feels fundamentally different. The selling point of ABC’s hit procedural has never been the danger or threat of death. Firefighting is a dangerous profession that comes with a level of risk, but 9-1-1 has never been rooted in gritty realism or harsh truths. Rather, 9-1-1 is a comfort show that succeeds largely due to its talented ensemble and the odd family they form together. The heartwarming moments in 9-1-1 are what help retain its devoted fan base, not bold swings like killing off the beloved fire captain.

Naturally, that’s not to say Bobby’s death is incomprehensible. Ever since 9-1-1 moved to ABC for season 7 onwards, it’s been a running joke that the new network meant a main character would die, as that’s a common trope in ABC’s biggest titles, like Grey’s Anatomy. The same shocking plot points that make Grey’s Anatomy infamous, however, don’t naturally fit into 9-1-1. The procedural has always had a fun flair to it, with downright silly emergencies occasionally setting off the tones. 9-1-1’s comedy never takes away from its drama, but it certainly makes Bobby’s harrowing death feel out of place.

Can 9-1-1 Actually Survive Without Bobby?

Season 9 Will Be The True Test

Bobby’s death will have an irreversible impact on the plot, but only time will tell if the consequences of 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15 are insurmountable. The tear-jerking final scene has already served to break up one of the best couples in the 9-1-1 franchise, as Athena had to say goodbye to the love of her life without any warning. Every member of the 118— save for Eddie, who is still in Texas— sobbed and screamed as reality sank in. Unfortunately, it can only get worse before it even possibly gets better.

The 118 is now down a captain, and though nobody could ever replace Bobby, some options are worse than others. 9-1-1 season 8 had Captain Gerrard (Brian Thompson) for a brief stint, which proved to torture the 118 more than anything. Hen has been appointed as acting captain before, but it remains unseen if the Fire Chief will promote internally or seek a new candidate. A fresh face may join the LAFD soon, but 9-1-1 season 9 needs to contend with the full aftermath of Bobby’s passing.