Oliver Stark and Ryan Guzman. Disney/Chris Willard
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.
“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.
Buck and Eddie Are Closer Than Ever
While seasons 5 and 6 were lighter on Buck and Eddie content, seasons 7 and 8 — after making the network swap from Fox to ABC — brought back the “Buddie” content in full force. The duo typically don’t go a single episode without sharing the screen in some capacity, with the show making a point to reserve time for their friendship. From getting mind-numbingly drunk together to celebrating Eddie’s son Christopher’s (Gavin McHugh) birthday, the duo are always sharing life experiences.
They Know Each Other Better Than Anyone
While Buck’s (now ex) boyfriend Tommy was there for him in season 8 episode 5 when he was convinced a mummy curse had caused him to develop boils all over his body — yes, that really happened — 9-1-1 made a point to have Eddie pop up alongside Tommy to help Buck in his time of crisis too. (No, like, literally every time.)
The episode, titled “Masks,” also highlighted just how well Eddie knows Buck. Eddie was the first person at the hospital to sit by Buck after he fell and dislocated his shoulder — even being the one to ask when Buck could safely return to work after his injury — and was the sole person who could calm Buck down about his supernatural worries. He even called Buck out for “picking” at his boils without so much as glancing his way.
Eddie Flirted With a Priest …
To be fair, Eddie proclaimed himself a “straight” man when he thought a priest (played by Gavin Stenhouse) was hitting on him in episode 7 of season 8. However, he quickly played into flirtatious banter when Father Brian called his mustache “handsome,” causing fans to spiral over the smiley exchange.
… And Is on a Journey to Find His ‘Joy’
Thanks to Father Brian, Eddie quickly realized that he needs to stop being hard on himself over Christopher’s absence and embrace his “joy.”
“It’s stepping outside of his comfort zone, allowing himself to feel uncomfortable and awkward and put himself in positions that he’d probably not want to be in previously and just taking on a new look at life, to be honest,” Guzman explained to Us earlier this year. “I mean, I think it’s really a retransmission in the mind before anything physical or or environmental happens around him.”
Guzman has also highlighted how Eddie carries a lot of “Catholic guilt” from his past and feels an obligation to take care of others, which keeps him from figuring out what he actually wants for himself.
“He’s coming from being in the army and having to take care of his regimen and literally being a medic, suturing people together, to going to the 118 and taking care of other individuals or taking care of his ex-wife [Shannon], and then she passes away and now [he has his] son to take care of — it’s always been about somebody else,” he explained. “It’s always been about responsibilities, and I know that from a personal standpoint, too many responsibilities can weigh heavy on the soul, and then it kind of kills that childlike behavior, that mentality.”
Does this mean Eddie’s journey will lead him to explore his sexuality? Entirely unknown, but certain fans are hoping to see those dots connected.
The Silent Couch Commiserating
An interesting exchange came in the sixth episode of season 8 when, after Eddie let loose and boogied down like Tom Cruise in Risky Business, Buck showed up at his doorstep reeling over his breakup with Tommy. There could be something said about Eddie opening the door — after seeing it was Buck — and deciding it was unnecessary to put pants on, but we digress. The true moment came when, without a word, Buck handed Eddie a beer and headed straight for his couch. The episode ended with the pair sitting in silence, with Eddie looking relaxed and Buck looking burdened.
While this might not immediately read like a significant moment between the two, it’s notable that the duo can show up for each other even without words.
“I think the dynamic between Buck and Eddie is really interesting this season because as we move on, they’re both going to be dealing with a lot, and to see the different ways that they deal with their struggles but how they can incorporate each other and their friendship and their bond and still be there for each other, even though they’re dealing with things in very, very different ways,” Stark told Us about the pair’s season 8 relationship earlier this year.
Stark called it a “testament” to Buck and Eddie’s friendship “that they can sit in a room in silence and know that they need support, but you don’t have to have a verbal answer. You don’t have to be able to say the right thing sometimes. You just need to be there. I think that’s a really beautiful sign of true connection and that’s something that we get to really embrace this season.”
There’s also the added elusive “couch theory,” a concept pointed out by fans over the past few seasons that signifies how Buck feels about a relationship. After a few failed romances, Buck decided he didn’t want to buy a couch as the last two he purchased “came with girlfriends. When Buck’s parents eventually bought him a replacement couch, Buck found it too uncomfortable and instead headed over to Eddie’s, subsequently falling asleep on his sofa, instead. This season, Buck and Eddie have had multiple of scenes on Eddie’s couch — with some fans seeing it as a hint there are deeper emotions there. When it comes to Eddie, Buck is all about the couch. Get it?
‘The Look’
During the season 8 midseason finale, Buck discovered that Eddie was making plans to move from L.A. to Texas in order to be closer to his son. Although Buck pretended to be excited for Eddie — and even offered to be his “wingman” while searching for homes — the audience became privy to Buck’s real feelings when Eddie turned away and Buck’s excitement turned to a look of deep concern.
That look, by the way, took place on Eddie’s sofa — “Let’s take this party to the couch!” Buck declared before his facade faded — leaving some fans to wonder what it all might mean. (You know, “couch theory” and all that.)
“There are fire alarms going off in his head right now. You can see it in Oliver’s performance, too,” showrunner Tim Minear told TV Line about Buck’s reaction to Eddie’s news. “As soon as Eddie turns his back, Buck looks like he’s been hit in the head with a baseball bat, and that will figure mightily when we come back.”
While the series left fans hanging on a three month hiatus, Minear told Decider that Buck will “be spinning like a top” when the show eventually returns in March.
