#like in ‘masks’ 8x05

[elysiumnotes]

So I’ve seen some speculation on here and TikTok that since s8 seems to be doing a lot of parallels and callbacks to Buck and Eddie’s greatest traumas (aka, The Well callback in 8x06 and 8x07’s promo showing what could be a callback to the lightning strike), we might see another callback to the shooting.

If that is the case, I want Buck to be the one that gets hit this time. No offense to him, but I do like adding angst to my fav characters.

Also other than a break up (which also wasn’t really that bad) he’s been sitting pretty and happy since s6, so he’s due for some trauma.

[lover-of-mine]

“Do not take ibuprofen by mouth or apply it to your skin if you have ever had an allergic reaction or symptoms like wheezing, runny nose or skin reactions after taking aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen.”

4x05 “Buck Begins” -> 6x11 “In Another Life” -> 8x05 “Masks”

Inspired by @stagefoureddiediaz and @bewitchedbewilderedbisexual

[9-1-1-polls]

Alright guys - it's 102 days until the second half of season 8 airs and I'm going to need your help with coming up with polls to fill the time! You can help in two ways:

Submit asks with poll ideas - can literally be anything. You don't even need to come up with the poll options! They can be episode or character related.

If you have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the show, I have a lot of half-written polls that I need help completing. If you can volunteer some time to look through my planning doc and make some suggestions for the options, send me an ask!

Thanks!!!!

[thestrangestthlng]

Buck x Tommy

Buck learning his life lessons and not just finding a love like that, but in fact making it.

| 9-1-1 | Buck, Actually 2x08 | & | Masks 8x05 |

[epicbuddieficrecs]

Weekly Recap | December 2nd-8th 2024

We're getting so close to the end of the year!!! I'm already starting to think about the end-of-the-year rec I'm gonna do! :P

Complete

stay a little longer by oceanofchaos/ @islandoforder (S8E8: Wannabes Coda, Pre-Buddie | 2K | General): “Okay, what’s next on the agenda today anyway?” asks Eddie, pulling Buck’s legal pad closer to him to look at the checklist. “Realtor, about to check that off, email the union, oh that’s a good idea, I always forget to talk to them, lunch? Really, you put lunch on the agenda? Sure, fine. Lawyer? What’s lawyer?” Suddenly, it is impossible to look at Eddie. Buck makes a grab for the notepad, and successfully regains it. - Episode tag to 8x08 Wannabes, where Buck thinks they might as well change the will officially, and he and Eddie argue about it

nursing our wounds by withmeornotatall/ @chronicowboy (S8E8: Wannabes, Hotshots Cameo | 2,8K | General): "Eddie, c'mon," cardboard nurse whines, practically draping himself over Eddie's back. "I didn't know they'd make me Nurse Number One." "Oh, I'm sure," Eddie scoffs, stuffing half a doughnut into his mouth at once. Casey likes him. "Hm," he hums and turns to his friend. "Not as good as yours." Cardboard nurse ducks his head and smiles, a pretty pink blush dusting his cheeks. Interesting. (OR: an exec witnesses the buckandeddie phenomenon and sees an opportunity for tv gold)

You wouldn't want it any other way by paleredheadinascifi (S8, Getting Together, Bitchy Eddie | 3K | Teen): “I’m not saying that he’s bitchy because he’s gay, I’m saying he’s bitchy,” Eddie retorts. “Like his soul is bitchy. He just also happens to be gay — it’s unrelated. I don’t think you should go. I don’t like him.” Or, Buck goes on a date with Josh. It's the worst day of Eddie's life.

we won't have a hard time (you can get what you want) by littleghost/ @ghostlandtoo (Post-S8E6: Confessions, Getting Together | 3K | Explicit): Eddie rolls his eyes, knocks their shoulders together. “What I’m saying is that you deserve someone who wants the same future you do. You want kids, Buck. You want a family. You deserve someone who would be more than happy to let you break their heart, just to get the chance to be with you.” or: another confession on the couch

supposed to be a package deal by joshwrites/ @joshwritesfics (Post-S8E8: Wannabes Coda, Getting Together | 4K | Teen): “It’s really nice. Though, I really should get a new couch,” Eddie agrees before looking down and starting to pat the couch they’re sitting on — the one that holds far too many memories for Buck to count. “A new couch?” “Yeah, I don’t want to go through the hassle of moving this. I was planning on putting it up for sale on Facebook, but I was thinking maybe you wanted it? No offense, but your couch is uncomfortable as hell.” And it’s an innocent comment — one with no underlying meaning under it — but it sends Buck on a spiral to find one anyway. or: A 8x08 coda where Buck believes in couch theory.

you could poison poison by oceanofchaos/@islandoforder (S8E5: Masks Coda, Infidelity | 4K | General): There is a constant tension headache behind his eyes that’s been there for as long as he can remember, and it gets worse every single time someone who isn’t Maddie calls him ‘Evan’. - Episode tag to 8x05 Masks, in which Buck is exceedingly aware that he is increasingly annoyed by his boyfriend.

pulling pigtails by littleghost/ @ghostlandtoo (S7E4: Buck Bothered and Bewildered | 5K | General): Buck is jealous. Buck is a green-eyed monster, a jilted lover, a crying kid who didn’t get a lollipop. Buck can’t even find it in him to push it down because it’s overwhelming. Eddie and Tommy are friends. That’s – fine! It’s totally fine. or: buck is jealous, and 7x04 goes a little differently

🔥I should be pushing daisies by 42hrb/ @exhuastedpigeon (Post-S8E8: Wannabes | 5K | Teen): “I miss you so much, man,” Eddie says as easy as anything. Like those words don’t have the power to breathe life back into Buck’s body and steal that breath back at the same time. “It’s dumb but - I guess I didn’t realize how ingrained you are in my life until suddenly you weren’t there.” “I-I miss you too,” Buck manages to say, though he has no idea if he sounds normal or if he sounds like there’s an anvil on his chest. Eddie smiles at him, eyes soft and fond even on Buck’s iPad screen. “I keep looking over my shoulder to say something to you or to see if you saw something dumb someone did too, but you’re not there.” OR Eddie goes to Texas to fix things with Chris and Buck pines.

slowly sinking (i need you to think i'm alright) by littleghost/ @ghostlandtoo (Established Buddie, BDSM, Hurt/Comfort): Some of his hook-ups liked that Buck was so much bigger than them, even though he wasn’t nearly as bulked up as he is now back when he was having casual sex. They liked when Buck held them down, when Buck reused some phrases he remembers from porn. It was all for fun. Buck never had one of them staring up at him like Eddie is now, like he’s out of his mind. It’s uncharted territory. Buck doesn’t know where to go from here. or: Buck tries to dom Eddie.

black purple and green (i bruise easily) by oceanofchaos/ @islandoforder (S8E6: Confessions Coda | 7K | General): When he gets back to the loft, he looks around it wearily. He had only just reconciled himself to the idea of Tommy moving in, and here he is, alone again in his giant fucking loft. This is so typical. Before he can psych himself out, he pulls his phone out of his back pocket, and gets up the 118 groupchat. just so everyone knows, single again. - Episode tag to 8x06 Confessions, in which Buck talks through whether he should have known that first queer relationships are inherently doomed with his queer friends.

man against man (who's ahead in the game) by littleghost/ @ghostlandtoo (S8, Halloween, Infidelity | 9K | Explicit): But going alone is like—it’s a death knell. And Buck is trying, he really is, but it’s Halloween. You can’t break up with someone on Halloween. He spies Eddie walking up the stairs, totally focused on his phone. Eddie, who is also planless for the weekend barring some natural disaster or miracle of the prodigal son returning home. Eddie, who had gleefully been the Tubbs to Buck’s Crockett—because Buck is totally Crockett, okay?—without complaint. Eddie, who likes dressing up for Halloween. or: Buck wants to do a couples’ costume, and Tommy doesn’t want to do it. Eddie volunteers.

Make this Place your Home series by scarmaddiewrites (Post-S8E8: Wannabes, Getting Together | 10K | Mature):  Eddie leaves for Texas and Buck has the worst times feeling realization in the history of romance. So he adopts a dog about it And then he gets a phone call.

🔥 go and kill, go and die by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Zombie Apocalypse AU | 13/14 | 54K | Mature): The 118 are a group of survivors in a small California town in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. For months they've been isolated and safe. But the arrival of some new players, the search for some missing loved ones, will shake everything up and put their little team in jeopardy.

🔥guess i'm the fool by oceanofchaos/@islandoforder (Post-S7, Eddie Sexuality Crisis | 106K | Explicit): While Chris is in El Paso, it’s Eddie’s summer of Realizing Things, such as comphet, what Buck means to him, and how to let himself be happy.

WIP

🔥 Things We're All Too Young to Know by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Canon S1-S6, Divergent Post-S6 | 141/? | 454K | Mature): This is a love story. Even if it doesn’t always look like it. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it. A look back on Eddie and Buck's lives up to now, and what led them to each other, interpreted from the current 9-1-1 canon.

there is no road by littleghost/ @ghostlandtoo (Post-S8A, Eddie Moves To Texas | 2/6 | 24K | Explicit): Years ago, almost a full decade, Shannon had asked him to move and Eddie refused because he was trying to build a life for himself again. Eddie knows if he asks Buck, he’ll get that same refusal. Worse, Buck could say yes and Eddie would be uprooting Buck from the very life he built for himself. He doesn’t ask, and Buck doesn’t offer, and they pack up Eddie Diaz’s life in Los Angeles into cardboard boxes. Or: Eddie moves to Texas. Buck buys his house. There’s a love story somewhere in here.

[911bts]

What We Know: Season 8

8x01 - "Buzzkill" Writer(s): James Leffler & Molly Green Director: James Wong Air Date: September 26, 2024 Production Code: 801 Synopsis: The 118 team battles an “un-bee-lievable” emergency when a trailer with millions of bees crashes on the streets of Los Angeles, unleashing a swarm. Stills: X / X / X / X / X / X / X / X

8x02 - "When The Boeing Gets Tough..." Writer(s): TBD Director: Brad Buecker Air Date: October 3, 2024 (presumably) Production Code: 802 Synopsis: TBD Stills: TBD

8x03 - "Final Approach" Writer(s): TBD Director: TBD Air Date: October 10, 2024 Production Code: 803 Synopsis: TBD Stills: TBD

8x04 - "No Place Like Home" Writer(s): Lyndsey Beaulieu Director: Marita Grabiak Air Date: October 17, 2024 Production Code: 804 Synopsis: TBD Stills: TBD

8x05 - "Masks" Writer(s): n/a Director: n/a Air Date: October 24, 2024 Production Code: 805 Synopsis: TBD Stills: TBD

8x06 - "Confessions" Writer(s): n/a Director: n/a Air Date:  Production Code: 806 Synopsis: TBD Stills: TBD

8x07 - "Hotshots" Writer(s): n/a Director: n/a Air Date:  Production Code: 807 Synopsis: TBD Stills: TBD

[glorious-spoon]

been broken one too many times [9-1-1 | Buck/Eddie | 1/1]

1K words | Teen arguments | angst | feelings realization | minor buck/tommy | pre-relationship buck/eddie | post-ep for 8x05: Masks

been broken one too many times [on Ao3]

"You need to stop picking at those," Eddie says without glancing up from his phone.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Buck drop his hand. "I wasn't."

"You were."

"Fine," Buck snaps. He shoves his chair back and stands, stiff jerky motions that grate on Eddie's already frayed nerves. "I'll stop picking. You know I'm not a toddler, right? I'm a grown man. I have an EMT certification. You don't have to talk to me like I'm five."

Irritation flares. It's never very far beneath the surface these days. "Okay, fine, pick at your scabs, fuck up your face, see if I care. Since you're a grown man and all."

Buck breathes out hard through his nose. Eddie glances up from the article he hasn't actually been reading this whole time and takes in the look on his face, the very clear fuck you behind his teeth.

Just say it, Eddie thinks, something ugly and eager surging up the back of his throat. Just say it. Pick a fucking fight for once. Maybe that's why he's even here, sitting in Buck's kitchen when he knows damn well he's not good company for anyone right now, including himself. Maybe he's just got to break one last thing, since that's all he seems to do these days.

Buck doesn't say it, of course, because he never gives Eddie the satisfaction of a fight when he really wants one. It makes Eddie want to be mean, makes him think of all the things he could say, all the insecurities he could throw in Buck's face that would make him flinch and recoil and maybe finally think better of letting Eddie hang around. It's not like either of them is exactly having a good time right now.

He doesn't speak. Buck scoffs again, then moves back into the kitchen to refill his coffee cup. It was already more than half-full, so Eddie knows he's just doing it so he doesn't say something he'll regret.

"You want more?" he asks, without turning. It's not exactly a peace offering, but it's close.

"No. Thanks."

Buck nods. Eddie watches him pour coffee and switch the pot off. He pulls the fridge open for a container of creamer—it's a different brand than he used to use, and Eddie wonders if that's Tommy's influence. One of many stupid little details that gets under his skin the way that everything seems to get under his skin these days. Eddie watches as he stirs it into his cup and puts it back in the fridge. He braces his palms on the edge of the counter; his shoulders shift as he breathes in, and then slowly out, and then finally turns back around.

"Sorry," he says, disarmingly rueful. "Tommy's been on me about that too. I'm a little sick of hearing it."

Eddie shrugs, strangling down his own anger. It burns beneath his skin, but that's nothing new. He doesn't need to take it out on Buck, especially not over something this stupid. He'll go home after this, and beat the shit out of the heavy bag in his garage until his knuckles hurt and his chest finally has space to breathe. He'll call his son and endure ten minutes of stilted Facetime conversation while Chris plays on his Switch and refuses to look at him. He'll cope, just like he always does. "Like you said. You're a grown man."

"Yeah, and my face itches," Buck groans, and that's a peace offering, Eddie knows, that wry little note of self-deprecation in his voice.

"It's getting better," Eddie says, and it is: after Billy Boils' makeshift funeral Buck finally went and got a prescription for prednisone like he should have in the first place, and the giant painful-looking cysts have shrunk down until they don't look much worse than a bad breakout of acne. Still not pretty, but not nearly as gruesome as they were a week ago.

"Says you. My own boyfriend still won't kiss me."

Eddie snorts. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't kiss you either with those things on your face. No offense."

"Um, offense absolutely taken," Buck says, but he's smiling a little now as he moves back to the table with his coffee cup. "Besides, that doesn't count. You don't want to kiss me the rest of the time anyway."

"That's—" Eddie stops. His fingers twitch around his coffee cup; he thinks with a sudden vague sort of panic that it's a good thing it's resting on the table right now, because if he was holding it, he'd probably drop it. Broken shards of porcelain and coffee spreading out across the tiles and the words that's not true resting as easily on his tongue as if they've always been there.

"Eddie?" Buck asks, and he becomes aware that he's just been staring fixedly at his half-drunk coffee, that his breathing is coming faster than it should. Jello, he thinks. You're jello, you're jello, you didn't say anything, you're fine, just breathe. It doesn't help. He still feels like his heart and his lungs and maybe a few other internal organs are about to crawl up the back of his throat and spew out red and bloody across the floor.

That's not true, he thinks again, with an incredulity that borders on hysterical. He wants to start laughing, suddenly.

He has to get out of here.

"Yeah," he says, and this time he's the one pushing his chair back, standing jerkily. Buck takes a step back, wary.

"You good?" he asks. His face still does look pretty bad—lumpy and swollen, blotchy red in spots. It's not even a simple straightforward attraction, which would be bad enough. Because Eddie was lying just now, wasn't he—he'd still kiss Buck, even looking like this. He'd still want to, because he's always wanted to.

Fuck.

"Yeah," Eddie says. He grabs his phone, shoves it in his pocket. "I just realized, I have to—" he has no plausible excuse on hand. Chris is in Texas. His grocery shopping is done. His house is clean. His empty life is empty of any good reason to get him out of here, but he needs to get out of here, now. "I have to go."

Buck looks like he wants to keep pushing, but Eddie doesn't give him the chance. He scoops up his keys, moves quickly toward the door, pulls it open.

"I'll see you around, Buck," he says, halfway over his shoulder, and pulls it shut behind him before Buck can answer.

He doesn't feel he starts breathing again all the way down the stairs.

[starstruckbyacomet]

How to Beat BoBs' Arguments in A Single Episode – Tim's Version

Or should I say, 'Taylor's Version'?🤔

Shout out to Tim Minear and Taylor Wong, the writer of episode 8x05 ("Masks"), who have achieved the impossible: beating 3 (three) of the most common BoBs' arguments in a single episode 🤣🤣🤣.

ARGUMENT #1: Eddie would treat Buck better than Tommy could ever do.

What's on the episode: Tommy, the boyfriend, took care of Buck through the night and the next morning, boils and all. Meanwhile Eddie, his best friend, couldn't even look at Buck's boils at the next shift.

They show that Tommy treated Buck better than Eddie did, without antagonizing Eddie.

ARGUMENT #2: Eddie, Buck's best friend, doesn't like Tommy.

What's on the episode: Eddie and Tommy were roasting Buck together.

They show that Tommy and Eddie are close friends, and not secretly compete for Buck's love.

ARGUMENT #3: The other members of 118 family don't like Tommy.

What's on the episode: Nobody complained when Tommy was accompanying Buck in the hospital, to be together with the rest of 118 family who were waiting for Denny's surgery.

If they hate Tommy, Chimney or Hen or Bobby surely have said something about Tommy being with them in such vulnerable moment, or even have thrown him out of the door.

BONUS: Tevan shippers had been wanting to see Tommy referred as Buck's boyfriend on screen.

What's on the episode: Buck was calling Tommy 'my boyfriend' 😍❤️🥰😭🎊🪅🥳💃🕺.

This episode is so effective and well-written to establish Tommy as Buck's boyfriend. The haters can hardly find anything to be twisted, so they blame the writer for 'bad writing' instead 🤣🤣🤣. I am sure at least some of the writers have been lurking among us all this time. This is too much of a coincidence to happen in a single episode 😂😂😂.

Tim Minear/Taylor Wong, if you are among us, we salute you 🫡🫡🫡.

Part 2 (link)

[whineandcheese24]

hot take: 8x05 was not actually a good episode

it was certainly an enjoyable episode, and it's definitely my favorite episode of the season so far. but if you take off the shipping goggles for a second and just actually analyze the content, it's not great.

Hen and Karen's argument is entirely contrived, and shouldn't be an argument they're having after several years of Hen being a married paramedic. And while Aisha, Tracie, and Declan's performances were outstanding, the whole arc of Denny almost dying felt entirely out of place with the rest of the largely goofy and unserious episode.

Athena's arc I absolutely hated. I have issues with how Athena treats kids that I'm not going to get into right now, but the way she treated those girls was incredibly unfair given that they weren't even the ones who ran into Denny. This show has a habit of making genz (not kids, specifcally genz culture) the butt of so many jokes, and as a genz kid, it's not that funny. if this arc was to teach kids about the dangers of doing dumb teenager shit, they absolutely went about it in the wrong way

and as for Buck and Tommy's arc. it was super fun and super cute, but why is it just Buck, Tommy, and Eddie? Buck gets cursed with a dislocated shoulder and boils and no one else seems to care? I don't remember super well, but I do know that Bobby, Hen, and Chim, weren't super involved in that arc.

when the episode started I thought to myself "this is gonna be like another jinx (4x06) episode". Jinx is one of, if not, my favorite episode of the show because of the fun firefam dynamics and the silliness of it all. but what made it work was the cohesiveness. all of the characters are involved in the plot together as a unit. Eddie has his own little thing going on on the side, but it doesn't take away from his role as part of the firefam. and while the episode does get a bit more serious and dramatic towards the end, it maintains a steady silly atmosphere the whole way that feels, again, much more cohesive.

also, with jinx, the title makes sense. masks kind of makes sense because it's halloween, and buck has the whole boils thing going on, but the title is largely unrelated. I mean, wouldn't it make more sense for an episode titled Masks to relate to how Eddie is masking his trauma over Shannon and his sadness at having Chris gone? Or how Bobby is masking his trauma over his nde at the end of last season? Or even how Buck maybe hasn't fully accepted himself as Not Straight? But true to form with this season, there's really no overall theme with the title

8x05 has some really fun and adorable moments, and like I said, it's still my favorite episode of the season. But honestly, it's just because I like Bucktommy. they get a lot of screen time for a cute and funny plot and it's super fun to watch, but the episode as a whole is not really a whole. it's just a bunch of random unrelated one-off arcs strung together around the loose "halloween" theme with no overarching message, moral, or otherwise connector. and doesn't it just say so much that what's considered to be the favorite episode of the season (at least within this section of the fandom) isn't even all that great

[eddiediazangst]

Since some people think Demon Eddie was out of character in 8x05, here's a list of Eddie's hands being rated E for Everyone. Buck obviously has more since they're attached at the hip.

This will be updated as the show continues/I remember more of them.

Also it's not in order, maybe I'll fix it and add season and ep but maybe not

Telling Shannon to stay silent as she was actively dying

"You know when you meet someone and you just click" to Buck after Buck's comment about Natalia seeing him

Ana "maybe you should go home" Flores

Telling Buck the upside of being covered in boils is that he wouldn't need a Halloween mask

Asking Marisol to move in and a day later asking her to move out

"Buck you need to move on, I have" when Buck's rightfully concerned about Eddie in dispatch

The entire diva off with Josh, including him waiting months to use Josh's comment against him

Bobby not allowing him to return back to work resulting in "You're gonna stand there with a hundred-something bodies on you and tell me I'm not fit for duty? Go to hell, Bobby"

Calling out Taylor for not eating the food he made then slandering Buck for telling her to eat beforehand in case Eddie flops at cooking

Checking the Halloween decorations and purposely picking up the crow and showing it to Chim to bring up Chimney's past crow related trauma

Telling Buck that babysitting Chris should be easy because he's not very fast and that Chris is shit at building with Lego and it never looks like something

Buzzing at Buck the minute he wakes up from the coma that he was in due to being struck by lightning.

Having a panic attack over someone thinking Ana was his wife

Telling Buck to try something inland next time he and Chris go out somewhere, just after Chris and Buck get swept up in the Tsunami.

Taunting his kidnapper about his plan going wrong "I guess this wasn’t part of your 27 step breakout plan" to the guy pointing a gun at him.

"Do you know how much Christopher misses you? how could you, you're not around"

Telling that same kidnapper "I want you to shut up" like he was just annoyed at this minor inconvenience.

"Didn't know you could bring a date to a Bachelor Party" He's just evil and gay

Throwing the cursed bracelet at Chimney

"Because you're exhausting"

"You live in your invisible girlfriends house and you're telling me about weak excuses"

Him biting Ana's head off for moving her attention off Chris despite the fact she's looking after multiple kids

Jokingly saying "It won’t be easy, I’m pretty cold!" in reply to the responders going to find the heat signal of what they think would be his dead body underground

Purposely avoiding making eye contact with Buck because he's covered in boils

Having to walk away from a scene because he was willingly to let Abby's fiancé die purely because he was Abby's fiancé (He met Abby for the first time ever 5 minutes prior)

Making fun of Buck for reading a book, finding out the book was about woman and immediately saying that explains it.

Found out Marisol was a nun and immediately got the ick so bad that he couldn't get it up

"You sure thats a smile? it's the same face Buck makes when he's gassy" Eddie my love wtf

[idealuk]

8x05 being called "Masks" (confirming that it's the Halloween episode and airing on the actual day itself) also confirms that ...

... 8x06 is set to air the week of the US election.

E.T.A.: So, 8x05 is actually set to air on 10/24, but 8x06 is still likely to air the week of the US election with a break between 8x05 and 8x06.

[oneofthedrunksattheoverpass]

8x05 is called “masks” guys this is not a drill buddie canon is coming gay eddie is real and will be on our screens very soon like this is actually happening

[carolinahope]

8x05 Masks

I have to say they managed the shift from Halloween fun to seriousness really well. And it felt organic and impactful.

It is interesting how racist tree #3 managed to be both better and worse than the teaser and stills suggested. He was there for Buck (way more than I could stomach but brownie points, I guess) but he was still condescending and treating him as a kid and constantly puzzled by him. And I cannot wait till he is gone.

The contrast to Eddie who rolled his eyes but kinda rolled with the crazy and was definitely not surprised by it, was rather telling. Though them laughing in the hospital was a little mean. It's like they wanted to remind us Eddie is friends with #3. But other than that, the scene was a gift and Oliver looked extra yummy in it.

I also really appreciated the costumes. Cap Dracula was funny. Cowboy Buck and his drawl. And Aisha as a crazy scientist was first class. Adored the Dorothy & co. costumes. Loved Chim's enthusiasm and I really need him and Buck to team up on something supernatural related and be excited and scared about it all. Also, nice crow call-back.

BTW, how many times had Bobby said Buck, Eddie this episode. Cause in the first half it was like he was saying nothing else.

It was interesting to see Athena not be the commanding presence we are used to from her. Though she is right, it is hard to interest stupid. It was an interesting full circle.

I liked the way how kids growing up was woven into the whole episode. This episode yet again proved that the Wilsons are both family and couple's goals. It was so fucking heartbreaking to see Denny pinned and everyone panicking about it. For a second there I thought they will let him die and I was preparing pitchforks.

They need some TLC and peace, please. I want to see more of them, always but just let them be happy.

I do appreciate them acknowledging that there are rules, even if they break them in the next breath.

And I also need more of Maddie. I need an episode centered around dispatch. I need to see her and Josh being competent and kick ass. Or maybe even see them outside of dispatch.

Apart from that one boil, it was a really wonderful episode. Kudos to the music department and the costume and make up departments as well. Even if they sacrificed Oliver's chest hair.

And Buck fucking gave Eddie lube.

[nqueso-emergency]

8x05 being called masks is such a good title. Like I know dumbass bobs are gonna try and connect it to buddie but there’s so many other ways for it to go.

First and foremost knowing this and the episode after have Buck plots. It could be about Buck or Tommy hiding behind a “mask”. Like Tommy not wanting to open up about something (not the Gerrard stuff because it’s already been dealt with) but maybe something from his childhood (something about his daddy issues perhaps?).

Second it could be Eddie too. Him finally dropping the masks he hides behind (father, soldier, firefighter). Like him finally starting to deal with his issues that caused Chris to leave him. And definitely not gay eddie, but I know they’re gonna take this as proof that buddie is happening.

But I mean depending on where their plots and stories goes any of the characters could fall into this title’s meanings. I’m excited for it. And for buddies to be proven wrong again.

There is so much potential for an episode with that title and with all of our storylines we have going on

[catmomjudy]

So, 8x05 is called “Masks.”

Oliver Stark sneakily discussed the meaning in a recent US Weekly article. He also comments that “It’s…a really fun and silly story for Buck. I’m having a blast.”

So, where does that leave Eddie and his mustache?

We know that the mustache came off during the time period when it appeared that they were shooting 8x05 and 8x06, sometime between 9/17 (when Guzman posted a bathrobe photo of himself) and 9/21 (Guzman’s birthday, when he appeared without the mustache).

Minear says the impetus behind the mustache is explained in 8x06. It seems like something they’d delve into in an ep called “Masks” (which is 8x05), but then they did a horrible job of staying on theme in and around the “You Don’t Know Me” ep (7x05) last season, with thematic plotlines spilling over into the b-plots of 7x04.

So, does it span two eps (the shaving in one; the explanation in the next)? Or will 8x06 (which Stark also has said he really enjoyed shooting) be the Eddie Episode?

[daniwib]

Thoughts on Masks 8x05 stills

When you consider that we haven't had a Halloween episode since season 5 for whatever real world reason but then put it in the context of the 911 verse, Buck's excitement over his corpse decoration becomes a lot more understandable. He's not just excited about a decoration, he's excited about working on Halloween with his family. You see, if we look at the seasons that didn't have a Halloween episode as our beloveds not being on shift that day, then they haven't worked a Halloween shift for three years.

Look at how he's standing, shoulder back, tall and so proud of himself. "Look at me, Dad! Look what I got for us, isn't it great?"

They're not so sure, because it looks very life (death?) like and knowing Buck, it might just be an actual real-life (death??) corpse.

Buck knows it's Bobby he has to convince. Chim's on board at once, he's intrigued and excited. Look at him playfully spraying fog at Bobby to make him laugh and agree! Hen's just all "Hmm, Buck's being Buck again, okay, it's just another day."

Eddie, meanwhile, is wondering why the corpse is dressed in HIS bachelor party costume...

"Buck, did you not only keep my destroyed, vomit encrusted suit but also wash it and then dress a dead body in it? MY suit?? What the hell were you thinking, man?!" Tell me that suit is not one hell of a lot cleaner than it was when we last saw Eddie wearing it....

Buck's just like, "Well, obviously I washed it. It stank! Who wants to smell that all shift?" "But smelling a desiccated corpse all shift is alright," Bobby dead pans with that delightful dry wit of his, and Buck launches into an explanation that no, actually, it doesn't, because once the flesh reaches a certain point of decay it begins to dry out and did you know.....

Ahh I cannot wait for this episode!!! Even more so when Oliver has told us he likes this episode and in my (admittedly shaky) memory, he's said that about episodes when Buck has been whumped in the past. So I'm hoping the spider bite or whatever it is goes a lot worse for him than we're expecting lol.

(list of previous Halloween episodes below the cut, lmk if I missed any!)

1x07 Full Moon (Creepy AF) Honorable shout out to this episode which while not technically a Halloween episode was still a lot of fun.

2x07 Haunted

3x06 Monsters

4 - No Halloween episode, shortened season due to covid

5x07 Ghost Stories

6 – No Halloween episode

7 - No Halloween episode, shortened season due to the strikes