Buddie brought me here: Confessions of a newly minted 9-1-1 superfan

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***POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR 9-1-1 SEASON 8, INCLUDING EPISODE 14***

Until recently, I hadn’t watched even a single episode of the show 9-1-1. Believe it or not, I had all the time to do so, as this popular drama series about emergency responders in Los Angeles – featuring firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and dispatchers – first debuted in 2018 and is now airing its eighth season on ABC.

It wasn’t until the last year that I discovered this show, and frankly, I hadn’t had much motivation to tune in. I tend to shy away from long-running series because there’s so much background information to absorb. To be honest, my attention span isn’t usually long enough for more than a handful of weekly shows each year. Moreover, as a family of healthcare professionals, I rarely find myself drawn towards medical dramas for leisure.

Before March of this year, my knowledge about the TV series “9-1-1” was quite minimal. I’d only heard three pieces of information about it: 1) it stars Angela Bassett, 2) her character (Sergeant Athena Grant) had performed a remarkable feat of landing a plane, and 3) there was an element involving a swarm of bees in the storyline. Now, even these snippets suggest the show is quite unusual, but I’ve since found out that its quirky nature — or simply being incredibly silly yet owning it — is what makes “9-1-1” so appealing.

Did this delightful oddity eventually spur me to take the call and see what this performance was about?

To be honest, it wasn’t until this year that I began watching 9-1-1, mainly due to a potential romantic relationship. More specifically, the possibility of such a relationship, often referred to as a “ship” in online fan communities, drew me into the series. However, my fondness for the show’s unique characteristics quickly developed after I watched several episodes.

In simpler terms, my interest in 9-1-1 grew due to an intense desire to unravel the mystery surrounding the two firefighters who were openly gay and were frequently discussed among people. My curiosity was so strong that I couldn’t help but want to know more about their story – a classic instance of not wanting to miss out on something exciting, if you understand what I mean.

To clarify, the ship being discussed is the popular duo consisting of Evan “Buck” Buckley (played by Oliver Stark) and Edmundo “Eddie” Diaz (portrayed by Ryan Guzman). These characters are not just colleagues but also best friends, partners at work, and in a sense, they share a parental role. Their relationship, often referred to as “Buddie,” has sparked much fan debate for approximately seven years, starting from Season 2 when Eddie was introduced by Ryan Guzman. Despite no romantic interaction or kiss on the show, fans continue to hope that their bond might develop into something more significant someday.

Last year, discussions about the TV series “Buddie” heated up significantly, a point I believe coincided with my initial discovery of the show. Fans of 9-1-1, particularly, would remember the crucial seventh season episode from April 2024 where Stark’s character shared a kiss with Tommy Kinard (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), the firefighter/helicopter pilot, in the fourth episode. This scene marked not only an important moment for the series but also served as confirmation of Buck’s long-speculated bisexuality and the 100th episode overall.

For Buck, this development in the traditionally narrow-minded realm of network programming was extraordinarily significant. It seemed like everyone was discussing it, which definitely piqued my interest. At that point, I wasn’t familiar with the show at all, but I was still delighted to discover that a network procedural had reached such a milestone by featuring one of its main characters in a groundbreaking way.

Typically, due to the constant stream of new content on TV, I hadn’t been regularly watching this specific show. Consequently, by the time the initial buzz about Buck and his bisexuality on 9-1-1 subsided last spring, any references to him or the series ceased appearing on my screen.

In the autumn, conversations about the TV show 9-1-1 temporarily reappeared in my system, triggered by the premiere of Season 8’s three episodes – a fact I discovered later was linked to the “bee-nado” incident and a subsequent emergency plane landing storyline. However, they soon vanished again.

To put it simply, I had completely forgotten about this series until early March, which happened to be when it resumed following a long winter break of almost four months. Without my knowledge, the mid-season finale had left Buck shocked after discovering that his friend was planning to relocate to Texas to be with his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh). Now that the season was back on air, it seemed that fans were anticipating that this revelation would lead to significant shifts in Buck and Eddie’s relationship.

My curiosity was sparked by all these theories – being a romance enthusiast, I always keep an eye out for potential romantic storylines in various media – however, since I wasn’t familiar with the show yet, I erroneously thought that Eddie was the person Buck kissed during his coming-out storyline last season, and this relocation to Texas was merely another hurdle in their blossoming relationship.

It came as quite a surprise when I found out, after doing a quick investigation, that Buck was not in fact involved with the firefighter everyone seemed to be pairing him with. Instead, it turned out that he had kissed another firefighter, someone I wasn’t even aware of, but he also maintained a close and interdependent relationship with his best friend.

Reflecting upon it now, I believe this is when I became utterly hooked on this series. Each fresh revelation about the relationship between Buck and Eddie was captivatingly intriguing, and there was an abundance of seven full seasons’ worth of content to delve into, not to mention the upcoming second half of Season 8. Generally, I steer clear of extended TV shows, but I found myself drawn in by the occasional glimpses of their interactions and rare one-on-one moments that hinted at a possible romantic connection.

As a cinephile, I must admit, I’ve often felt daunted by the prospect of diving into a series with extensive backstories. But with characters like Buck and Eddie, I found myself eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve into their pasts, rather than feeling overwhelmed.

Before “9-1-1” came back on March 6th, I recall messaging a friend about my growing fascination with Buddie: “I’m worried I’ve added another potential series to monitor through its weekly episode releases on social media.” At that point, I had no idea of watching the show properly – I didn’t even know where to find it online – but I did intend to keep up with the developments surrounding Buck-and-Eddie as new episodes were released.

Three short days after our conversation, I messaged my friend with this: “In unfortunate turn of events, I’ve found out the popular show about the gay firefighters is available to watch. This might not bode well for my self-control.

My friend raised an interesting point, questioning if what I was doing might truly be beneficial for me. In response, I stated that it could be debatable and only time would tell. With convenience at my fingertips, I chose to start watching the series from Season 4, specifically the season finale (Episode 14), a favorite among fans of Buck and Eddie’s relationship. As the last episode ended, Eddie was shot by a sniper during daylight, targeting firefighters (I understand, it’s unusual, but bear with me). The next episode begins with an incredibly dramatic scene featuring Buck frantically attempting to save Eddie’s life.

In every central character’s storyline on this series, there is an uncanny pattern where they manage to pull through even life-threatening situations, such as Eddie’s near-death experience in the same episode. However, before his release from the hospital, he leaves Buddie fans everywhere on edge with a few cryptic phrases directed at Buck.

Towards the final moments of the show, there’s a significant discussion known as “the will scene” by viewers. In this conversation, Eddie directly tells Buck that he has designated Buck as Christopher’s legal guardian in his will, should anything unfortunate befall Eddie. Notably, this arrangement was established following Eddie’s close brush with death the year before (a mine collapse occurred in Season 3 Episode 15).

I’ve been holding back on expressing this for a while, but I felt it was important that you understand your value – not just to me, but also to Christopher,” I shared with Buck. “It seems like you underestimate yourself, and I wanted to correct that misconception.” That simple, yet heartfelt conversation contained one of the most romantic moments in the show, without any attempt to make it so.

Certainly, this initial encounter with “9-1-1” was quite a significant one, making it an ideal choice. After all, there’s no more immersive way to plunge into the world of Buddy than by witnessing what could very well be their most crucial storyline yet.

As a devoted fan and movie reviewer, I delved deep into the captivating world of “Buddie” and sought out the episodes that truly defined its essence. Here’s my rundown of the must-watch episodes:

1. Season 2’s opener introduced us to Eddie, the charming newcomer, marking a memorable first encounter with our beloved character.
2. In seasons 7, episodes 4 and 5, Buck embarked on his journey of self-discovery, culminating in his poignant coming out moment.
3. The heartbreaking events of season 8’s episode 6 saw the end of Buck and Tommy’s relationship, a turning point not only for their characters but also serving as a catalyst for many viewers who recognized the start of Eddie’s awakening.
4. Lastly, season 6’s episode 11 presented an unforgettable scene where Buck, after being struck by lightning, experienced a powerful coma dream that left a lasting impact on all who witnessed it.

While delving into Buddie’s history brought me immense enjoyment, an unexpected event occurred during this research phase – I found myself eagerly anticipating each episode, regardless of whether it showcased significant advancements for Buck and Eddie. Amidst a balanced meal of Buddie-focused episodes, fan-written stories, and video compilations, my affection unexpectedly blossomed for the series _9-1-1_. I transitioned from a passive spectator observing a single narrative, to becoming an ardent admirer of _9-1-1_ in its entirety.

In roughly a month since becoming part of this fandom, I’ve managed to watch nearly 75% of the 120 episodes (admittedly not in any specific sequence). My interest in the series has grown beyond just Buck and Eddie; all characters have captured my heart. Watching an episode often leaves me teary-eyed, grinning, or a combination of both. I can’t help but discuss it at length with friends, making sure to keep them informed about any new developments.

Above all, I find it incredibly reassuring – perhaps an unusual sentiment for an emergency responder series, yet I firmly believe it. Within just a few weeks, 9-1-1 has undeniably made its way onto my list of favorite shows without a doubt.

Absolutely, even if “the two firefighters portrayed as gay” on the show don’t ultimately form a romantic relationship, or if Eddie’s character doesn’t turn out to be gay as many of us had anticipated, and both Buck and Eddie end up with different long-term partners instead, or if Buddie’s storyline doesn’t develop further, I will always appreciate that this fictional relationship introduced me to a series that holds such significance for me.

But seriously — please let Buck and Eddie kiss already!

The latest episodes from Season 8 of “9-1-1” air every Thursday at 8:00 PM Eastern Time on ABC, with streaming options available on Hulu or Disney+ the following day.

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2025-04-18 16:15