Given that 9-1-1 season 9 will move on from Bobby, many viewers are reconsidering their loyalty to the first-responder drama. While changes are already emerging, like Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi) being propped up as a potential next captain, LAFD station 118 may feel unrecognizable without Bobby Nash. Consequently, fans may turn to alternative shows to cope with Krause’s departure.
10The Catch
2016-2017
One of the hidden gems of Shondaland shows is The Catch, a crime dramedy that ran for two seasons in the mid 2010s. Peter Krause stars as Benjamin Jones, a conman who swindles Mireille Enos’ Alice out of millions. In turn, Alice— a successful private investigator— makes it her mission to track Benjamin down and bring him to justice.The Catch shows a completely new side of Peter Krause that 9-1-1 fans have never seen. Krause’s performance makes the series yet another promising show canceled far too soon, but it’s never too late for Benjamin Jones to get the attention he deserves. Plus, appreciating Peter Krause’s acting range may help viewers cope with the loss of Bobby Nash.
9Firefly
2002-2003
Before Tim Minear became the controversial showrunner of 9-1-1, he was behind a cult classic sci-fi series called Firefly. Starring franchise favorite Gina Torres, Firefly was a space western set in the year 2517. The core ensemble featured nine characters aboard a spaceship in the aftermath of a civil war.
Firefly includes elements similar to 9-1-1’s found family, as the band of misfits formed a sense of community aboard their ship— aptly named Serenity. While that alone would help ease the blow of Bobby’s death, the fantastical elements make it an even better option for those who enjoyed watching 9-1-1 for its escapism elements.
8Six Feet Under
2001-2005
Prior to 9-1-1, Peter Krause was one of the main characters of Six Feet Under. The drama follows the Fisher family who, after the death of their patriarch, clash over how to handle the family business: running a funeral home. Krause’s character, Nate, was the personification of existential dread and the dilemma of weighing duty against dreams.
For years, Six Feet Under was Krause’s most memorable project, with Nate Fisher being by far his most iconic role. 9-1-1 even includes a small reference to the drama in season 1, when Bobby’s online dating profile lists Michael C. Hall— who played Nate’s brother, David— as his favorite actor. Undoubtedly, Six Feet Under is essential viewing for Bobby fans.
7Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993-1999
Beyond exploring the stellar acting of Peter Krause, there are options that more broadly echo Bobby’s character. Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) is a prime example, as he fearlessly leads a ragtag group through space in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In contrast to its predecessors, Sisko and the rest of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s crew navigated long-term conflicts.
Despite his important role, there were layers to Sisko’s character that made him feel much more human. Similar to Bobby being 9-1-1’s main chef, Sisko cooked for his team and defended his crew to the best of his ability. Additionally, Sisko was a devoted father, much like Bobby was to his children and step-children.
6Buffy The Vampire Slayer
1997-2003
Regardless of genre, there are traces of Bobby Nash’s character archetype everywhere. Though it may not be an obvious choice to many, Buffy The Vampire Slayer includes a surprisingly wholesome mentorship between the titular slayer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head). Yet, their connection went beyond professional boundaries, and Giles often felt more like Buffy’s father figure.
Given that Giles was Buffy’s watcher, it would have been easy to keep her at an arm’s length. However, just like Bobby when it came to Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark), Giles cared deeply for Buffy. The found father/daughter relationship runs as a comforting undercurrent, with Buffy once even asking if Giles would walk her down the aisle.
5Third Watch
1999-2005
Third Watch has high-intensity medical emergencies just like 9-1-1, but it is tonally much darker than the Ryan Murphy procedural. Since moving to ABC, there have been plenty of gruesome injuries in 9-1-1, but Third Watch is still a much darker, grittier look at the world of first responders.
4The Rookie
2018-Present
For some, the best part of Bobby’s character was his vast life experience. Protagonists tend to skew younger and younger, particularly for first-responder procedurals, but Bobby only found his home with the 118 as he entered his 50s. Similarly, The Rookie follows Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan, who becomes a rookie officer at 45-years-old.There have been many impressive episodes of The Rookie to earn critical acclaim, and there is significant overlap between its fan-base and that of 9-1-1. Nonetheless, some have yet to watch ABC’s crime drama. Just like Bobby took decades to find his purpose in life, Nolan hit his stride in his mid-40s as The Rookie’s success story protagonist.
3Chicago Fire
2012-Present
For over a decade, Chicago Fire has been a pillar of Dick Wolf’s One Chicago shared universe. In conjunction with Chicago Med and Chicago PD, Chicago Fire centers on first responders in the Windy City. Aside from fitting the bill as a firefighter drama, Chicago Fire’s Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) is arguably the best stand-in for Bobby Nash.
Boden’s character throughout Chicago Fire is much stricter than Bobby, but his integrity came above all else, making him just as respectable.
Just like Captain Nash at the 118, Chief Boden was an extremely loyal member of the main firehouse who acted as a father figure to many, but particularly to his lieutenants. Boden’s character throughout Chicago Fire is much stricter than Bobby, but his integrity came above all else, making him just as respectable.
2Station 19
2018-2024
As a spinoff of the smash-hit Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19 easily cultivated an impressive following during its seven-season run. The firefighters of the titular Station 19 had all the hallmark thrills of an ABC procedural, with healthy doses of personal conflict and interoffice romance. When 9-1-1 moved to ABC, many even rallied for a Station 19 crossover.
Station 19 focused on a central father-daughter duo: Captain Pruitt (Miguel Sandoval) and Andrea "Andy" Herrera (Jaina Lee Ortiz). Just like Bobby, Pruitt was a mentor to his team, though he often got in the way of his daughter’s success. Unfortunately, Station 19 wasn’t far removed from 9-1-1’s tragic deaths, but main characters' departures were typically handled with more grace.
1Brooklyn Nine-Nine
2013-2021
Yet, the best show to watch to deal with Bobby’s death is by far Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The sitcom is hailed as one of the best comedies of the 21st century, and it’s easy to see why. The pure chemistry between the cast members mixed with the clever writing make it a low-stakes but high-reward watch.
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