9-1-1 season 8, episode 8, titled “Wannabes” aired on November 21, serving as the
show’s mid-season finale. The ABC procedural is taking an extended hiatus and won’t
return to the network until Thursday, March 6. While the installment doesn’t focus
too heavily on the main characters’ personal lives, a cliffhanger surrounding Ryan Guzman’s Eddie Diaz occurs during the latter half of the hour. A video call with Christopher prompts Eddie to look for houses in Texas, as he’s tired of missing monumental moments in his son’s life.
Buck initially appears supportive of Eddie’s decision and even offers to help him pick the right home. However, after Eddie looks away, viewers see a drastic change in Buck’s demeanor. His troubled expression makes it clear that he’s masking his true feelings about Eddie’s potential departure. When speaking with ScreenRant, 9-1-1 showrunner Tim Minear teases how Buck will cope when faced with the possibility of losing his best friend. Check out what he has to say below:
ScreenRant: Buck seems to be supportive of the move until Eddie looks away. You see his face drop. What does this mean for Buck and Eddie’s storyline going forward?
Tim Minear: It’s going to be the thing that is forefront for Buck. You could tell we were telling that story a little bit from Buck’s point of view. He’s the one that walks in, and we discover through Buck’s eyes what’s going on. Buck has abandonment issues going all the way back to his birth, basically. And as much as he wants to be supportive and mature about this, he will end up spinning like a top.
Buck’s Abandonment Issues Began With His Parents
“Buck Begins” remains one of 9-1-1’s most pivotal episodes due to what it reveals about the show’s fan-favorite character. Although their physical needs were always met, the Buckley siblings experienced emotional neglect throughout their childhood. Buck eventually discovers that he was only conceived because his brother needed a bone marrow transplant, making him further question his worth. Furthermore, he spends years believing that Maddie abandoned him, unaware she was trapped in an abusive relationship.
Buck’s romance with Abby Clark launches a transformative journey of self-discovery. He falls hard for the emergency dispatcher, even living in her house once she leaves town. Abby’s commitment to Buck wanes in 9-1-1 season 2, but it’s difficult for him to acknowledge that he’s been abandoned by another person. This trend continues when Tommy breaks up with Buck in “Confessions,” after he asks the pilot to move into his apartment.
