9-1-1 hits ratings peak after shocking death episode: Reports

As 9-1-1 hits its season 8, episode 15, the rating of the show is at its peak, according to reports.

The episode reached 8.5 million views within just a week after its release, as reported by The Wrap. On NBC alone, it attracted 5.64 million viewers. Not only this, the episode's rating has hit a 5-month high according to TV Insider.

This is because the episode features a pivotal moment of the death of Captain Bobby Nash, portrayed by Peter Krause, who sacrifices himself to save others. This marked a major turning point in 9-1-1. Tim Minera, the creator of the show, added that the decision was made to reflect the reality of the lives of first responders and add an emotional depth to the narrative.

Bobby Nash was one of the central characters in 9-1-1, serving as the Captain of Los Angeles Fire Station 118. It was not just a job for him, as he shared an emotional past with the work.

Read on to know more about the character and what it means for the show.

Here is why 9-1-1 ratings hit the skies after its season 8, episode 15

The recent 9-1-1 episode that aired on April 17 delivered a significant ratings surge. After seven days of viewing across platforms—ABC broadcast, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and digital—the episode drew 8.45 million total viewers and scored a 1.74 rating among adults 18-49, a key demographic for TV advertisers, which is also 2 % up from the previous episode.

Tim, while speaking with The Wrap, stated that it was purely a creative call.

"Bobby is the most impactful character to kill … it made sense on every level,” Minear said. “[The show] needed a major character death for the audience to feel that there were real stakes in any of these cases … Next season, when our characters are in a precarious situation, you might be gripping the arms of your chair a little bit tighter.

This development has indeed set the stage for a potential leadership change at Firehouse 118. Krause, who played Bobby Nash, acknowledges the loss fans are feeling, according to a report by Variety. He said that the character, after being part of the show for 8 seasons, deserved this heroic death.

"Bobby Nash was written in sacrifice, and he was built for this. First responders risk their lives on the job so that others can see another day."

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Episode 16 of 9-1-1, which is about to drop on May 1, 2025, will feature Bobby Nash's funeral and the department grieving his death.

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