"That Chair Is Empty": '9-1-1' Showrunner Tim Minear Addresses the Captain Problem After Bobby's Death
Captain Bobby Nash's (Peter Krause) death is arguably the biggest thing that has ever happened in ABC's drama series 9-1-1. The captain of the 118 died suddenly in the April 17 episode after getting infected with a lethal virus during a rescue. As the character disappears from the narrative, it changes a lot for the show and the other remaining characters. One of the biggest puzzles is who will take over the firehouse now that the captain is no longer there. Showrunner Tim Minear told TV Insider he's in no rush to fill the position. "I’m not solving that problem right away for the rest of this season," he said. The plan is to let the characters sit in that emptiness for a while before exploring the next steps. Minear teased this approach, saying:
"There is an interim captain there who is not going to be the captain going forward, but the last three episodes are not about who’s in Bobby’s chair. The last three episodes are about that chair is empty."
The show could take various avenues in its search for a new captain. It could promote in-house or go the Chicago Fire route and bring in someone new. According to the showrunner, viewers should not expect any answers in the current season because all that “will be answered in Season 9. " The upcoming final three episodes of the season are about finding balance. The 118 will be "leaning on each other," while being “kind of fractured at the same time.” Grief will be explored in all its stages, including denial and guilt. Buck (Oliver Stark), who had the last few words with Bobby, will be confused as he struggles to understand what Bobby meant. "He’s not going to quite know what to do with that [final message]," said the showrunner.
The '9-1-1' Season 8 Finale Will Feature a Mass Casualty Event
Image via ABC
The show will be pulling double duty in the final episodes of the season. There is the aftermath of Bobby's death and the season finale. "Even in their grief, they’re first responders, they got to put that aside and work together to save people. So I think what you’ll see in the last three episodes, yes, grief, love, loss, sadness, and rallying and victory," Minear said of what's on the horizon. The finale is "a really 9-1-1 finale" and is "something we haven't done before," added the showrunner. It features a mass casualty event.
Tune in to ABC from Thursday, May 1, to watch new episodes of 9-1-1 and see how everything plays out after Bobby's death. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
