After their two-week break, and in one of the most heart-wrenching hours to date, 9-1-1 delivered a farewell to one of its core pillars: Bobby Nash. I will admit, last episode wrecked me. Hozier? Are you joking? After being in denial this past week, Season 8, Episode 16, “The Last Alarm,” centered on the death and memorial of Captain Bobby Nash. It was a loss like no other and sent an emotional shockwave through the 118 — and through fans of 9-1-1.

The episode opened with Bobby — but eight years prior — on a call at a house fire, an event that weaves through multiple points in the episode. It also introduced us to a woman who believes her son, who is dead, is actually alive. Athena Grant, played by Angela Bassett, shares similar feelings of grief and the fear of letting go and letting reality settle in.

Bobby, played by Peter Krause, had been the backbone of the 118, and his absence was felt in every scene. It was a silence that could never really be filled. Although Krause returned for a few scenes — either as a ghost or as his past self eight years ago — it gave the audience one last glimpse of Bobby, honoring both the character and the actor.

Emotionally, the episode hit hard. We see grief that is raw and unguarded, especially from Chimney, played by Kenneth Choi, and Athena. Two characters who do not want to blame Bobby — but do. He left them, even if he didn’t choose to. He did. His and her moments are ones of quiet devastation, and the writing doesn’t rush the loss and pain of Bobby. Quite frankly, we may revisit this in the future, but for now, it allows the viewers to sit with their heartbreak. Bassett’s performance is emotionally powerful and vulnerable.

We also get to see the rest of the 118 grapple with the aftermath: Hen, Eddie, Ravi, Buck, and others process Bobby’s death and absence in ways that stay true to their characters. Some have those “I shoulda been there” or “I’ve never done this” moments. It unites them in the uncertainty of what comes next.

Narratively, this episode signals a turning point for the series. With just two more episodes left, it’s a clear thematic shift. And I cannot end this review without acknowledging the excitement many fans felt when we saw a glimpse of Buck and Eddie. No airport pickup… but a reunion. I, too, was excited to see that Diaz man back on my screen.

Although we all want to live in delusion and wish Bobby would rise from the dead, “The Last Alarm” is a somber and beautifully executed tribute to a beloved character in the fandom. It leans into the emotional realism of what loss is — and what it can be. While it leaves a gaping hole in our 9-1-1 hearts, it sets the stage for growth and change. Whether we will truly move on without Bobby remains to be seen, but this episode gave him the send-off he deserved.

A few moments that need to be mentioned:

• Are we serious no Buck and Eddie airport pick up scene?
• Although Bobbys send off was merely five minutes, it was a hard episode that hit me, grief is tough.
• Starting the episode off with Bobby was cruel enough having to wait two weeks for a new episode.
• I need Eddie with that stubble back on my screen asap.
• Hope thats the last time we see Tommy, haha.
• Ravi you’re loved.

You can watch the promo for 8×17 here if you haven’t seen it yet.