Abby Clark returned on 9-1-1 after being written out by the end of season 1, with a brief appearance in season 3. She appears in the season 3 finale, which spans two episodes, providing the season's final closure.
Abby, played by Connie Britton, was a main character in Season 1 of 9-1-1. After her mother dies of Alzheimer's, she decides to leave her job in L.A. and take a trip to Ireland to heal. This is how the actress exited the show at that time, with hopes of returning in future episodes.
Read on to learn more about Abby's appearance in season 3.
Does Abby come back on 9-1-1?
The reason for her departure in season 1 was mainly logistical, as the actress Britton was originally only contracted for one season. She is shown going to Ireland for a trip after her mother passes away, suffering from Alzheimer's.
Abby came back because the writers realized only she could give closure to Buck's character. She, a 9-1-1 operator, is shown already engaged to someone upon her return. She witnesses a train derailment and calls for help from the emergency service, essentially the people she used to work with. They were surprised to hear from her, especially Buck.
Buck responds to the scene and comes face-to-face with Abby for the first time since she left. Their reunion is emotionally charged because Buck never got closure when she suddenly moved to Ireland. Abby reveals that she has moved on and is now engaged to someone else, while the man is the one trapped in the train wreck. Buck, along with the team, rescues him. This also forces Buck to confront his feelings for her. As a result, Abby thanks Buck for everything he has done for her during their time together, but also makes it clear that she is in a different place now.
This brings closure to Buck's romantic journey as he recognizes he needs to move on, which wasn't addressed after their sudden split in season 1.
What does Buck and Abby's reunion in season 3 of 9-1-1 mean?
In the season 3 scene, Buck encounters Abby and panics, witnessing her at the location where the accident happened. He assumes she was on the train, but then Abby bursts out with information about her fiancé stuck inside, showing them a photo of them together. This leaves Buck shaken for a while before they go on to save him.
Based on what has happened in the show, Abby's return is only meant for closure. She was never intended to be a regular character. Furthermore, their encounter in the scene was not meant for reconciliation or rekindling old feelings, but only to give Buck a reality check and encourage him to move forward with his life.
According to the latest information, there has been no confirmation about the return of the character Abby in the future or about exploring her storyline outside of the emergency service office. Still, the showrunners have left the door open, although her arc seems mostly resolved.