9-1-1 Reveals Big Character Change In Season 10 Set Image
Athena is back in 9-1-1 season 10, but she looks different.
While there are still several weeks left before ABC's fall 2026 schedule kicks off, production has already started for the majority of its shows. As the summer break ends with the cast and crew returning on set for another cycle, viewers are treated to set content that gives them an idea of what to expect from their favorite series. That includes 9-1-1, which is entering a landmark year during the 2026-2027 TV season.
After spending its first few years on Fox and surviving its first cancellation, ABC found a major hit when it picked up Ryan Murphy's premier first-responder procedural. Despite the backlash that came from the unexpected death of Bobby, 9-1-1 survived season 9 and is now gearing up for its 10th cycle with a few major storylines expected to dominate the year. Most of them were set up during the tail end of season 8, such as Athena's evolution.
Digital Spy shared an image of Angela Bassett on the set of 9-1-1 season 10, offering the first look at the character for the new year. Noticeably, May and Harry's mom look different, as she isn't wearing her hair short, as she did for most of the series' run. She is also not sporting her police uniform, which is due to her finally getting promoted at the end of season 8. Check out the image below as reposted by @911TVNEWS on X:
Despite the persistent fan-led movement for ABC to bring back Peter Krause, 9-1-1 season 9 stuck with its decision to kill the character. It was arguably the trickiest time in the show's history — even worse than when it was canceled by Fox. At least at that point, Murphy and his team were backed by the show's loyal base. Surviving the backlash and entering season 10 is a testament to the project's enduring success, and hopefully, they do something great for this important milestone.
Admittedly, it is sad to see Athena's arc finally move forward without Bobby with her. It's curious if the cases that she tackles every week will be different now that she's already a detective. In the past, 9-1-1 was easily able to incorporate her into the 118's calls because she was usually on patrol. After being promoted, the project might find ways to use her differently, which could alter the way she fits into the ABC project's story.
On top of Athena, 9-1-1 season 10 has a lot going for it. Buck's story with Theo is one to watch, as it could start a new chapter in his life after his grueling time in season 8. Perhaps Murphy can finally listen to the fans and payoff the years of teasing a potential romance between him and Eddie. Elsewhere, it's also vital to see where 9-1-1 is taking its youngest characters — May, Harry, and Ravi.