Following the tragic death of Bobby Nash and Peter Krause’s exit in Season 8, 9-1-1 viewers began Season 9 worried about Athena Grant’s safety and Angela Bassett’s future on the series. In an unsettling echo of earlier events, we find ourselves concluding the season with the same anxieties!
Warning: Spoilers ahead for 9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 17.
9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 17, titled “I Got You Babe,” delivered an intense and harrowing hour, culminating in a truly shocking cliffhanger. The episode saw Buck (Oliver Stark) reconnect with his biological son, Theo, whose parents later perished in a devastating car crash. After the 118 aided a group of migrants the previous week, helping them to find stability, ICE conducted a raid on the hospital, transporting everyone to a detention facility for deportation. Then, in a stunning turn, after Detective Hooks (Josh Stamberg) persuaded Athena to join him on arrests related to the trafficking case, he SHOT HER just as the credits rolled.
Naturally, with only one episode remaining in 9-1-1 Season 9, fans are gripped by fear for Athena. So, will Athena die in 9-1-1 Season 9? And is Angela Bassett departing from 9-1-1? While we’ll ultimately have to wait for the finale, here’s everything we currently know regarding Athena’s 9-1-1 fate before the Season 9 conclusion.
Does Athena Perish on 9-1-1? A Breakdown of 9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 17’s Conclusion
In the final moments of “I Got You Babe,” Athena accompanied Hooks and a heavily armed SWAT team to a mansion to apprehend Nikolay Caster, his son, and several associates believed to be involved in the trafficking operation. They disabled security cameras, and as the team rounded up suspects, Athena and Hooks split off to locate Nikolay. Hooks opened his office door, entered with his gun drawn, and Athena followed. However, once she lost sight of him, Hooks yelled “gun,” fired his weapon twice, and killed Nikolay. When Athena reached them, she saw no weapon in Nikolay’s hand. Instead, she found a phone on the ground nearby and picked it up to investigate. As she turned to confront Hooks about his quick shot, he fired at her, and she collapsed. Just before the episode ended, we saw her eyes slowly open, but with Hooks in control, clearly intent on silencing her as he did Nikolay, her prognosis appears grim!
The shooting unfolded with such speed that it was difficult to pinpoint the exact bullet impact site. However, we know the shot was fired at extremely close range, and despite Athena wearing a bulletproof vest, a spray of blood erupted, suggesting the bullet indeed struck her. So, will Athena succumb to her injuries in 9-1-1‘s Season 9 finale?! The preview for the upcoming episode was undeniably distressing. It showed Eddie and Hen tending to Athena in an ambulance, Harry crying out in anguish upon seeing his mother, and reports of an active shooter at the hospital. It even hinted at Eddie being injured! (Tim Minear, please, give us a break!) But for now, let’s refocus on Athena…
When DECIDER spoke with co-creator and showrunner Tim Minear earlier this season, he hinted, “I’m genuinely excited for all the characters. I can’t reveal where we’re headed in the final three episodes, but I’m also both excited and apprehensive about what will unfold for Athena. I believe it will be an incredibly thrilling narrative.”
I reiterate my earlier sentiment from this season when Athena’s life hung in the balance in space: I, for one, cannot envision 9-1-1 eliminating another main character — particularly MS. ATHENA GRANT NASH — so soon after Bobby’s demise. To put viewers through that again? The 118? Athena’s children? It’s utterly fiendish. That said, I, along with many other fans, never imagined the show without Bobby. And Minear also expressed “great excitement” for the two-part Contagion-inspired episode that featured Bobby’s death. So, never say never! Nevertheless…
Is Angela Bassett Departing 9-1-1?
Minear recently shared with TV Fanatic that he’s “a bit superstitious about having an episode without [Athena] in it,” which hopefully suggests Bassett isn’t going anywhere. Fans (myself included) would absolutely revolt. The series serves as an incredible platform for Bassett’s talent, and Athena is a vital, intricate character who consistently achieves the impossible and truly shines in major emergency storylines.
As mentioned, we can hardly imagine putting fans and characters through such emotional turmoil again by killing off the show’s biggest star. Moreover, 9-1-1 secured a momentous Season 10 renewal from ABC, indicating there are undoubtedly more narratives to explore with all the main characters!
When discussing Season 10 with DECIDER, Minear revealed he already has story ideas in motion. “I’m initiating a storyline at the close of this season that will extend into the next. I’m quite enthusiastic about it!” he disclosed. The showrunner is likely referring to Buck and his son, a life-altering event with substantial potential for exploration in Season 10. So, hopefully, Athena makes a full recovery, the investigation concludes, and Bassett will be back in action when new episodes return! Stay tuned for further updates!
The 9-1-1 Season 9 finale is set to air Thursday, May 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.