#this ended up being more about Marisol than about Tommy so I apologize for that

[sevensoulmates]

But in another aspect for the writers to use Tommy that way as a plot device so buck can realize his feelings cause he’s not fully in it seems a bit cruel in a sense you know??

Yes, I totally get you! Like, from a storytelling perspective, it makes sense. Side characters are always a plot device to further the narrative of a main character. But looking at it from a human perspective, it's like, Tommy's a person too, and he doesn't deserve to be treated like nothing but a plot device! The same can be said for all of Buck and Eddie's love interests.

I'm about to say something controversial here, but I really felt for Marisol when she was talking about how men treat her differently when they find out about her almost being a nun. How it either turns them off immediately or it becomes a fetish. I can understand that as someone who can be considered a "late bloomer" romantically and sexually in life. It's one of my deepest fears as I get older that my lack of experience in that aspect will either be something that romantic partners my own age or older will find weird and not want to touch with an 8-foot-pole, or they'll find it arousing specifically because of my lack of experience. So I empathized with Marisol a lot here and I was happy Eddie made the decision to just say he needed some time to adjust instead of just ditching her immediately. I don't think this means they're lasting or endgame by any means, but I'm happy he's at least not making it a deal-breaker.

AND I'm happy that they ARE actually attempting to make Marisol a more fleshed-out character. Because at the end of the day, I don't think it matters how much of a fleshed-out character they make Marisol, Eddie's relationship will never feel completely right to either of them because Eddie's heart will never fully be in it, both because of his sexuality and because of his feelings for Buck.

I want the same for Tommy too. He obviously wants something real for himself, and I feel bad for him that it's obviously not going to be Buck. I can recognize that he's here for a purpose and also hope he finds something great for himself in the future simply on a human-to-human level.

[reyesranch]

the whole “you have no media literacy” as an argument is so funny to me because the same people who yap about it are completely missing the point of buck and tommy’s failed first date. instead of understanding and asking why it ended the way it did, you’re putting blame onto tommy as if he left you standing on sidewalk irl and then never spoke to you again. narratively there had to be conflict, because when people say “he’s throwing himself back into the hamster wheel” well, maybe that’s true at first.

he once again is finding himself in some sort of romantic endeavor without much thought, which on one hand kudos to buck for not having a gay meltdown after realizing he’s into guys too, it’s really nice to see that he’s mostly really cool about this new fact about himself—until reality hits.

suddenly buck is not cool about the fact that he’s into guys and on a date with a guy because no one else knows yet. he’s so caught off guard because he wasn’t ready to share it, it’s new and nerve wracking despite being an 🏳️‍🌈 ally 🏳️‍🌈.

there had to be conflict to get buck to the place he needed to be to continue his queer arc. while its hard watching tommy cut their date short, it needed to happen for the story to continue. it gave buck time to think, gave him time to really process his feelings and work out the issues he was having with his queerness aka being open about it. tommy even said he didn’t want to pressure buck and it’s the reason he cut the date short, because buck didn’t seem ready and tommy very obviously didn’t want to drag it out and end up with them both hurt more so than ending it then and there.

even after bombing his date with tommy he still seeks his sister for advice and ends up coming out to her (accidentally but it’s the first step) and then proceeds to gush about tommy even though at that point, their little romance was over.

we witness buck try to come out to eddie once before finally pulling up his big boy pants and telling eddie “it was a date, when you and marisol ran into me and tommy. we were on a date.” and then proceeded to confide in eddie that he cannot stop thinking about tommy and eddie tells buck to call tommy, buck is scared tommy will say no, eddie says if he knows buck’s an idiot he’ll love him and if he doesn’t then screw him.

tommy says yes. he agrees to meet with buck after the chaos of their first date because “of course” he wants to hear what buck has to say. he tell’s buck he doesn’t need to apologize but lets him anyway because buck needs to apologize. for himself if no one else. he realizes his behavior was bad, that it wasn’t fair to tommy. he owns up to it but tommy still assures buck he overall ended the date because he didn’t want buck to feel pressured. buck admits he wasn’t ready but that after some time and thinking, he knows he can not stop thinking about tommy and what they could be. he invites him to be his date at a wedding, his sisters wedding and tommy albeit dare i say, flabbergasted, ultimately agrees because clearly, he also cannot stop thinking about buck or else why would he have given this a second chance?

the conflict of the failed first date is there to show buck’s growth from that hamster wheel mentality to grounding himself into something he knows that he wants.

that my friends, is media literacy.

you can agree to disagree.

[canonicallyobserving911]

Hi just thought of this the other day - i think you were one of the few people who picked up on the gross implications of thommy's "they're always so grateful!" line in 7x04??

And then i remembered how thommy rushed to help eddie when he got injured at the basketball game and thommy was the one who volunteered to get eddie to the hospital and take care of him....???

We can see thommy was basically wooing eddie in 7x04, right up until buck presented an opportunity, so maybe...maybe thommy was hoping for eddie to be "so grateful" for thommy's help and care....😅

Hello @blutterlie and thank you for your ask.

My response got kind of long, so I apologize in advance but I'm happy to be able to share my thoughts on this topic because I've rarely seen or read any posts about it. That could be because I've blocked probably hundreds of blogs since 7x4 aired but I digress.

Before I delve into my response, here's my disclaimer: I didn't want Tommy dating, hooking up with or doing anything with Eddie or Buck because IMO, neither of them needed to be with another man before they go CANON. In season 3, they were both single and they had all the emotional, physical and romantic intimacy/chemistry they needed to have already been in a relationship but of course the FOX network wouldn't let it happen and we had to endure two seasons of them dating lackluster LIs (4x6 to 5x3 of Eddie dating Ana and 4x14 to 5x18 of Buck dating Taylor 🙄).

I believe all Buck and Eddie need are each other and after the kitchen scene in 3x9, it seemed like they may or could have already been in between the sheets but hey, that's my headcanon since it's not actually CANON and I'm not one of those who tries to retcon things that aren't or weren't in the show like the showrunner(s) and some veiwers have done.

Now back to the regularly scheduled program...

Since so many things changed prior to the start of season 7 with scripts, actresses not being available (AC and AK) and a shortened season (which wouldn't have had any impacts if they wouldn't have changed the scripts and storylines down to the wire) it's difficult to tell what direction TM was going to go with Buddie without him admitting it (he'll never do it). But based on OS's interviews about BuckT*mmy only being short term and LFJr.'s admission in an interview after 7x4 aired, it was originally supposed to be EddieT*mmy not Buck*Tmmy, I think things between Eddie and T*mmy were going to be more than whatever Buck’s doing with him. Also, I think TM is using T*mmy to delay CANON Buddie yet again.

Now, I'm going to go back to 6x15 first because that's when Buck broke Eddie’s heart with that BS line about how Natalia saw him when we all know she didn't see $hit but his death. And even though Eddie asked Marisol on a date at the end of the season, I stand by my original speculation that Eddie wasn't ever supposed to be serious with her and it remained that way until 7x5 when TM flipped the script and turned his relationship into something more than that. Reminder, she barely had any screentime until that episode. Also, RG mentioned Eddie’s abuela and his sisters were supposed to show up during the season but that didn't happen. His abuela was there in 7x6 but whatever she was supposed to talk to Eddie about, it got cut and all she did was attend the wedding with him and Chris.

With all of that being said, here's what I believe was supposed to happen. This is my speculation and it's contradictory to what most people think but that's ok since everyone interprets media differently.

I think Eddie and T*mmy were supposed to officially date each other and it was supposed to make Buck jealous to the point where either Natalia was going to call him out on it or he was going to breakup with her and tell Eddie he loved him. Another reminder, TM said he had a whole plan for Buck and Natalia but when AC couldn't return to the show, he had to scrap it. Also, he wanted Lucy to be the one who flew the helicopter but she couldn't return because the actress got a spot on a new show. These are things he and the writers would have known by January since the strikes were over and the writers had been working since late October.

Therefore, my analysis is based on several things. First, LFJr. looks like he could be one of OS's relatives since they have the same eye and hair color. Also, I think T*mmy was not only wooing Eddie, I think he seriously wanted to settle down with him. Surely, he knew Eddie was a family man because he has a son and he probably had the same thought process as a lot of the viewers did about Marisol being just a babysitter for Chris.

The issue was Natalia's actress couldn't return and instead of correcting everything in the scripts so that BuckT*mmy would be believable, they just changed a few things thinking no one would notice but it was a cluster f~ck. If Eddie would have been dating him then Buck’s actions on the basketball court would have made more sense than him injuring Eddie just because he had a new friend. That was ridiculous and none of it made any sense. Also, when did T*mmy and Eddie first talk to each other and when and WHY did Buck even want to contact T*mmy? He only saw him in the helicopter and as much as the 118 blabs all their business, there's no way Buck doesn't know T*mmy is a racist and a bigot and he has to know the things he did and said to Hen and Chimney. Buck’s two on screen kisses don't mean jack $hit when T*mmy doesn't seem interested in him at all and Buck was supposed to be off the hamster wheel but the truth is, he isn't.

Honestly, I think when T*mmy figured out Eddie wasn't available, he went for the consolation prize, Buck and IMO he's only interested in one thing just like ALL OF BUCK’S OTHER LOVE INTERESTS WERE. Abby, Ali, Taylor and Natalia along with Dr. Wells, and those two women he hooked up with in season 1 only wanted his "Firehose ". It's hard for those who haven't watched the first 6 seasons and the first 3 episodes in season 7 to comprehend, since they only want to see Buck kiss a dude but the truth is they don't know or care to learn about Buck’s history of using his body to get people to like him. He's literally been doing it since 1x1. The people he's been with never wanted to get to know him but HE'S ALWAYS HAD AN EMOTIONAL AND SEXUALLY TENSE relationship with Eddie. The only thing missing is sex for Buddie because they have everything else. They didn't even have to touch each other or take off a piece of clothing in 3x9 because their chemistry was so hot, it emanated through the screen and it's legendary.

It seems like T*mmy was going to be Eddie's first boyfriend and Buck wasn’t going to like it. Since by TM's admission and for those who've been watching for years, Buck was ALREADY CANONICALLY bi so it wouldn't have taken much for him to just admit it in season 7. There were hints throughout seasons 2, 3 and 4.

That's my speculation about what was supposed to happen and I think that line T*mmy said about the people they meet on calls always being "so grateful" was added at the last minute and it was done purposefully for Buck's storyline. I could be wrong but the way T*mmy pursued Eddie with dates, expensive fight tickets and them hanging out multiple times each week, it kind of seemed like he wanted Eddie because he's a "beautiful man".

Thanks for the ask and have a great day.

[lenaboskow]

Buddies wanted a cheating trope and given the latest interview from his past girlfriend... Ryan is the perfect man for that 👀

yeah so what we're not going to do is wish for a cheating trope. cheating is never something we should romanticize. not only that, it would completely ruin whatever progress we've made in terms of people accepting casual queer rep.

i don't know what interview you're talking about (tried to find it, but all i could find were the ones from 2023), but even if ryan is the "perfect man" to play someone who cheats, that doesn't mean he should.

what we can hope for, however, is a presumed cheating trope, if done right, and only if done right. (apologies in advance if the explanation doesn't make sense, i haven't had coffee yet)

there's a post going around (not sure who the op is, someone drop the @ in the replies please) about how buddie should get semi-blackout drunk, and while they're running around trying to save chim, the only memories they have is them taking their jackets off and then falling together on the couch, causing them to think they hooked up.

if done right, this means that buck and eddie are torn over this. like, i'm talking absolutely distraught. they can't look tommy or marisol in the eye the entire time, because how could they do something like that?

bonus points if tommy notices how weird they're being, but doesn't bring it up because its buckandeddie.

once we find chim, the story comes out, and turns out they fell because they were trying to put a fire out. they took their jackets off because it got hot. then buck and eddie start to wonder why their first thought was they hooked up, and bonus points if we see eddie wonder why he wasn't disgusted at the thought of hooking up with buck, just at the thought of cheating.

if they went this way, it would need to be made clear that buck and eddie are distraught, maybe even more so than tommy and marisol would be if they found out. we couldn't have them being like "oh we hooked up cool bet it was great"

however, i don't think we're getting that, and for good reason. oliver's recent interview, while definitely weird and dodgy, brought up a good point. they need to do this right. they're raising the bar for future representation, and we don't want it to start off on a bad foot. even a presumed cheating storyline would be iffy, and could set the wrong people off. there's also a fine line here where even if they didn't physically cheat, they could end up emotionally cheating, which is just as bad.

what i could see happening, however, is at least one feelings realization.

[blazinghotfoggynights]

I know Buddie fans prior to season 7 were not delusional, misinterpreting scenes, or making it all up. There were too many instances that were blatantly hinting at attraction, even if the two involved were oblivious.

(Also, platonic friends don't act like that. You may be able to gaslight those with very little life experience, but some of us have circled the sun more than a few times.)

With all that being said, I am at a point where I can see the writing on the wall. Buck and Eddie? I would say there is an infinitesimal chance it ever happens and that guy in power is laying the foundation for a BuckTommy endgame and Eddie Diaz is being confirmed as completely het. I wouldn't even be surprised if this is leading to an Eddie Diaz exit.

Buddie never happening is okay. I've been in fandom long enough to know there are authors who will give us excellent alternatives.

My issue lies with the character currently dating Buck and how he is being portrayed and embraced. (If you can't deal with even a bit of Tommy criticism, don't go past this point. This isn't about the ship wars or the actor. This is about accountability and the portrayal of women, LGBTQ, and POC in fiction.)

Before BuckTommy fans accuse me of being a Buddie shipper who is delusional or jealous, please. They are fictional characters. There are fanfic writers who are doing the lord's work, so I am completely fine.

What I don't like is the obviously slanted take on the situation of the character Buck has been paired with.

I haven't been extremely vocal about my feelings for the Tommy Kinard character and how his return has been handled, but I am going to touch upon it now.

I think the manner of that character's return is tone deaf and disrespectful to people of color, LGBTQ people, and women. Tommy now being an out gay man does not suddenly absolve him of his past actions. Racist, misogynist, homophobic taunting, insults, and humiliation have no excuse. Okay, there is one, but this blog is not ready to get into all that. (IYKYK)

Tommy Kinard returning to a universe where his deplorable actions are explained as merely giving in to peer pressure AND, what is even more unnerving, his victims forgiving him and becoming his friends is a slap in the face to every single POC, woman, or LGBTQ person who has been tortured for just being who they are. So no, I don't support or like the character and how his return has been handled. If he is called out and held accountable, that may change.

Before any problematic fans take that and run with it, I am going to say my issue is with the CHARACTER. I don't know a damn thing about the actor who portrays him. As a woman who spent time in a male dominated field, I know what it is like to be surrounded by those who feel that as het white males, they own the space and heaven help anyone who doesn't fit the same description.

Would I love to see Buddie happen? It's obvious I would. But, as with any work, the author has the right to take the story in any direction he or she wants to. They aren't obligated to give the fans what they want. That is what fandom works are for.

As someone who has witnessed the type of behavior Tommy engaged in under the prior Captain's tenure more often than I care to think about, erasing his past with a mere stroke of a key and acting as if it didn't happen or didn't matter makes me feel some type of way. Those who have experienced that treatment know what I am talking about. The people who are on the receiving end of the hatred are always expected to accept apologies, regardless of how self-serving or disingenuous they are, with appreciation, grace, and forgiveness. That is seriously problematic.

I don't mind if Buck and Eddie end up with other people. I just don't want those other people to be Tommy and Marisol. Give Buck a good guy or girl and give Eddie, well, right now, daily therapy and later, a good person.

For balance, I am not a Marisol fan either. Hiding important facts about yourself because you think the person will leave you is manipulative and deceitful. I've left people for doing it and I support anyone for doing the same.

[littlerosetrove]

I feel like I just got knocked around by a hurricane. I have a lot to say, too. 

My initial Spoiler Thoughts for 7x5, this time by character, because it makes sense for me. 

⭐️

HEN AND KAREN

Oh my goodness I loved all of the Hen and Karen stuff we got. Denny is such an understanding and sweet older brother already, bless him. Really the only, um, weird spot to say the least was…… Did the show make an analogy between a young black girl and a dog???? I’m not black, I’m very white, so……………. Stepping aside from that, if I may. I still loved Hen and Karen being amazing people and parents, trying to figure out how to help Mara. Oh I can’t wait to see more of this little family. <3

BUCK

Buck was soooo cringe during the date, but Tommy was so patient, charming, and lovely. Tommy later said he left things off as he did because he didn’t want to pressure Buck. 🥺 I did like that - after talking to Maddie and Eddie - Buck plucked up the courage to call and meet up with Tommy. Yes!!! Don’t give up so quickly my guy, especially if you can’t stop thinking about Tommy. Mmmm I get it. 🩷💜💙

I appreciated Buck apologizing for his weird behavior at the restaurant too. And don’t think I didn’t clock Tommy hearing that Buck has already told his sister about Tommy and she wants to meet him! Please, I know Tommy and Buck aren’t a long term thing, but damn do I want them to last a little longer. For me? 🥺🥺👉👈 I’ve truly never been more excited about Bucks love interest as I am now. 

Maddie was a gem during the scene where Buck came out to her. You could see her mentally pivoting a few times, just trying to understand what was going on and of course being there for her silly bisexual disaster of a brother. 

EDDIE

I can’t separate Marisol from her actress, so that after sex scene gave me the ick. And I now know more about Eddie and Marisol’s sex life than their actual relationship. Thanks, I hate it.

Marisol was almost a nun? …..Idk idk, I’m not Latina or Catholic, but it all kinda feels like it’s being played for laughs, and mixing in stereotypes there. 

Bobby and his kiss of death relationship talk. It seems Eddie asking Marisol to move in surprised even him. And he said something about Eddie having issues committing to things/people, except Shannon. I need more time to think about that, but I feel mixed about the Shannon of it all.  ….Like yes she was a big part of his life obviously, they were messy, Eddie loved her, I get all of that. I really do. But idk, why does so much tie back to her? Like okay. Okay… I just hope that the show is working towards Eddie actually starting to work through and heal *gestures* from the Shannon of it all. Because so far the ghost of Shannon still hangs over him, and idk how to phrase it, but… I’d like a story for Eddie that isn’t always connected to her, you know? Please let this man go back to therapy and heal, not just from his PTSD in the army, which was the focus in season 5. And I get that Eddie’s general weirdness about Marisol comes back to the Shannon of it all. Speaking of.

Eddie admits that he goes with his gut, then lets his head catch up later, and it doesn’t usually work out. So then. Wait. He asked her to move in, and I guess we’re supposed to assume because Eddie just wasn’t thinking??? Clearly. Seriously wtf Eddie. And now he’s like, “let's start over and really get to know each other.” Sure! Cause it seems you guys don’t know anything after a few months of dating, just like us! And HI. YEAH, what the fuck does Chris even think about all of this? Does he even know Marisol’s last name? Does Eddie????

Y’all this is so messy. So, what. Eddie asked Marisol to move in with him, and I’d HOPE Chris knows this. But then at the end of the episode, they’re both like “teehee sure, lets not move in together. yet!!” What the hell is Chris going to think about this when he comes back? One minute this random woman, a glorified babysitter, is moving in, and now she’s not. @andavs made a kinda devastating and enlightening post about this. Basically, is Eddie rushing (but taking back??) things with Marisol because he’s trying to prove to Chris that people/women don’t always leave???? 

Like, hell, I know Eddie was joking (but only kind of) with Buck about maybe he needs to break up with Marisol because of the whole nun thing. It’s kinda giving, in it’s own unique way, Buck and Taylor vibes, in the sense of Buck cheating on Taylor and then panic asking her to move in. Although in this case, we have NO IDEA why Eddie asked Marisol to move in beyond his gut feeling I guess??????? 

Ugh, I’m kinda feeling frustrated because I’m just honestly confused by Eddie’s decisions this episode. Because before this episode, we knew fuck all about the relationship, and now he’s asking Marisol to move in, AND THEN, saying nevermind? For now??????????

I know we have to wait for more episodes to get a better understanding and all that, but yeah. Frustrated. And I know Marisol and Eddie aren’t end game. One thing though I want to note, if Eddie and Marisol are in any way parallelling Buck and Taylor, it’s entirely possible Marisol will stick around until the end of this season, just like Taylor did all of season 5. Idk, just prepare yourself.  

BUCK & EDDIE

It’s been 84 years but we finally got a Buddie hug!!!!!!!! THANK GOD.

Eddie is surprised Tommy is gay, but doesn’t seem surprised that Buck isn’t straight? Huh........

Eddie can’t even say the word sex. My dude.  

There were soooo many fruity things being said between these two all episode. A very large fruit basket. Buck saying he wishes he could help Eddie?? Like yeah, he didn’t actually mean help Eddie with his pent up sex drive or whatever, but COME ON. 

Eddie affectionately calling Buck an idiot. Guess what Eddie, you’re both idiots and you’re perfect for each other. (a bit later. let me keep buck and tommy just a tiny bit longer. and then you two probably have some shit to work through and figure out before you get together anyway.) 

Is the show doing some kinda “Hangovers” pseudo episode?? What with the clearly crazy bachelor party gone wrong???

⭐️

PHEW. Yeah uh. This was quite the episode. A lot of good things, but some weird and questionable things too. I’ll probably have more to say later, but I’ve said a lot for now. And frankly I think we all need the two week break before the wedding episode.

EDIT: OH. I am bummed we didn't get an on screen scene, even brief, of Buck apologizing to Eddie for hurting him. Was it even brought up??? Meh.

[buddiewho]

In a logical sense, I see what we’ve witnessed with Buck and Tommy as the one off experience. It could last a little longer than anticipated but it’s that first time kind of thing, most of us queer people go through, I think.

We have those people in our lives who either were part of the first time relationship or stayed the crush/friend and yet they were a part of understanding the feelings. Perhaps it wasn’t long term at all. Perhaps it was the one kiss and one date. Perhaps it was a few more dates and you mutually parted ways. For some, it could be that lucky one where they too were developing feelings and so it blossomed into a long term relationship.

And I think the episode made it super obvious that Tommy has things in common with Eddie. If someone were just to speak those words out loud in a later episode when people know or suspect and Chim goes, “you know Buck you essentially went on a date with a version of Eddie…” just saying it seemed like they were going for something there with the being in the Army and enjoying Muay Thai. Except there are things Buck doesn’t know or doesn’t enjoy like basketball so Tommy having more in common with Eddie too soon, makes Buck spiral as he did. And as he called it, “bad behavior” reared its head and as Chim said, “well, you Bucked that up didn’t you.”

What I’m saying is, Buck can have fun for now. Buck can enjoy this or try to because it’s just his luck that apparently Eddie and Marisol end up at the same restaurant…anyway, I think it’d be nice if the writers mentioned more of Tommy’s behaviors and we see an active apology and/or active forgiveness over his past mistakes. However, they have not…

But if a fictional character cannot be given the chance to grow, change and understand when they Bucked up then what’s that say about real life? Some people are obstinate to change, but I think a majority of people want to understand how to change for the better, to correct the wrong that they made, and to be an overall better person. Personally, I like to fill in the gaps and believe Chim and Hen have since been apologized to and Tommy knows he was dumb back then. Bigoted and dumb. He’s shown accountability for it but it wasn’t put on screen. If they wanted to insinuate he hadn’t changed and was still some bigoted bad apple why bring him back at all for any reason?

If it’s not being brought up and made into something that’s still an integral part of the character then I also don’t see the harm in Buck being giddy about this version of Tommy he gets to see and has admitted to wanting to get know. That’s a cool guy. I like that guy.

Buck is the guy who had Buck 1.0 and 2.0 phases; please, he’s the epitome of wishing he could grow and change and be a better person so I think off screen I can assume that Tommy has done the same since his departure from the 118.