Are any other #Buddie fans feeling a little vindicated right about now?
For years, many of us have watched 9-1-1 and wondered why everyone wasn’t seeing what we were seeing between Buck (Oliver Stark) and Eddie (Ryan Guzman). Their connection runs deeper than mere co-workers or best friends; not only is Buck basically a second father to Eddie’s son, but the way they interact — from their passive-aggressive fights to their undeniable chemistry — has always been pretty coupley.
In the world of television, few dynamics have captivated audiences quite like the bond between Evan “Buck” Buckley and Edmundo “Eddie” Diaz on the hit series 9-1-1. Fans, affectionately dubbing the duo “Buddie,” have long speculated about the depth of their relationship. Recently, the show addressed these speculations, and Oliver Stark, who portrays Buck, shared his thoughts on this development.
Still, the concept of #Buddie has felt like something that existed only within the fandom, rather than something the characters were consciously aware of on screen. Sure, that Christmas elf mistook them as Christopher’s two dads back in Season 2, but no main characters have ever genuinely vocalized the possibility of a Buck-Eddie pairing. That is, until now. The March 20 episode found two characters in Buck’s orbit — his sister Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and ex-boyfriend Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.) — openly questioning Buck’s feelings for his out-of-town bestie. Maddie was a little more gentle, asking if it “would really be so crazy,” while Tommy took a more heavy handed approach, referring to Eddie as his “competition” for Buck. Either way, Stark says he never expected this to be discussed so openly.
“I was a little surprised by how head-on we wanted to face it,” Stark tells TVLine. “Mostly surprised in the sense of wanting to tread carefully. You don’t want to upset anyone, and you don’t want to lead anyone on in the wrong direction. I’ve really learned to just trust in the writing of this show. Tim [Minear] is a master of what he does, and I place my fate — or Buck’s fate — in his hands. If he thinks it’s best to confront it head-on, then I do too.” Buck was adamant, both to Maddie and Tommy, that he’s not in love with Eddie, despite “everyone” wanting him to be hopelessly pining for his straight best friend. So here’s my question: was “everyone” referring to the people in Buck’s life, or was it a nod to “everyone” watching at home?
“I couldn’t possibly comment,” Stark says with a laugh. “Maybe there was a nod to the audience in that. … It’s not like we’ve heard it from other characters on the show [before Maddie and Tommy].” The ‘Buddie’ phenomenon underscores the profound impact of storytelling and character development. As 9-1-1 continues to evolve, fans remain hopeful and engaged, eager to see where Buck and Eddie’s journey takes them next.
