9-1-1 Season 8 Finale Anoints 118's Bobby's Replacement

9-1-1 season 8, episode 18, set up many storylines for season 9, but it most importantly pointed towards Bobby Nash’s successor as the 118’s fire captain. Peter Krause’s exit from 9-1-1 was monumental for the long-running procedural, as it was the first main character death in the series' history and disrupted every ongoing storyline. In his wake, Bobby left a grieving widow, Athena Grant (Angela Bassett), and a team full of lost firefighters: Henrietta “Hen” Wilson (Aisha Hinds), Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi), Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark), Ravi Panikkar (Anirudh Pisharody), and Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman).

9-1-1 season 8’s two-part finale, however, implied what the future holds for LAFD Station 118. Bobby’s absence is palpable throughout the episode as Athena and the LAFD run point on a 19-story building collapse. The near-misses and gruesome injuries in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 18 are typical for the first-responder drama, but it was bittersweet watching it unfold without Peter Krause. After the dust settled, one character came out of the woodwork to acknowledge it and prove their own leadership skills.

9-1-1 Season 8 Finale Sets Up Chimney To Be Bobby's 118 Replacement

The Comedic Character Inflicts A Serious Wake-Up Call On His Team

Just as the 118’s core team seems like it will completely fall apart— with Eddie planning on moving to Texas and Buck planning on transferring to another house— Chimney gathers the room’s attention and delivers a stirring speech about Bobby’s legacy. He explains why the 118 needs to be together and anyone who leaves only guarantees they’ll be hurting alone instead of as a team. Beyond their shared grief, the 118 is now solely responsible for carrying out Bobby’s values. Most cutting, Chimney scolds that leaving the 118 is disrespectful to Bobby and all that he worked towards in his life.

The speech is a nice tonal shift in the 9-1-1 season 8 finale, taking a somber scene and forcing in some brutal optimism.

While Choi’s captivating performance proved his merit as Bobby’s successor, Hen’s reaction truly sealed the deal, as she said, “Copy that, Cap” before catching herself. “Seismic Shifts” ends before explicitly confirming the 118’s new captain, but it’s obvious that Chimney has a leg-up after he rallied the troops.

Why Chimney Is The Perfect Replacement For Bobby In 9-1-1

It's Been A Long Time Coming

Which character, if any, could replace Bobby has been a heated debate since the fallen captain’s death in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15. Some firefighters— like Buck, Eddie, and Ravi— lack the experience, while others simply don’t want the position. Even though Hen previously acted as Bobby’s right-hand and led the team for temporary stints, she never aspired to permanently be captain. Hen’s ambitions throughout 9-1-1 have been inconsistent at best and ignored at worst, but captaincy has never been a goal for her. Truly, the only existing 118 member that makes sense as Bobby’s successor is Chimney.

Athena laid out the perfect argument herself in 9-1-1 season 8’s finale— as Bobby explained to her before his death, Chimney never gives himself enough credit for his work ethic, dedication, and leadership skills. Chimney is often overlooked due to his humor, but he’s been a part of 9-1-1’s found family since the beginning, and the character is worth much more than his comic relief. Nevertheless, his comedy could be exactly what sets him apart from Bobby and helps ease the firefighters (and the audience) into the next era of the 118.

What 9-1-1 Season 9 Will Look Like With Chimney As The Leader Of 118

Different Isn't Always Bad

Aside from deserving the promotion, Chimney has proved himself capable of acting as the 118’s guiding light. Chimney will never be Bobby, but 9-1-1 isn’t aiming for a perfect replication. As it stands, station 118 needs one steadfast leader, and Chimney has all the necessary qualifications. In the future, 9-1-1’s intense disasters will show off Chimney’s medical knowledge and quick decision-making even more than it already has. On more light-hearted calls, Chimney will be the first to crack a joke and set the tone for his team.

As is the case with any transition of power, Chimney’s first days as captain will surely have a few bumps in the road. Going from a peer to an authority figure demands a change in every preexisting relationship dynamic, both on the clock and off. Bobby managed to balance being in charge with being a ubiquitous father figure, but Chimney has been friends with the 118 for decades. Chimney will have to learn when to be the boss and when to be the best friend, but Bobby would be happy to know his legacy lives on in 9-1-1’s Captain Han.