The 118 has never known a silence like the one fallen here, never watched their future darken in a single tear.

This week, Han, Cil, and Rachel begrudgingly—and not at all angrily— discuss 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 14 “Sick Day,” Episode 15 “Lab Rats,” and Episode 16 “The Last Alarm.” We’re diving into the emotional turmoil of the latest three episodes, exploring the poignant and gut-wrenching impact of Bobby's death on the characters and the audience. 

We share our thoughts on what worked, what didn’t, and how the “creative decisions” impact our viewing experience, especially when it comes to the depth of the characters' emotional responses.

Ultimately, we ask the tough questions: what does it mean to truly honor a character's legacy, and how do we process loss in a narrative that was never structured to do so?

We examine the dynamics at play—how characters cope with loss, the pressures of duty, and the need for connection in the face of tragedy: from Buck’s struggle to hold the team together and Chimney’s personal battle with survivor’s guilt, to Hen’s resilience and Athena’s avoidance and anger. It’s clear that the emotional stakes are high and the characters are grappling not just with the loss of a loved one but also with their own identities and roles within this found family. We lament the lack of screen time for Eddie throughout all three of these episodes and our hopes to see more of his grief journey on screen in the following two.

The caliber of the acting is undeniable! We celebrate the stunning performances, particularly from Angela Bassett, Kenny Choi, and Peter Krause, and the emotional weight they brought to their character’s stories.

There’s a palpable sense of frustration as we critique the show’s pacing and the emotional payoff, or lack thereof, when it comes to the arc of the 9-1-1 Contagion emergency and subsequent funeral. We discuss our thoughts on how major character deaths can have a time and place, this one does not do Bobby’s journey or the audience justice. 

When people say that something is forever, either way, it ends. Hopefully we’ll see the foundations of the 118 family begin again.

📝 Fan Works Mentioned

🖋️ What 8x16 Should Have Been, redrosydiaz on tumblr

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 Angela Bassett & Tim Minear Dissect ‘9-1-1’ Shocker, Explain Why Bobby Had To Die, Reveal Alternate Scene & Easter Egg, Deadline

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Shocker: Original Cast Member Leaving After 8 Seasons, Admits “It’s A Tough Goodbye”, Deadline

📰 ‘911’ Star and Showrunner Unpack a Series-Altering Death in “Lab Rats”, The Hollywood Reporter

📰 ‘9-1-1’: Tim Minear Explains Bobby’s Death & Reveals How Everyone Will Be Grieving, TV Insider

📰 9-1-1 Shocker: [Spoiler] Just Made a Heroic Exit After 8 Seasons — EP Explains Why It ‘Needed to Happen’, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Creator Breaks Down Show’s First Big Death and Choosing ‘the Scariest Character to Kill’, The Wrap 

📰 9-1-1 boss on shocking main character death: If it's really their last episode, and the Easter egg we missed, Entertainment Weekly

📰 9-1-1's Kenneth Choi tearfully processes Bobby's 'devastating' death: 'This doesn't make any sense' (exclusive), Entertainment Weekly 

📰 Angela Bassett Can 'Absolutely Not' Picture a World Where 9-1-1's Athena and Bobby Don't End Up Together (Exclusive), People

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

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Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:55) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:04:31) A Very Sarcastic Recap

(00:06:37) General Thoughts

(00:15:29) How Could Contagion Arc Be Satisfying?

(00:21:35) Flashover - Themes

(00:25:31) Who’s Cookin’? - Character Highlights

(00:25:50) Karen

(00:29:04) Hen

(00:32:55) Ravi

(00:37:01) Chimney

(00:49:40) Maddie

(00:54:31) Athena

(01:03:24) Athena’s Stages of Grief - Denial & Anger

(01:12:17) Bobby (R.I.P.)

(01:21:11) Buck

(01:33:38) Eddie & Buddie

(01:42:48) What Worked For Us!

(01:50:00) What Didn’t Work For Us…

(02:12:57) Production & Behind the Scenes

(02:19:20) Needle Drop

(02:22:20) What’s Next for Season 8?

(02:25:14) Our Wish List for Finale

(02:33:32) Potential for a Big Buddie Moment

(02:42:36) Outro & Take a Buddie With You

Holdin’ Buck’s shoulder ‘til their eyes meet, they won’t ever be alone.

This week Han, Cil, Rachel, and guest star Meg keep our love for Season 3, Episode 3 of 9-1-1, “The Searchers” in a photograph buried deep within our souls. We explore how the 118 finds their makeshift family amidst the chaos and navigate the tumultuous waters of Buck's psyche as he contends with his fears and perceived failures during this final installment of the tsunami crisis.

Buck's vulnerability shines through as he pushes himself to the brink, embodying the very definition of tenacity, even while doubting his own worth. We discuss Buck’s palpable panic and fear of failing his loved ones, and how he grapples with the burden of responsibility. Throughout these moments, Buck's fierce love for Christopher shines through as he tirelessly follows every sign to find him, showcasing the lengths to which a parental figure will go to protect their child.

Buck's frantic search for Christopher becomes a metaphor for his own quest for validation and acceptance, intertwining the concepts of searching for family and belonging. 

The emotional stakes rise (like the tide) as Buck and Eddie's relationship evolves against the backdrop of the unimaginable. We examine Eddie’s gentleness and strength as he gives Buck the space to tell him what happened to Christopher without expressing any anger or blame.

We take a microscope to the final scene of the episode for a combined Slow Burn and Scene Dissection. Discussing everything from Eddie's playful jabs trying to put Buck at ease to the meaningful dialogue with intense eye contact and shoulder touch. This balance between humor and heart is a hallmark of their relationship and Eddie’s unwavering faith in Buck reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the bonds we forge can guide us like a lighthouse in a storm.

Join us at Buck’s kitchen table as we wait for Eddie and Christopher to come home.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1 Fans Rally Around Christopher After Dramatic Tsunami Cliffhanger: ‘He Must Be Protected At All Costs!’, TV Line

📰 9-1-1‘s Oliver Stark Breaks Down Buck’s ‘Mind-Blowing’ Rescue Mission, Shares ‘Emotional’ Stories From the Tsunami, TV Line

📰 Oliver Stark Watching 3x03 The Searchers on His Instagram Live 4/13/20, YouTube

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

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Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:52) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:03:43) General Thoughts & Special Guest Star Meg

(00:17:54) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:27:06) Red String Corner

(00:41:10) Flashover - Themes

(00:46:48) Who’s Cookin’? - The 118 and Athena

(01:06:20) Eddie

(01:37:52) Buck

(01:47:22) Buddie Meeting at Field Hospital & Maddie Call

(01:57:33) The Morning After in Buck’s Loft

(02:03:09) Where’s the Slow Burn - Eddie Dropping Chris at Buck’s

(02:04:00) Photograph - Gay Needledrop

(02:10:45) Eddie “Sees” Buck 

(02:37:12) Full Circle Paralleling to 8b

(02:55:00) Season 8 Finale Predictions (Pre-Contagion Arc)

(02:57:05) Queer Eddie Headcanons / Wishlists 

(03:05:27) Take a Buddie With You & Outro

Don’t be, don’t be afraid, we promise Buck will keep Chris safe.

All aboard the fire engine life raft! Han, Cil, Rachel, and guest host Niki wade into the waters of Season 3 Episode 2 of 9-1-1 titled, “Sink or Swim.”

Buck is using his firefighter training again, but at what cost? May gets a taste of being a first responder as she helps keep a woman alive while Athena takes charge in a post mani-pedi pileup. Maddie is triaging dispatch and setting up a field hospital while the 118 (minus Buck) are saving lives and surfing waves. The episode cleverly contrasts the innocence of childhood with the harsh realities of adulthood and we highlight how moments of crisis shift perspectives in our favorite characters.

We discuss how the tsunami acts as a catalyst for growth, pushing Buck to reassess his purpose and identity as a guardian. Buck embraces his role as a protector, striving to keep Christopher safe while also confronting his own fears and insecurities. We zoom into how Buck's firefighting instincts serve as both a literal and metaphorical lifeline, enabling him to save several people and most importantly, Christopher, until he’s swept away by the receding tide.

Bring your ponchos and arm floaties for this splash zone and make like Dory and Christopher and just keep swimming! 

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1‘s Oliver Stark Breaks Down Buck’s ‘Mind-Blowing’ Rescue Mission, Shares ‘Emotional’ Stories From the Tsunami, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Star Oliver Stark on Buck’s Mid-Tsunami ‘Do or Die’ Cliffhanger With 8-Year-Old Christopher, The Wrap

📰 ‘9-1-1’: Peter Krause Talks Filming Underwater for Tsunami Episode, Ronda Rousey’s ‘Perfect Casting’, The Wrap

📺 Video

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Chief on Premiere’s Tsunami Cliffhanger and How They Sunk the Santa Monica Pier, The Wrap

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

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Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:52) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:02:47) Introducting Special Guest Host Niki!

(00:08:48) General Thoughts

(00:12:50) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:23:00) Needle Drop

(00:25:13) Red String Corner - Parallels & Foreshadowing

(00:31:12) Color Theory Speedrun

(00:32:59) Flashover - Themes

(00:36:28) Who’s Cookin’? - Athena & May

(00:48:47) Maddie

(00:55:11) Catching Up with the Rest of the 118

(01:00:31) Eddie

(01:06:44) Buck

(01:13:40) Buck & Christopher’s Fire Truck Life Raft

(01:22:57) Bonding with Christopher

(01:36:17) Slow Burn - Bi Buck & Buddie Watch

(01:40:14) Take a Buddie With You & Outro

The universe is knocking Buck down and laughing while he cries, and we still don’t know how he even survives.

It’s here, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the Tsunami arc! GOATED. This week Han, Cil, and Rachel dive headfirst into Season 3 of 9-1-1 with Episode 1, “Kids Today.”

Bobby and Athena are enjoying their literal honeymoon period, Maddie and Chimney are getting serious, Hen and Karen are working on expanding their family… and then there’s Buck and Eddie. Eddie is partnerless and Buck is jobless, these two things are not related at all.

It starts out so well, with a surprise party for Buck's hard-earned return to the 118, but it’s been five minutes since his last near death experience, so the narrative must juxtapose his fleeting moments of joy with the stark reality of his continued hard times.

Bobby's protective nature, while rooted in love, often leaves Buck feeling trapped and misunderstood. We discuss Bobby's projection of his own fears onto Buck and how that leads to a loss of autonomy for Buck, ultimately creating a rift in their relationship. 

We dissect how Buck's emotional turmoil and quest for purpose are intricately tied to his calling as a firefighter at the 118 and his relationships with everyone there, particularly Eddie. 

This episode starts our exploration of a season-long theme: parental relationships. While Maddie and Chimney discuss maybe having a kid one day, Eddie is taking matters into his own hands and gives Buck a new purpose: taking care of Christopher (although, *this* isn’t what he quite had in mind.) 

Buck and Chris have an existential conversation about what Chris wants to be when he grows up and having a purpose in life, but Buck hasn’t learned that his own self worth isn’t tied to firefighting yet. We reflect on the bond that’s forming between them, reminding us that “family don’t end with blood.”

Don’t stand there gawking, catch the wave with us and we’ll kick it when we hit the ground.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 ‘9-1-1’: Ronda Rousey To Recur In Season 3 Of Fox’s First-Responders Drama, Deadline

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Boss Tim Minear Teases Major Crises & Possible Death in Season 3, TV Insider

📰 Liv Tyler Set As the Female Lead Of Fox’s ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ Spinoff Series, Deadline

📱 Allie Dominguez on TikTok

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:04) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:03:16) General Thoughts

(00:12:57) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:19:15) Needledrop

(00:23:51) Red Strong Corner

(00:35:45) Who’s Cookin’ - Bobby and Athena

(00:49:19) Maddie

(00:57:13) Buck

(01:12:46) Eddie and Chris

(01:21:25) Where’s the Fire - Scene Dissection (Buck & Bobby at Hospital)

(01:41:18) Everyone Talks About Buck at the Station

(01:48:14) Slow Burn - Bi Buck & Buddie Watch

(01:53:55) Slow Burn Needledrop

(02:05:10) Buck’s Loft, But Gayer

(02:22:20) Allie’s Anecdote

(02:24:41) Outro & Take a Buddie With You

Please don’t bring us to tears when we just did our podcast so nice. Heartbreak is one thing, your ego’s another, we beg you, don’t embarrass us, motherfucker.

This week Tim Minear interrupts your regularly scheduled programming and forces Han, Cil, and Rachel through the five stages of grief as we unpack the emotional wreckage left in the wake of Season 8, Episode 15 of 9-1-1, “Lab Rats.”

This isn't your typical episode; we’re tearing apart the emotional tapestry of the show and discussing why the character Bobby Nash might have met his untimely demise. 

We kick things off with denial—did we just witness a heart-wrenching goodbye or a diabolically clever fake-out? 

Then we unleash our pent-up anger, calling out the showrunner for potentially misleading us into a false sense of security. It’s not just about plot twists; it’s about the heart and soul of the series. Why didn’t they give our beloved captain a proper send-off? Where the hell was Eddie? We critique the pacing of the episode and the rushed emotional reactions of the characters. We’re all about the depth of characters and their connections—we feel robbed of the gravity such a moment demands.

We appeal to Tim’s better angels in the form of bargaining, offering potential roadmaps he could utilize to bring Bobby back from the dead and still push everyone’s individual stories forward in similar ways. 

Hello depression, our old friend. In this section we share our personal history with fandom grief and the real-life ramifications of losing a character we’ve grown to love like a real friend or family member. We reflect on the disappointment of potentially losing the comfort in our comfort show and the healing it brought along with it from past experiences. We take a look at the implications of these narrative choices on the characters and the overall show, and how it ultimately wouldn’t feel like 9-1-1.

The final chapter of the grief journey closes with acceptance, even if it’s through gritted teeth. We overview the “logic” behind the decision to kill off Bobby, what we think Tim is trying to do, and how we can understand it to an extent, but don’t agree or approve of the execution (literally). We’re just trying to hold the tattered remains of our sanity together!

So, whether you’re crying in your cereal or just feeling a bit off, we’re here to hold your hand and process this together—because who doesn’t need a buddie when tackling the heavy stuff? Just a reminder that it's okay to feel grief over this fictional loss, as these characters have become a very real part of our lives and their journeys resonate with our own.

We know you’re craving some major character death, but the Fire Fam is SO NICE!

We could live so happily, as long as you don’t kill Bobby, we’re just kidding… but really. REALLY!

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 Angela Bassett & Tim Minear Dissect ‘9-1-1’ Shocker, Explain Why Bobby Had To Die, Reveal Alternate Scene & Easter Egg, Deadline

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Shocker: Original Cast Member Leaving After 8 Seasons, Admits “It’s A Tough Goodbye”, Deadline

📰 ‘911’ Star and Showrunner Unpack a Series-Altering Death in “Lab Rats”, The Hollywood Reporter

📰 ‘9-1-1’: Tim Minear Explains Bobby’s Death & Reveals How Everyone Will Be Grieving, TV Insider

📰 9-1-1 Shocker: [Spoiler] Just Made a Heroic Exit After 8 Seasons — EP Explains Why It ‘Needed to Happen’, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Creator Breaks Down Show’s First Big Death and Choosing ‘the Scariest Character to Kill’, The Wrap 

📰 9-1-1 boss on shocking main character death: If it's really their last episode, and the Easter egg we missed, Entertainment Weekly

📰 9-1-1's Kenneth Choi tearfully processes Bobby's 'devastating' death: 'This doesn't make any sense' (exclusive), Entertainment Weekly 

📰 Angela Bassett Can 'Absolutely Not' Picture a World Where 9-1-1's Athena and Bobby Don't End Up Together (Exclusive), People

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro and Stages of Grief Overview

(00:02:01) Where We’re At

(00:07:19) Denial — Why Bobby Isn’t and Shouldn’t Be Dead

(00:23:23) Anger

(00:51:32) Bargaining — An Open Letter to Tim Minear

(01:05:55) Depression

(01:16:19) Acceptance

(01:25:51) Outro

Don’t you know the 118’s still standing better than they ever did? Looking like true survivors, feeling like little kids.

This week, Han, Cil, and Rachel map out the emotional journey of all our favorite characters in Season 2 of 9-1-1! We explore how grief, loss, and trauma shape each character’s arc and how they cope with their pasts while trying to forge their futures. 

We highlight the clever parallels between different character’s storylines and how they reflect the overarching themes of ‘finding your path’ and ‘having each other’s backs’.

We discuss the impact of key moments and episodes that live in our minds rent free, from LSD hijinx to confronting the ghosts of your past, proving that 9-1-1 isn't just a procedural but a character-driven drama.

The addition of Maddie and Eddie expanded and enriched the found family dynamics we fell in love with throughout Season 1. Buck’s struggles with being abandoned… again and we dissect how his relationship with Eddie opens up a brand new path in his story. 

We hypothesize on ‘What If’ scenarios, taking a look at the butterfly effect of a single choice. And don’t miss out on the new fears this season unlocked in us!

Hop in the fire engine (just not the Captain’s seat) as we look back on Season 2 and how Bobby, Athena, Buck, Eddie, Hen, Chimney, and Maddie choose their lives as first responders with passion and purpose, time and time again.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Boss on Bobby & Athena’s Big Moment & Buck’s ‘Perilous’ Position in the Season 2 Finale, TV Insider

📰 9-1-1 EP Tackles Those Romantic Finale Twists, Teases Buck’s Season 3 ‘Crisis’, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Scoop: Drama Returns With Maddie in Peril and Eddie on the Move?, TV insider

📔 Fanworks Mentioned:

📚 I’m Not Breathing Unless I’m Giving You CPR, by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels on Archive of Our Own

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:16) General Thoughts

(00:13:03) Bobby and Athena

(00:20:32) Chimney

(00:27:48) Maddie

(00:31:35) Buck

(00:38:29) Eddie

(00:41:27) Deconstruction of Eddie's Carefully Constructed Facade 

(00:51:22) Favorite Season 2 Episodes 

(00:55:42) Our Top Tier Moments from Season 2

(01:07:29) New Fears Unlocked!

(01:09:33) Season Themes

(01:15:06) What If Buck Didn’t Get Injured

(01:19:55) What If Shannon Lived

(01:24:28) What If Abby Came Back for Buck

(01:29:30) What if Whatta Man Wasn’t Eddie’s Intro

(01:31:49) What if Doug Didn’t Die

(01:36:52) What if Abby Had Been Clear About Breakup

(01:41:33) What if Buck Saw Doug at Christmas Tree Lot

(01:46:17) What if Buck Was There When Chim Got Stabbed

(01:47:38) Into the Looking Glass

(01:52:44) Outro & Take a Buddie With You 

Duck and cover, because this week’s episode is explosive!

Han, Cil, and Rachel hit the ground running, leaving no stone or fire engine unturned in Season 2 Episode 18, of 9-1-1 “This Life We Choose.”

The dirt hasn’t even settled in Shannon’s grave when Eddie’s parents try to stage the world’s most inappropriate intervention. We tear into the astoundingly bad parenting and its effects on Eddie and how the life and family he chooses is his real support system. 

Bobby and Athena put their detective hats on at the beginning of the episode and exchange rings at the end! At least someone at the 118 is having a happy ending. Meanwhile, Maddie and Chimney choose to finally enter the next act of their rom-com as Hen and Karen decide to expand their family.

Buck is having the first of many no good, very bad days when the crushing weight of reality and a fire engine leaves him out of a job and a girlfriend. Who needs any of that when he can have his best friend’s back despite his doctor’s recommendations. Some things are more important than your health, like hugging your (work) partner.

We talk closet space, because you can never have too much, right Buck and Eddie? There’s a lot of symbolism, metaphors, and parallels to unpack, but don’t worry, we took a lot of notes and came prepared to share with the class.

This episode is layered like a lasagna of feels from the camaraderie at the station to the heart-stopping moments with Buck’s near-death experience, we explore how the life that the 118 chooses shapes them as individuals and a family.

The next time you’re having a bad day, just think about Buck in this episode. What’s more crushed, his leg, or his heart?

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Chief on That Crushing Finale, Bobby’s Big Decision and Maddie and Chimney’s Future, The Wrap

📰 9-1-1 EP Tackles Those Romantic Finale Twists, Teases Buck’s Season 3 ‘Crisis’, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Boss on Bobby & Athena’s Big Moment & Buck’s ‘Perilous’ Position in the Season 2 Finale, TV Insider

📰 Charisma Carpenter’s ‘Naughty’ 9-1-1 Visit Postponed by Network Censors, TV Line

📔 Fanworks Mentioned:

📚 Those Two Firefighters, by DarkFairytale on Archive of Our Own

📚 The Bunkroom Fic, by exvichan on Archive of Our Own

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro - Welcome to Dispatch

(00:03:03) General Thoughts

(00:12:43) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:27:08) Needle Drop - Music Analysis

(00:30:37) Red String Corner

(00:40:23) Flashover - Themes

(00:45:43) Who’s Cookin’? - Character Arcs

(01:10:48) Eddie

(01:30:20) Buck

(02:01:10) Where’s the Fire - Scene Dissection (Buck & Ali Breakup)

(02:23:52) Slow Burn - Bi Buck & Buddie Watch

(02:41:35) Buddie Begins

(02:48:49) The First Buddie Hug

(02:56:19) Outro & Take a Buddie With You

This ain’t L.A., ain’t no 118, but Eddie’s putting his foot down, down, down, down.

Han, Cil, and Rachel take a ride in Eddie’s Prius through Season 8, Episode 12 “Disconnected” and Episode 13 “Invisible” of 9–1 as we unpack the dynamics of finding your voice, feeling forgotten, and the weight of familial expectations.

The nightmare of Maddie’s kidnapping haunts her dreams and steals her voice. We explore how she navigates through this with the help of Chimney, Athena, and Jee.

Hen is feeling unimportant when everyone but Athena and Eddie forget her birthday. We take a look at how she turns her feelings of hurt and embarrassment into her best birthday yet.

It Girl, Eddie Diaz is the star of this episode as we follow his journey in El Paso — the struggle to reclaim his identity and confidence in being a father in the face of unattainable expectations. The contrasting parenting styles of Eddie and his parents reveal how generational trauma can affect relationships, making it hard for Eddie to assert himself and advocate for Christopher.

We unpack his latest and greatest hits, including:

Lying to His Kid Part 2

Diving Headfirst Without a Plan

Nervous Yapping

Getting Steamrolled by His Parents

Codependent FaceTimes with His “Best Friend”

And more!

Luckily, Eddie has the good sense to continue taking Buck’s advice and communicates with Chris, then fully “Dads Up”, FINALLY reuniting the father-son duo.

We hold your hand and tell you the latest foreshadowing for an Eddie (and possibly a Chris) NDE – the bus is leaving the station at some point and you never know what tree may fall during its route to L.A.!

It may be cloudy and grey in our Buddie Forecast, but we break down our prediction for clearer skies (albeit not necessarily smooth sailing) by the end of the season and the beginning of next!

Grab a Capri Sun as we watch Eddie checkmate his parents and take a big move towards reclaiming his identity and embracing joy. 

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1's Ryan Guzman and Gavin McHugh on Eddie and Christopher's Reunion: 'It's a Sense of Relief for Both of Us', TV Guide

📰 Ryan Guzman Talks Eddie’s Evolution, Fatherhood Struggles, and What’s Ahead on 9-1-1, TV Fanatic

📰 Exclusive: 9-1-1 star Anirudh Pisharody teases Buck and Eddie romance and breaks down Ravi's return, Hello! Magazine

📰 ‘9-1-1’s Ryan Guzman Breaks Down Season 8, Episode 12: Eddie And Christopher’s Reunion, El Paso, And The Diaz Parents, (Part 1) Decider

📰 ‘9-1-1’s Ryan Guzman On Buck And Eddie, His 100th Episode, And “Massive Things That Happen In Eddie’s Life Soon”, (Part 2) Decider

📔 Fanworks Mentioned:

🎬 This Ain’t Texas Edit Celebrating Eddie’s 100th Episode by starkbucksix, TikTok

📝 Buck’s Role in Eddie’s El Paso Storyline Meta by poughkeepsies, Tumblr

🎨 8b Color Theory Thread by sammyunhinged, Twitter

👕 Eddie Wardrobe Meta by boycrushbuckley, Twitter

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

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Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:07) General Thoughts

(00:08:26) Flashover - Season Themes

(00:12:03) Behind the Scenes

(00:16:21) Maddie’s Little Mermaid Moment 

(00:28:49) Hen’s Best Birthday Ever? 

(00:45:09) That’s Not Eddie, That’s El Paso Edmundo

(00:52:13) Eddie’s Isolation & Identity Crisis

(01:06:56) Eddie & Chris Actually Communicate!

(01:18:18) Helena & Ramon Make Eddie Feel Invisible

(01:36:54) Buck’s Role in Eddie’s Life as a Co-Parent

(01:46:25) The Chess Tournament

(01:58:43) Eddie Checkmates His Mom

(02:09:49) Parallels and Symbolism

(02:26:27) Into the Looking Glass

(02:34:39) Eddie NDE Foreshadowing

(02:46:45) Buddie Forecast

(03:02:07) Outro & Take a Buddie With You

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

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

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

We’re sorry, Shannon can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, cus’ she’s dead!

This week, hosts Han, Cil, and Rachel bid farewell to Shannon Diaz and say hello to Eddie’s rose-colored glasses. “I guess she was the love of your life.” “I guess she was?” Oh, we’re so sure.

Get in losers, we’re discussing Season 2 Episode 17 of 9-1-1, “Careful What You Wish For” and unpacking the tangled web of relationships, expectations, and the harsh realities of life that hit harder than a runaway vehicle at a crosswalk. 

This episode explores how characters cope with tragedy while navigating their own emotional inner worlds, showing us that amidst life’s unpredictability, friendship and support are what truly matters and sometimes, it’s okay to not have all the answers.

We dive deep into Eddie’s avoidance of what he truly wants, instead he’s focusing on his perceived responsibilities to Christopher and Shannon. We’re not sure Eddie has ever actually asked himself what he wants or prioritized himself.

Meanwhile, Maddie is grappling with the unfinished aspects of her job at dispatch and missing being able to see that she’s making a difference. Things come full circle when Josh and Sue organize the sweetest (and possibly illegal) intervention, helping her to see her job from a new perspective. 

For our scene dissection we look at the 118’s visit to Bobby for Therapy Hour to gripe and groan about Chim’s leadership and deal with the temporary loss of Bobby in their professional lives.

We pit Buddie against Bobby & Athena, Maddie & Chimney, and Eddie & Shannon to play the “is this platonic or romantic” comparison game. Spoiler alert, Buck and Eddie are NOT normal about each other.

Buck-le up, and look both ways before you cross, as we drive into the emotional wreckage that Eddie is still reeling from 6 years later—she’s the loss of his life.  

📔 Fanworks Mentioned:

📚 Goodbye Until Tomorrow by terranobis on Archive of Our Own

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY 

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro - Welcome to Dispatch

(00:03:37) General Thoughts (No thoughts, Head Empty?)

(00:08:03) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:09:14) Needle Drop

(00:14:16) 9-1-1 Writes Sins and Tragedies 

(00:25:23) Flashover - Episode Themes

(00:31:57) Who’s Cookin’? - Maddie’s Search for Renewed Purpose

(00:46:37) Where’s the Fire - Scene Dissection (Therapy Hour at Bobby’s)

(01:09:27) Chimney Juggling Friendship & Newfound Authority

(01:21:55) Eddie, Bereft and Reeling 

(02:12:35) Slow Burn - Bi Buck & Buddie Watch

(02:37:20) Eddie’s Queer Coding

(02:47:01) Take A Buddie With You & Outro