Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for 9-1-1 season 8.
Summary
Catastrophe, death, and destruction are always top of mind for the first responders who make up Ryan Murphy’s9-1-1, the popular procedural that premiered in 2018. SinceBobby Nash’s (Peter Krause) tragic and shocking deathin a recent episode, fans have been wondering how his 118 teammates are faring, and the next episode will show more of their journeys through grief and loss.
While every episode centers around one or two chaotic 9-1-1 calls along with some surprising and emotional storylines for the main characters, fans know that, at least a few times every season, there will be one big life-or-death event. The popular show’s upcoming episode features a plotline fans won’t want to miss. What is 9-1-1 season 8, episode 17 about, andwhere and when can fans watch it?
How To Watch 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 17, “Don’t Drink The Water”
9-1-1season 8, episode 17, “Don’t Drink The Water,” willair on Thursday May 8th, 2025 at 8 p.m. E.T. on ABC.New episodes of9-1-1stream the following day on Hulu. Viewers canstream the episode on Friday May 9th, 2025 on Hulu.
The official description for the episode reads:
“Following an earthquake, the 118 races to the scene of several unusual fires and must figure out their cause before anyone else is hurt.”
Likeevery newChicago Medepisode,9-1-1keeps up the intensity, even almost 8 seasons in. The past 16 episodes have included a bee-nado (a tornado of bees), Athena Grant (Angela Bassett) trying to land a plane before it crashes, and a fire at an animal shelter.The next episode will focus on an earthquake and a few fires,and, knowing the tone of9-1-1, there will likely be a few surprises by the end credits.
The aftermath of Bobby Nash’s death in9-1-1season 8, episode 15, “Lab Rats"is still being felt.9-1-1season 8, episode 14, “Sick Day"and “Lab Rats” made up a two-part event called “Contagion.” Bobby Nash and his team tried to stop a deadly virus from getting out of a lab, and he was infected in the process. Season 16, “The Last Alarm,” featured Bobby’s funeral, and his wife, Athena Grant, is understandably having a hard time adjusting to life without him. As9-1-1gets closer to the end of season 8, fans can expect the characters to keep processing the death of their mentor, friend, and in Athena’s case, romantic partner.
While it’s terrible to imaginethe Ryan Murphy serieswithout Bobby because he was such a strong-willed, smart, and likable character, that’s exactly why he was killed off. In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, showrunner Tim Minnear explained thata death needed to “have the maximum effect for every character story.“He also mentioned the saddest part of Bobby’s arc: the guilt he carries around. Bobby accidentally burned down an apartment building, a decision that killed his family along with many strangers, and he has tried to make up for it ever since.
Minnear said of this powerful storyline:
“He came to L.A. with a death wish, and then he learned to love life again. And then when he finally has to make the sacrifice, it’s not because he wants to go, it’s because it’s the thing he has to do. It is true redemption. So everything about it lined up.”
