Large spoilers forward! In case you have not watched tonight’s episode, beware.
Okay, that is going to be robust. It is in all probability the hardest overview I’ve needed to write up so far.
Normally, there’s a fast recap of every thing that occurred in the course of the episode so I can level out how I felt about this second, and that one, and that one… However I don’t assume it will work tonight.
In spite of everything, Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) is useless.
Lab Rats continues the 2-part occasion 9-1-1: Contagion, with Athena (Angela Bassett) and Buck (Oliver Stark) becoming a member of forces to seek out Moira (Bridget Regan) and the remedy she created so Chimney (Kenneth Choi) might be saved; in the meantime, nonetheless caught within the lab, Bobby makes positive that Hen (Aisha Hinds), Chim, and Ravi (Anirudh Pisharody) don’t die.
Should you ignore the ultimate minutes of this episode, the entire thing is a typical thrilling, nail-biting emergency, with Athena and Bobby teaming up with many characters — together with Karen (Tracie Thoms), in a scene that had me tremendous excited — to seek out the remedy and rescue the 118. The scenes within the lab proceed to be nice — there’s one which stands out to me, during which Chimney calls Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) to have what could possibly be their remaining dialog. Then Chim talks to Bobby and asks him to look out for Chim’s household after he’s gone, and these are highly effective scenes brilliantly performed by Choi, Hewitt, and Krause. Then, ultimately, every thing’s proper, the dangerous man is caught, the remedy works, and the 118 is protected.
Till Bobby refuses to go away the lab and divulges to Buck that he’s been contaminated by the illness after the explosion ripped part of his go well with. Whereas Bobby was taking care of his group, he was dying inside. And as soon as it grew to become clear that there was just one shot of the remedy, Bobby knew that was Chimney’s. So he determined to sacrifice himself and never inform anybody in regards to the an infection.
Bobby says goodbye to Buck — and it’s a really emotional scene.
Then, it’s time to say goodbye to Athena. The 2 essential characters reunited eventually. Athena shouldn’t be prepared to go away Bobby. We share these emotions with you, Sergeant Grant-Nash. The scene can also be very emotional, and it’s one of the crucial potent, gut-wrenching issues each Krause and Bassett have finished on this present. Krause particularly is outstanding right here, spitting blood, lastly in a position to give in and say his final prayer after his group is protected.
And that’s it. We lower to the 118 struggling with the information of their captain’s dying, every of them alone, every of them unable to achieve out to one another. The tip.
“Lab Rats” – 9-1-1. Pictured: Peter Krause as Bobby Nash. Photograph: Christopher Willard/ABC © 2025 Disney. All rights reserved.
How do you, reader, really feel about this? As a result of I nonetheless can’t consider it. I spent the entire time watching these scenes pondering “Okay, that is 9-1-1! They are going to discover a solution to carry him again within the subsequent episode, no want to fret!”, after which I went on-line and skim a letter written by Peter Krause confirming he’s leaving the present. After which I learn some autopsy interviews they usually all say the identical — Bobby’s useless. That occurred for actual and he’s not coming again. Do you guys consider this? As a result of I’m in denial, maybe solely beginning to consider what I noticed as I write these phrases.
9-1-1 has been a particular, comforting factor for me since 2021, after I began binge-watching season 1 whereas season 4 aired, ending all of the episodes simply in time to live-watch loopy issues occur throughout 4×13 and 4×14. I bear in mind the joy I felt in that finale, and the way it felt good after it ended and everybody was wonderful. That’s the factor, I suppose — some exhibits unceremoniously kill essential characters each season, and there’s this foolish goofy firefighter present that’s had us on the sting of our seats for 8 seasons with none massive dying. We count on every thing to be wonderful, however we’re frightened anyway. We chuckle, we cry, we’re jumpscared, we complain, and we cheer, and it’s like using on a rollercoaster — we’re used to ending the experience protected and mesmerized, wanting to expertise this as soon as extra within the subsequent week… Besides that this time, the rollercoaster exploded simply as we have been about to seek out consolation.
As a reviewer, I’d say it’s regular for a TV present to do one thing like this after eight seasons. It’s an incredible factor that can change every thing, and typically a present must get dangerous, it wants to go away the consolation zone so it will probably develop and alter and turn out to be extra. However actually, as a viewer/fan, I don’t want 9-1-1 to turn out to be the rest than it already is. I do not need it to be practical, all critical, and darkish. I’m not enthusiastic about new characters taking Bobby’s place, I don’t need to see everybody mourning him for weeks, I don’t need to really feel like another essential character might die each week. I like this foolish goofy present for what it’s: all of the unserious issues that occur are a part of the enjoyable. So two weeks from now, I’m anticipating Bobby to rise from the useless throughout his funeral and say he’s wonderful. I received’t ask questions, I’ll settle for no matter excuse they provide you with and transfer on.
Anyway, in case that doesn’t occur, we’ll in all probability enter uncharted territory. This present won’t ever be the identical with out Bobby, and actually, I do not know if it has what it takes to proceed with out him. Don’t get me flawed, I like all the primary characters — season 5 was essentially the most difficult for me as a result of Maddie was gone, so Chimney went after her and left the 118 for some time, and Eddie grew to become a dispatcher, and every thing was misplaced… So it’s extra that I don’t assume this present works with none of the mains, and I’m unsure if it’ll discover a solution to work with out Bobby, THE essential character. Do not get me flawed once more, however even when that is an ensemble present, it has two essential characters, and certainly one of them is Bobby. And often, at the least in my expertise, when the primary character of the story dies and the present continues, the present itself often could be very close to the tip…
Maybe I’m simply in denial. I’m definitely permitting myself to interrupt the overview protocols I established for myself so I can course of all of the disappointment I’m feeling. The reality is that I’m afraid 9-1-1 would possibly bury itself with Bobby in his coffin. And I don’t need to lose this present, as I like having the craziest, funniest, most devastating rides each week with it. However after the rollercoaster exploded with us in it, I’m pressured to surprise what number of rides the present can nonetheless supply us earlier than the inevitable finish.
Now inform me how you are feeling about this episode! Be at liberty to go away a remark along with your impressions and theories, and thanks for studying!