9-1-1's Best Way To Deal With The Backlash From Bobby's Death Has 1 Devastating Consequence In Season 9

Although there will be typical character-centric episodes and over-the-top emergencies in 9-1-1 season 9, the very foundation of LAFD station 118 is gone. There’s no telling how— if at all— the core team of firefighters will function without their fearless leader. Nevertheless, the loose ends from Bobby’s death may not be resolved at all in 9-1-1 season 9.

9-1-1 Season 9 Starting With A Time-Jump Allows Them To Move Past Grief Storylines

Rather Than Explore It Fully, 9-1-1 Can Skip The Aftermath Altogether

Despite the many unanswered questions left behind by 9-1-1 season 8’s finale, the long-running procedural may opt to bulldoze past its unfinished plots entirely. Rather than pick up where the controversial eighth season left off, 9-1-1 season 9 could begin after a significant time-jump. Whereas seasons are typically separated by a few weeks, 9-1-1 could dramatically progress the timeline.

How A 9-1-1 Season 9 Time-Jump Skips Critical Character Development For 118

Pivotal Storylines Were Just Beginning In The Season 8 Finale

While a significant time-jump would allow 9-1-1 to sidestep the complications from Bobby’s death, it would come at the expense of many other storylines. Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) planned to move back to Texas with his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh), until the season 8 finale suddenly changed his mind. Nevertheless, Eddie and Christopher’s plot in 9-1-1 is nowhere near finished.

Similarly, though Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi) was able to forgive himself for Bobby’s death, the vacant captaincy looms. If Chimney is truly Bobby’s replacement in 9-1-1 season 9, it would feel like a cop-out to fast-forward to a point where Chimney is fully acclimated to his new position. 9-1-1 simply skipping ahead would rob viewers of critical character development.

Is There A Better Way To Deal With The Aftermath Of Bobby's Death In 9-1-1 Season 9?

9-1-1 Could Face The Ugly Truth

The alternative would be to lean into Bobby’s death and give the characters time to grieve. In a way, that would let the audience grieve as well, hopefully giving 9-1-1 a fighting chance to recuperate its formerly-avid fan-base. Unfortunately, 9-1-1 season 9 will most likely fall in between, avoiding Bobby’s death without the time-jump to make it feel earned.