Bobby Nash’s death in 9-1-1 shocked many fans, and one season later, it’s clear their outrage was justified—killing him off turned out to be entirely unnecessary. Whenever a show decides to eliminate a main character, backlash from viewers is almost inevitable, especially when the character is beloved. In Bobby’s case, the strong fan reaction came as no surprise.
The 9-1-1 Season 9 Three-Part Premiere Sends Athena & Hen Into Space
Angela Bassett as Athena and Aisha Hinds as Hen in 9-1-1 season 9, episode 1
If Bobby Nash’s death wasn’t enough to stir controversy, 9-1-1 faced criticism again in 2025 for the over-the-top emergencies in season 9. During the second episode of the three-part premiere, Athena Grant and Henrietta “Hen” Wilson traveled to outer space—and, unsurprisingly, things quickly went wrong.
After rescuing a tech billionaire in the previous hour, the man (Tripp Hauser) offered Hen and a friend a spot on his spaceship. Hen originally wanted to bring her wife, Karen Wilson, but Karen declined, viewing herself as a serious scientist and not interested in a PR stunt for “everyday heroes.”
Hen ended up bringing Athena on the trip, only for the spacecraft to encounter a geometric storm. Tripp had been warned of the danger before launch but ignored the advice. Episode 2 ended with Athena and Hen still in space, facing serious peril.
Fans must wait until episode 3 to see if the duo survives, but many are already calling the storyline far-fetched. While space tourism is technically possible (see Blue Origin NS-31), combining it with 9-1-1’s history of implausible emergencies made this particular scenario feel especially absurd.
Bobby Died in Season 8 “For the Sake of Realism”
Peter Krause as Bobby Nash in 9-1-1
As 9-1-1 continues, it becomes increasingly clear to fans that Bobby Nash’s death may have been unnecessary. Showrunner Tim Minear previously described Bobby’s exit as a “sacrifice” and a “bold creative choice” (via Variety), explaining that it was intended to make the show’s universe feel “more alive” and “more real.”
Krause did not choose to leave; his character was written out for creative reasons. The idea was that, since first responders face real dangers daily, Bobby’s death would heighten realism and add depth to the remaining characters.
However, with the recent absurdity of Athena and Hen’s space adventure in the season 9 three-part premiere, it’s hard to argue that Bobby’s death truly served realism. The show’s increasingly far-fetched storylines suggest that Bobby’s fate may have been unnecessary, and fans are left wishing he were still part of the 118.
How 9-1-1 Could Still Bring Bobby Back – Peter Krause Could Return to the Series
The more outrageous 9-1-1 becomes, the easier it might be for Peter Krause to reprise his role as Bobby. We’re not suggesting the show suddenly turn supernatural, but there are plausible ways to bring him back without breaking the story entirely.
It’s possible that Bobby never truly died at the end of season 8, episode 15. He succumbed to a virus in a lab, which leaves room for scenarios like surviving and being secretly held for testing. Alternatively, Bobby could have faked his death for some extreme reason—or, in a wilder twist, the events following his “death” might be revealed as a dream.
While fans strongly support Bobby’s return, it’s more likely that the writers will stick with his death and feature Krause in flashbacks or dream sequences. Either way, with 9-1-1 embracing increasingly unrealistic storylines, Bobby’s death feels less necessary than originally intended.
