9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 4, “Buck Bothered and Bewildered,” will always be iconic. Not only was it the show’s 100th episode, but it also finally explored a side of Buck (Oliver Stark) that improved the character and the show.
The show threw him into the deep end by exploring his attraction to Tommy Kinnard (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), and soon after, the couple began dating.
Given Buck’s history, this relationship must go well because it is his first relationship with someone of the same sex.
Shows are known to mine drama for the sake of drama. Relationships are especially tough to keep interesting, which results in breaking up couples who are perfect for each other.
And Buck and Tommy are perfect for each other.
Captain Nash: Tommy’s good people. He’s good for you.
They Are Effectively Strangers
Some people argue that the relationships that flourish the most are ones that people begin as friends first and then it turns into something more. That might be true for some people but the opposite is also true.
Couples without pre-existing relationships might see better results because they begin on a clean slate. Buck and Tommy knew each other in passing.
The chances of something from their shared past ending up to ruin their blossoming romance are slim to none.
The fact there is no pre-existing relationship gives the couple a chance at success because they can’t get muddled by the inevitable drama that arises.
There is a reason why friends try dating, and it doesn’t work out; dating coworkers is almost usually a mistake, or dating someone you have a different type of relationship with.
Boundaries get broken, and the whole system crumbles once one relationship is broken.
A clean slate allows the writers to explore new stories and endless possibilities with Buck and Tommy.
A Queer Relationship Is a First For Buck
9-1-1 is no stranger to queer couples, but for Buck, this is a first.
Some relationships can be ruined by the lack of knowledge, and it might be no one’s fault. Buck certainly does not know how to navigate a queer relationship. The rules keep changing in the current world.
A lot of out people simply don’t want to deal with the problems of the closet. Tommy made it clear since their first date.
Tommy has been where Buck was, and he knows very well how it feels.
He has also been out for a while now and can offer some guidance to Buck, who has navigated most of his life as a heterosexual man.
Tommy might not be able to protect Buck from all the nastiness of the world but he is a valuable shoulder to lean on.
They’re Damn Good Together
Have you seen Buck and Tommy in the same scene? When they smooched during Maddie and Chimney’s wedding day, it was enough to make someone weak at the knees.
Some people expect to see heteronormalized versions of queer relationships where one partner must be overtly masculine and the other feminine. But like The Boys once said, a lesbian couple made up of feminine women threatens some people, and vice versa is true.
It is a powerful image to show people that a relationship between two masculine, macho men is, in fact, possible.
Who doesn’t want to hear Tommy call Buck Evan? And Buck smiling like a child at an ice cream parlor when he sees Tommy?
It’s Time for 9-1-1 to Give Buck Some Growth.
The prevailing image of Buck is a commitmentphobe who hits it and quits it.
Sadly, that’s also a prevailing image of bisexual characters on TV. Wouldn’t it be nice to take a different route with him?
At over thirty years of age, Buck should be secure in himself and not seek constant validation from strangers.
9-1-1 strongly suggested that exploring his attraction to men is the piece he’s been looking for for a long time. Time to put that into practice.
The show originally aired on Fox before moving to ABC. Whatever the reason for the move, every show needs to keep or grow its audience.
Doing something dramatic, like giving Buck a same-sex partner, might be a great effort toward increasing the portrayal of queer men on TV. It might also be a publicity stunt to increase ratings.
Don’t let it be a publicity stunt.
New episodes of 9-1-1 Season 7 airs every Thursday at 8 PM on ABC.