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ABC drops an unexpected Bobby update in 9-1-1 season 9 with the most diabolical timing. Ryan Murphy’s flagship network series has had a tumultuous 2025-2026 TV cycle, primarily due to doubts about how the show would go about after the exit of Peter Krause in the previous year. Killing off Bobby remains a controversial topic for loyal followers of the show, with some still holding out hope that he might still be alive, and this whole plot is a long-drawn arc with a twist ending.
Per showrunner Tim Minear, the death of Bobby was supposedly due to the show’s commitment to realism. That, understandably, created a backlash, considering 9-1-1‘s history of suspension of disbelief when it comes to its storytelling. While the debate is far from over, the show has kept Bobby relevant, as he’s often referenced. As great as that is, 9-1-1 season 9, episode 15, “Pick Your Poison” reveals a surprising detail about his death that could not have come at the worst time.
9-1-1 Season 9 Celebrates Bobby’s Death Anniversary Ahead Of Schedule
Custom image by Milica Djordjevic
As a network TV show, 9-1-1 primarily sticks to the real-life calendar for its storytelling, hence why the Eddie-centric episode “Día de los Muertos” was released during the first week of November 2025. So, when “Pick Your Poison” revealed that it’s the first year anniversary week of Bobby’s death, it was surprising. The outing was released during the last week of March, while the two-part “Contagion” special, which marked the end of Krause’s run in the series, was broadcast in mid-April.
“Pick Your Poison” used Bobby’s death anniversary to somewhat explain Buck’s struggles with substance abuse. It was a good way to highlight his unprocessed grief while also emphasizing the parallels between him and his late father figure. It does look like Buck has his addiction issues in the rearview mirror, thanks to the help and support of his loved ones.
Detective Hooks Debuts During Bobby’s Death Anniversary Week (They Look Alike)
Buck’s story being tied to Bobby’s death made sense emotionally, but 9-1-1 season 9, episode 15’s B-plot was quite controversial. While the 118 dealt with their operations, Athena was presented with a peculiar case after one man sought her particularly for help. While the arc itself wasn’t all too compelling, it paved the way for the arrival of Detective Ben Hooks from the LAPD’s Major Crimes division. The character is played by Josh Stamberg, who bears a striking resemblance to Krause. It was odd to watch him interact with Athena knowing that he’s a different character, considering how much he looks like Bobby.
Interestingly, “Pick Your Poison” is just the start of Detective Hooks’ arc in 9-1-1. Stamberg reprised the character the very next week in “Where There’s Smoke,” and this time, instead of just interacting with Athena, he has now crossed paths with the rest of the 118, as he responded to the migrant crisis that the team stumbled upon during a tricky fire call. Admittedly, it’s too early to tell how Detective Hooks fit into 9-1-1‘s storytelling, but he’s seemingly more suspicious than trustworthy.
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9-1-1
8/10
- Release Date
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January 3, 2018
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Angela Bassett
Athena Grant
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Peter Krause
Robert ‘Bobby’ Nash
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https://screenrant.com/911-bobby-death-anniversary-hooks-introduction-timing-diabolical/
Ana Dumaraog
Almontather Rassoul
