Oliver Stark and the rest of the 9-1-1 cast are still adjusting to life on set without Peter Krause — but are proud of the work they’ve done in the wake of their costar’s shocking exit.

“We’ve been up and down on this ride for a time now. But I’m really happy with everything that season 8 turned out to be,” Stark, 33, exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of the season 8 finale. “I think everybody’s really proud of it.”

The beloved ABC procedural left fans reeling with its decision to kill off Krause’s Captain Bobby Nash earlier this season, when the beloved character secretly contracted a deadly virus. With only one anecdote available, Bobby chose to keep his own symptoms a secret so that fellow firefighter Chimney (Kenneth Choi) could survive.

The episodes that followed saw fire station 118 reuniting to honor their longtime leader. As the characters mourned the loss of Bobby on screen, the actors were busy saying goodbye to their IRL friend Krause behind the scenes.

While speaking to Us, Stark recalled one emotional day with Krause when the duo, alongside Choi and costar Aisha Hinds (who plays Hen), had a quiet moment together as the original core four firefighters featured since season 1. (Series regulars Ryan Guzman, who portrays Eddie, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, who plays Maddie, both joined the cast in season 2.)

‘We [had] just finished and I went to take my makeup off, or whatever, and Aisha went to get changed. And it just so happened that myself, Kenny, Aisha and Peter were all coming out of our trailers at the same time,” Stark shared. “Ryan wasn’t working that day and [our other costar] Anirudh [Pisharody] was with us and he had left, so it was just the four of us who were the four that started in the 118.  And we hadn’t realized, because the schedule is so hectic and stuff is moving. And Peter said to us, ‘Do you realize that was our last emergency, the four of us?’ And we just had a moment. We all embraced, we all cried a little bit and just said, ‘You know, this was a really cool ride we took together.’”

Here, Stark speaks more about his final days with Krause, what the future holds for season 9 of the hit series and reflects on what portraying a bisexual character on network TV means to him:

Us Weekly: Congratulations on such an amazing season and what a ride it’s been.

Oliver Stark: We’ve been up and down on this ride for a time now. But no, I’m really happy with everything that season 8 turned out to be. So I think everybody’s really proud of it. Really proud of it.

Us: And so many twists and turns, especially with this shocking death. I mean, when you were all at the table read, what was that moment like? Was it just silence, like, “I can’t believe this is actually happening?”

OS: So our show most certainly does not do table reads.

Us: Oh, OK.

OS: But I’m sure that would be the vibe, right? So we were called individually by our showrunner [Tim Minear] and he kind of said, “Listen, I’m gonna kill Bobby.” And I think everybody had differing reactions. I think some of us responded with a loud, “What do you mean?!” I fell to silence. I was pretty stunned by it, and it’s a big swing. Big change for the show.

Us: What was your first conversation with Peter like then after that?

OS:  I hadn’t seen him [for], like, a week beforehand. I can’t remember what the episode that we shot before was, but we were quite segmented. Then I also didn’t see him for maybe another week afterwards. And in a group text, myself and Aisha [Hinds] reached out and said, “So, um, dot, dot, dot.” And he just said, “Let’s talk when we see each other in person.” And you know, we had a nice embrace. I said, “You good? You OK with it?” And he said, “Absolutely.” You know, this what happens. And he’s doing great. I thank him for all the time that I’ve spent with him over the years and all the things I’ve taken from him. Lessons learned. And I look forward to continuing the friendship, of course,that I know will continue.

Us: Has it hit you yet though?

OS: Yes. I think it has because we’ve made three or four episodes since. [Peter has] popped into them, episodes 16 and 17. He makes an appearance, but it’s not the intensity of which we would usually see each other. You know, I say it’s hit me, [but] I think it will probably hit me again when we come back for season 9. When it’s like, “Oh, he’s not here. He doesn’t come here anymore.” I think that’s when it will maybe really settle in.

Us: Because it feels permanent now, different now.

OS: Exactly. Exactly.

Us: As an actor, does it make you nervous knowing that they killed off such a beloved character? Obviously, your character is like that, too. So now, going into season 9, are you like, “Wait a wait a minute, what’s behind the corner here?”

OS: I think it’s good to not be too complacent. We should always wonder if we can be doing more or working harder. So it doesn’t make me consciously nervous, but it is a new thing that the show has now opened. So make sure you turn up on time. Get your mark, know your lines. [laughs] I’m not screwing this one up, you know?

Us: Seriously! Before Bobby dies, he tells Buck, “They’re going to need you.” Is that a phrase that’s going to stick in his brain now going forward?

OS: Yeah, I think so. I think he feels like this was his dying wish, as it were. He’s charged Buck with this task, and he was such an instrumental character to 118. And [having] such a strong foundation that removing him has resulted in everybody kind of falling away from each other. I think Buck is going to take it very seriously — that I’m the one that has to do some work to bring everybody back together.

Us: Do you think that he’s ready for the responsibility [of captain] now that Hen kind of turned down the position?

OS: I don’t think Buck is trying to make any move in the sense of professionally being the figurehead. He’s not trying to be the captain. But I think more just in a personal sense. And in actual fact, it’s not gonna be a thing that is only on Buck’s shoulders. This is a family and everybody is gonna step up and play their own role in re-tethering everybody back together.

Us: When you read the script and you saw how well Buck initially took the news, at the funeral and saying, “I went to therapy, I’m OK.” What was your kind of reaction to that?

OS: Well, I don’t think it’s so much, “I went to therapy. I’m OK.” I think it’s more — you are right, that is kind of how it is said — [but] the way that I took it is, we handle grief differently, right? And it comes in waves. And the other thing is, in real life, if somebody close to you dies, it doesn’t necessarily mean that life stops around you. There are still things you have to do. There are things you have to handle. And I think that’s what Buck saw getting through the funeral service [to be]. Like, this is our duty. And we owe this to him as our captain to turn up and be on. It’s fun finding the little moments of the emotion breaking through, but then it’s like, “No, but we are here to play the part as kind of dutiful firefighter.” So I actually really enjoyed the more stoic approach.

Us: Is that challenging, for you as an actor to kind of balance both all those different emotions?

OS: Exciting.

Us: Exciting, isn’t it? Yeah. That’s probably a better word.

OS: You want the complex things and to be able to find those little moments, and this is a show that is a network procedural but it has always given us these opportunities to play complex things and to feel more than one thing at the same time, which is obviously what we as real people do. So it’s nice to get to infuse that into the characters as well.

Us: Out of all the seasons, what’s been your favorite arc for Buck?

OS: I think for many reasons, season 7. We played this coming out arc for Buck, and then he uncovered this new side of himself that has always been there, but he didn’t quite understand yet. It was fun for me to play through. But I think in a grander sense it had a really high importance and meaning for people. It was a real kind of gift to me as an actor, to be a part of that.

Us: I’m sure you probably almost felt a responsibility to play this character the correct way, which you do so beautifully. A lot on your shoulders too, in a sense, maybe.

OS: Absolutely. I think the key for me was to really try my best to not feel that though … I don’t want to get in my head. And I also didn’t want to, I don’t know, place more importance on myself. In the sense that if I just play this as honestly and as authentically as possible, then that’s real representation, you know? That will speak to more people and they’ll be able to see themselves in the journey rather than self-nominating myself as some spokesperson or representative instead. Just play the character and let the character be what he is to people. Let them relate on their own rather than me placing that kind of importance upon myself.

Us: I’m sure you have so many people reaching out to you though.

OS: Definitely. It’s, it’s been lovely. All kinds of different messages, you know, even as specific as firefighters saying, “I’m a firefighter and I came out later in life.” Or, “I’m a firefighter and I’m still in the closet.” And it was really amazing for me to see that. It was very overwhelming at the time in the most beautiful sense. It just made me know that we were doing something right.

Us: Do you want to explore that side of Buck more in the future down the line when it comes to dating?

OS: Yeah, absolutely. And I think one of the things that the show is really keen on doing moving forward is — the character is bisexual, right? And being clear in that we’ve not said this is now a gay character. Really giving true bisexual representation, I hope, is something that we lean into in the future.  And show how all encompassing that can be and just what it means to Buck.

Us: People have always been asked about Buck and Eddie time and time again. We won’t kind of go down there, but do you feel like there should be, or will be, a deeper exploration between their friendship possibly further into the future? Do you think that’s necessary? Or do you think that Buck’s initial denial to Maddie is sufficient?

OS: Yeah. The kind of personal story lines got a little bit derailed by the death of Bobby.

Us: Of course.

OS: When something like that happens, everything else kind of falls by the wayside. So I don’t know if that will come back. I don’t think Buck is lying in the show when he says, “No, that’s my best friend.” I don’t think he’s intentionally lying or trying to hide anything. I don’t know if that will play again in the show. Eddie is, as we’ve seen thus far at the very least, been a straight character. So I don’t know what else there is to explore, but that’s not my job!

Us: Not your job to do that! But we couldn’t help but notice that Eddie and Chris end episode 17 on Buck’s couch. Are you aware of this Couch Theory that goes around. Do you pay attention to things like that?

OS: I am aware of it. I wouldn’t say I pay attention. I think there’s a fine line between the two. It’s out there, but I do think it’s great that people theorize so much and infuse so much love into the show. I take it as a compliment.

Us: Totally. People are fully invested week after week. Last episode, Eddie accuses Buck of being selfish. What was your reaction to that?

OS: I don’t think Buck is actually being particularly selfish in that episode. But I do understand it from the point of view of, [Eddie] has certainly been [selfish] before. And so I think Eddie is almost dealing with PTSD. His experience is, this is how Buck usually reacts. So there’s almost an assumption that Buck is making it about himself again. And add in the high emotions of grief and everybody’s settling back in and his son is in Texas and he’s bringing his son out. There’s just a lot going on for these characters. Everything is heightened. I think a clashing of heads is inevitable and there’s just so many things. So many emotions.

Us: Totally. And I know that Buck has a heart to heart with Eddie’s aunt. What do you think he’s gonna kind of take away from that conversation and how will he implement that in the future?

OS: You know, I think she says something like, “Change is inevitable.” And this is a theme that has maybe come up for Buck a few times in the past. I mean, obviously the losing of Bobby, that you can’t stop and that you have to find a way to just accept it ad grow from it. And I do think that that is what the show is doing with Buck here. There’s an opportunity, unfortunately through the death of Bobby, to mature Buck and have him move into Buck 4.0. Or wherever we are now. So we’ll see what that iteration looks like, but I do think it’s a push in that direction.

Us: What was it like shooting with Peter on that final day?

OS: Emotional. Well, I’ll tell you actually, that the death day was emotional.

Us: Is that what you guys called it on set?

OS: I’m glad we didn’t. [laughs] I feel like that would’ve been insensitive, but we actually shot the preceding episode after the death episode.

Us:  So it wasn’t goodbye yet.

OS: No. Because the next day we just had a regular scene, but there was actually a really lovely moment on my last day with him, where we just finished and I went to take my makeup off, or whatever, and Aisha went to get changed. And it just so happened that myself, Kenny, Aisha and Peter were all coming out of our trailers at the same time. Ryan wasn’t working that day and Anirudh [Pisharody] was with us and he had left, so it was just the four of us who were the four that started in the 118. And we hadn’t realized, because the schedule is so hectic and stuff is moving. And Peter said to us, “Do you realize that was our last emergency, the four of us?” And we just had a moment. We all embraced, we all cried a little bit and just said, “You know, this was a really cool ride we took together.” I’m gonna cry right now! I was getting a little emotional. Alright, next question!

Us: Did Peter take anything from the set? Did you give him any parting gifts or anything like  that?

OS: I hope he did. I don’t know what he took, but I hope he took some stuff on his way out.

Us: Definitely. Well, we have a big finale.

OS: Yes.

Us: How would you sum up this finale? I know you obviously can’t tell us what happened, but what can you tease? How would you describe it in three words?

OS: So I might give you more than three words. [laughs]

Us: OK!

OS: Yeah. So episode 17 ended [with] this big explosion in the laundry room, and we’re just gonna kind of be dealing with the fallout of that. This big building collapses and we get to see the 118 partnered off in different directions. Some are trapped in different areas and we basically struggle to get back to each other, but also save everybody that they can along the way. Then, typical 9-1-1, hopefully end in some kind of nice, hopeful place.

Us: I feel like we can’t deal with any more heartbreak.

OS: Well, unfortunately, it just keeps on coming.

Us: The hits keep coming. How do you kind of foresee things going as we enter season 9?

OS: I really genuinely don’t know. I’m excited to see what it looks like, whether a Hen or a Chimney becomes captain, or if they bring somebody new in —which in itself can throw up some new dynamics. I don’t really want to speak too much on it, because I just don’t know. And I’m really excited to see what this next version of the show, this kind of new era that it will have to step into, shapes out to be.

Us: Definitely. And when it’s time for you to say goodbye to 9-1-1, do you feel like Buck is always going to stay with you? Do you feel like it’s going to be a hard person to kind of  separate from?

OS: Absolutely. I think anytime you spend this amount of time playing a character, the lines become blurred in certain senses. I mean, the hardest thing will be for me — and I think with anybody leaving the show — would be the personal connections that we’ve built over the years. And you see these people more than you see anybody else in your life.  And to go from that level of intensity to then, maybe nothing, is gonna be difficult. Well, not nothing, because obviously we’ll stay in contact and we’ll see each other. But not to the same level that you do when you’re working. That will certainly be the hardest thing, not seeing the family that we’ve created.

Us: Well, I don’t think we’re stopping anytime soon!

OS: I’ll take it. I hope so.

Us: Well Oliver, thank you so much for stopping by. Congratulations on such a phenomenal season. And hopefully, like you said, you can spare us the tissues for this upcoming finale.

OS: Well, you can use them. You’ll finish the box.