From Rookie to Family: 9-1-1’s Buck and Bobby Celebrate a 7-Year Bond Fans Will Never Forget

A powerful then-and-now photo of 9-1-1 stars Peter Krause and Oliver Stark is tugging at fans’ heartstrings — and reminding us just how far their characters, Bobby Nash and Evan “Buck” Buckley, have come.

The top half of the image shows the duo in 2018, fresh-faced and just beginning their journey as part of LAFD’s Station 118. Buck was the reckless rookie, Bobby the battle-worn but deeply compassionate captain. Their dynamic was complicated, tense, and raw — a clashing of generations, ideals, and trauma.

But fast forward to 2025, and the second half of the photo tells a different story.

Now, the two sit side by side, wiser and more grounded, having weathered everything from building collapses to broken hearts. Their bond, once built on obligation, has matured into something deeper — respect, trust, and a quiet, unbreakable loyalty. In many ways, Bobby became the father figure Buck never knew he needed, and Buck, in turn, helped Bobby rediscover how to lead with love.

The image — shared on Instagram by a fan account — instantly went viral, with thousands of likes and comments celebrating not only the characters’ evolution but also the real-life friendship between Krause and Stark.

It’s a visual time capsule, capturing seven seasons of growth, grief, and found family — the very essence of what makes 9-1-1 more than just a procedural drama.

Because in the world of Station 118, heroes are forged in fire — but family is built moment by moment, year by year.