Oliver Stark: I think there are some really great Buck and Eddie moments. I don't know if they are the moments that Buddie fans will rejoice over or not. I try my best not to think "yes or no" if people are going to like it. I just want the moments to play out as they should play out, and then it's the audience's to do what they want with it. But there are definitely some really great moments, whether it be an action moment or reconciliation. I'm looking forward to watching those moments, and I hope fans enjoy them too.
Stark’s answer sets up a hopeful future for Buck and Eddie in 9-1-1, platonic or otherwise. The tensions that flew and led to Buck and Eddie’s fight in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 17 will likely be confronted and resolved, along with the lingering mystery of whether Eddie and Christopher (Gavin McHugh) will move home or go back to El Paso. If the pair part again, the separation will be on good terms.
Yet, considering Stark mentions “an action moment” between the pair, it’s safe to assume that Eddie will jump in to assist in 9-1-1 season 8’s final emergency. Working alongside Buck could remind Eddie of what he loved about the 118, swaying his decision and potentially convincing him to stay. Even if he chooses Texas, however, Eddie and Buck’s friendship will be stronger than ever after all they’ve gone through in 9-1-1 season 8.
After Peter Krause’s shocking exit, there’s no predicting what’s next for 9-1-1. Nevertheless, the storyline between Buck and Eddie has been rich in subtext throughout season 8 and points towards a potential romance. Moments like Buck’s ex admitting he always viewed Eddie as “competition” and Maddie flat-out asking if he’s in love with Eddie don’t just have romantic undertones; it’s so blatant, it feels like the set-up for an inevitable slow-burn romance. If Buck and Eddie stay perpetually platonic, 9-1-1 season 8 will feel like an intentional and borderline cruel misdirect.
