9-1-1 season 8 is on its way, and there’s some major drama surrounding 118. After being canceled by Fox at the end of its sixth season, 9-1-1 found a home on ABC for season 7. Although Hollywood strikes made way for a shorter episode order, the show has thrived in its new home, and was picked up by the network for season 8 just days after its 100th episode aired in May.
The series, created by Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy, follows first responders from the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department 118 as they try to navigate the myriad of ups and downs in both their personal and professional lives.
Season 7 certainly has plenty of highlights. Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark) has come out as bisexual, and his sister, Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), has married her longtime love Chimney (Kenneth Choi).
‘9-1-1’ Cast Dating History Through the Years: Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, and More For other characters, however, season 7 has been filled with trouble. Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Karen’s (Tracie Thoms) foster care licenses have been revoked, while Bobby (Peter Krause) and Athena (Angela Bassett) lost their home in a fire.
Meanwhile, Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) said a heartbreaking goodbye to his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh), after he was caught cheating on his wife, Shannon (Devin Kelley).
“I wanted to have some resolution. I wanted to show that Eddie can be a good person, but that doesn’t make for a great show,” Guzman exclusively told Us Weekly in June about his hopes for Eddie in season 8. “So I wanted to show some empathy in Eddie. I find a lot of times when someone is faced with something that’s that difficult, they fall back into our comfort zone. And [Eddie’s] comfort zone is not to show his emotions, but to stick to the book, do his job as best he can, almost be a soldier and accomplish whatever’s in front of him.”
“We also know that Eddie is a very emotional person,” he added. “There’s an anger that comes from him, and we saw that when he was fighting. So having that instability and holding it back, I think that’s something I want to see in the next season.”
Guzman’s wish for Eddie to return to his “soldier-like” routine may come true. In the final moments of the season 7 finale, it’s revealed that 118 has been taken over by the strict—and homophobic and racist—Captain Vincent Gerrard (Brian Thompson), who ran the station before Bobby arrived in L.A.
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about season 8 of the ABC procedural: When will ‘9-1-1’ Season 8 premiere?
The show was renewed days after its 100th episode aired in April 2024. Season 8 will premiere on ABC on Thursday, September 26, at 8 p.m. It will be followed by the new series Doctor Odyssey at 9 p.m. and Grey’s Anatomy season 21 at 10 p.m.
