Warning: SPOILERS for 9-1-1 season 8, episode 18, "Seismic Shifts."It’s easy to forget how much the cast of Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 had a huge impact on not only Athena, but just about everyone else on the 118 as well.

In an Instagram video posted by Ryan Murphy’s TV shows, but the first season of 9-1-1 nearly included a storyline in which Bobby would have pursued Abby while she was already with Buck.

Alright, this is going to be a big throwback. Do you in season 1 of the show, I was in a hospital bed because 9-1-1? Abby (Connie Britton) was at my bedside. And, R.I.P., Bobby Nash walks in. And the original plan was that there was going to be a little love triangle there. My strong feelings for that were, I being at the time like, “No, what do you mean? No, that’s Buck and Abby. You can’t.” I was really, like it was my own relationship, against it. So, I’m glad it didn’t work out. I’m glad we never went down that road. Throw that one in the fire.

What The Buck-Abby-Bobby Triangle Would Have Meant For 9-1-1

It Could Have Changed The Entire Dynamic Between Buck And Bobby

Athena’s role in 9-1-1 after Bobby’s death hasn’t technically suffered much. She’s still working hard and saving previous suspects from making the same mistakes that put them in her crosshairs in the first place. But Athena and Bobby might never have happened at all if he had been able to continue his love triangle against Buck. It conveniently worked out that Connie Britton only played Abby for one regular season anyway, but her length of tenure doesn’t change the many ways in which Buck’s relationship with Bobby would have changed if they became romantic rivals.

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9-1-1 Season 8 Finale Review: Buck & Eddie’s Blatant Queerbaiting Takes Away From An Otherwise Heartwarming Conclusion

After 18 episodes full of obscure medical emergencies, heartbreaking twists, and complex character development, 9-1-1 season 8 has come to an end.

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Much as Chimney states in the 9-1-1 season 8 finale, the 118 is more than just a number. And Chimney had first-season issues with Bobby as well. They were even tied into Chimney’s love life, because Bobby felt that Chimney deserved better. But Stark is referencing the sixth episode “Heartbreaker,” in which Bobby clearly believes that Abby deserves better than Buck. It’s clear from watching the episode where the script originally intended to take that idea, but Buck’s evergreen respect for Bobby would never have made half as much sense if their professional relationship began on that note.

Our Take On The Scrapped 9-1-1 Love Triangle

Cutting The Storyline Was Best For All Characters Involved

Buck (Oliver Stark) and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) at Bobby's funeral in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 16.

Because she left after the first season, throwing Abby into a love triangle wouldn’t have changed her trajectory very much. But Bobby came to be seen as something of a firehouse patriarch by the time of his death, and it’s good that 9-1-1 kept as many stains off of that legacy as possible. Buck and Abby initially wanted different things, and Bobby wasn’t a bad person for noticing that. But not only did keeping him out of it preserve Buck and Abby’s relationship, it also preserved Bobby’s integrity. That’s worth a heftier price than a dramatic romance plot is worth.

Source: TVLine/Instagram

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9-1-1
Release Date
January 3, 2018
Network
ABC, FOX

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

9-1-1 is a television series that explores the intense experiences of police officers, paramedics, and firefighters. Premiered in 2018, it follows these emergency responders as they navigate high-pressure situations and attempt to balance their demanding work with personal challenges in their own lives.

Cast
Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Guzman, Corinne Massiah, Gavin McHugh, Marcanthonee Reis, Rockmond Dunbar, Bryan Safi, Tracie Thoms
Showrunner
Tim Minear
Creator(s)
Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Tim Minear
Producers
Angela Bassett
Seasons
8