“9-1-1”'s Peter Krause breaks down season 7 finale, Bobby's coma, and season 8 hopes

"I didn't want to have that kind of coma," the actor says with a laugh. "I wanted to have the kind of coma where I could be in bed without a tube in my mouth."

Bobby may have survived his coma, but he's lost his job.

The 9-1-1 season 7 finale ended with Peter Krause's firefighter character making a full recovery after falling into a coma in the wake of rescuing his wife, Athena (Angela Bassett), from their burning home. It was complicated for 118 at home — Eddie (Ryan Guzman) and Buck (Oliver Stark) couldn't keep Christopher (Gavin McHugh) from moving to Texas with his grandparents, while Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) had to take over fostering Hen's (Aisha Hinds) potential daughter. Yet as the episode closed, things were looking up at the firehouse...until former 118 captain Vincent Gerrard (Brian Thompson) revealed that Bobby had resigned weeks earlier and he was assigned to fill the "leadership void."

That leaves the potential for a lot of drama when the ABC series returns for season 8. But Krause tells Entertainment Weekly that he's actually hoping for a little comedy when 9-1-1 resumes.

With Bobby and Athena's house burnt down, "I think we might see them stuck in an apartment or hotel together, figuring out what they're going to do for a new home," says the actor. "I really enjoy all the work I get to do with Angela, particularly the romantic comedy that we got to do in the beginning of the season [before their honeymoon cruise turned into a disaster]. And I think that there is a recipe for them once again to be in a small space with each other."

Krause breaks down the season 7 drama, where Bobby leaves things with Amir (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), and his other pitches for season 8.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How does it feel to be wrapping up the season?

PETER KRAUSE: Definitely the final day of school. It was a tremendous 10-episode arc, starting with romantic comedy and then ending with deep emotional relationship work and fires and trying to make amends and washes of guilt over the past. We went on a journey this season. It's bittersweet. But it definitely also feels like the last day of school – it was a lot of work this year.

At least this last episode, you got to spend most of it in bed. What went through your head when they told you Bobby would be in a coma?

I didn't want to have that kind of coma. I wanted to have the kind of coma where I could be in bed without a tube in my mouth. [Laughs] It's a long time to play several scenes with a tube in your mouth laying still. The only upside is that you don't have any lines to remember. That said, I really enjoy the action work I get to do on the show, but the lying in bed is my favorite thing in the world.

The guilt and amends you mentioned are all tied to your scenes with Malcom-Jamal Warner's Amir. How was it working with him so much in this final arc of the season?

We had a really good time. I mean, we were standing in the shade of Joshua Tree together laughing, and then at the shake off, teasing each other before we do these scenes. He's a fantastic actor and wonderful guy, one of the most generous actors with whom I've ever had the pleasure of working. I hope I get to work with him again on another project. I said to him, "I'd love to do a real Western with you." Some sort of comedy Western would be a blast.

Related: 9-1-1's Ryan Guzman opens up about suicide attempt, urges men to seek help: 'Lean on your brother'

It had been a while since the show explored Bobby's guilt from the fire. Do you feel like he's reached a new place of closure now?

It might still weigh on him a little bit, but not as much. I think there is a certain type of closure. I think that Bobby accepts that he can't erase the past, that it is something he'll carry with him, but with as much grace as possible and he can continue in his life of service as a firefighter, and as a good husband. I also think that Bobby might become a little bit more involved in the AA world, and being of service to people who are struggling with [sobriety]. I think that would be an interesting storyline. That said, I certainly really enjoy all the work I get to do with Angela. I did pitch to [co-creator and showrunner Tim Minear] that maybe they'd go for another honeymoon in this time. Maybe it's an RV trip. What could go wrong?

Famous last words on 9-1-1.

Oh yeah.

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

9-1-1 season 8 is slated to premiere in fall 2024.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.