The hits just keep coming as 9-1-1 prepares to host a funeral for Peter Krause‘s character, Bobby, after his controversial death.
In stills released by ABC ahead of the Thursday, May 1, episode, Athena (Angela Bassett) is surrounded by loved ones as she mourns her husband. Other attendees in the first look photos include Chimney (Kenneth Choi), who survived the rare virus that killed his friend. Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Buck (Oliver Stark) are also seen but fan-favorite character Eddie (Ryan Guzman) is noticeably absent.
The episode comes after 9-1-1 surprised fans — and Us — by killing off Krause’s character after eight seasons during part two of a “Contagion” special.
“I’ve heard that many fans are upset by this loss and they have a right to be. It is a loss. That said, it was more than a bold creative choice on a bold show. Bobby Nash was written in sacrifice and he was built for this,” Krause, 59, wrote in a statement. “First responders risk their lives on the job so that others can see another day. His story arc honors them. We at 9-1-1 salute all the incredible men and women who do these dangerous jobs and strive to keep us safe.”
Related: Us Explains ‘9-1-1’ Offscreen Backlash After Bobby’s Controversial Death
Bobby’s death on 9-1-1 came out of nowhere — but why was the decision to kill off Peter Krause‘s character so controversial? 9-1-1, which premiered in 2018, introduced Us to the professional and personal lives of Los Angeles first responders. Krause was one of the major players in the role of Bobby, a.k.a. the LAFD […]
Krause elaborated on how he was mourning his time on the show, telling Good Morning America, “He was willing to sacrifice himself so that others could see another day. And I will miss everybody dearly. This was my workplace, for eight years, eight seasons. And I am really going to miss everybody: Angela and the fire team and the crew.”
Fans, however, have been frustrated since showrunner Tim Minear confirmed that Krause didn’t ask to leave the show.
“I had been toying with the idea for a couple of seasons, actually, maybe even longer, feeling like at some point I’m going to have to do this,” Minear told Deadline of killing off a major character in an interview published in April. “And then once I came up with this idea for the lab leak episode, that’s when it solidified for me that it was time to do it, it felt like a real opportunity to give somebody an epic Wrath of Khan–like death.”
He continued, “When it came down to deciding who should that be, I wanted it to be a character that affected all the characters’ stories in a very specific and yet different ways. There was only one man for the job, and it was Bobby.”
Minear acknowledged that losing Bobby — and Krause — was a “wrenching decision.”
“I adore Peter, and he’s so great on the show, really the backbone of the show in so many ways, which is why it was both a terrifying decision but also, creatively, I just knew that it would be so meaningful and have such repercussions and give me so much story for the show,” he said. “Once I had made that choice, suddenly the world of the show seems so much more real to me, just feeling the grief of the characters and feeling just how that nuclear bomb going off in the center of that universe affected everything. Suddenly, everything just felt weirdly more alive to me.”
Bobby’s death came ahead of more shakeups in the fictional firefighter world with Stephanie Arcila and Billy Burke both exiting Fire Country after three seasons.
9-1-1 airs on ABC Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET
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