ABC Officially Marks The End Of An Era For 9-1-1

ABC officially marks the end of an era for 9-1-1 in season 9. Following a rather stable stretch since moving out of Fox, the hit first procedural responder was rocked by the unexpected death of Bobby in a random season 8 outing. Ripples of the tragedy can still be felt in the show, Athena, 118, and everyone who was close to Peter Krause’s character continues to mourn him.

Suffice it to say, losing Bobby changed 9-1-1 in ways that can never be undone. While there continues to be hope that he is actually alive and his death was a fake-out, the chances of that happening are very slim to none. Losing Bobby altered the future of 9-1-1 in season 8, no matter how long that may be, but it isn’t until the 2025-2026 TV cycle that truly marks the end of an era for the series.

The 118 Officially Replaces Bobby Nash As Its Captain

Immediately on the heels of Bobby’s death, 9-1-1 went into a period of grieving while still doing their respective responsibilities as first-responders in New York. Chimney took on the role as interim captain of the 118, so the group could continue operating with minimal changes to their established routines. Despite the role he had already been fulfilling, the idea remained that Chimney was only a temporary replacement for his fallen boss.

That all changed in the 9-1-1 season 9 fall finale when Chimney is officially inducted as the new 118 Captain. Accepting the new role comes with many challenges, but it’s clear that his whole team is behind him. Beyond that, this also marks the proper end to Bobby’s era in 9-1-1. This solidifies the idea that, despite continued hopes that Krause will be back in the show, permanently replacing his character signifies the dawn of a new chapter for the show’s storytelling.

Does 9-1-1’s Post Bobby Era Have A Chance Of Succeeding?

ABC

It’s no secret that killing Bobby turned off a large portion of 9-1-1‘s otherwise loyal base, and it’s totally understandable. While character deaths in TV shows, especially long-running ones, aren’t rare, losing Bobby that way was uncharacteristic for the show. As 9-1-1 rebuilds after the tragedy, the question now is whether it can succeed after the show-altering incident.

For what it’s worth, the ABC hit has done a good job fleshing out other characters in a way that all of them have their own compelling stories. 9-1-1 season 9 has also started brand new arcs, particularly involving Athena’s kids — May and Harry. If the show is able to come up with solid storytelling moving forward, it can eventually win back the goodwill of those who are still hurt by what happened to Bobby. While 9-1-1 will never be the same after Krause’s departure, it doesn’t mean that a different era cannot be good or beloved.