10 9-1-1 Scenes That Don’t Make Sense If Buddie Aren't Going To Be Endgame
The potential pairing— also known as “Buddie”— is highly divisive, but there’s no denying that Buck and Eddie would be one of the most important couples in the 9-1-1 franchise. The characters have been treated like a package deal since the season 2 premiere, but the past seven seasons of 9-1-1 have consistently blurred the lines between platonic and romantic.
The Elf Mistaking Buddie For A Couple
Season 2, Episode 10
At its core, 9-1-1 is about a found family, including Station 118 and their loved ones— yet, Buck’s role in Eddie’s life goes far beyond workplace camaraderie. Soon after joining the 118, Eddie introduced Buck to his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh). The trio immediately clicked, leading Buck to join Eddie and Chris during their season 2 visit to Santa’s Village.
After Eddie and Chris walk away, one of the elves compliments Buck, saying “you two have an adorable son.” Rather than laugh it off or correct her, Buck hesitates for a moment before thanking her. Considering this interaction occurred mere months after Eddie’s introduction, Buck being confused for Christopher’s second father felt more significant than a one-off joke.
The Grocery Store Fight
Season 3, Episode 5
The idea of Buck and Eddie’s dynamic feeling like an old married couple carried over to 9-1-1 season 3, during the storyline that many refer to as Buddie’s “divorce” arc. Following Buck’s gruesome injury in the 9-1-1 season 2 finale, he contemplated filing a lawsuit. Though he quickly settles, there’s bad blood between Buck and the 118.
The tension boils over when Eddie— who, in the wake of losing his ex-wife and nearly his son, was consumed by rage— decides to confront Buck. In one of the most pivotal Buck and Eddie fights in 9-1-1, the latter calls Buck out for abandoning him and Christopher, with the scene reading like someone bitterly arguing with an ex.
The Kitchen Scene
Season 3, Episode 9
Luckily, the pair quickly reconcile, and the lawsuit fades into oblivion. After making up, Buck and Eddie share a beer and talk about their fight at the grocery store, but the phrasing and tone of lines like “I’d still take you” and “You wanna go for the title?” feel overtly flirtatious. Buck even grips his belt before the scene changes.
How The 118 Treated Buck During The Well Collapse
Season 3, Episode 15
As two of the biggest characters in the main cast, Buck and Eddie were no strangers to 9-1-1’s traumatic near-death experiences, as evidenced by the “Eddie Begins” disaster. After Eddie cuts his safety rope to rescue a child from an underground well, a nearby explosion causes the wet earth to collapse, leaving him trapped with no escape route.
Immediately, Buck begins clawing into the dirt and screaming Eddie’s name, but Bobby (Peter Krause) pulls him away from the scene. As Buck begins almost hysterically pleading for the team to dig Eddie out, his coworkers begin to treat him with spouse gloves, placating him more than anything. While other firefighters could detach themselves, Buck was too personally invested.
Good Cop/Bad Cop Parenting
Season 4, Episode 10
In perfect unison, Buck and Eddie answer “no,” and the rest of the 118 look at them incredulously. Whether it was intentionally calling them co-parents or meant to be humorous, the scene proves that Buck goes far beyond a coworker or typical friend, especially when it comes to Christopher. As many fans have coined, they function as the “Buckley-Diaz” family.
Eddie’s Priorities After Getting Shot
Season 4, Episode 13
Only one season after his dramatic well collapse, Eddie faces another trauma in one of 9-1-1’s best episodes. There are typical absurd emergencies, but everything comes to a head in the closing of season 4’s penultimate episode, when Eddie is shot by a sniper, leaving Buck soaked in blood. Stark’s haunting performance makes it one of 9-1-1’s most chilling scenes.
The action picks up at the start of 9-1-1 season 4’s finale, when Buck crawls to Eddie’s body and drags him to a nearby engine. On the frantic ride to the hospital, Buck says the usual “stay with me” variants, but Eddie’s only line is to ask if Buck is hurt. Deep down, Eddie’s concern for Buck outweighs his self-preservation.
The Will Reveal
Season 4, Episode 14
The jarring, fast-paced opening gives way to a silent, almost frozen-in-time shot of Buck outside the hospital. The rest of the episode builds on his complicated feelings, culminating in the conversation he has after Eddie wakes up from surgery. In one of 9-1-1’s most heartwarming moments, Eddie reveals to Buck that he is Christopher’s de facto guardian if Eddie dies.
From the way Eddie uses Buck’s legal name to address him (“Because, Evan…”) to the fact that Eddie added Buck to his will a year after meeting him, the conversation is monumental for their relationship. Their playful banter is entertaining, but the will reveal essentially communicates that Eddie wants Buck in his life (and his family) forever.
Poker Night
Season 6, Episode 13
Of course, Buck’s near-death experiences add depth to his relationship with Eddie as well. After being struck by lightning, Buck’s coma dream in 9-1-1 season 6 created one of the most emotional episodes in the show’s history. In fact, “In Another Life” is one of the few times Eddie has ever cried in 9-1-1. Though Buck recovers, Eddie doesn’t forget.
The Bachelor Party
Season 7, Episode 6
Even when Buck and Eddie were dating other people, their connection always seemed stronger. After Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) proposed to Chimney, Buck embraced him as his future brother-in-law, even planning his bachelor party. Their mutual friends and Buck’s ex-partner, Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), show up, but everyone besides Eddie quickly bails.
Maddie and Chimney’s wedding in 9-1-1 was a comedy of errors itself, but the best part of the season 7 episode was how, despite having just as many obligations as the rest of the missing partygoers, Eddie stays by Buck’s side all night long, fully committing to his 80s theme. The two even wear matching outfits, ironically superseding Buck’s boyfriend.
Maddie Suggests Buck Has Feelings For Eddie
Season 8, Episode 11
Yet, the most egregious scene happened when Buck visits Maddie. As Buck rants about Tommy’s assertion that Eddie got in the way of their relationship, Maddie calmly asks if Buck is actually in love with Eddie, insisting it wouldn’t be an absurd conclusion. If 9-1-1 doesn’t return to the Buddie bait it set, many scenes will be rendered totally useless.
