Bobby’s Death Is A Nightmare Sequence
It’d Be A Sore Subject For Many Characters. Another realistic reason for Bobby’s funeral is for it to simply be a dream sequence. From Bobby and Chimney’s (Kenneth Choi) close friendship to Buck and Bobby’s found father-son relationship in 9-1-1, the bonds Captain Nash forged with his team run far deeper than workplace acquaintanceship. It would be plausible for any member of station 118 to view Bobby’s death as a nightmare scenario.
A Mother’s Fear: The Unshakeable Parallel. Let’s be real for a second — there’s nothing more terrifying for a parent than watching history try to repeat itself. For Athena, that fear is all too real. She’s haunted by memories of Emmett and constantly sees reflections of him in Bobby. It’s not just a passing worry — it’s a full-blown emotional storm.
It wouldn’t be the first deadly dream that initially seems real, with Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) even cold-opening 9-1-1 season 8, episode 12 (“Disconnected”) with a hyperrealistic dream about her throat being cut at her desk. Bobby’s funeral could play out in a nightmare, setting up the dreamer’s episodic conflict. The extent of the consequent paranoia would depend on the character, but the nightmare would understandably rattle anyone. Bobby and Athena may be one of the best couples in the 9-1-1 franchise, but that doesn’t mean their relationship is without conflict and, at times, fear. Athena has had to deal with near-death experiences both firsthand and involving Bobby, as recently as 9-1-1 season 7’s finale— which included both herself and her husband nearly dying after an arson attack. However, her relationship with death has a lengthier history. In her younger years, Athena was engaged to Emmett Washington (Jeff Pierre), the police officer who first encouraged her to join the LAPD. Sadly, Emmett died young following an armed robbery, leaving Athena haunted by his murder until she finally found answers in 9-1-1 season 3. Yet, the emotional scars Athena has could easily be reopened and cause her to spiral out, imagining Bobby’s premature death.
Bobby Has To Fake His Own Death
Outlandish But Not Impossible. Even the most ridiculous notions have a certain degree of credibility within 9-1-1, given the procedural is a Ryan Murphy show that is saturated in his characteristic camp factor. Perhaps the funeral is a real event in 9-1-1 season 8 that is meant to convince someone Bobby is dead. There is no shortage of wildly fanciful explanations, including a Witness Protection storyline or elaborate prank. While amusing to entertain, this theory is, unsurprisingly, the least likely outcome of Bobby’s funeral scene. A fake-out death would undercut Bobby’s serious plots in 9-1-1 season 8, and even if his disappearance would be temporary, it’s unimaginable that 9-1-1 season 9 would feel right without Bobby. That sentiment carries over to the slim chance that Bobby is truly dying, meaning 9-1-1’s first main character death could jeopardize the entire series.
Athena’s fear is understandable. Raw. Real. But fear isn’t fact. Bobby isn’t doomed to Emmett’s fate unless that fear becomes his chain. By confronting the past and choosing faith over fear, Athena can rewrite the future — for Bobby, for herself, and for the legacy of a son she’ll never forget.
