Did Buck on 911 Become Gay?

For a considerable duration of seven seasons, enthusiasts of 9-1-1 have been imploring the show's creators to explicitly affirm the queer-coded character, Evan 'Buck' Buckley, as gay - and to my utter astonishment, this long-awaited development has finally materialized.

In the fourth episode of season seven, titled 'Buck, Bothered and Bewildered,' the character experienced feelings of jealousy concerning Eddie Diaz's emerging friendship with Tommy Kinard. Subsequently, Buck realized by the episode's conclusion that his concern wasn't about Eddie's companionship but rather Tommy's affections, leading to an intimate kiss between the two.

Over the course of the past seven years, viewers have developed a deep affection for the character of Buck, portrayed by Oliver Stark, recognizing his inherent kindness and his readiness to act impulsively for those he cherishes. Many have also contended that the character has long exhibited queer coding—where a character's sexual orientation is subtly suggested through significant subtext rather than being directly stated—citing canonical instances from across the seven seasons as evidence for their assertions.

Reflecting on the earlier seasons, the introduction of Eddie Diaz to the 118 crew was presented from Buck's perspective, accompanied by the song 'Whatta Man' as a shirtless Eddie made a slow-motion appearance. Later within the same season, after the initial friction between Buck and Eddie had subsided into a robust camaraderie, the pair took Eddie's son, Chris, to visit Santa Claus. During this outing, Buck opted not to correct a Christmas elf who erroneously assumed Chris was the son of both Buck and Eddie.

During the third season, Buck's sister, Maddie, arranged a poker evening attended by her partner Chim, Buck, and Josh Russo from dispatch. After Josh playfully remarked that he'd think Maddie was setting them up if he "didn't know better," Maddie quipped that she would never arrange a match between Josh and her brother. Notably, no one at the table, including Buck himself, felt compelled to confirm or deny his heterosexual orientation.

In subsequent seasons, Buck's bond with Eddie deepened to such an extent that it was implied Buck could only find solace in Eddie's residence, having fallen asleep on his couch after confessing his inability to relax in his own. Furthermore, one cannot overlook Buck's connection with a gay couple encountered in season one during a tapeworm emergency. And who could possibly forget Buck's profound emotional resonance with the elderly gay man, Thomas, in the second season episode titled 'Buck, Actually'?

But why has this disclosure occurred now? Tim Minear has resumed his role as showrunner following the program's relocation to ABC, and it is evident that this transition has injected the show with a revitalized sense of dynamism and passion.

However, initiating a new season with an exceptionally dramatic emergency is one matter, but altering the narrative trajectory of a prominent character—whom former showrunner Kristen Reidel identified as the "center of the 9-1-1 wheel"—is an entirely different undertaking.

Tim has consistently acknowledged that the series is in perpetual evolution, and that significant transformations, for better or worse, are always a possibility for everyone, and it is undeniable to any genuine follower that Buck's character had, in numerous respects, become rather static. Buck's personal life has invariably constituted a fundamental element of his storyline, and for several seasons, the character has regrettably seemed to be engaged in the same "quest for self-discovery," searching for affection in unsuitable avenues and often giving of himself without receiving reciprocity.

Consequently, the choice to bestow upon Buck this novel character arc not only enhances his persona and opens up new narrative avenues but also provides Oliver Stark with an opportunity to explore a different facet of Buck's personality, while simultaneously offering LGBTQ+ audiences valuable representation and conveying crucial narratives about self-discovery later in life.

This also represents a significant milestone for television programming broadcast during prime hours. In my recollection of contemporary television series, I cannot recall another program that has featured a storyline of this nature for a male protagonist. While Buffy the Vampire Slayer explored similar territory with Willow upon her attendance at college and her encounter with Tara, and both Grey's Anatomy and Glee have presented comparable narratives for characters like Callie, and Brittany and Santana respectively, this instance for a male character on 9-1-1 is notably distinct.

Nevertheless, certain narrative choices have been implemented that arguably do a disservice to the viewership. Specifically, the decision to have Tommy and Buck continue their casual exchange following the kiss is questionable. While the act of Tommy unexpectedly kissing Buck in the loft serves dramatic purposes, my concern lies with the subsequent back-and-forth dialogue, which may diminish the kiss's overall impact and significance.

It might have been more impactful if Buck had experienced this pivotal realization through a conversation with a character more familiar to the audience, such as Maddie. Potentially, during their discussion about her own experiences with jealousy in friendships, Buck could have gained immediate insight into the underlying reasons for his feelings regarding Tommy and Eddie's connection.

Having this realization occur with a character whom both the audience and Buck are familiar with and trust would have imbued the moment with a gravitas that is currently absent.

In the past, I have voiced criticisms regarding the show's inconsistency in its storytelling. However, there were enjoyable and insightful references for long-term viewers, including nods to various instances of queer coding. An example of this includes the conversation between Maddie and Buck about Tommy in her home, which mirrored Buck's earlier enthusiastic descriptions of Eddie in season two, at which point Maddie had pointed out his apparent "boy crush."

For those of us who spend considerable time online, the most pressing question now will be: does this development pave the way for Buddie? Buck and Eddie's friendship, cultivated over the past six years, has been a central pillar for a substantial segment of the audience, and their close affinity has, at times, been perceived as queerbaiting—a marketing strategy wherein creators subtly suggest but do not explicitly portray LGBTQ+ representation—a claim that Tim has consistently refuted.

Oliver Stark shared with HELLO! that viewers would witness Buck "utilizing that support system and gaining a deeper understanding of those connections" he shares with the 118 team in episodes five and six. Furthermore, Eddie's reaction to Buck's revelation is something many will be observing with keen interest.

As a dedicated follower of this series for a considerable period, I genuinely never envisioned seeing Buck embraced as a queer character, which makes it rather imprudent to dismiss the possibility of Buddie becoming the ultimate romantic conclusion. This does not guarantee that it will occur—I am not privy to the writers' room deliberations—but I do surmise that Tommy currently serves primarily as a narrative device.

As for whether Buck will ultimately achieve his desired happy ending, that is a matter for Tim's discretion. However, after more than seven years, I sincerely hope that he does.