'9-1-1' Says Goodbye to Bobby Nash With Huge Ratings Ahead of Season 8 Finale

Bobby Nash may be gone, but he bid farewell to 9-1-1 with a bang. According to Nielsen ratings, 9.18 million total viewers tuned in over seven days of viewing across multiple platforms to watch "The Last Alarm," the episode in which Athena (Angela Bassett) and the rest of the 118 laid their beloved captain to rest. Additionally, the tragic episode earned a 1.75 rating in the crucial demographic of adults 18-49 and outpaced the season average for multiplatform viewing of 8.98 million. Not only did it mark a 9% increase from the total viewership of the shocking previous episode in which the 118's hero met his end, but it marked an over-six-month high for the hit procedural dating back to November 7, 2024. Regardless of how they felt about the controversial decision to kill off series co-lead Peter Krause, it certainly got everyone's attention.

Not counting Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and digital platforms, "The Last Alarm" still managed to earn 6.48 million total viewers and a 0.63 adults 18-49 rating on ABC, also a significant boost. The success isn't entirely unexpected, considering the death of Bobby was the talk of television when it happened and caused viewers to flock to the show to see what came next after such an earth-shattering moment. Nonetheless, it's an impressive feat in the shadow of the already sky-high viewership numbers "Lab Rats" reeled in as viewers caught up with the tragedy through streaming. At the time, Season 8, Episode 15, was the most-streamed episode since the season premiere and had the internet buzzing about the show. As demonstrated with the plummeting user ratings in its aftermath, though, Episode 16 also caused quite a stir with how it sent off the show's beating heart.

With the new ratings high, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear's procedural will be entering the Season 8 finale with the wind at its back as the 118 continues to process the loss of their captain. Episode 17 immediately threw the crew back into the fire, forcing them to come back together after methane in the water puts the city at risk of going up in flames. Disaster strikes in the closing moments when Athena responds to a call at an apartment building just in time to see it explode and collapse, prompting her to yell out, "Send everybody!" The mass casualty event is here, and though the officers still have much to work through, the Episode 18 promo highlights how they'll have to navigate the high-danger scenario to save lives and make it out safely.

What Does the Future Hold for '9-1-1' After Season 8's Tragedy?

The big question in the wake of Bobby's death is who will lead the 118 going forward. Hen (Aisha Hinds) has already turned down the opportunity to become the new captain, and Oliver Stark recently shot down the possibility of Buck rising to the occasion. Whoever takes up the chair won't be decided by the end of the season, Stark revealed to People during ABC's annual upfront, but he did put in his vote for Kenneth Choi's Chimney if Hen doesn't change her mind. Regarding the future of his character specifically, he also shared with ScreenRant that the finale has "some really great moments" involving Buck and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) that he hopes fans of the pairing will appreciate.

The 9-1-1 Season 8 finale, "Seismic Shifts," airs tonight on ABC and will stream the day after on Hulu. This fall, the series will return to Thursday nights with a new partner, 9-1-1: Nashville, airing beside it and bringing with it the potential for new crossovers. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the 9-1-1 universe until then.