When a cast member leaves a series, there are worries that others will follow. 911 season 8 brought the most traumatic moment of the entire series, and now there are concerns that we’ll lose another member of the cast. Tim Minear has settled some of those fears, although we’re still not happy with the way things went down.
Bobby’s death has had the biggest impact in the series, as he connects to so many other characters in the series. He is the captain of the 118, giving him a direct connection to every member of the team. He’s married to Athena, and he’s a stepfather to May and Harry. The only person he doesn’t really have a direct connection to is Maddie, who is connected more to Buck and Chimney.
So, with his exit, there have been rumors and concerns that we’ll lose another character, Athena. However, Minear’s words make it clear that it is not in the cards.
Athena will return in 911 season 9
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Minear talked about the decision to kill Bobby, and when that discussion came up. It turns out that he’s been thinking about this since the fourth season of the series, noting that someone had to die to make future major events more intense. To be honest, doing it in the fourth season would have made a bit more sense. Going eight years without a death makes people far angrier!
The decision to kill Bobby was to make sure it had maximum impact. He was connected to so many people, including those outside of the 118. His marriage to Athena made her more connected to the 118, and there are concerns that she’ll lose that connection without her husband.
That’s not going to happen, though. Fans will remember that Athena was friends with Hen before she was connected romantically to Bobby. This was the initial connection between Athena and the 118, and it’s a connection that will stay. In fact, in 911 season 8, episode 17, we’ll see Athena believe that Hen should be the next Captain of the 118, although Hen isn’t sure she’ll want it.
Something that cements the idea that Athena is sticking around is Minear’s words at the end of the interview. He shares that he has plans for Athena in the ninth season, so it doesn’t sound like she’s going anywhere.
"Her role in the 9-1-1 family is the subject of the next couple of episodes in some ways, but I have plans for season 9 that, rest assured, her connection to that firehouse will be just as deep and just as personal as it was when Bobby was the captain of it. That's all I really can say about that."
Those plans will keep her connected to the firehouse. The connections will be both deep and personal, and it’s surely going to be via Hen. Or maybe Harry could end up deciding he wants to be a firefighter, and that leads to some concerns for Athena considering everything that happened to Bobby.
911 airs on Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.