9-1-1 enters its second stage now that Bobby (Peter Krause) has been buried. His death was a major event that separated everything into before and after, and in the all-new episode airing on Thursday, May 8, the after begins. After Bobby’s death, the biggest question is what fills the gaping hole left in many aspects of the show. How will the other characters move on? Who becomes the new captain of the 118? 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 17, “Don’t Drink the Water,” begins to answer these questions as it explores the potential candidates for the captain position. Meanwhile, the job calls as emergencies continue demanding the station’s attention.
When Season 8, Episode 17 aired, it left fans across the globe reeling. Captain Bobby Nash, the heart and backbone of the 118, met a tragic and unexpected end. For a show known for its emotional depth and shocking plot twists, this moment still felt like a punch to the gut. But the question now lingers: how does ‘9-1-1’ move on from this seismic shift?
ABC released a sneak peek of the episode, previewing what will come as the season gears up for the final stretch. “I’m not solving that [captain] problem right away for the rest of this season,” showrunner Tim Minear told TV Insider when asked if viewers should expect to see a new captain soon. “The last three episodes are not about who’s in Bobby’s chair. The last three episodes are about that chair is empty,” he added. Bobby’s impact on the other characters cannot be quantified, and whoever would want to take that position might not feel worthy, which might be what’s happening in the video below as Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Athena (Angela Bassett) talk about the former’s potential to become the new captain. Athena sounds confident when she proposes that Hen take over, but Hen claims she doesn’t want it. Why?
The ‘9-1-1’ Finale Is Huge. Meanwhile, emergencies cannot wait for a captain to be chosen, and this one is huge. “The water’s on fire!” a caller claims when they dial 911. That’s odd given that water is one of the least flammable items on earth. A news report reveals that there’s something in the water: methane. That explains why water is combusting, but presents another problem. The city’s water system goes into thousands of homes, making the entire city an inferno waiting to happen. “We’re minutes from an environmental disaster,” Captain Gerrard (Brian Thompson) says as fires ravage apartments. This emergency has the ability to cause wanton destruction of property and life, which tracks with what Minear teased about the final episodes of the season. The finale is “a really 9-1-1 finale” and is “something we haven’t done before,” he said, adding that events will lead “to a mass casualty event.” Will it claim another 9-1-1 character?
Season 8, Episode 17 of ‘9-1-1’ wasn’t just a storyline—it was a statement. Losing Bobby Nash changed everything. The emotional aftershocks are massive. But from pain often comes growth. And as the show gears up for a new chapter, one thing’s for sure: Bobby’s spirit will always be part of the 118. His legacy isn’t just in the firehouse—it’s in every single viewer who felt seen, healed, or inspired by his journey.
