Even as the ensemble cast continues to struggle with their complex feelings surrounding the death of a series mainstay, the high-octane rescues and dramatic natural disasters will inevitably continue, regardless if the 118 is ready to move on or not. Following Bobby’s burial in 9-1-1 season 8, the ABC drama is ushering in the next chapter— and with it, the burning question of who will be the next captain. The LAFD offered one possibility in “The Last Alarm,” but the interim captain is a mere band-aid— a temporary solution to bide time until the true replacement comes out of the woodwork.

9-1-1 Season 8 Chooses Gerrard To Step In As Bobby's Replacement At The 118

The Face Is Familiar But Not Fondly Remembered

9-1-1 season 8, episode 16 takes place after a brief time-jump following Bobby’s death: two weeks after the Contagion saga, Athena (Angela Bassett) is touring mausoleums while Chimney harasses the federal government into releasing the body. The first scene at station 118’s firehouse displays a table of photographs and mementos to pay tribute to Bobby, but the fallen captain is uniquely eulogized by none other than Vincent Gerrard (Brian Thompson), Bobby’s former replacement and villain of the 118’s past. What’s more jarring is that 9-1-1 season 8 reveals Gerrard is the acting captain of 118.

It’s an ironically full-circle moment, as the season began with Gerrard in charge of the core team during 9-1-1’s ridiculous beenado (bee tornado). Yet, Bobby’s death seems to have rattled Gerrard just as much as the 118, with him acting uncharacteristically sympathetic and almost contrite. During the sole emergency in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 16, Gerrard even tries to talk Chimney down after he displaces his grief and blows up at a civilian. While the Captain Gerrard 9-1-1 first introduced would have punished Chimney for insubordination, “The Last Alarm” paints him in a suspiciously good light.

Why Gerrard Is Chosen To Replace Bobby At The Firehouse & Not Anyone From His Team

The Lab Catastrophe Left Many Out Of Commission

Similarly, Chimney started at the LAFD long before any of his current cohorts and has survived some of 9-1-1’s worst near-death experiences. Nevertheless, the comedic character has unresolved trauma from Bobby’s martyrdom that makes him too volatile to lead at present. With Eddie still technically residing in Texas, Buck emotional to a fault, and Ravi far too young, there are no known LAFD firefighters who could be the 118’s acting captain— at least not until Chimney or Hen’s story in 9-1-1 season 8 is resolved.

Gerrard's Time As The 118's New Captain Isn't Going To Last In 9-1-1

Bobby's True Successor Is Still Unknown

While the uncertainty is agonizing, the first-responder drama might take its time selecting the new Station 118 Fire Captain. With so little time remaining in 9-1-1 season 8, the vacant captaincy could be a cliffhanger that remains unanswered for months. 9-1-1 season 9 opening on the new normal with a replacement captain would be an easy narrative conceit, but it’s just as likely that the procedural introduces a new captain immediately. Now that Bobby has irreversibly been killed off, there’s no predicting what’s next for the ABC hit— but the clock is ticking for 9-1-1 to make its decision.