9-1-1 Season 9’s Absurd Crisis Proves That Bobby’s Death Was Unnecessary

Bobby Nash’s death in 9-1-1 upset many viewers, and now, one season later, it appears they had every right to be, seeing as killing him off has proven to be completely unnecessary. Whenever any show kills off a main character, there is bound to be backlash from the fans (especially if said character was beloved). So, the response to Bobby’s death wasn’t surprising.

Over the course of 9-1-1‘s eight seasons, a main character never died until Bobby. Sure, there were deaths, but none were as important as Peter Krause’s character was in the ABC procedural drama. Consequently, Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 season 8 sparked controversy among the audience. Many believed that his demise was a needless act, and they are evidently correct in thinking so.

The 9-1-1 Season 9 3-Part Premiere Features Athena & Hen Going To Space

The Episodes Present Many Unrealistic Scenarios

If Bobby’s death wasn’t enough, 9-1-1 has come under fire once again in 2025, but this time it’s because of the unrealistic emergencies in season 9. During the second episode of the season’s three-part premiere, Athena Grant and Henrietta “Hen” Wilson traveled to outer space. Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), not everything went as planned.

After saving a tech billionaire in the previous hour, the man (Tripp Hauser) offered Hen a spot for her and a friend on his spaceship. Hen initially wanted to bring her wife, Karen Wilson, but she refused. Karen regards herself as a serious scientist, as she should, and wasn’t a fan of the aforementioned tech billionaire’s random space expedition for “everyday heroes.”

So, Hen brought Athena with her on Hauser’s space trip, which was essentially a PR stunt. However, things went wrong when the spacecraft came upon a geometric storm. Tripp had been warned about the danger before Athena and Hen left Earth, but he chose to ignore it. 9-1-1 season 9, episode 2 ended with the women still in space and still in danger.

Viewers must wait until episode 3 to learn if the 9-1-1 characters survive, but some agree that this storyline is a bit out there, even for 9-1-1. They claim that Athena and Hen going to outer space is ridiculous and unrealistic. It’s theoretically possible (look at Blue Origin NS-31). Mixed with other details and the show’s history, though, the entire scenario is quite absurd.

Bobby Died In Season 8 For The Sake Of Realism

9-1-1’s Showrunner Argued That Bobby’s Death Was Necessary

©ABC/Disney / Courtesy MovieStillsDB

With every 9-1-1 episode that passes, it becomes clearer that Bobby died for nothing. The ABC procedural drama’s showrunner, Tim Minear, previously released a statement on Bobby’s death, saying that it was a “sacrifice” and a “bold creative choice” (via Variety). He further explained that the decision had made 9-1-1‘s universe feel “more alive” and “more real.”

Essentially, Krause didn’t choose to leave 9-1-1; instead, his character was written out for creative reasons. Minear and co. wanted to make the TV series feel more realistic. First responders die every day while on the job, and as such, Bobby had to go. It also gave the other characters more depth, but Bobby seemingly died for the sake of realism.

So, while Athena and Hen’s space voyage in the 9-1-1 season 8 three-part premiere might be entertaining, it’s just a reminder that Bobby’s death was unnecessary. If the series continues exploring outrageous disasters and far-fetched storylines, it’s just straying further into unrealistic territory. Since that’s the case, Bobby should still be alive. 9-1-1 is far from being considered true to life.

How 9-1-1 Can Still Bring Bobby Back

Peter Krause Can Return To 9-1-1

The good news is that the more ridiculous 9-1-1 gets, the more likely it is that Krause can reprise his role as Bobby in future episodes of 9-1-1. We’re not saying that the ABC procedural drama could suddenly become a supernatural drama by resurrecting Bobby from the grave. However, there are other ways to bring him back from the dead without complete absurdity.

Perhaps Bobby never died at the end of 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15. As fans will recall, he succumbed to a virus in a lab, which opens up an avenue of possibilities concerning his return from the dead. Bobby might have actually survived and gotten placed in a government lab somewhere, getting tested on because he contracted said virus.

Or maybe Bobby was forced to fake his death for some other outrageous reason. It’s also possible that everything that has happened since 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15 has simply been a dream. At this point, the writers could come up with a myriad of reasons why Bobby isn’t dead, even though it’s rather unlikely that they’ll utilize any of them.

Despite the strong fan support for Bobby’s return, it’s much more probable that the writers will stand behind their decision to kill off Bobby. It’s much more likely that Krause will reprise his role in a flashback or a dream. Whatever the case, 9-1-1 has passed the point of no return when it comes to realism, making Bobby’s death unwarranted.