Killing off Bobby Nash was a costly decision for9-1-1, and the fallout may push viewers away from the procedural, searching for alternatives. Peter Krause led the cast opposite Angela Bassett’s Athena Grant for years, as he also played the father figure. Sadly,Bobby’s ruinous death in9-1-1season 8, episode 15, is a point of no return.
Given that9-1-1season 9 will move on from Bobby, many viewers are reconsidering their loyalty to the first-responder drama. While changes are already emerging, like Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi) being propped up as a potential next captain, LAFD station 118 may feel unrecognizable without Bobby Nash. Consequently, fans may turn to alternative shows to cope with Krause’s departure.
10The Catch
2016-2017
One of the hidden gems ofShondaland showsisThe Catch, a crime dramedy that ran for two seasons in the mid 2010s. Peter Krause stars as Benjamin Jones, a conman who swindles Mireille Enos’ Alice out of millions. In turn, Alice— a successful private investigator— makes it her mission to track Benjamin down and bring him to justice.
The Catchshows a completely new side of Peter Krausethat9-1-1fans have never seen. Krause’s performance makes the series yet another promising show canceled far too soon, but it’s never too late for Benjamin Jones to get the attention he deserves. Plus, appreciating Peter Krause’s acting range may help viewers cope with the loss of Bobby Nash.
9Firefly
2002-2003
Before Tim Minear became the controversial showrunner of9-1-1, he was behind a cult classic sci-fi series calledFirefly. Starring franchise favorite Gina Torres,Fireflywas a space western set in the year 2517. The core ensemble featured nine characters aboard a spaceship in the aftermath of a civil war.
Firefly includes elements similar to9-1-1’s found family, asthe band of misfits formed a sense of community aboard their ship— aptly namedSerenity. While that alone would help ease the blow of Bobby’s death, the fantastical elements make it an even better option for those who enjoyed watching9-1-1for its escapism elements.
8Six Feet Under
2001-2005
Prior to9-1-1, Peter Krause was one of themain characters ofSix Feet Under. The drama follows the Fisher family who, after the death of their patriarch, clash over how to handle the family business: running a funeral home. Krause’s character, Nate, was the personification of existential dread and the dilemma of weighing duty against dreams.
For years,Six Feet Underwas Krause’s most memorable project, with Nate Fisher being by far his most iconic role.9-1-1even includes a small reference to the drama in season 1, when Bobby’s online dating profile lists Michael C. Hall— who played Nate’s brother, David— as his favorite actor. Undoubtedly,Six Feet Underis essential viewing for Bobby fans.
7Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993-1999
Beyond exploring the stellar acting of Peter Krause, there are options that more broadly echo Bobby’s character.Captain Benjamin Sisko(Avery Brooks) is a prime example, as he fearlessly leads a ragtag group through space inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. In contrast to its predecessors, Sisko and the rest ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s crew navigated long-term conflicts.
Despite his important role, there were layers to Sisko’s character that made him feel much more human. Similar to Bobby being9-1-1’s main chef, Sisko cooked for his team and defended his crew to the best of his ability. Additionally,Sisko was a devoted father, much like Bobbywas to his children and step-children.
6Buffy The Vampire Slayer
1997-2003
Regardless of genre, there are traces of Bobby Nash’s character archetype everywhere. Though it may not be an obvious choice to many,Buffy The Vampire Slayerincludes a surprisingly wholesome mentorshipbetween the titular slayer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head). Yet, their connection went beyond professional boundaries, and Giles often felt more like Buffy’s father figure.
Given thatGiles was Buffy’s watcher, it would have been easy to keep her at an arm’s length. However, just like Bobby when it came to Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark), Giles cared deeply for Buffy. The found father/daughter relationship runs as a comforting undercurrent, with Buffy once even asking if Giles would walk her down the aisle.
5Third Watch
1999-2005
Aside from his interpersonal relationships, Bobby Nash was station 118’s heroic leader. To fill the hole left behind by the fallen captain,Third Watchoffers a team of first responders in a unique setting: the titular“third watch”shift from 3:00-11:00 p.m. Decades after its finale,Third Watchis remembered as one of thebest firefighter showsever.
Third Watchhas high-intensity medical emergencies just like9-1-1, but it is tonally much darker than the Ryan Murphy procedural. Since moving to ABC, there have been plenty ofgruesome injuries in9-1-1, butThird Watchis still a much darker, grittier look at the world of first responders.
4The Rookie
2018-Present
For some, the best part of Bobby’s character was his vast life experience. Protagonists tend to skew younger and younger, particularly for first-responder procedurals, but Bobby only found his home with the 118 as he entered his 50s. Similarly,The Rookiefollows Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan, who becomes a rookie officer at 45-years-old.
There have been manyimpressive episodes ofThe Rookieto earn critical acclaim, and there is significant overlap between its fan-base and that of9-1-1. Nonetheless, some have yet to watch ABC’s crime drama. Just like Bobby took decades to find his purpose in life, Nolan hit his stride in his mid-40s asThe Rookie’s success story protagonist.
3Chicago Fire
2012-Present
For over a decade,Chicago Firehas been a pillar of Dick Wolf’sOne Chicagoshared universe. In conjunction withChicago MedandChicago PD,Chicago Firecenters on first responders in the Windy City. Aside from fitting the bill as a firefighter drama,Chicago Fire’s Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) is arguably the best stand-in for Bobby Nash.
Boden’s character throughoutChicago Fireis much stricter than Bobby, but his integrity came above all else, making him just as respectable.
Just like Captain Nash at the 118,Chief Boden was an extremely loyal member of the main firehousewho acted as a father figure to many, but particularly to his lieutenants. Boden’s character throughoutChicago Fireis much stricter than Bobby, but his integrity came above all else, making him just as respectable.
2Station 19
2018-2024
As a spinoff of the smash-hitGrey’s Anatomy,Station 19easily cultivated an impressive following during its seven-season run. The firefighters of the titular Station 19 had all the hallmark thrills of an ABC procedural, with healthy doses of personal conflict and interoffice romance. When9-1-1moved to ABC, many even rallied for aStation 19crossover.
Station 19focused on a central father-daughter duo: Captain Pruitt (Miguel Sandoval) and Andrea “Andy” Herrera (Jaina Lee Ortiz). Just like Bobby, Pruitt was a mentor to his team, though he often got in the way of his daughter’s success. Unfortunately,Station 19wasn’t far removed from9-1-1’s tragic deaths, butmain characters' departures were typically handled with more grace.
1Brooklyn Nine-Nine
2013-2021
Yet, the best show to watch to deal with Bobby’s death is by farBrooklyn Nine-Nine. The sitcom is hailed as one of the best comedies of the 21st century, and it’s easy to see why. The pure chemistry between the cast members mixed with the clever writing make it a low-stakes but high-reward watch.
AlthoughBrooklyn Nine-Nineincluded many iconic characters, none are as distinctive asCaptain Raymond Holt(Andre Braugher). The relationship between Holt and Jake Peralta (Andy Sandberg) was nothing short of heartwarming, andBrooklyn Nine-Ninethankfully never killed anyone in its core team. Truthfully, nobody will ever replace Bobby Nash in9-1-1, but other shows may offer some much-needed comfort.
