Buck: No chance, no way, I won’t say it, no, no.

Us: You swoon, you sigh. Why deny it? Oh-oh.

Buck: It’s too cliché, I won’t say I’m in love.

This week your muses Han, Cil, and Rachel unpack Buck’s latest existential crisis—because Zeus knows he won’t. Season 8, Episode 11 of 9-1-1, “Holy Mother of God” struck a chord so loud we had to devote an entire special episode to it. 

We discuss the merits, or lack thereof, when it comes to redeeming parents as Bobby’s “holy mother” makes a reappearance in his life and how he finds forgiveness and understanding in his big ol’ heart for her… despite our protests.

Buck's emotional journey takes center stage as he navigates abandonment issues like a professional crashout artist (he has so much practice y’all). Buck continues to be unsure and unaware of his own feelings, much to Maddie’s—and our—visible dismay. 

We praise the ‘The Return of the Plot Device’ and break down the eyebrow-raising unconscious confessions his scoff and eyeroll shook out of Buck.

This episode canonically brings Buddie from subtext to text, with Tommy and Maddie addressing the Eddie-shaped elephant in the room, making Buck and the audience ponder if Buck is in love with Eddie and if Eddie is *really* as straight as Buck claims.

Eddie may be in Texas, but his presence is still very much felt—from his house Buck’s haunting, Buck’s ex he’s haunting, and on the job where he’s haunting poor, poor Ravi.

We also celebrate the fantastic direction by Aisha Hinds, who captures the essence of our favorite characters while implementing her own perspective and artistic flair. 

Join the buddies for some spoilery speculation surrounding the latest looks behind-the-scenes of upcoming episodes including a special segment of us spinning out while taking it all in.

Buck, denial is a river in Egypt, your feelings for your “straight best friend” are GAY. Read our lips, you’re in love.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 “It’s Going There”: Star & Director Aisha Hinds Unpacks 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 11 & Teases What’s Next, Screen Rant

📰 9-1-1’s Aisha Hinds on Handling Bobby’s Mom and the Buddie Conversation for Her Directorial Debut (Exclusive), US Weekly

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Creator Says Buck’s Buddie Denial Is Not the End, but ‘It Doesn’t Mean I’m Making Promises’, The Wrap

📰 9-1-1 Boss Tackles Maddie’s Million-Dollar Question: Is Buck in Love With Eddie? Plus, Inside [Spoiler]’s Return, TV Line

📔 Fanworks Mentioned:

🎬 I Won’t Say I’m In Love, Buck edit by nebulastarlights, TikTok

📈 “Buck” and “Eddie” Spoken Name Graph by jackwhiteprophetic, TikTok 

🎨 8b Color Theory Thread by sammyunhinged, Twitter

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Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:13) General Thoughts

(00:07:13) Season Themes 

(00:09:31) Aisha’s Directorial Debut

(00:15:06) Needle Drop

(00:22:23) Bobby - Character Arc Highlights

(00:40:25) Buck - Character Arc Highlights

(00:57:24) The Return of the Plot Device

(01:25:08) Is Buck in Love with Eddie?

(01:44:25) Parallels

(01:48:25) “Eddie Has a Silver Star”

(02:00:26) Into the Looking Glass

(02:05:34) Behind the Scenes Leak & Our Ensuing Crashout

(02:16:48) What Ifs & Speculation

(02:35:39) Outro & Take a Buddie With You