Bobby’s death at the end of 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15 was a shocking twist, but key details offer a glimmer of hope that his tragic fate can still be reversed. Peter Krause’s surprise exit from 9-1-1 season 8 served as the dramatic ending of 9-1-1: Contagion, a two-part thriller event that focused on LAFD station 118 trapped in a lab explosion. The team— sans Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark) and joined by Sergeant Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) on a covert investigation— were forced to perform risky procedures on Henrietta “Hen” Wilson’s (Aisha Hinds) collapsed lung.

More pressingly, Howard “Chimney” Han’s PPE was destroyed in the explosion, exposing him to an exceptionally dangerous strain of CCHF (Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever). Even Ravi Panikkar (Anirudh Pisharody) had his first near-death experience in 9-1-1 after his oxygen tank ran out, leaving Krause’s Captain Bobby Nash seemingly the last man standing. In a cruel twist of fate, Bobby reveals that he was also infected by CCHF but hid it, knowing that there was only one antiviral dose remaining. After stabilizing Chimney and ensuring his team was safely evacuated, Bobby dies at the end of 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15.

9-1-1’s Clues That Bobby May Be Alive ExplainedEvery

Detail Matters

For many, the tragic downfall of Bobby Nash was too devastating to believe. The most obvious argument in favor of Bobby’s death being a fake-out lies in the virus he was exposed to— rather than contracting a typical case of CCHF, Bobby was felled by a super-strain created by 9-1-1’s Moira Blake (Bridget Regan). Whereas a normal case of CCHF has an average mortality rate of 30% and progresses over the course of weeks, Moira’s strain causes organ failure within hours. The prevailing theory posits that, since it vastly accelerated the symptoms, Moira’s strain could cause a temporary deathlike state.

A more fanciful take on Bobby’s “fake” death stems from 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15’s ending song. The lyrics of Hozier’s “Work Song” are deeply romantic but, when taken literally, point to a sense of immortality. The chorus includes phrases such as “when my time comes around, lay me gently in the cold, dark earth” and “no grave could hold my body down, I’ll crawl home to her.” While the music perfectly fits the devastating conclusion between Bobby and Athena, it could be interpreted as a cheeky nod to Bobby escaping his own grave soon to “crawl home” to Athena.

What Are The Chances That Bobby May Actually Be Alive?

Extremely Slim But Not Zero

While the theories that explain how Bobby can magically survive and return to 9-1-1 are entertaining (and, in a way, comforting), there’s not much weight to the science fiction-adjacent proposed plotlines. Many of 9-1-1’s main cast members have posted their goodbyes to the character and tributes to Peter Krause, with each black-and-white photo feeling like yet another stab of certainty. Although the cast seems to be in mourning just as much as the viewers, it doesn’t change the facts: Bobby Nash, as confirmed by Peter Krause’s official farewell letter to his 9-1-1 character, is d3ad.

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but Bobby coming back to life would take away from the poignancy of his final moments. The ending of 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15 was not without its flaws— in fact, Bobby’s death regressed his storyline in many ways, but Krause and Bassett’s character work is nothing short of spectacular. Athena watching Bobby die in 9-1-1 once seemed like a nightmare scenario, but it’s now one of the heartbreaking highlights of Contagion’s bitter ending. Bobby rising from the d3ad likely won’t be the next big arc, but 9-1-1 viewers have to grieve somehow.