Kicking off the new installment of the hit ABC firefighter procedural is a disaster of epic proportions, akin to the big-bang earthquakes, tsunamis and capsized cruise ships of seasons past. It’s an emblem of the show — one of the top primetime network series among the key demographic — that Buck’s Oliver Stark is absolutely here for.“I love that the show is not worried about staying too grounded in this beenado emergency,” he told Parade in a recent interview. “I love that it’s leaning into the ludicrous and the larger-than-life aspect. I don’t want the show to feel like a documentary. I love that it’s saying, ‘Let’s be big, let’s be fun, let’s be silly, let’s be entertaining.’”
I wanted to start with the big picture narrative first, which is, of course, beenado. The 118 has dealt with countless disasters, but as an actor, how do you prepare to act alongside something that’s not there?
Yeah, I think you just have to embrace the imagination aspect of it. We all get into these jobs in this industry because we like playing make-believe. It feels silly and it feels fun, and it should feel silly. We should be having a laugh while we’re doing these things.
There are some logistical aspects to work out, we’re all trying to work out if we’re looking in the same direction. And then we kind of realize, “Oh, there are so many bees. We can just assume they are, in fact, everywhere. So it doesn’t matter if you look in that direction, and I look at this one.” It’s a fun time and sometimes it does feel a little bit too ludicrous while we’re shooting it, but then we make fun of each other and we keep on going. Those are the aspects of the job that I really love and enjoy.
No one is a fan of Gerrard, but Buck in particular has trouble adjusting to this new reality. Why do you believe that particularly affects him, and how do you approach that new dynamic?
I think going back to Season 1, Buck was a character that took issue with having to take orders and having authoritative figures above him. And then the growth that we’ve seen him have throughout the years as he’s settled into his role in the 118, I think this is just testament to how much Bobby was crucial to that. And so now taking Bobby out of 118. You see how much of a rock Bobby Nash was to Buck. Without him, he’s regressed back into that kind of earlier version. And then when you add in the fact that Gerrard is the character that he is, and is as much of an arsehole as he is, I think that only moves Buck further in that direction where he wants to push back. This is not his 118; this is not his home. And I think the only way he really knows how to process and deal with that is to push back against it.
The end of last season saw Buck in a new relationship and new understanding of his identity. What can you tease about his arc, and how that might affect previously established dynamics, like with Eddie or his sister?
Buck and Tommy are obviously still in the early days in their relationship. You might call it almost a honeymoon phase. They’re still a little bit giddy and getting to know each other. But I’m excited for that to move into its next phase, which is, as you get to know each other, you sometimes learn uncomfortable truths about each other. And then, how do you process that? And do you decide to work through it? Do you decide to walk away from it? So there are definitely challenges up ahead, and it will be really interesting to see how that plays out and how Buck then leans on those other people that you mentioned—Eddie, Maddie and Bobby—and takes these concerns to them and tries to work out what this means for the possible future of that relationship.
There were lots of different emotions that I felt. It was very exciting, and it was very moving, and then very humbling in many ways, and then also, there were times where I felt almost undeserving of the praise, where I’m like, “Listen, I’m just playing a part.”
It’s weird to go through this roller coaster of emotions where you really want to be a part of things that are moving to people, and then that happens, and you’re like, “I hope we do it justice, and I hope we do it right.” And you start putting this pressure on yourself. The reaction was really, really beautiful and overwhelmingly positive in a way that I didn’t quite expect. I thought there would be more naysayers to it, or more people that lacked understanding. And I think it’s really cool. I think we’re [in] a relatively good place with regards to queer representation; there definitely is more. But I don’t think there’s a ton of strictly bisexual representation. So I think it is fun to have the opportunity to play that out and show people that aren’t necessarily hateful, but ignorant to it, what that can be and what that life can look like, and just what it means.
It was a lot of things all at once. But I’m really, really happy that we went in that direction, and I’m excited to continue exploring that story.
It was a lot of things all at once. But I’m really, really happy that we went in that direction, and I’m excited to continue exploring that story.
I think the immediate response from Buck is gonna be one of internal conflicts. “Did I mean to save him? Did I know what was happening there? Or was I reacting impulsively and trying to hurt him, even though it did end up having obviously a positive outcome?” I don’t think it’s gonna end up playing out quite the way it would if Gerrard was a normal individual. But him being the character that he is, it’s gonna move in some interesting ways and put Buck in some very uncomfortable positions, which I am all for. As the actor, it’s always fun to see Buck in difficult situations and get to play through those stuff. It’s gonna provide a lot of fun and difficult storylines for Buck and the rest of the 118, while Gerrard first recovers and then eventually, possibly returns.
I want to share that I’m really excited for this season. I love that the show is not worried about staying too grounded in this beenado emergency. I love that it’s leaning into the ludicrous and the larger-than-life aspect. I don’t want the show to feel like a documentary. I love that it’s saying, “Let’s be big, let’s be fun, let’s be silly, let’s be entertaining.” That’s what I want my television to be. I’m really excited for these episodes to come out. I think they’re a really great representation of what 9-1-1 can be. It’s epic, it’s dramatic, it’s funny, it’s moving. You’ll be on the edge of your seat.
