‘9-1-1’ Has Reached the End of an Era, and This Is What It Needs To Succeed Moving Forward

When a network procedural has a strong cast of characters and a compelling promise, it can go on to air for a number of seasons, because the procedural formula just works. It shows the characters doing their jobs and taking care of people each episode, while in the meantime giving focus to their own arcs and relationships. 9-1-1 started off strong but perfected its formula in its second season, with a blend of intense calls, silly moments, and important development for its unique and complex characters.

Halfway through Season 8, though, 9-1-1 turned its formula on its head with the sudden death of Bobby Nash (Peter Krause). 9-1-1 is now halfway through its ninth season, but the show still hasn’t gotten back on track after Bobby’s death. Most of the episodes since his death have been packed with large-scale emergencies, and in the quieter moments, the characters’ arcs are primarily about grief. 9-1-1 needs to usher in its new era quickly, and luckily, the show already has everything it will need to do so.

‘9-1-1’s New Era Should Give Its Characters More Non-Emergency Storylines Again

In the past, whenever a character has left the 118 (even temporarily), they have been replaced by a new character. When Chimney (Kenneth Choi) and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) each left the 118 for a significant part of Season 5, Lucy (Arielle Kebbel) and Jonah (Bryce Durfee) joined the station in their places. When Bobby quit his job at the end of Season 7, Captain Gerrard (Brian Thompson) took over to lead the 118, and he even returned right after Bobby’s death. Thankfully, 9-1-1 has not yet brought in any new characters to fill Bobby’s place, and the show should continue to steer away from this pattern. Bobby’s death was a real loss for the series, and while 9-1-1 tries to figure out its new tone, it shouldn’t bring in anyone new. Instead, the best way for the show to move forward is by giving more focus to its existing main characters, particularly outside of big emergencies.

Harry (Elijah M. Cooper) and May (Corinne Massiah) are now main characters, and Harry has had a compelling arc this season of choosing to become a firefighter. May hasn’t yet had much to do, though, and 9-1-1 should give her her own first responder storyline – whether she chooses to return to dispatch or become a paramedic. Ravi (Anirudh Pisharody) has just been relegated to the supporting character role all season, and Bobby’s absence is the perfect opportunity to give him more to do than helping on calls and being Buck’s (Oliver Stark) friend. Most of 9-1-1‘s characters have only gotten a storyline or two of their own since Bobby died, because the show has been using big emergencies to try to get back on track. Instead, 9-1-1 needs to slow down and focus on the characters when they’re not in times of crisis.

‘9-1-1’ Season 9 Needs to Remember That the 118 Is a Family

Image via ABC

Bobby’s death took away a fundamental piece of the 118 found family, and as such, 9-1-1 has lost one of the best things about the series. The show can still get this back, though, if it remembers how much the characters mean to each other outside of work. Harry and May being first responders as well is the perfect way to bring Athena back to the rest of the group, aside from just Hen. Buck has already learned most of Bobby’s recipes, so he could be cooking for everyone when they all get together. The only times everyone has really been together since Bobby’s death were for the funeral, the various ceremonies, and the emergencies, and they need to spend some low-stakes time together as a big group.

9-1-1 stands apart from other procedurals not just for its sense of humor, but for the found family bond between its main characters and their loved ones. With Bobby gone, now more than ever, 9-1-1 needs to give more attention to these dynamics. This should include more of the old pairings, like Hen and Chimney as well as Buck and Eddie (Ryan Guzman), but there’s also an opportunity to explore new duos. Buck and Harry’s friendship has been a highlight this season, and it would be interesting to see Harry, May, and Ravi connect more with some of the existing main characters. There’s also still a deeper conversation left to be had between Athena and Chimney in the wake of Bobby’s death, and this could be the lead-in for Athena to spend more time with the 118 again, especially now that his and Maddie’s (Jennifer Love Hewitt) son is named for Bobby. 9-1-1 may have been shaken by Bobby’s death, but there is a path forward for the show if it leans more on its existing characters and dynamics, and less on flashy emergencies.