Side characters come and go frequently in9-1-1, but one character deserves to return after Bobby’s funeral bizarrely ignored their importance to the deceased.Bobby Nash’s9-1-1deathwas one of the most controversial moments in season 8. The only way9-1-1season 9could even make up for it in many fans’ eyes is to somehow bring him back.
That wouldn’t make much sense story-wise, no matter how many commenters on9-1-1: Nashville’s social media refuse to watch until they bring back “the other Nash.” However,providing one character with proper closure could help the show’s viewers find it as well, and it would mean bringing back one of the most esteemed guest stars from9-1-1’s season 8 cast.
9-1-1 Season 8 Introduced Lesley Ann Warren As Bobby Nash’s Dying Mother
Their Relationship Is More Than A Little Complicated
While Ellen Wroe played a younger version of Bobby’s mother in9-1-1season 7, one-time Lois Lane actorLesley Ann Warren portraysthe present-day version of evangelist and faith healer Ann Hutchinsonin9-1-1season 8, episode 11, “Holy Mother of God.” And, as Bobby’s flashbacks in season 7 might’ve suggested, their relationship is hardly on solid ground.
Bobby regards Ann as a fraud, openly accusing her of preying on the weak and faithful to get rich in God’s name. But their falling out started long before she even took up her life of touring ministry, whenBobby began resenting Ann for leaving home with his brother Charlie while he stayed behind to watch alcoholism kill his father.
Lesley Ann Warren’s9-1-1episodedoes end on a slightly optimistic note, albeit still a very bittersweet one.Bobby forgives his mother while admitting that he loves her and has missed her all this time, but he only does so after learning from Charlie that Ann’s been secretly living with terminal cancer. And that secret almost never came out.
Charlie would have abided by Ann’s wishes to conceal her cancer from Bobby forever had she not collapsed onstage.It appeared that Bobby was at least starting to believe his mother truly valued her work, but her collapse leaves it uncertain whether they would have formally made amends under happier circumstances. Bobby’s death makes that uncertainty even worse.
Ann Hutchinson Is Barely Present During Bobby’s Funeral In 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 16
She’s Only Featured For A Brief Second Of Screentime
As if Bobby didn’t already suffer one of9-1-1’s most tragic deaths, the fact that he only made amends on Ann’s hospital bed is unsettling without future scenes together to corroborate the moment’s sincerity. Now, not only will they never get those moments, butAnn’s reaction to Bobby’s death only accounts for one shot of the entire funeral scene.
She does technically reappear when Bobby’s coffin is being carried outside, butshe’s far enough in the background to go largely unnoticed. For all intents and purposes, a mere still image could represent Ann’s full impact on an episode dedicated to processing her son’s death. Not one line of dialogue is set aside to give her a semblance of closure.
9-1-1 Season 9 Needs To Provide Ann With Closure While Bobby’s Death Is Still Fresh
It’s The Most Logical Way To Close Out Her Storyline
The oddbacklash against9-1-1: Nashvillesimply for including Bobby’s last name in the title demonstrates that even fans who spent years with the character have had issues finding closure in the wake of his death. Imagine, then, how much worse it must feel thatall of Ann’s closure with Bobby is limited to a single conversation in the hospital.
Ann therefore never truly got to reconnect with Bobby, or at least not that we’ve seen much onscreen.He came back into her life and forgave her before dying while she still knows relatively little about who he is, even if she was evidently keeping close enough tabs on him to send him a letter after his home burned down.
It’s unrealistic that this wouldn’t leave Ann seeking some sort of postmortem clarity. And, not only would it be odd for her to pop up again when everybody’s already moved on from grieving, buther cancer puts such a clock on future appearances that it makes most sense for her to seek (and receive) that closure in9-1-1season 9.
How 9-1-1 Season 9 Can Incorporate Ann Hutchinson Into The 118’s Story
There’s No Better Place For Her To Find The Closure She Needs
Right now, it naturally seems as ifBobby’s9-1-1replacementwould be the 118’s top priority. Even if it seems obvious that it’ll be Chim, he has a lot of kinks to iron out before he’s worthy of the job. One might also expect thatAnn would most likely seek out solace from Athena if anyone, since they’ve already met.
However, Ann was proud of Bobby for becoming a fire captain. Between her religious values and losing Bobby so soon after getting him back,it stands to reason she’d want to know more about his life-saving work and the virtuous life he led. As much as they idolized him, Buck and Chim could provide better insight than even Athena could.
Although not in the same way as Ann or Athena, the 118 was Bobby’s family. And, assuming the“Bobby Nash is still alive” theoryturns out to be as incorrect as it should be, everyone in Bobby’s9-1-1family should be given a chance to lean on each other right now. Ann should be a part of that as well.
9-1-1
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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.
