9-1-1 Season 9’s Latest Update Hints A Major Career Change For Athena

9-1-1 season 9’s latest cast update hints that Athena may see a gradual transition away from her career in law enforcement. Season 9 will address the aftermath of Bobby Nash’s passing, showing the team coping with the loss and rebuilding Station 118. It will introduce some new characters while bringing back familiar faces like Angela Bassett as Athena, Oliver Stark as Buck, Jennifer Love as Maddie, and others.

Along with those returning characters, others familiar to viewers are also getting an upgrade this season. It was recently announced that Corinne Massiah and Elijah M. Cooper would be upgraded to series regulars for 9-1-1 season 9. The pair play May and Harry Grant, Athena’s children, as well as the step-children of the late Bobby Nash. Their increased prominence hints at Athena’s story.

9-1-1’s New Series Regulars Hints Athena’s Season 9 Story Will Be Less About Her Job As A Cop

Athena May Prioritize Her Role As A Mother

There are several indications that suggest that 9-1-1 season 9 will focus on more than just Athena’s role as a police officer. Most importantly, the fact that May and Harry have been made series regulars suggests that a significant portion of Athena’s screen time may involve her responsibilities as a mother to her children.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Athena were to spend the entire season dealing with grief and navigating family dynamics, pulling focus away from her as a police officer. With May being 23 and Harry being 17, both are still young, and her children are also grieving the loss of Bobby. Athena needs to be there for them as much as for herself in the upcoming season.

While focusing more on her personal life than on her career as a police officer would be a shift for Athena, it also makes sense. After such a devastating thing to lose Bobby in the line of duty, it would be strange if Athena were just to return to work as though everything was fine. 9-1-1 season 9 needs to spend time with Athena as she heals, and that means more time with May and Harry.

Athena Could Rethink Her Career In Law Enforcement In 9-1-1 Season 9

Athena May Step Down From Her Current Role In Active Duty

9-1-1 season 9 is the perfect time for Athena to reconsider her career. In season 8, viewers watched as Athena sold her home and embarked on a fresh start. Although the episode didn’t explicitly reveal that Athena was re-evaluating her career in law enforcement, it did show her longing for something new, especially after Bobby’s shocking death.

One significant reason Athena may re-evaluate her career is to reinvent herself after Bobby’s death. She may consider her age, prioritizing family relationships over her job. She’s already turned down the promotion to lieutenant, signaling that she’s not looking to ladder climb at her career, and the time spent mourning Bobby could see her distance herself even further from her career.

Even if she doesn’t leave law enforcement, Athena could step back from a street-facing role, especially in light of Bobby dying in the line of duty. For example, she could be promoted to a more administrative position, transitioning into a supervisory role after years of working on patrol. Perhaps she may retire from fieldwork and move away from active duty. Either way, 9-1-1 season 9 seems poised to shift her priorities for good.