The hit ABC drama 9-1-1 is back, and fan excitement is through the roof about what the new season will bring. Known for high-octane storylines and emergencies that you don’t see every day, the new season takes it up a notch by sending its characters into space for the first time.
From earthquakes and tsunamis to oddball rescues, the firefighters and police officers of Los Angeles’ Station 118 keep stretching the limits of courage. However, as the team embarks on new intergalactic missions, the absence of Captain Bobby Nash, portrayed by Peter Krause, looms large over the team’s fate.
The season premiere established the tone with a compassionate salute to Bobby, whose self-sacrificing heroism was recognized when Station 118 was dedicated in his name. However, as the crew continues without their rock of a leader, the season embodies feelings of loss, perseverance, and togetherness.
Aisha Hinds on how 9-1-1 Season 9 carries on after Peter Krause’s exit
At a private dinner in Los Angeles, actress Aisha Hinds told PEOPLE about the new chapter for the show and how it moves forward after the loss of Bobby Nash. Looking back on Peter Krause's departure, Hinds highlighted the massive impact he had left behind. She said:
“Peter offered us such rich performances in the first eight seasons of this show. He will always be felt in the canon of work that we know as 9-1-1. As we go into more seasons, though his physical presence may not be with us, his spirit remains always and I think that the team that he kind of led, [Station] 118, we carry a part of him in every emergency that we go to.”
Hinds also admitted that Krause’s character had been the emotional pillar of the show and that his absence is felt in every episode. Her sentiments are shared by her co-stars Angela Bassett and Jennifer Love Hewitt, who previously commented on how deeply losing Krause affected the cast. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hewitt said about Kauser's absence:
“Nothing was the same.”
Yet, Hinds is hopeful that the essence of 9-1-1 Season 9 will be found in evolving, honouring the legacy of their fallen captain by way of the unwavering bravery of his crew. 9-1-1 Season 9 is more than just emotional goodbyes. It’s also about taking risks. In one of the series' most bizarre turns ever, Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Athena (Angela Bassett) are headed to space after billionaire Tripp Houser (Mark Consuelos) promises to repay Hen for saving his life.
What starts as a breathtaking opportunity soon goes awry as a geomagnetic storm endangers the mission, testing the limits of survival once again. Before the chaos that ensues in space, the series grounds itself with a heartfelt goodbye to Bobby. The episode begins at a memorial service where the Station 118 team names their firehouse after him. Kenneth Choi’s character, Han, delivers a powerful speech that encapsulates Bobby’s lasting impact.
As 9-1-1 Season 9 continues, the emotional and physical danger has never been greater. Athena has a tough time figuring out how to live after Bobby, while her son, Harry, accuses her of being unaffectionate. In the meantime, Chimney (Kenneth Choi) is uncertain about taking on the role of new captain, as he feels the weight of Bobby’s legacy. The stakes are as much emotional as they are cosmic, and viewers can't help but wonder what the series will do without one of its mainstays.