While I recognize that I wrote about “9-1-1” only a few editions ago, I felt justified in electing to write yet another article, considering the second half of a two-part contagion thriller was going to be released. After watching the episode, I feel even more justified, but not for reasons I’m happy about.
The “two-part thriller” in question followed Station 118 as they were trapped in a room with a deadly virus, and the first episode ended with the reveal that Chimney, one of the firefighters, had been infected, but Moira, the scientist behind the creation of said virus, had escaped with the only antidote.
However, at the end of the latest episode, just as the team successfully retrieved the antidote and Chimney was cured, the rug was completely ripped out from under both the 118 and fans. Bobby Nash, beloved captain of the 118, walks back into the lab and takes his mask off, revealing that he, too, had been infected but wanted to ensure that Chimney would be prioritized. What follows is an emotional farewell between Bobby and Buck, another firefighter of the 118, in which Bobby tells him, “I love you, kid,” solidifying their father/son-like relationship in their last moments together. And just to truly twist the knife, Hozier’s “Work Song” begins to play as Bobby says goodbye to his wife, making the scene even more excruciating; I wouldn’t be surprised if my entire hall heard me crying.
If it wasn’t already clear, I was and still am not happy with this decision. Below, I will be unpacking just a few of the many reasons why I completely disagree with this decision.
Arguably, the most obvious reason is that the characters will be losing a captain, mentor and a father figure after eight seasons of development.
My initial thought at Bobby’s death was that perhaps actor Peter Krause was simply ready to step away from the role; however, that was not the case in the slightest. He had no interest in leaving the show; it was completely a “creative decision,” as head writer Tim Minear explained in several interviews. This brings me to my next point: killing off such a beloved character and then brushing it off in interviews is already a slap in the face to long-time fans of the show, but it was also completely unnecessary and arguably out of character for Bobby. He starts off the show as a guilty widower struggling with sobriety, so while a sacrificial ending would feel full circle in an earlier season, at this point, it just feels like a regression that undoes years of character development.
In addition, the argument that his death was intended to maintain a sense of realism is just ridiculous. The show has never been known for its realism; that was one of the comforting aspects of it. There was a general understanding that while it was high stakes and intense, fans wouldn’t expect to grieve a favorite character. This is the same show in which Chimney survived a rebar to the head in season one and Maddie walked away from getting her throat slit just five episodes ago; realism hasn’t exactly been the guiding principle so far. It just feels completely unwarranted. I’m truly unsure as to what audience they were appealing to by lazily killing off such a pivotal character.
This was also arguably always a recipe for disaster, considering a large portion of the fanbase began due to the notable names attached to it, such as Peter Krause and Angela Bassett, and this death could cause a loss of a large demographic of fans.
Furthermore, I’m curious as to what, if any, plans are in place for the future of the show. I feel like there has always been a similar trend where shows kill off a main character and the show rapidly declines in success soon after. While the show has already been renewed for season nine, it’s hard to feel hopeful about its future from here. Even some cast members have expressed their shock and disappointment with the storyline. When actors, fans and critics are all on the same page, it might be time to rethink the direction.
“9-1-1” has to bring Bobby back. At this point, I don’t even care how. Say it was a dream; it wouldn’t be the first time. They could literally have him rise from the dead and I would let it slide, just bring him back somehow and we can all just pretend like this didn’t happen and move on. It’s okay “9-1-1,” we all make mistakes, let’s just undo this real quick.
