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:

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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 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

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

(00:01:07) 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

Buck doesn’t want to argue, but he doesn’t want to bite his tongue, he’d rather die.

Abandonment Issues McGee™️ is back at it again, leading to communication failures, subconscious sabotage, and some seriously awkward moments that left us cringing and laughing.

This week we’re hauling ourselves headfirst into the theme of platonic friendship versus whatever the fuck these two are doing, highlighting how Buck and Eddie's dynamic has never been normal, not even for a minute. Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss Season 8, Episode 9 “Sob Stories” and Episode 10 “Voices” where Maddie goes through an actual horror movie while her brother lives out the first half of a rom-com. Just Buckley sibling things.

We’re still reeling from Maddie's suspenseful arc that had us on the edge of our seats, in awe of her tenacity as she takes charge and fights for her family while grappling with her own trauma. Her storyline hits an emotional crescendo serving as a reminder that our girl never stops fighting.

Eddie’s impending move causes Buck’s conflicting feelings to boil over and lash out in pettiness after he overhears Eddie say, “Everything that matters is in Texas.” We inspect his thought process (or lack thereof) and how it’s directly affected by his prior experiences in platonic and romantic relationships alike. In the shortest doggie adoption ever, we meet Blaze, the world’s cutest beagle and discuss how he’s a metaphor for Eddie, Buck, and Christopher.

Buck and Eddie’s past, present, and future are under the microscope as they face the reality of separation. This narrative is a treasure trove of tropes that we owe to the vision and writing of showrunner Tim Minear and his outstanding team who masterfully crafted 7 years of parallels and symbolism into 2 episodes of television. The use of visual storytelling from the cinematography and props to the blocking and direction packs a very intentional punch right in the Buddie feels. 

We navigate the minefield of not-so-subtle hints of something more lurking beneath the surface of Buck and Eddie’s ‘friendship’ through the sheer quantity and depth of parallels and symbolism. 

Then, we take a look at what we know is coming up next, and what we hope to see in our very own Buddie System Forecast.

Hearts are breaking during Buck and Eddie’s amicable breakup as they say goodbye in front of a U-Haul. So, lift with your knees, because we did in fact have time to unpack all that. The tension is simmering, the awkwardness is palpable, and Buddie canon is inevitable.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 10 Review: ‘Voices’, fangirlish.

📰 The Cinematography of the Buddie Goodbye in 9-1-1 “Voices” Speaks Volumes, fangirlish.

🗣️ Interviews Mentioned

📰 9-1-1 Just Aired Its Buddiest Episode Yet: ‘That’s the Way I’ve Written Them From the Beginning,’ EP Says, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Boss Tim Minear Teases Show’s “Scariest Episode Ever,” Eddie’s Texas Move, And Another “Ambitious” Season 8 Two-Parter, Decider 

📰 Oliver Stark revisits that ‘9-1-1’ basketball scene ahead of his NBA All-Star Celebrity Game appearance, Today

📰 9-1-1’s Oliver Stark on Buck’s ‘Complex’ Feelings Over Eddie Leaving, That Apartment Twist, More (Exclusive), US Weekly

🎬 Fanworks Mentioned

📚 Both Blade and Branch by Daisies_and_Briars, Archive of Our Own (Orpheus & Eurydice inspired fic)

📸 Dialogue Parallels 4x14 & 8x10 (Buddie & Madney), chappellsroans on tumblr

📸 Dialogue and Framing Parallels 4x14 & 8x10 (“Because, Evan” - “It’s Not Nothing”), eddiegayass on tumblr

🎞️ Comparing Abby’s Exit & Eddie’s Leaving, bcthenas on Instagram

📸 Framing of Buck & Eddie Getting Closer, emziess on tumblr

🎞️ 8x10 Goodbye and 2x01 “You Can Have My Back” Parallels, thehumforever on Twitter

📰 8x14-15 Inspired by The Satan Bug Movie Theory, NoxAtThe118 on Twitter

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

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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) This Week on The Buddie System

(00:01:21) General Thoughts

(00:08:14) 9-1-1 What’s Your Grievance

(00:18:14) Flashover - Episode Themes

(00:21:33) Behind the Scenes and Production

(00:25:11) Maddie’s Character Arc

(00:42:35) Buck’s Character Arc

(01:17:00) Eddie’s Character Arc

(01:51:39) Why Buck & Eddie Aren’t Friends

(02:13:55) Buddie Parallels & Symbolism

(02:26:38) Eddie-Abby and Buck-Shannon Parallels

(02:45:05) Drawing Buddie Parallels to Other Couples

(02:54:32) Buddie via Visual Framing & Blocking

(03:06:23) Eddie, Here’s Your Queer-Coded Sign

(03:11:09) U-Haul Theory

(03:12:28) Coming Soon on 9-1-1…

(03:17:42) Cloudy with a Side of Buddie Forecast

(03:34:25) Our 8B Buddie Timeline Theory

(03:45:08) Buddie Feelings Realization Song Request

(03:47:01) Outro & Take a Buddie With You

Bobby just can’t face himself alone again.

Have you ever had your heartstrings pulled so tight that you thought they might snap? This week we are thrown into the emotional whirlwind of Season 2, Episode 16 of 9-1-1 "Bobby Begins Again," where Bobby Nash’s past collides with his present. 

From the harrowing fire that changed his life to the stark reality of his new beginning in Los Angeles, we get an intimate look at the man under the helmet. 

Han, Cil, and Rachel analyze the themes of grief, guilt, redemption, the quest for forgiveness, and how Bobby's life-altering decisions not only shape his character but echo through the lives of those around him.

But this isn't just just a story of loss; it’s a tale of resilience and the camaraderie within the 118, as we see how Bobby navigates his role in this new family and transitions from a haunted man to a leader who is learning to embrace joy again.

Keep your tissues close for this heart wrenching and heartwarming trip down Thunder Road! 

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 - Welcome to Dispatch 

(00:02:09) General Thoughts

(00:08:41) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:10:20) Red String Corner

(00:21:55) Flashover - Themes

(00:28:22) Who’s Cookin’? - It’s Chef Bobby in Da Firehouse!

(00:39:13) How Bobby Coped (Or Didn’t) in the Aftermath

(00:54:41) LA Baby - Bobby’s LA Culture Shock

(01:04:20) “Me and Bawk” - Bathena’s Meet Cute

(01:15:55) Bobby’s Deja Vu - Restaurant Fire

(01:21:44) Laying Down the Law at the 118

(01:27:10) Bobby’s Investigative Hat

(01:30:44) Confession at the Hospital

(01:33:14) Where’s the Fire - Scene Dissection: After Work Drinks

(01:50:49) Bobby Getting His Life Together Montage

(02:04:47) Slow Burn - Bi Buck & Buddie Watch

(02:13:58) Outro - Take a Buddie With You

Get ready to flip your perspective because this episode of 9-1-1 is a real gem!

This week we dive into the hilariously chaotic world of Season 2, Episode 15 'Ocean's 9-1-1', where the 118 are a distraction, and the real heist is our sanity! Bobby and the gang are accused of being part of a plot that spirals out of control, and let’s just say, the detectives in this episode are as incompetent as they come!

We’re all about The Buddie System here (lol), and with Hen in the hot seat facing some serious accusations, you’ll want to hear how our favorite first responders back each other up—because nothing screams “family” like a dash of drama and a sprinkle of whodunit! The detectives' hilariously misguided theories about Athena, Bobby, Buck, Hen, Chimney, Michael, and Eddie highlight the absurdity of assumptions, reminding us to always think outside the box!

Han, Cil, and Rachel explore how this episode flips the usual procedural formula on its head, giving us delightful twists that made us feel like we were watching a movie, with our 118 fam caught in a web of crime, comedy, and confusion. We even imagined what it would be like if Buck, Eddie, and the rest of the squad were to start their own crime syndicate. Spoiler alert: it’s as chaotic and hilarious as you’d expect!

So grab your detective hats, and let’s start from the beginning so we can crack this case wide open.

📔 Articles Mentioned:

📰 How ‘9-1-1’s Breezy Heist Episode Channels ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, TV Insider

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Showrunner Tim Minear Teases Spring Return, Origin Stories & More Season 2 Details, TV Line

📰 Florida teen rescued after being trapped in bank vault for hours, New York Post

Chapters

(00:00:00)-Intro

(00:02:12)-General Thoughts

(00:09:03)-Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:12:52)-Red String Corner

(00:20:46)-Needle Drop

(00:22:32)-Flashover - Themes

(00:34:40)-Who’s Cookin’ - “Motives” for the Heist

(00:36:22)-Buck & Maddie - Lost Their Security Deposit 

(00:43:25)-Hen - Stressed About Karen’s Unemployment

(00:54:18)-Chimney - Too Much Time on His Hands

(01:00:12)-Eddie- Too Competent For His Own Good

(01:06:48)-A Very Buddie Resume

(01:11:03)-Michael - Friends with His Ex’s New Squeeze

(01:13:50)-Athena - In Cahoots by Association

(01:18:30)-Bobby - Conspiring with His Fiance’s Ex

(01:19:32)-Where’s the Fire? - Scene Dissection: Bobby’s Interrogation

(01:28:48)-Slow Burn - Bi Buck & Buddie Watch

(01:33:12)-Who’s Your Partner?

(01:40:55)-Take a Buddie With You - Outro

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