Kenneth Choi Battles Boss Over Shocking 9-1-1 Character Death: “Makes No Sense!”

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Episode 815 of ABC’s 9-1-1 titled “Lab Rats.”

Actor Kenneth Choi, one of the stars of ABC’s 9-1-1, has openly expressed his dismay following the unexpected demise of Peter Krause’s character, Captain Bobby Nash, who has been a cornerstone of this first responder series for eight seasons.

In a detailed conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Choi, who portrays Chimney on the show, shared his intense emotional journey regarding this narrative twist. He admitted to having intense disagreements with showrunner Tim Minear over the decision and described experiencing a “stages of grief” process, both personally and professionally.

“The emotional impact was overwhelming,” he recounted. “I found myself crying uncontrollably. I was laughing at the absurdity of my reaction, thinking, ‘It’s just a show, why am I so upset?’ But it truly hit me hard.”

Initially, when Minear first informed Choi of the fate planned for Captain Nash, Choi thought it was a joke.

“As he continued, I went through denial and disbelief,” Choi explained. “It felt like we were losing the patriarch of our team. Even after Minear explained his creative reasons, I resisted. I kept hoping they might change their minds, especially as we approached filming the funeral scenes.”

However, the storyline proceeded as planned. In a climactic scene from a two-part episode involving a hazardous lab leak, Captain Nash makes a heroic decision. He saves Chim by giving him the last dose of an antidote needed to combat the virus they were exposed to, all while concealing his own fatal infection. Nash’s ultimate sacrifice comes when he seals the lab doors, trapping himself inside to prevent the virus from spreading further.

“Peter probably didn’t see his character ending this way, but he understood the narrative potential,” Choi noted, reflecting on conversations that echoed what Minear told Deadline. “As a captain and a father figure to a tight-knit group of firefighters, his final act was true to his role—always putting others’ lives before his own.”

Looking forward, Choi hinted at the emotional fallout within the team: “With the team’s leader gone, we’re somewhat lost. We’ll continue to respond to calls and do our jobs, but there’s a lingering heaviness that affects us every step of the way, every time we respond to a crisis or even just step into the firehouse. The loss remains ever-present.”

These sentiments are among the many tributes to Krause from the cast, including words from co-star Aisha Hinds.

9-1-1 is set to return on May 1 on ABC. The upcoming episode “The Last Alarm” will likely feature a poignant funeral procession, where Athena (played by Angela Bassett) and the team grapple with their profound grief.