How Bobby’s 9-1-1 Death Affects Buck In Season 9 Hinted At By Oliver Stark

9-1-1 star Oliver Stark opens up about how Bobby's death could impact Buck in season 9. The aftermath of Captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) sacrificing himself during a bio-hazard call hit Buck especially hard, with the penultimate episode zeroing in on how he feels about the 118 breaking away in the aftermath of losing their leader. But even as the entire team takes steps to move forward, Bobby's absence will create ripple effects for everything that happens with the ABC drama moving forward.

In an interview with TV Insider, Stark is asked about what he hopes to see for his character in season 9. The actor talked about his hopes that Bobby's death would lead to Buck becoming more mature. The actor acknowledged that, for Buck, the process of maturity has been a gradual process over several seasons. Still, in the quote below, he talks about how Bobby's loss could be a catalyst for a big change:

“For me, the main thing is that the kind of gravitas of losing Bobby is used as a catalyst to mature Buck. I think the growth has been there over the seasons, but I think this is a real opportunity to take him into his next iteration, whatever that ends up being. But I think a more grounded worldly Buck can come out of this. I don’t know what that will look like, but I think character-wise, I think that’s the next step.”

What Stark's Comments Could Mean For 9-1-1 Season 9

Season 8 Left Things Unresolved

For several episodes in season 8, it seemed like the first-responder drama was finally going in the direction of taking Buck and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) in a romantic direction. Buck's sister, Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), was raising the issue as gently as she could. Meanwhile, Buck's ex, Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), was far more direct in suggesting that Buck had undeclared feelings for his best friend. But after Bobby's death, with only a few episodes to go, the 9-1-1 season 8 finale didn't have room to address all that much because of the two-part emergency.

The upcoming episodes may or may not return to the "Buddie" question. It will be profoundly impacted, either way, by a more mature version of Evan Buckley. By season 8's last episode, Buck has moved out of Eddie's place, and he's looking for his own living quarters once again. That is the only hint of what awaits Buck when the ABC show returns. And it is somewhat unreliable. The early episodes of season 7, for example, essentially undid everything that happened with Buck in season 6. 9-1-1 season 9 remains an open question.

Our Take On What Awaits Buck In Season 9

It Should Be A Big Enough Change

A major character death is a chance for a show to take chances that it otherwise wouldn't and really challenge itself. So far, in the immediate aftermath of Bobby's death, 9-1-1 has a mixed record. Some episodes have been stellar. Others miss the mark. A new season means the chance to start off with a clean slate. Maybe it could mean a new direction for Buck, too.