#they are making a point of showing buck with the firefam and putting him in a more obvious leading position

[letmetellyouaboutmyfeels]

So You Wanna 'Revive' Your Show

Hi Tim. This took me like ten minutes because I actually have two brain cells to rub together. <3

Give the 911 call center more to do. Linda and Sue especially in my opinion.

Go back to what made the show great in the first place which was the core characters becoming/being a family.

Mix up the dynamics. Remember Chim and Bobby's friendship in season one? Hen and Athena's bestieism? Bring that back along with some lesser seen dynamics. I want more of Chim and Karen's friendship. Have Maddie and Bobby work together on something. Pair Athena and Eddie together and have Athena realize just how like her husband Eddie is (and maybe in doing so they help each other get perspective on other things).

Give Bobby a promotion and have him deal with that (although so soon after he quit being an advisor and was clearly enjoying being captain might not work but something to consider).

Have Athena retire and become a private investigator.

More fun filler episodes. A bottle episode where they have a boring day at the station. An episode made up entirely of B shift or the non-firefam members of A shift like SG-1's The Other Guys. An episode entirely from Jee-Yun's point of view showing a young child's perspective of crazy silly adult drama. Boys Night Out/Girls Night Out a la Leverage. "Alternate universe" episodes like Bones' season four finale and Castle's Blue Butterfly episode.

Keep Buck single for a while and give him a safe haven baby. Another way to bond with Hen and Karen over adoption, another way to bond with his sister, and another way to bond with Bobby by making him a grandfather. And oh, hey, Eddie, you want to help me coparent?

Maybe stop having all of Eddie's important shit happen offscreen, I don't know if there's BTS beef or what but grow the fuck up and keep it out of the script. Professionalism, heard of it?

Make Buddie canon. Yes my bias is showing but it's what a large percentage of your audience and media reporters have been clambering after for years. Put guns to heads if you must. Jesus. You want to revitalize the show that's literally the number one way to do it. You dumbasses.

Okay I always said I didn't want it and I still don't but fine. fine! do a musical episode! if that's the price of Bobby's life I'll fucking pay it!!!

Maybe relearn the concept of arcs that last an entire season and not just two-three episodes.

Michael and David have a destination wedding and every single firefam member encounters some kind of emergency, either life-threatening or comedy-of-errors, that means they all show up looking like they got run over by trucks.

RASHOMON EPISODE. For either dramatic or comedic effect. Or both.

Everyone loved the heist episodes like The Taking of Dispatch 9-1-1 and Ocean's 9-1-1. Like come on you fuckwit let the show be fun again.

Actually commit to giving any of the main characters a pet. I know everyone wants Buck but it could be Athena and Bobby, Hen and Karen, Maddie and Chim... personally I would love to see Eddie get hit by the Cat Distribution System.

Firefighters do charity drives all the time, go to schools to do talks about fire safety - show the team interacting with the local community more. Show the parents interacting with their kids' schools or the parents of their friends' kids a bit more. I want to see Eddie and Karen fight the PTA.

It's not hard. That's what gets me. You don't actually worry about the show becoming stagnant. You just wanted to do a really big shocking holy shit episode that everyone would be talking about, forgetting that truly good shows earn those. Shit shows that pull that kind of nonsense lose their audience and get cancelled. You did it because you're a mediocre, boring, never-quite-popular-enough egotist with an inferiority complex who was luckily born with a dick so you fell upward your entire career, and you orgasm to other people's pain.

And for once in my life? I hope cast/crew do know my tumblr. I hope they are on here. I hope they fucking read this, and I hope they print it out and tape it to your office door and every other door on set they can manage like Martin fucking Luther. I want you to go to bed at night knowing you are despised and that a starving barely-breaking-even idiot who wrote a stripper!Buck fanfic knows more about television writing and comes up with better ideas than you do.

To quote David Lynch, fix your heart or die.

[azaharinflames]

I saw this post and wanted to use it to speak on something else, bc it inspired me.

Because the thing is that Buck has been shown to take care of everyone in the firefam. To some degree or other, he’s been taking care of them all for a long time. And this season they’ve highlighted just how much he’ll go out of his way to help.

They’ve shown how he’s grown and matured, how he can be a mentor (814 with him and Ravi is a perfect example), how he can take charge of a situation and not crumble under the pressure.

That’s all good. That’s amazing character development if they land it.

But something they haven’t shown us? Is the firefam fully returning that. Not because they don’t want to, it’s just because they don’t see a necessity for that (I don’t want to say this in a malicious way. I just think it’s the most simple way of explaining it)

I think we will see Buck trying to hold everyone together (something I’ll argue has been hinted at in the trailer, when he goes to check on Chim), and he’ll be the rock for everyone else. And no one will reciprocate, because they have their own shit going on.

But you know who potentially will? Yeah.

The person who was there for him to help him escape from the army. The person who stayed behind and was shown to be worried for Buck. Of course he might feel bad for everyone else, but the show made a point of telling us his concern is Buck. And it’s the same person who’s been the only one to actually take care of Buck this whole season. The only one who fed him, when Buck has been feeding everyone else (quite literally).

This show can be very obvious with their metaphors and messages. They don’t do hidden, because the ones they do are easy to read - and I think this might be one.

Maybe, just maybe - they are gearing up for BT reconciliation based on Tommy being the only one able to clock Buck’s feelings about it all, and being the one to give him actual comfort about it.

[becausebuckley]

michelle's buddie fic recs: week 6!

and what a week it's been... idk about you all, but i'm very much looking forward to all the 8b spec fic after seeing That One Leak...

this is a mix of fics with all ratings, so some include NSFW content. please take a look at both the ratings and the fic tags before reading! some might also contain spoilers for season 8.

if you come across something you like in this list, remember to show some love to the author by leaving kudos and a comment!

a graveyard in blue | moonlightmornings/@moonlight-mornings | 12.9k | GA

After a call goes south because of limited resources and an equipment malfunction, Eddie's brave move to rescue a young girl takes a nasty turn. i love how this captures the energy and vibe of a rescue!! genuinely feels straight out of an episode <3

and i'd do it over and over again | playinginthunderstorms/@playinginthunderstorms | 4.4k | E

Buck and Eddie hook up at the end of "Confessions". oh when i tell you i savoured this one... such a wonderful fic that captures buddie's first time so so perfectly!! i love how their dynamic is written here <3

everything in between | simplyylupin | 2.1k | T

They’re quiet for a moment, mulling over the unsaid, and then Buck’s bringing his phone closer to his face, eyes squinting. “Are you naked?” the absolute codependency of these two <3 so good!!

hot ghost problems | ebjameston/@ebjameston | 40.9k | T

The ghost would prefer to go by Buck, if Eddie wouldn’t mind. this was a reread! i was reminded of the magic system here and revisited it - can confirm that magic and ghosts and all that are so very good here, and i love the diaz siblings!!

i'll tell them put me back in it (and i would do it again) | paleredheadinascifi | 4.8k| T

Eddie doesn't know how to make his listening history private. Buck doesn't know what to do with the words in front of his eyes. Chris cannot believe he has to deal with either of them. the sheer brilliance of this concept... such a lovely look at the buckley-diaz dynamics! i was smiling the whole way through <3

it's golden, like daylight | rarakiplin/@hoediaz | 8.7k | T

“Shut up,” fingers dig into his ribs, “I mean, would you want to? Be married again?” such wonderful firefam dynamics!! i read this last week, i think, and already reread it this past week as well. a new favourite for sure <3

lonely little love dog | littleghost/@ghostlandtoo | 24k | M

When the 118 is closed for reconstruction after an earthquake, Buck is a floater for different stations around the city. He tries not to let it get to him. Much. this is such a fascinating look at buck's character!! and i LOVED the mara scene <3

parabola | semperama/@semperama | 4.6k | T

“Hey, uh. By the way.” Buck’s been thinking about this, and he has to say it now, or it’ll explode out of him at a much worse time, in a much worse way. “Make sure you don’t forget to change your will again.” truly no fic captures the angst with a happy ending tag like this. also this fic is how i learned that there's a special ao3 tag for eddie's will, which sounds about right. anyway, point is, this is wonderful!!

the last shred of truth in the lost myth of true love | lemonzestywrites/@lemonzestywrites | 25.7k | E

After the events of 6x13, Buck is worried he's lost his charm in bed. Eddie eagerly offers his services to prove otherwise. a reread of one of my favourite fics <3 there's something about the intersection of smut and feelings realisation and introspection in this fic that just hits so very hard, it's lovely <3

the whale fall principle | fastcardotmp3/@fastcardotmp3 | 95.5k | M

Daniel Buckley lives, but he’s still deciding what that means. Maddie is having a baby, but it isn’t her husband’s. And Evan knows his purpose. Until he doesn’t anymore. okay so definitely heed the creator chose not to use archive warnings tag here (there are specific warnings in the chapter notes) but holy shit, this fic. genuinely the best buckley sibling dynamics i have read, like, maybe ever. such a wonderful eddie and chimney and everyone, and such gorgeous writing!! if this one sounds up your alley, you're in for a treat <3

to ebb and flow | akapeterman/@akapeterman | 5.1k | GA

buck is sick, eddie is worried, and christopher is an angel. they'll be okay. i've really been vibing with sickfics lately, can you tell? this is another lovely lovely fic, such great hurt/comfort/domestic fluff!!

wait for me to come home | written_promises | 1.9k | GA

Eddie comes back home to LA from Texas to find Buck waiting for him… in his bed. Because he’s been living in Eddie’s home. and eddie's bed is exactly where buck should be<3 so soft and sweet and beautiful!!

we return to each other in waves | cozycatwriter/@leon-trans-kennedy | 3.1k | GA

“Yes I do. Of course I do. You saved Chris and looked after him the best you could during a tsunami-and you’re still recovering from an embolism from having your leg crushed on the job. The least I could do is look after you and let you stay the night. Besides, Chris would want you to stay.” post-tsunami fics my beloveds <3 it genuinely makes me so happy to see new ones pop up, and this is truly an excellent one!! i love the bed-sharing especially!

you need a friendly hand (and i need action) | AmZamReads | 13.1k | E

Eddie picks up pottery as a hobby and accidentally blows up on Instagram for "accidentally" posting thirst traps of him throwing on the wheel. Buck stumbles across the account and immediately becomes obsessed with Eddie's hands, and horny shenanigans ensues. this fic makes me wish i could make pottery. i love eddie's pottery friends!! and a lovely buddie dynamic too <3

[spicyrottingbrains]

You know the argument where people are like buck and eddie are straight and they're best friends and nothing more and that we should healthy male friendships in media without ship etc. etc.?? Well forgetting about every argument i have against all of of this and IF we were to consider that they are nothing but best friends then you know what would still make the most sense in regards to their storylines (together and individual)??? Not shoving random love interests for them into the plot and instead having them actually be two best friends who just raise a kid together without the need for anything else. Because no matter if you ship buddie or not I don't think there is a universe or a person who can counteract the fact that Evan buckley and Edmundo Diaz are soulmates. Stop having buck look for love in these doomed relationships and stop having eddie go out with these random people just because others are pressuring him to. People can be happy without relationships and if buddie won't be canon in a romantic sense then it would make so much sense for them to be happy with their family, because you gotta agree Buckk, Eddie and Chris, they are a family. Those three will always be there for each other and they will always put each other first. Those two are soulmates in every sense and they'd do anything for each other. Christopher comes first for both of them but right next to Chris is their best friend and that will not change. Their little family (+extended firefam) will always come first and no love interest could ever change that. It makes no sense for them to ignore the person who has had their back through so much fucking pain and heartbreak for someone who just came along into their lives to become top priority. Hell they're miserable without each other as is evident in the lawsuit Arc, the eddie leaving Arc, etc ect. They've been through too much for that. The firefam is the family they need and have. And they have each other (in whatever way that may be). It's like Ravi (my baby I love him so much I need more of him in s7) said its about having each others backs. And that is the entire premise of buddie since the very beginning, having each others back through thick and thin through joy and heartbreak, to never stop fighting for their family, that is the very essence that both Buck and Eddie's characters were built on. I did not go through 5 seasons of "there is no one I trust more with my son more than you","no one will fight for my son harder than you", "you can have my back any day.....or you could have mine", "isn't that what love is....knowing you have each other back", "when you're at your worst and they're at their worst and you have every reason to give up and you still decide you want to try", "what are you afraid of" buck showing up at Eddie's during the lightning aftermath, buck crawling under a freaking firetruck to get to eddie, Christopher running to buck at any point of distress, and so many more times where those three have always been what they need for anyone to disregard the fact that the buckley-diaz family are meant to be.

Ok I'm done.

[no-goodbyes-no-regrets]

Very interesting point about Tommy being there for Bobby 's last scene and Eddie nowhere in the picture... It's a signal! 👍

Buck and Eddie will always be special to me whether they end up together or not 💕

I have discovered that part of the asexual/demisexual experience is that you remain where you are while others move on! Alice Oseman talks about this in her stories and it hits deep because it has been my experience too. What I realised after Bobby's death episode is that not only is it my experience in real life, it has been my experience with fiction as well 🤭🤦‍♀️ I want my shows to remain how they are, which is not how usually things work!

Anyway, Tim Minear has put himself under a lot of pressure for season 9. I wonder what his track record is in terms of managing such massive changes.

As for Lou, I like him in general though aesthetically I am literally unable to tell if he is "gorgeous" "handsome" or not. { Feels nice to say out loud, I have no clue if he is hot or not. Most of my life I have just pretended and said celebrities are hot just to fit in! 😂} I have removed the mute words here so I get all the posts now! And I love that he interacts with his fans.

See that's how I feel about Buck and Tommy - no matter what happens with them in canon, they'll always be special to me!

Honestly I'm not ace or demi but I don't like change either (like most people on here lol) I would rather have Bobby magically survive again instead of *this*. Who needs realism when you want your firefam to stay together?!

I don't really know what Tim's track record is tbh (though his brother compared him to jesus in a post about the bobby of it all and easter - no i don't know how he got there either). Like I said, he killed off a minor character in season 2 of lone star and acted like it was the MAIN character - when it was really only a way to get a spot to open up for TK on the medical team. And don't get me started on him killing off TK's mum and Carlos' dad - come to think of it, I think he might have a thing for killing off parents.

Lou, to me at least, is absolutely gorgeous (and the fact that he's a massive dork makes him even hotter tbh) but that's just a matter of taste. I mean I know there are people out there who think Oliver is the hottest man alive, but when I look at him I'm just - yeah sure he's hot, but he's not THAT special. To each their own.

And I knew I'd get you to come over to the other side, I'll make a bucktommy fan out of you yet! 😉🤣

Have some Lou with a tiny kitty as a treat!

[wannabanauthor]

Now I don’t know if I’m trying to manipulate myself, but the more time has passed since the BuckTommy breakup, the more I’m excited for potential messiness if Tommy comes back.

Note: this only applies to the potential of Tim and the writers getting them back together. If Tommy never comes back, fuck everyone and their momma.

Buck is one of the main characters and Tommy isn’t, so the relationship looking one-sided could be practical or intentional. We don’t know at this point.

But I feel like Tommy maybe fell in love with Buck and didn’t realize it until it was too late, and the best thing he could do for himself was to walk away.

Because as much as Tommy tries to be honest and realistic with Buck, he’s the one who charmed the pants off Buck. Tommy made the first official move, and then the second, and gave things another try with Buck, and was consistently acting like a perfect boyfriend.

My thought process is “why not husband if husband-shaped?” Tommy was putting forth this persona of a good partner, and then pulled away once Buck felt comfortable moving things forward.

And that’s what gets me angry. Tommy intentionally sought Buck out after the basketball game, kissed him, asked him out, then gave Buck a second try, dated him for 6+ months, then ended things.

My point is Tommy was going beyond what he needed to be a good boyfriend, and yet he was surprised that Buck held him to that and wanted to be more serious.

It’s probably just the writing, but it irritates me that they went from talking about deep personal stuff in Season 7 to not even knowing each other’s sexuality, exes, or that Buck dislikes basketball in Season 8.

And as always I completely forget what the point of this post is. Oh, yeah, potential messiness.

Because what if post-breakup, Buck and Tommy start hooking up with no strings attached. Buck thinks it’s a good idea because he can at least be with Tommy in some way, and what if Tommy feels the exact same way. They could both be pining for each other while also piping each other.

Hell, we could even throw in an old cliche trope of “no kissing” because kissing could be a sign of intimacy, and they’re not ready for that.

And maybe it makes for some comedic scenes in the show. Maybe Buck and Tommy are trying to avoid anyone else finding out, but the FireFam are suspicious that Buck has stopped talking about Tommy altogether after pining for weeks.

Even better, what if Buck and Tommy run into each other at Eddie’s farewell house party? And everyone assumes it’s going to be awkward because they don’t know that Buck and Tommy are still fucking.

And once Buck and Tommy barely interact with each other at the gathering, the FireFam now have some circumstantial evidence about the two of them. Their suspicions grow when they see Buck and Tommy actively avoiding each other, and it’s not the usual type of avoiding the ex scenario.

So maybe a day or two later in a non-Buck group chat, Eddie is happy that Buck and Tommy can be together in the same room with no drama. Only for Hen and Chimney to rain on his parade with the texts saying something like “they’ve been secretly seeing each other since the breakup”, but they don’t know the details.

So one day, Eddie tries to bring it up by inviting Tommy and Buck to a Zoom call. Eddie says “hey, the rest of the gang thinks you’re dating again, so you might want to set that straight for them before it spirals into a thing”

And Buck and Tommy are dead silent, and Eddie realizes. “No way, you couldn’t have told me?!”

“Well, we’re not dating,” Tommy says.

Buck is a little hurt but it’s the truth.

So Eddie says “if you’re hooking up, you might as well date again. Same perks plus cuddles and spending time with each other.”

Tommy abruptly leaves the Zoom, and Buck looks like he might cry. Eddie tries to cheer him up, but Buck starts crying.

Then Buck hears someone knocking on his door. It’s Tommy. Eddie’s still on Zoom, so he gets to watch and record them deciding to get back together. Win-win for everyone.

[lovecolibri]

I do think it’s so annoying to bring him back especially if they have a one night stand too like some people are speculating. I wonder if they’re going for buddie realization they need someone who’s an “outsider” to point it out to Buck though they literally could have created a whole other character for that too. Idk my only hope is that it closes that door completely so those fans can finally just leave the fandom

Yeah, and again this "outsider pov" with him could have worked last season, but now it doesn't make any sense. And, if they wanted someone they already have but still a bit of an "outsider" perspective, Ravi is RIGHT FUCKING THERE. Karen, and Josh are RIGHT FUCKING THERE, and all of them are people the audience enjoys seeing!

It's not that hard to pick multiple other routes they could have gone down that made more sense for the characters but like I said earlier, the show would rather do "shock and drama" than bother to put the effort into writing a good story that makes sense. Given the writers we have now...well. Disappointed but not surprised 🤷🏻‍♀️

The destination and ultimate outcome is probably gonna be fine but the journey to get there should be enjoyable too and I for one miss the emergency calls and firefam interactions, and quite frankly am tired of watching Buck get "firsts" with random side characters, lessening the chance we get to see those things with the character that actually matters.

[sevensoulmates]

As always it's a delight to get to read your posts and meta, it's just as satisfactory and fun as it is watching the show. You're just awesome ❤️

You know after watching the last episode (and now that we know little bit more about Marisol) it made me feel really sorry for her, because I just know she'll be collateral damage while Eddie figures himself out and that's just so sad. And I wasn't really sure why those comments Eddie made about him/Marisol when they encountered Buck and Tommy at the restaurant and after having sex with her made me feel so uncomfortable, but then you pointed it out and I was like yeah that was kinda like locker room talk, Eddie was overcompensating here like trying to be a big macho man and that's why it felt so weird.

I'm baffled about Eddie's situation the most because I'm sure it's gonna be hell for him for a while since he will have to work through a lot of issues to finally be at peace with himself. And until stated otherwise my headcanon is the same as yours. I'm sure he is a gay repressed man (and not no get into the gay Eddie vs demisexual  Eddie discourse but I'm sure he may be both) I grew up in a Mexican household, I was raised catholic and although I wasn't in the army my dad was and he raised me and my siblings with an iron fist. So Eddie's background/storyline has always hit too close to home for me. I'm just dreading all the issues he's going to have to face.

Which brings me to this. To show his coming out arc and make it into completion do you think they will have to show us more about his childhood and upbringing, not just having Eddie talking about it but to have scenes like we did with Buck's childhood?

And why do you think the scene about Buck apologizing to Eddie for hurting him at the basketball court had to happen off screen?

Btw thanks for always replying to my questions.

Hi there!!! No problem!!! You always have super interesting questions to ask, so I am always delighted to answer them!

We all know how Eddie feels about "performance". I just feel like why would Eddie feel like the performance stops once he's actually made it past the dating phase and into the relationship phase? Maybe the external pressure from others is off (none of his family or the firefam questioning him, etc) but in order to KEEP the relationship, it really would require MORE performing.

It's fascinating to me, because we don't see Eddie acting this way with Shannon. You could make some arguments that their relationship was pretty fractured from the get-go and we didn't really see their dating/"honeymoon" phase but even when they were ~slightly~ back together in season 2b, Eddie wasn't acting like that with Shannon. Even when they were sleeping together, he wasn't. The most he did was make a couple of cringe comments about his "dashing good looks" or something, but that was more poking fun at himself. Even when Eddie was telling Buck about how "sex complicates things" with Shannon, he wasn't out here smirking or making comments about how good it feels to finally get some after two years of (apparent) celibacy. Say what you want about their relationship, but at least Eddie respected Shannon enough as a person to not start speaking about her that way. Their relationship was far too serious for that.

With Ana, it was so incredibly hard to watch because even though the storyline ITSELF wasn't about sex, a lot of their scenes had that edge to it? Like the sex-scene fake out in season 4, "grade me on a curve", "you really like to see me dressed up" "and the other thing" it was so ODD and FORCED. At the time of s4/5 airing you could maybe chalk it up to Eddie overcorrecting since it's his first real relationship after Shannon, but then he goes and does the same thing with Marisol which now makes it a pattern.

Once it clicked in my brain that the reason his relationships with women feel so fake is that he is literally putting on a show of hyper-heterosexuality (idk if that's a real term or not but roll with me here) it all made sense. I think seeing him "in a relationship" with Marisol for real was the final puzzle piece to seal this deal for me.

His extreme performances with these women, combined with their purposeful lack of development into full characters, all points to the fact that none of these relationships are going to work out. Eddie is not going to be able to actually settle down with his "endgame" partner until he actually finds someone he can be his true, real self with and "doesn't have to pretend with them" ;)

Is it bad that I actually enjoyed getting to know Marisol a little? Putting aside the actress, Marisol, the character, is interesting, because we're actually getting to know her a little bit more, far more than we got to with Ana. But I find both of these love interests fascinating in one mutual way: the fact that they put up with Eddie. Like I think about other characters and if they would've been okay being treated by their partners the way Eddie treats his girlfriends and I'm like.....hell no!

Oddly enough the only person I could see putting up with it was Buck before he finally started realizing that he doesn't have to be in a relationship with someone just because they want him. Only someone who also has deep insecurities, abandonment issues, and a general lack of self-respect would put up with Eddie's BS to his girlfriends. That's not to say that Eddie's a horrible person or abuses his partners or anything, but it's basically indisputable that he does not ever put in any emotional work to actually create meaningful relationships with his girlfriends. So why were Ana and now Marisol, so willing to accept that?

Ana resisted the break-up even though she could feel Eddie's whole heart wasn't in it. She was willing to keep trying in a dead relationship just in the hopes that something would work out. The same goes for Marisol. Idk about you, but if I was in a relationship with a man for going on 4-6 months and he knew NOTHING about me? I'd feel unloved, uncared for, and unappreciated, and I'd LEAVE.

We know that Marisol was scared of Eddie rejecting her or fetishizing her and that's why she didn't tell him about the nun thing, and I understand her reasoning and fear there. But gworlie, what else do we know about you? Can Eddie name a single hobby you have outside of loving Jesus and DIYing houses? Does Eddie even know your last name? It really makes me think that Marisol is unfortunately the type to just let things like this slide in the hopes that some man will accept her, any man. Since they rarely do because of the nun thing. And boy, do I understand that feeling, but that's NOT real love. I bet you anything once we get to the Eddiemarisol breakup she's gonna be very similar to Ana in that she knew Eddie's heart wasn't fully in it, but she just didn't want to be alone again.

I think that like attracts like, and Eddie's clutching onto this relationship for the same reason Marisol's clutching onto this relationship: because it's easier than being alone and being judged for it.

This is a tangent but I also want to point out that one thing that Eddie found uncomfortable about Marisol being a nun was the fact that nuns used to be his teachers....but was Ana also not a teacher? Just because she wasn't a nun, doesn't mean she couldn't have also been in a position of power that Eddie could've found uncomfortable. I find it interesting that even though Marisol's not a teacher, the show found a way to connect her to teachers and therefore to Ana.

As for Eddie's coming out arc, while I don't think it's entirely a necessity to have flashbacks to how he grew up, I certainly think it would help a lot of people who can't read between the lines if they had some. I especially would like to see scenes of young him + Shannon. Maybe seeing how the pressure from his family and church led him to believe men have to be a certain way, potentially microaggressions about being lgbt that he might've seen from his family/church (I don't necessarily mean full-on homophobia but possibly like little ways in which he was shown that there was no other "acceptable" option from his church other than heterosexuality. I think seeing scenes of how he and Shannon got together could be enlightening too, how their community reacted to them getting pregnant, etc. I think all of this, combined with a mirrored storyline in the present (similar to Buck Begins) would really drive home the point the show is trying to make, especially if they can finally be overt about Eddie's queerness. BUT all of this can still be done present day without the need for flashbacks either. I just think it would be a way to make the storytelling more rich and to spell it out more obviously for the people in the back.

As for Buck apologizing to Eddie for the basketball scene...I would've liked to see it too, but at the end of the day, it's like Ryan said in his interview...Eddie was always going to forgive Buck because he loves him to his core, because he knew Buck didn't come at it from a place of truly wanting to hurt Eddie. All of it was a manifestation of Buck's own issues, and by this point (especially after the lawsuit arc and the deadbrother arc) Eddie is aware of that. We did see plenty of scenes where Buck was scolded and demonstrated he was aware his actions were shitty, and Eddie probably assumed that letting Buck stew in his own guilt was atonement enough. And so I think likely the writers felt that in the end, the sentiment got across. Separately--given all the switcheroo stuff that happened with 7x04 and 7x05, I wouldn't be surprised if there WAS an apology scene and it got cut for time.

[cinematics123]

So… there is a lot. And I will probably save some of it for a more focused/personal Buddie post.

First, if you were on the Buddie train (and I am) you were not wrong. Secondly, despite no Buddie, this was an excellent finale. Even the pacing was mostly on point. It was… good tv. If they were going to get cancelled (and they thought they were) this was the canon ending. We’ll call this CanonA. Let’s look at the CanonA ending.

For many of our mains, the firefam, it’s a good ending. Bobby and Athena are both healthy and get their cruise. Maddie and Chimney are planning their legal escape from the IRS wedding.

Hen and Karen story picked back up a thread about a baby, which is very interesting, but… we didn’t really get anything else on Denny and his Dad? Is that story line… done? Are they ok? It seemed like there was more conflict because of how the hospital scene let Nathaniel in but with some real distrust. It feels like they dropped one (meaningful) thread to grasp at another. It’s good, but not great.

Buck’s ending is more mixed; Eddie’s is downright tragic. Buck’s CanonA ending is that he got close to the answer and got the wrong one. Any wonder that his math power crapped out on a date with Natalia? People have said that growth in the show is non-linear. People don’t always learn, people don’t always grow. Buck makes the same couch mistake he did with Taylor. In CanonA, Buck may never know how close he got to that special ending. Instead in CanonA, instead of finding happiness, he goes down the Lev path from 6A. Happy-ish. Girlfriend, maybe kids, life gets busy, maybe finding the meaning at the end. Not bad, but not what “The Age of Absolutely” was about either.

Eddie’s is… tragic. We’ve gotten trickles of Eddie’s real story, but 6B confirmed so much fandom speculation. Though he had met Shannon before, they got together senior year, right into kids and marriage - and Eddie runs away for at least 2 deployments. He bails. He later dates Ana, sees the ready made family - and breaks up with her. He is putting wanting a wife and mother over his heart - that’s canon.

Eddie fawning over Buck in the poker scene and all of 6B is equally canon. Please correct me if I’m wrong but I believe their last deep talk together is… about how Natalia sees Buck. Eddie says the experience had to have changed Buck. Not only does he see Buck… but implies something has changed between him and Buck. With Nat and Buck dating, Eddie rushes to find anyone to date - and basically ends up with Ana2 (instead of Chris’ teacher, she helps him find glue for his project).

It seems like… Eddie’s realized that while he sees Buck, Buck… doesn’t see him. And Buck is not seeing Eddie in that scene. In a kind of parallel to “Buck is in the room”, Eddie needs Buck there too… but this time Buck goes the other way and Eddie doesn’t say a word. Instead, Buck goes… and Eddie goes back to his heteronormative fantasy. Despite saying he wants to get better “for me” he’s after a wife and mother for Chris, Chris is even there with him on the date phone call. It’s not just lack of progress, Eddie got to the very threshold of opening himself to Buck - if only admitting it to himself. Instead back into the closet. That’s Eddie’s CanonA ending. It’s grim. It doesn’t “get better” for Eddie. He gets to the edge and chickens out.

If you think you were misled that Buddie was a romantic plot, you’re right. When looking at our firefam, Buck and Eddie were constantly paired alongside the other couples. We didn’t just see them through a romantic lens, that was how they were presented. In the CanonA ending, there is not even a last scene with Buck and Eddie tighter as friends, it’s Buck&Nat and Eddie/Chris talking to Marisol. The pairing of the two as a couple/family is broken. In itself, that’s sad. Them laughing over beers or Buck being there encouraging Eddie on while he talked would not have broken the “coupling” lens. They deliberately chose to do so.

So much like how Eddie reaches the point of understanding only to hesitate and withdraw back into heteronormativity, so does 911 on Fox. It clearly got to the point of understanding Buddie as a couple, presenting Buddifer as a family, and then… pulls back and gives them last minute female love interests. Like Eddie, it chickens out and loses out on giving Buddie CanonA happy ending. Instead what it gave then was… realistic and everyday bad relationships. They got close, but in a case of life imitating art, like Eddie it settles for being convention and traditional at the expense of its own growth and happiness. I hope 911 on ABC does them better.

[jackabbot]

I can't put it into words very well but the parallel between natalia and buck's parents is so irritating. he was too much for all of them but he accepts them back into his life because well, they came back. both are only interested in him when he's hurt, both don't really know him but the end of s6 was focused on showing how happy he was in their presence and feeling seen. it feels weird to me especially knowing the end of the coma dream was 'I don't need all that, I'm enough'

yeah that felt very counterproductive in contrast with the coma dream, but that's exactly why I have hopes that it was one of those 'looks like a good ending if we don't get picked up, but we can turn it into a stroyline if we do' things.

and while I don't like Natalia, I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt cuz like...

on one hand that burst of excitement was very unprofessional for someone whose job is to help people make their peace with death, but on the other hand this was her first time talking to someone who came back and she's clearly very passionate about the topic and doesn't see death to be this serious, daunting and painful thing the way other people do? plus she said so herself that she thought she was being too much.

idk I hope they put an actual death doula into the show to help Buck and the firefam deal with his death and their other near death experiences... otherwise what's the point, right?

(the Buckley parents can choke now and forever though, if there won't be any drama about them being at the madney wedding, I'll flip a table through the roof)

[azaharinflames]

Any thoughts as to what Tim's playing at this season? I mean, what's the point of having a found family if it's as dysfunctional as your actual family? They hardly communicate (or even talk in some cases) to each other which would be ok if they were individually acting like functional adults, but they aren't even doing that. Seriously, just using Buck example because his case is so egregious, if a friend of mine with a history of unhealthy coping habits after an emotionally abusive childhood had a bad break up for no real reason and then proceeded to bury our friend broup in baked goods, I wouldn't just eat up and say "yum, way to cope." Dude would be getting an intervention and the whole Buck going overboard with the people pleasing should be a sign that he's doing even worse. Even if Tim has a plan (and I don't think he ever does), it seems to be 'find love with the person who doesn't lead you to have emotional burnout' which isn't a good message so much as THE BARE MINIMUM OF A HEALTHY ADULT RELATIONSHIP. If this is the narrative quality of season 8, did we really need a season 9????

Honestly, Nonnie? Feels lame to say, but I don't think I'll get the full picture until the Season finishes airing. For now, the major thing I get from it all is that Tim had an overall plan on how he wanted the Season to go, but he didn't (and hasn't) worked or thought about the details as much as he would need to.

On that note, I will disagree slightly with you, because I do believe Tim had a plan going into this season. Mostly because the studio (aka the people above him) does ask for things like this. As aforementioned, I think the issues came when he had to define the smallest details, and how he was going to get from point A to point B, but the overall arch? Is there. Even if we don't fully see it yet.

I do have a theory on what the Season could sum up to, to be honest, even when I don't think it's fully accomplished, and that is the overall theme of home. Do I think it applies perfectly to all characters? Well, not 100%. But I think it still does apply to them in one way or another, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was Tim's final aim.

Nevertheless, as I mentioned - the way to get from point A to point B is full of issues, mostly because it does feel like he thinks of the bigger plot points first, and then twists the actual context so it fits what he wants at the moment, rather than organically work for it.

Just to put Buck as an example here, too. I might be completely wrong, but i do think Buck's arc this season could be about finding his home, outside of the firehouse (something he's struggled to find since the start of the show, really). That involves the people around him, but it especially involves Tommy. And what they're doing with them, this will-they-won't-they that seems taken out of a rom-com (which we know Tim intended), is working towards that, and towards him finally finding his place and his home. I do think that involves Tommy, and I honestly would not be surprised if it ends with them moving in together, but I digress.

In order to create this rom-com storyline, Tim has had to bend things a little, and that in return has affected the show, and the overall relationships of the show and the firefam. Because that whole scene of not letting Buck call Tommy? Straight from a rom-com. Letting him get deep into his spiraling over Tommy being gone? Rom-com. The show making a point to show how everyone has someone to be with and to confide in, save Buck? Rom-com. And Tim twists the context to get that, even if from our perspective if feels weird and slightly out of character. Do I make sense?

Again, I will refrain from harsher judgment until I see the entirety of the Season, and only then I will admit it all had a point, or I will be extremely critical of it all. Hopefully it is the former!

[styxhuntress]

Absolutely! Here a few notes from reblogs of this post that I’d like to reference in what I am about to add:

#1

#2

These last three reblogs make good observations and points. The Buck fandom does have a habit of excusing some of his actions for the similar reasons the 118 sometimes use to justify their treatment of him. So it is important to note that while the treatment towards Buck is absolutely disgusting, he does sometimes have major reactions and in the case of the lawsuit arc (i.e. immediately going straight to lawsuit rather than going to the union to inquire about appealing the decision) impulsively over reactions, all of these decisions come from a major fear of abandonment and isolation.

He feels as though he is being left behind and so makes the decision to fight for his family. He breaks the law to save Maddie because he just got her back and couldn’t stand the thought of losing her again. He is sad that Eddie is leaving, he feels like he is being abandoned again, the fact that his breakup with Tommy was still recent absolutely made it worse, and so he lashes out verbally.

The 118 treat Buck the way that they do simply because they can. It doesn’t have anything to do with personal traumas or anything like that. They can take advantage of him so they do.

That being said the following reblog makes a couple good points:

#3

However it should be noted that these instances of someone being there for Buck, the individual is not a direct member of the 118 firefam, they are 118 adjacent. Albert is Chim’s brother and Athena is Hen’s friend and Bobby’s wife. And so are only technically part of the firefam. And I wish we were seeing more of them interacting with Buck. I miss Albert. (However I still have beef with the buckley parents that is way to extensive and off topic to add to this post. So maybe I’ll make a separate post later.)

Another thing I though of regarding how Buck is treated that is somewhat related to his parents: the reason they are able to get away with treating Buck that way without him realizing is because he was treated that way by everyone in his life for his entire life. He simply doesn’t know any different. The Buckley parents damaged his self worth so badly that Buck is regularly apologizing and taking the blame for situations that are absolutely not his fault and he never expects an apology when he is wronged because he doesn’t think he is worthy of that kind of basic empathy and consideration.

Tommy was the first to truly treat Buck as an equal, and tell him that his emotions, and his wants and needs are valid. That he is allowed to want the care and consideration he consistently shows others. This is why so many people love Tommy so much. Because for once someone was putting Buck first. And they got rid of him.

It so insanely frustrating seeing Buck constantly put down and treated like garbage. ABC truly needs to do better.

The way Buck is treated is absolutely heartbreaking.

On the surface yes, maybe the 118 does look like a found family unit. And most of them have a good family bond with one another. But not with Buck. (Long rant below the cut)

Buck has the biggest heart out of anyone on the show. He is constantly going out of his way to help people. This is particularly prominent with Eddie, but he does this for so many characters.

He lets Hen, Eddie and Chim stay with him during the lockdown, never asks them to help pay rent, and then later lets Albert stay with him with no complaint.

He is constantly babysitting Chris and later Jee while their respective parents go do other things, and while he clearly loves spending time with them this is definitely a massive favor on his part because babysitting kids is hard work.

He is always there to support them when they need it.

He’s the one that prompts them to check on Bobby in season 1.

He is there for Chim as best he can when Maddie leaves.

When Maddie shows up at his apartment in Season 2 he doesn’t get angry with her for essentially breaking into his home and helping herself to a bottle of wine. And instead helps her settle down with a safe new job and becomes her shoulder to cry on during this period.

He drops everything when Eddie asks for his help, when Eddie mentions issues with childcare and paperwork for Chris Buck introduces him to Carla.

When Eddie has to bring Chris to the station Buck calls ahead so Bobby can get permission.

When Eddie gets shot Buck takes over Chris’s care without prompting.

When Eddie has issues with parenting Chris he calls Buck for help and Buck helps.

When Eddie has a meltdown and takes a bat to the wall, not only does Buck drop everything and run to help him, he also goes further by taking eddie to see the kid they saved the day he was shot.

Whenever Eddie needed anything Buck was there.

When Eddie desperately needed a sub letter so that he could move Buck went and took over the lease.

When he found out Eddie was moving he went and did what he could to help him despite being devastated.

Whenever anyone needed anything, Buck was there. And Buck was always happy to do it.

But when Buck was feeling abandoned after the embolism no one reached out, instead Eddie dumped Chris on him under the pretense of getting him out and about and stop moping for the day.

When Maddie left, no one thought to ask Buck how he was doing. Instead they focused entirely on Chim. And when Chim punched Buck no one at any point stood up for Buck, instead going on about how Chim is under a lot of distress right now as though Buck isn’t also feeling the loss and worry of his Sister up and leaving.

When Buck filed the lawsuit they almost all immediately went and put all the blame on Buck. Hen was the only one to point out that they were all Buck had, that he had no other family outside the 118. Despite that they still punished him, Eddie taking his anger out on Buck because the lawsuit meant Buck couldn’t bail him out and he couldn’t spend time with Chris and never once saying he missed Buck too. He was pissed because Buck couldn’t drop everything and help him. He was accused of being reckless and impulsive and using their own issues for his own gain and for being selfish and stupid and exhausting despite the fact that he was being treated unfairly. He was hurt, and alone and just needed a hug.

When Buck found out about Daniel and distanced himself from Maddie, Chimney started borderline harassing Buck trying to get him to talk to her, despite a) Buck having had a major bombshell dropped on him, getting his entire life put into a new perspective based on this information, and finding out why his parents treated him the way they did and so needing to process, and B) Buck repeatedly setting boundaries and saying he needed space to process and he’d talk to Maddie when he was ready. Chimney completely ignores Buck’s boundaries as though what Buck needs or wants doesn’t matter because Maddie is upset and wants to talk to him, and only her desires and emotional well being have any level of importance and despite asking for space she literally ambushes him at work to force a conversation he is not ready for. And no one else tries telling Chim to leave Buck alone, and then Eddie only has a half assed conversation with Buck despite being his so called best friend, where he basically dismisses Buck’s feelings and tells him he’s over reacting.

When Eddie was leaving and Buck was upset he was repeatedly accused of making it about himself, being selfish, unreasonable, unsupportive and a jerk when he literally just found out from nowhere that Eddie made a down payment just overheard his best friend basically dismiss their friendship (“I have no ties here, everything that matters is in Texas”) he gets judged and berated for being upset, as though he’s not allowed to have feelings, and when he tries to apologize for his snarkiness gets once again berated and when he finally tells Eddie that he took over the lease and thus he can move, aka the ultimate supportive action, not once does Eddie apologize.

When Buck breaks up with Tommy no one bothers to really check in with him on a deeper level, instead they dismiss his wants by stealing his phone so that he can’t call him and then no one brings it up again despite him clearly still being devastated for every following episode.

When Buck gets SA’d by the therapist he is immediately getting made fun of, and accused of being a manwhore and essentially blamed for being assaulted. No one ever, not once, bothers to wonder if he’s doing alright.

And when Buck is still waiting for Abby to come back rather than being supportive or anything like that he gets laughed at for living in his girlfriend’s apartment and being dumb enough to think she’ll come back.

When Eddie gets a new friend he immediately starts spending all his free time with that friend and never inviting Buck, even if they were planning something Buck would enjoy, instead asking if Buck can babysit (his kid is 14/15 at this point and just because he has CP I still think he can spend a couple of hours home alone. He’s not bedridden or anything.) and basically ignoring his supposed best friend in favor of his shiny new friend.

Whenever Buck needed anything he was laughed at, belittled and dismissed. They constantly take advantage of his kindness. Buck gives and gives and gives to them and gets nothing back. He is only wanted when he can be useful and when they need him. They take and take and take and the second Buck needs even a small amount of empathy or help he gets accused of being selfish, needy, exhausting, of making everything about him, of overreacting. He is essentially told, over and over that he is not allowed to have feelings or boundaries. He is not allowed to need help he can only give help. He is only valued when he can do something for someone else and godforbid he ever ask for the same consideration because otherwise he’s being needy. He makes everyone else his priority and never is he anyone’s priority in return.

Until Tommy anyway, he finally had someone who would take care of him, who acknowledged his feelings and showed him they were valid, who clearly adored all of Buck and never asked him for anything and indulged in his quirks and who was happy to be there for him, who complimented him and who overall clearly adored Buck. Even before they were dating when Tommy saw that Buck clearly was feeling left out he went over to his place to apologize, despite not actually doing anything wrong himself.

I seriously think that if Tommy saw how they all treated Buck he’d lose the delusion that they are basically a family really fast and promptly get pissed on Buck’s behalf. He’d also do everything in his power to help Buck realize that he matters as a person.

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Just thinking about the universe and catalysts and paths diverging so you can learn and grow before merging again!

Eddie got buried under 40feet of mud and had to take a different route to get back to the surface (even ground)- he was buried under his trauma and couldn’t get out by going back the way he came so he had to forge a new path. Which we then saw him do through seasons 4 and 5.

Then there’s Buck climbing that crane after Eddie got shot but metaphorically speaking, he never came back down. The idea of detachment from the world - you can still see it and you’re still part of it, but you’re not actively participating in it (Which is also a metaphor for donor not dad!). It connects in really interestingly with touch points of Bucks storyline since the well - his searching for something (a way down) while we keep seeing scenes happening involving height/ high things - the train rescue, then he met Abby on a hill overlooking the city (the same metaphor)blimps, walkways collapsing, the fact we’ve been out on bucks balcony a few times even the fact we’ve seen the firefam up on the roof of the firehouse!

It’s so interesting how the two arcs are paralleling each other and counterbalancing each other at key points - starting from the well. It’s the same trigger points for them both and how Buck tried to dig to get to Eddie but couldn’t because Eddie needed to find his own way back to the ground, and how Eddie is going to try to get to Buck but won’t be able to, because Buck needs to find his own way down (by this I mean separate from Eddie as if he’s in a coma he won’t be getting down on his own in the literal sense!)

It also therefore stands to reason that the flashbacks (or coma dream for Buck) will counter balance each other as well. Eddie’s flashbacks showed him his family - the one he was building and made him realise that Buck is a central part of that and I would argue, allowed him to recognise and accept that Shannon, whilst an important relationship in his life and someone he loved, was also toxic for him and that he could put that part of his life to rest. Bucks coma dream will conversely (most likely as we don’t actually know at this point) show him what life would be like without Eddie and Chris in it (fully expecting 6x11 to be an Eddie free episode because his absence is more telling and important then his presence!) and how what he thinks he wants and what he actually wants (and is already on his way to getting) are two different things - that the fantasy childhood he’s been dreaming of wouldn’t necessarily lead him to a happy adult life - that what he has fought to build is far better.

The universe is taking matters into its own hands to get him down - it might have been happy to let Eddie take a longer route to get back to the ground, because Eddie was making progress but Buck has been stuck in the air ultimately in stasis so it’s going to be a quicker route to the ground as it just shocks (literally and metaphorically) him into action and to getting back to the ground.

We’re so close to them both being in the same place at the same time that I’m vibrating at the epic story unfolding

[whateverthedragonswant]

thinking about buck and chris in the tsunami and buck helping build chris an adapted skateboard and buck being the one to sit next to chris and tell him his dad might not be coming home and eddie putting buck in his will and them having ONE SCENE together in all of 6a?like i 100% get wanting to focus on other relationships, but at this point it truly doesn’t make sense for there to be almost no buckley-diaz scenes because we KNOW how important they are to each other, romantic or not.

Hey, Anon!

I totally get what you're saying and I do agree but I also think they're still trying to show us in ways that Buck and Eddie are still very important to one another while we go through the first half of the season. They've had more than one scene together but they usually have someone else around. I think that's what you're referring to, right? The missing heart-to-hearts that they usually have? I completely get that this is throwing a lot of people off because it's not their usual pattern. Even when KR took over last season, we still got heart-to-hearts with both of them every so often. But here's the thing, I think we're going to get some of those back in 6B because if Buck does have a breakdown or he reaches a breaking point, there's no way Eddie wouldn't be part of that landscape. Because Eddie was so heavily involved in the story line two seasons ago:

Annnnd since we know the Buckley parents are returning and they're most likely it has to do with this story line for Buck this season, it stands to reason that at some point Eddie will be returning this for Buck:

And I am absolutely certain because this season so far we've seen:

Eddie reassuring Buck like he always has when Buck was worried about Karen (and this is definitely Eddie doing that by looking at Buck as he begins to speak when Buck wasn't even looking to him, he was saying it for everyone but more specifically Buck's benefit which is why we then get the looksie loo between them after he says it). Something he did in 3x16 about possibly losing contact with the firefam. Something he tried to do in 4x04 and 4x05.

And then we also get:

While it was kind of Buck and Eddie to do this for that person, isn't it weird that out of the 118, they're the only two? When you know if they had asked, Chim, Bobby, and Hen would have helped? And isn't it weird that the random people they bring with them are two men and two women, and the framing shows each man and each woman walking in together from both sides, behind Eddie, Buck, and the homeowner? They're showing this because that 5x18 scene was a big deal for these two, just like the will scene in 4x14 like you mentioned. But they also show Buck and Eddie in two different cars arriving (when they could have carpooled, especially given gas prices at that point lol) because they're on their own separate journeys, but they're going to arrive in the same place: together and back to their close relationship but this time knowing what they want and being all the stronger for it, stronger to the point that they can even help others like this homeowner. But overall one important thing: a solid, united team. And for any work partnership or friendship, this is one hell of a scenic route to go on to patch either of those up, when it won't lead somewhere past that.

So I get what you're saying and it is a bit of an odd route to take but I have faith that it will all pay off in the end. To me, as an amateur writer, it makes sense. If Buck breaks down, I don't see how anyone could justify Eddie not being there for him during that. Especially when they keep bringing to our attention that Eddie knows something is up with Buck (before learning about the donation), Eddie still knows things about Buck that no one else does (and vice versa as we saw play out in 6x09), and these two are still very much a unit, even if it's not happening physically on screen at the moment. And while I may not always agree with KR's talking points in certain interviews, I do think she's going in the direction she was told to do, just in her own way. And while it might not be the way we like, one thing they haven't gotten rid of is the story telling they're doing through other devices that films and television shows always use. Right now, KR doesn't need the GA to see Buddie, not overtly. Once it gets closer and Buck goes through what he has to, things will become less subtle. (and I have tbh, I don't even think it's really all that subtle anymore) But I still see the same story they've been telling the past few years, since season 3, and I don't see any indication that Buddie won't happen.

Like one of my other anons said, Buck spending time with other 118 members & Eddie doing the same...this is all a precursor to them eventually getting together. Once they do get together, they'll still have scenes with the firefam separately, just like we see with Hen and Karen, Chim and Maddie, Bobby and Athena, etc.

And I get what you mean about no Buckley-Diaz scenes butttt we did get that one scene in the season premiere and that is SO important because the first episode of a season always sets up what the main focal points are going to be for that season's story line of the show. And while we don't get anymore physical scenes with them, we do see Eddie and Buck discussing Chris' crush, Eddie asking Buck if Chris has told him any secrets, etc. It's still very present in the story line. And on top of that, since this season is about Buck finding out what he wants (and the donation comes into play), it makes sense that the Buckley-Diaz isn't the focus right now (scenes with the firefam or not) because Buck's relationship with both Eddie and Chris are solid. It's not coming into question right now; it's a given. Since Buck is going on this journey (and Eddie is doing his own as well), it makes sense that we don't see as much Chris/Buck or family scenes. We might get some more in 6B but I'll be honest with you, I wouldn't even be surprised if we only got one, if any at all.

Any other time we've gotten Buckley-Diaz scenes, it is always in relation to one of the three's emotional landscapes in the story. The show just worked hard to separate Eddie and Christopher so Eddie can find out what he wants for himself. They're now working to help Buck figure out what he wants. Christopher is doing well and the theme of his and Eddie's relationship this season is him getting older and not needing Eddie as much. It all makes sense then that we're not seeing the B-D unit as much this season.

But I feel you, Anon, I do. I get that this is frustrating for some. I partially blame that on the streaming culture we currently have because not only have we been waiting for this to happen for a long time, it's the waiting for weekly episodes, the winter break, the interviews in between, that kills us, too. I myself just recently gave up on a show that I regret starting because I care about the characters so much but the writing is questionable at best (which puts it very nicely) and they're more concerned with fanservice than they are good storytelling it feels like. I tried to have patience, to hang in there, trying to see what we were being told through every single device used, but I got so frustrated I said 'fuck it, I'll wait and binge when it's all said and done. I'm wasting too much time waiting and being frustrated about this so fuck it.' And it takes a lot for me to do that but getting back to the point, I get it if some people want to wait until it does happen, or that they can stream the full season once it's over. And I get the frustration, but I promise, I really do believe Buddie is on its way. It's just taking the long (scenic) route. Which is completely characteristic of slow burns but you also have networks and shows that love to milk the crap out of something like this, too. Whatever keeps people coming back to watch every week. But I get it all. I hope in this ramble somewhere I'm making sense lol.

So my very long point is to hang in there, Anon. It's coming, and I think once 6B airs in its entirety, it will all make sense. I think even rewatching all of 6A will even help pull the puzzle pieces together and all of the connections will be seen that much more. I plan to do that myself once I get some time.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day, Anon!!! <3

[lovecolibri]

Somewhat unrelated to the original post but i have to say i love these tags. Tim has been taking some huge swings with the move to abc - 3 part cruise disaster, 3 part beenado/plane, cartel, doppelganger - and the show has lost a bit of itself in the process. I mean, I'd kill for a "boring" episode with 3 or 4 calls that tie in to whatever issue the team is discussing in the engine/firehouse.

Yay for peer-reviewed tags! What I will say about beenado at least is that we did get multiple emergencies out of it just like season opening episodes used to do (if not *quite* so centralized in focus) before moving into the two-part "opening disaster" in episodes 2-3. The plane crash however did suffer from some of the same issue as the cruise disaster which is: making the disaster more police focused and putting Athena in the center which by necessity, somewhat sidelines the firefam and the emergency rescue stuff we used to see with things like the s1 plane crash, earthquake, tsunami, and mudslide. All of which I will say, have some of my absolute FAVORITE Athena moments because we get to see her saving people! The s8 plane crash did do well in the first part by letting the firefam in via over-the-phone rescues, and of course Athena was great! But I miss seeing the firefam work emergency calls!

And while it was good to get some Bobby backstory in s7, we ended up with Bobby missing and some whole cartel storyline and barely saw the firefam at all! Which worked for the first "begins" episodes (Chimney Begins is one of my fave eps of all time and there is basically zero firefam!), but at this point, we are deep enough in the show to want to see these big moments and personal trials play out with the firefam helping! It's why things like the coma arc (sidelining the firefam to center the Buckley parents), the Madney wedding (focusing on Doug instead of doing either a silly Hangover storyline of Chim getting back to Maddie or a "Buck as Kevin" storyline of Chim seeing he still has a brother and Kevin is "passing the torch" to Buck to watch over him), the cartel/trauma porn for Bobby arc, and even to some extent the second episode of the shooting arc basically sidelining Eddie from his own story (without the two scenes Tim insisted on, Eddie and Chris would have had almost NO lines OR scenes in the episode!!), etc haven't really connected with me the way early seasons did.

And it's honestly an issue the show has had pretty consistently since season 5 with that blackout arc centered on a creep being a creep and Athena stalking him instead of like...ANYTHING about trying to do rescues in the dark. Some of which was a showrunner issue, some was a FOX cutting budget issue I'm sure, but now it definitely feels like a "someone said we have to go BIG and *dramatique* at all times for shock value, regardless if it serves the story or characters or not".

I just want to see the firefam on shift together every week (another newer thing where they're suddenly just NOT always on shift together even though several MAJOR plot points have hinged on how shit they are at, and about, having to work with anyone but their regular partners), doing emergency calls that reflect the title of the episode and also several main character's personal struggle arc, and see them be inspired to talk to each other about things! It was the reason this show and all the main characters were so easy to fall in love with and their strongest dynamics are with each other!

I don't need 3 major whole-episode or two emergencies per season! I need an opening "check-in" episode followed by a 2-part natural disaster, and single-episode "big" finale disaster, and the rest of the season is multiple character arcs happening at once, rising and falling at different times so everyone gets the spotlight at different times, but other things are still happening every episode, either starting the wind-up, or winding down. Seasons 2-3 really did have such a great formula and I kinda need Tim to refocus on what makes this show great. It's not the over-the-top ridiculous drama. Those shows are a dime a dozen, as are police procedurals about creeps and kidnapped/brutalized women. This show is always at it's best when the focus is on SAVING people, not finding and punishing people. And to that end, centering the emergencies on the main characters and the victims they are trying to save instead of centering stories on the person perpetrating crimes. And it's the found family dynamics that drew people in in season 1 as we watched it all form, and in those first few seasons where we saw them as a GROUP be the center of the show. I miss it, and I'd like to get back to that.

[johanna-swann]

One thing about Buck is that he loves with his whole heart. When he loves a person then he wants to spend time with them, talk to them, be involved in their life, actively do things with and for them. He always puts a lot of himself into his personal relationships.

Unlike Buck, Eddie on the other hand never struck me as a lonely person. The Buckley parenting made Buck strive for love, the Diaz parenting made Eddie strive for freedom. Buck and Eddie are very different in this regard. Eddie values his independence and that includes independence from Buck sometimes. (Which is why I also think they'd make a terrible couple, but that's besides the point).

It can seem like Buck is dependent on Eddie (and never the other way around) when in reality Buck just likes to keep his loved ones close. He doesn't pick Eddie over the others, Eddie's just more "accessible" and Eddie doesn't reciprocate this behaviour because his needs are different. It's not Eddie being a generally bad friend, he just doesn't need other people the way Buck does and both is perfectly okay.

(My mum is a "spend as much time as possible with as many family members at once as possible, let's invite everyone" person, my brother and I are more "well if our cousins stop by that's nice, but we could also just sit on the couch and watch a movie" people. Not everyone has the same preferences when it comes to socialising.)

Some more extra thoughts that came to me while writing this:

On top of that, Eddie may have his struggles with his parents, but he has always been close to a lot of his biological family (his son, his aunt, his grandmother, some LA cousins get mentioned here and there) and he relies less on the firefamily as an actual family. In season 3 it is Eddie who says "the 118 is the family we choose", true, but that's not the entire quote though. He says something like "there's the family we were born with and then there's the family we chose". For him the 118 is like a second family because he still has his first family unlike the other main characters.

Buck and Maddie have each other, but they barely see their parents and aren't emotionally close to them either (also it's more like Maddie joined the firefam after several years of no contact, not like Buck has Maddie and the 118 separately).

Hen only has her mom who she has a complex relationship with that wasn't and isn't always positive (past homophobia, not supportive of med school at first, also forgot Hen's birthday). We also just saw her for the first time in a very brief cameo for the first time since season 5 or so.

Albert was only on the show for a short while, he and Chim didn't really have a relationship before that and by now he and whatever other bio family Chim has live in Korea.

Bobby was completely alone for a very long time and wasn't in contact with his mother or brother for years even before the Minnesota fire.

Athena's parents live in Florida and especially Beatrice is also quite the character. She's both physically and emotionally distanced from them.

None of them have aunts or uncles or cousins or grandparents who they're in semi-regular contact with and who they're actually close to. Most of them have partners and children, but when it comes to more extended family, the 118 is all they have.

Not Eddie though. He loves the 118, but they didn't substitute his family, they're an add on on top of his bio family. He has cousins and an aunt and a grandmother who he loves dearly.

Sorry to wall of text in your ask box:

Regarding codependency: it is very specifically that Buck is codependent on/towards Eddie. He’s upset that he wasn’t included in Eddie’s big decision to move to Texas. He tries to be supportive but ends up throwing a tantrum about it. When Eddie leaves, he can’t stop talking about him, he apparently doesn’t have friends outside of Eddie (that he can hang with) and doesn’t know how to make friends/engage with people without Eddie there. He’s latched on to Eddie and it has negatively impacted his other relationships even his romantic relationships. Now that Eddie is in Texas with no friends, he’s engaging with Buck a lot (via FaceTime). Buck is just a friend, a best friend even, to Eddie. Eddie is much more to Buck -not in a romance way- in a toxic codependent way. It is not evidenced by the entirety of canon. But it is evidenced by Buck’s inability to function socially without his “latch,” his family being curious about his romantic inclinations toward Eddie, and his ex-boyfriend admitting that Eddie was an obstacle in their relationship.

As a fellow latcher, who’s teenage self relates a little too much to this storyline, the only thing missing is a realization that Eddie isn’t latched onto Buck in the same way leading to healthier behaviors in relationships (but really friendships).

hmm, i do see where you're coming from anon but i don't necessarily fully agree. i def think buck is the clingier one in the friendship, but buck is also like that with a lot of people. we've seen really extreme reactions from him at the idea of losing anyone - maddie for example any time she's been in danger, or even his grief during the lawsuit arc about possibly losing his job were really extreme (and theres lots of smaller examples, even like his fear that everyone in the 118 won't keep in touch during the red episode). buck's got those super big abandonment issues and he def puts them on eddie as his bestie but i don't think it's more extreme than he puts on anyone else he loves, so i don't know that i see it as totally a part of their friendship as much as a part of buck's character

the problem is partly that this show is just inconsistent lmfao. there have been times where buck seems to have no problem making new friends. his dinner with madney and josh where he and josh got on super well, or his arc living with albert where they super quickly became close friends, for example. then sometimes the show goes all in on buck being eddie's bestie, often to play it for humor, which makes it a bit hard to get a fully consistent read of the dynamic at times. i do understand how people can see buck as more heavily reliant on eddie than i personally do, but from my view it's always seemed like buck loves the whole 118 as much as he does eddie, but he and eddie are just paired together in more storylines by virtue of how the character connections in the show are paired off and the fact that eddie doesn't have a strong narrative bond to anyone other than buck and christopher

i'm happy to be wrong if you have an example i'm forgetting, but i also don't see it having impacted his romantic relationships at all, other than this last-minute admission from tommy of seeing eddie as some kind of competition, which was never mentioned before now and didn't seem to be a big part of their relationship or breakup at the time. buck and eddie have always been totally fine with each other's romantic partners so i don't personally see that their friendship has ever really impacted their lives at all, except when it bumps up on buck's existing abandonment issues