911 Show Just Confirmed Bobby's Replacement

911 confirmed the identity of Firehouse 118's temporary new captain following the death of Captain Bobby Nash. Fans of ABC's first responder drama series are still reeling from the death of Peter Krause's Bobby Nash as 911 says goodbye to the fan-favorite character. 

911 Season 8, Episode 15 ended with a shocker after it revealed that a deadly virus infected Nash while trapped inside a research facility. After giving the only dose of the cure to Chimney to save him, Nash embraced his fate before saying a tearful goodbye to his team and his wife, Athena Grant. 

While the core cast of characters is still reeling from his death, 911 Season 8, Episode 16 revealed Bobby Nash's temporary replacement: Captain Vincent Gerrard (Brian Thompson). 

In the episode's opening moments, Gerrard clarified that he will serve as Firehouse 118's temporary captain in the meantime as he helps them "get through this difficult transition until [LAFD] Chief Simpson can appoint a candidate more worthy:"

"I’m not here to take his place. No one can. I’m not going to be returning as your captain. I’m just here to get you through this difficult transition. I’m not here to take his place. No one can. I’m not going to be returning as your captain. I’m just here to get you through this difficult transition until Chief Simpson can appoint a candidate more worthy."

Fans may remember Gerrard as the obnoxious fire captain who has a bad history with the firefighters of Firehouse 118. The team even filed a report against him for his attitude, which led to him being replaced by the LAFD. 

After 911 Season 7 ended with Bobby Nash suffering from a heart attack and deciding to retire from his post, the first few episodes of Season 8 began with Gerrard as the captain of the 118, and he once again gave everyone in the firehouse a hard time. 

Still, Gerrard redeemed himself after a heartfelt conversation with Nash, ultimately leading him to swap places with him and become the firefighter consultant of a famous Hollywood TV series. 

While fans (and Firehouse 118) don't want to embrace the idea that Gerrard is the new captain (albeit temporarily), the character may be instrumental in helping the team find a suitable replacement for Nash. 

911 follows the story of the ups and downs of first responders in Los Angeles as they deal with the drama of their personal and professional lives. The series is already renewed for Season 9, and it boasts a stellar cast led by Angela Bassett, Oliver Stark, Kenneth Choi, Aisha Hinds, and Ryan Guzman.

Why Gerrard's Arrival Could Lead to a Big Reveal in 911 Season 8

Fans are already criticizing 911 for placing Vincent Gerrard as Firehouse 118's temporary captain following Bobby Nash's death, calling it a messy decision for the writers to keep returning to Brian Thompson's character. 

Still, navigating grief is an essential step for anyone who has lost a close friend or family member, and the timing of Gerrard's arrival could be what the team needs as they deal with the pain of accepting that Nash is truly gone. 

Some have theorized that Gerrard could've been assigned to Firehouse 118 to observe and keep tabs on everyone for LAFD's Chief Simpson as a way to assess who among the team could be ready to step up and become the new captain of the 118. 

This means that 911 Season 8 could end with the big reveal that one of the longtime Firehouse 118 members could become the new captain. Doing an internal hire instead of tapping someone from the outside is what the story needs, since promoting anyone from the team would lessen the blow for fans still reeling from Bobby Nash's death (read more on why the character had to die in 911). 

At this point, it is a toss-up between Chimney and Hen, mainly due to their seniority with the team. 

Interestingly, the trailer for 911 Season 8, Episode 17 shows Athena Grant pushing Hen to step up to become captain, which could be a sign of things to come for the resident firefighter. Having the wife of the fallen captain to give the seal of approval for Hen to become captain serves as a beautiful transition as 911 enters its new normal.