Fans have been hoping to see 9-1-1’s Evan “Buck” Buckley and Eddie Diaz turn their friendship into something more for years — and some fans think season 8 could be when their wishes come true.
The “Buddie” craze began in season 2 when Ryan Guzman, who portrays Eddie on the series, joined the Station 118 crew. The character was introduced to the soundtrack of “Whatta Man” by Salt-N-Pepa, as Buck (Oliver Stark) turned around in slow motion to set eyes on the (shirtless) newbie for the very first time. While there was some initial tension between them, they quickly became friends and have only grown closer as seasons progressed.
When 9-1-1 made its network swap from Fox to ABC in 2023, fans pointed out that the Buck and Eddie content increased significantly, causing some to speculate on whether a romantic story line for them was actually in the cards.
While Buck came out as bisexual in the 100th episode in season 7, Eddie still identifies as straight — but the hope for a romantic Buddie remains strong. Stark and Guzman, meanwhile, have weighed in on their beloved dynamic multiple times over the years.
Every Time 9-1-1’s Oliver Stark and Ryan Guzman Discussed a Potential Buck and Eddie Romance
“It works two ways, right? I definitely see that as a potential story,” Stark said during an April episode of the “I’ve Never Said This Before” podcast. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Eddie’s character. But then I also think you have to tread carefully because I don’t want to tell this story where [a] guy comes out and now all his male friends are like ‘Aw, so what, you got a crush on me?’ Like, I want to be careful of telling that story.”
He continued, “I get asked, ‘Will it happen?’ [all the time], not, ‘Do I want it to happen?’” he said. “But when people ask me, ‘Is it going to happen?’ I’m always like, ‘I don’t know. I don’t write the show.’ But as far as ‘Do I want it to?’ I also don’t know. Certainly, I’m open to it if that’s what [showrunner] Tim [Minear] decides [is] the most honest way to continue telling the story.”
Earlier this year, Guzman told Us Weekly exclusively that in his eyes, the “ultimate goal” is to keep the “connection” between Buck and Eddie as strong as it’s always been, especially now that Buck is navigating a new chapter of his life with his sexuality.
“Because now we’ve unveiled this new vulnerable side of Buck, and last season we got to unveil this new side, vulnerable side of Eddie,” Guzman told Us at the time. “So the connection is just that much more muy sympatico.”
Guzman added that he’s “here for” whatever the show does with the two characters, as long as they keep what makes the dynamic so special intact.
“Whatever happens between the characters happens, but I think the sanctity of that vulnerability is what needs to be kept, and the connection,” the actor explained. “Whatever happens with Buck finding if he wants to explore this route [with his sexuality] even further or not, that connection maintains itself.”
9-1-1 returns to ABC in March 2025. Keep scrolling for all the reasons fans think the rest of season 8 might be heading toward a Buck and Eddie romance:
The Jealousy Arc
Season 7’s “Buck, Bothered, Bewildered” will go down in 9-1-1 history as the episode Buck realized he’s queer. And while the hour ended with him sharing a passionate — and great kiss with Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), — the rest of the episode led some fans to believe Buck was actually realizing his romantic feelings for Eddie. After all, he spent most of his time vying for his best friend’s attention. (Example: lifting the heaviest weights he could find and risking injury just hoping to catch Eddie’s eyeline.)
“I think it’s almost a feeling of searching or uneasiness, not necessarily with Eddie, but within himself,” Stark explained to Us at the time of how things played out. “And it’s easier sometimes to put that onto somebody else than have to do the self-reflection and self-interrogation of, ‘Hey, what am I actually feeling here?’”
Stark noted that Buck’s “searching” ultimately manifests through his long-standing friendship with Eddie, but there was more going on beneath the surface.
“I think once you watch the episode, you actually realize it’s not necessarily that. He just doesn’t quite understand what he’s feeling,” he said. “And this jealousy [with Eddie] is the way that it manifests itself, but it’s not necessarily the root cause of his unease.”
While his relationship with Tommy ended up being quite a beautiful one for Buck, those moments of desperately needing Eddie’s affections haven’t left fans’ minds and serve as an important stepping stone for story points in season 8.
