911 has surprised us over the years, but nothing prepared fans for the twist that came in the final moments of the two-part contagion event. While all eyes were on Chimney, we learned in the closing moments that they should have been on Bobby instead. As episode 15 came to a close, our hearts broke as we watched the 118’s longtime captain die a brutal death after coming into contact with the deadly super-strain of CCHF (Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever).
In the wake of Bobby’s death, fans have been grasping onto the hope that perhaps this is one big fakeout moment and that Bobby hasn’t really died. Fan theories have been running rampant on social media with one of the most popular theories being that Bobby is actually alive and in a coma, with the upcoming events being a dream sequence.
Honestly, there are some really valid thoughts behind fans’ theories and, as someone who has been put through some of the most heartbreaking deaths in TV history as a Day 1 Grey’s Anatomy fan, I understand not wanting to accept that a character has been killed off. Especially when it’s someone as beloved as Bobby. However, the sad reality is that shocking deaths are nothing new in TV, and 911 made it eight seasons without killing off a major character, which is a huge feat for a first responder show.
While we’d all love to see Bobby back, all signs are pointing towards this not being a fakeout and the latest episode synopsis only reinforces this.
Upon finally releasing the synopsis for episode 16, “The Last Alarm,” ABC seemed to reaffirm that Bobby has died, noting that the episode will find the 118 laying Bobby to rest and coming together to celebrate his life.
“Following the tragic events at the lab, the 118 must come together to lay their fallen hero to rest. Meanwhile, despite her own grief, Athena re-investigates the death of a child to help a grieving mother,” teases the synopsis for the episode coming on May 1.
Unless ABC is truly trying to pull off one of the biggest fakeout deaths in TV history, it seems this is a decision that is going to stick. All of the promotional materials have pointed in the direction of Bobby truly being dead, with the promo showing us our first look at his funeral and the synopsis now confirming the episode will see the 118 coming together to say goodbye to their friend as Athena pushes through her grief to help a grieving mother – a case that is likely going to help Athena work through her own grief in the end.
As a Grey's Anatomy fan, I can attest that big deaths truly can shake things up for the better and keep fans engaged by surprising them -- even if they aren't a fan of the surprises as they come about. We’re not ready to accept that Bobby is gone, but we are ready to see how 911 navigates this loss and how it will shake up the core dynamics of the show.