It is worth repeating: Buck (Oliver Stark) and Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.) are perfect for each other. 9-1-1 really struck gold with them.
Season 7 has been atypical in many ways, but some are great. It finally feels like Buck is experiencing some growth, which has been a long time.
There is something different about Buck this season (apart from his obsession with his new man). He seems like a different yet the same person.
Since the series’ inception, Buck has always been a sex-positive guy, and his first scene on the show sees him steal a rig to go hook up with someone.
Buck loves sex, and even if, at some point, he did lose the plot by using it to mask his issues, he worked toward fixing that.
In Season 7, Buck is a relationship with a man, and while much about him doesn’t change, there is always some weirdness that happens in the writers’ room when they introduce a queer male character and no one on the team knows how to deal with them.
Episode 10, “All Fall Down,” is imperfect in many ways, but at least they manage to squeeze in a Buck and Tommy scene, which is everything.
Maybe we should have some faith in Tim Minear.
The scene addresses several issues with the characters, and at the end, Buck is flustered when Tommy proves he can match Buck’s freak.
‘9-1-1’ Addresses Tommy’s Controversial Past
The scene begins with Buck sharing an update about Captain Nash’s condition now that he’s out of the woods. Captain Nash is like the father Buck never had; for a moment, Buck is lost in his feelings.
He admits his fears when the captain was in a comma, something Tommy notices, and also opens up about his captain when he was at the 118.
Firehouses are like families; if the head is rotten, that trickles down to the rest.
The 118 was imperfect under Gerrard, and a closeted Tommy learned to adapt to protect himself. Thankfully, he got out and is a better man for it. He might be able to dodge it again with Gerrard returning to captain the firehouse.
Given the first impression viewers got of Tommy, it needed to be addressed.
They both admit that their captains were like fathers to them. Then, the conversation pivots to talking about actual fathers.
Buck’s relationship with his father is almost nonexistent, and Tommy reveals that he and his dad don’t really talk much.
Daddy issues? Oh, what a nice trauma to bond over. But neither of them is looking to stew in their trauma. Buck certainly is not, and he proves it.
Tommy, Are You Fun?
Sure, having a dad who doesn’t care about you sucks but let’s look at the bright side here. If you’re looking for a segue into sexy conversation during date night with your new beast of a man, you could use that to test the waters.
Here goes nothing.
Buck: So maybe we both have daddy issues.
You know what they say about them people with daddy issues. You know what you’re doing here, Buck.
Tommy: I don’t.
Jesus Christ, man! Did you really miss the intonation and the aim behind Buck’s statement?
Buck: But you think I do.
Atta boy! You’ve never given up and are not about to start now.
Tommy: God, I hope so!
Nice recovery, Tommy. Did you have to stress it out that much? Yes, you did! I see your game. You might have said this, but we know what you mean. And since we’re also classy here, we’re not going to say what you’re thinking — or what Buck’s thinking, for that matter.
Is anyone else feeling the heat up this bitch?
Buck is smitten with Tommy, and the other logical step in their relationship is sex. Buck has wanted to jump on that man since he walked into the hospital in his turnouts, covered in soot, and it did something to his psyche.
The scene ends abruptly and doesn’t feel like it grew fully (wink, wink), but so do most scenes in the episode.
With a full season order for 9-1-1 Season 8, there will be ample time to explore just how much daddy issues Buck has and what Tommy might do to help.
For now, a dinner date will suffice.
9-1-1 returns this fall.