Bobby's Death Is Sad, But It Wasn't 9-1-1 Season 8 Most Heartbreaking Episode (& I Know You Missed It)

With how pivotal of a character he was, it’s no surprise that Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 season 8 garnered universal uproar and backlash for the firefighter drama. Not only did the 118 lose their fearless leader, but Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) watched the love of her life die. For every 9-1-1 character, Bobby's death went beyond a fallen first responder.

Seismic Shifts Was The First 9-1-1 Episode To Not Feature Peter Krause

Prior To The Finale, Bobby Was In Every Episode

Yet, even after his death, it didn’t feel like Bobby was truly gone from 9-1-1. In the immediate aftermath, Bobby appeared first via flashback and then as a manifestation of Athena’s grief in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 16. While she investigated a bizarre case for a woman who Bobby saved from a fire, Athena struggled to accept Bobby’s untimely demise.

9-1-1 season 8, episode 17 only twisted the knife by opening on an almost hallucinatory, dreamlike sequence of the 118— including a smiling Bobby— gathered around a table for a family meal. The scene set up Buck’s (Oliver Stark) unresolved grief, which lingered throughout the entire episode.

The captain’s absence at the end of 9-1-1 season 8 only feels more strange when considering how Bobby appeared in all 123 episodes prior to “Seismic Shifts.” During every “Begins” episode, Bobby was either in flashbacks or present-day scenes. Even when Athena took the show to Florida in season 6, Bobby was the only firefighter to appear.

Why "Seismic Shifts" Is Secretly More Heartbreaking Than Bobby's Death & Funeral Episode

It Marks The True Turning Point Of 9-1-1

Due to Peter Krause not appearing, there was a different kind of tragedy in the 9-1-1 season 8 finale, as it turned into the true send-off for the beloved captain. To an extent, “Seismic Shifts” replaces Bobby— first with Chimney (Kenneth Choi) as the captain-elect and later with Chimney and Maddie’s (Jennifer Love Hewitt) newborn, literally named Bobby Nash Han.

 

Bobby Nash's death was easily 9-1-1's most divisive decision, but there are plenty of alternative shows to fill the void the fire captain left behind.