9-1-1is known for its talented ensemble, but two of its main characters should take a page out of its successor’s book now that9-1-1: Lone Staris over. The Texas-based spinoff, which premiered in 2020, featured an entirely new ensemble cast to create convoluted relationship dynamics between them. While the friendships and family ties were comparable to the original,9-1-1: Lone Starhad an office romance that set it apart from the original series between Mateo Chavez (Julian Works) and Nancy Gillian (Brianna Baker).
9-1-1: Lone Star’s unfortunate cancelationgave its characters the truncated season 5 to wrap up their final storylines, but Mateo and Nancy got the happy ending they deserved. Now that their love story has concluded,9-1-1should consider taking up the mantle with its main friendship between Edmundo“Eddie”Diaz (Ryan Guzman) and Evan“Buck”Buckley (Oliver Stark).9-1-1season 9, while still unconfirmed, is extremely likely given the ABC procedural’s popularity, meaning the transition from friends to lovers could happen organically. If9-1-1opts to take the office romance route, I’d argue they’ve laid the proper groundwork already.
9-1-1: Lone Star Showed How Compelling A Workplace Romance Is
Mateo & Nancy Paved The Way
From the moment they got together in9-1-1: Lone Starseason 2, Mateo and Nancy had a captivating romance. By the end of the series, they had definitely earned their spot among the9-1-1franchise’s best couples, but their journey was less than perfect (which made it so much better). Nancy and Mateo both working at the 126 firehouse was an inherent source of tension, primarily because he was hesitant to commit to their relationship and tell their coworkers. They were also constantly worrying about the other’s safety during9-1-1: Lone Star’s intense rescues.
10 Lessons 9-1-1 Can Learn From Lone Star
With 9-1-1 season 8’s midseason premiere nearing, the ABC procedural has a few notes it can take from its sister series, 9-1-1: Lone Star.
While Nancy and Mateo’s storyline in9-1-1: Lone Starwas interesting, they barely skimmed the surface of the endless potential a work romance could have in the9-1-1universe. If the original series were to explore a workplace romance,9-1-1’s near-death experiencescould take on higher stakes, with coworkers balancing their duties and their personal conflicts. Additionally, Captain Bobby Nash’s (Peter Krause) adherence to protocol could offer an interesting obstacle involving the 118’s HR department.9-1-1could have a workplace romance that goes deeper thanLone Star’s, even if the spinoff set the example.
9-1-1’s Best Shot At A Workplace Romance Is With Buck & Eddie
They Have The Most Chemistry
If9-1-1wants a believable workplace romance, there’s only one real option: Buck and Eddie. From the moment Eddie joined the9-1-1castin season 2, I saw the obvious potential for him and Buck to have a slow-burn romance.Stark and Guzman have undeniable chemistryin their scenes together, which helped spark a nearly 7-year discussion surrounding apossible Buck and Eddie romance in9-1-1. While there are some arguments against the pairing (ranging from acceptable critiques to blatant homophobia),Buck and Eddie have one of the most intimate connections in9-1-1already. Dating would be a natural progression.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Maddie Buckley-Han
9-1-1needs to explore Buck’s bisexualitymore than it has since he came out in season 7, and if the romantic subtext between him and Eddie was intentional, a workplace romance would kill two birds with one stone. Yes, Buck and Eddie could remain strictly platonic friends, but there is something that undeniably runs deeper. I’d argue there would be little to no opposition to their relationship turning romantic if either was a woman, but a Buck and Eddie romance would be all the more powerful and continue the procedural’s diverse representation if9-1-1is brave enough to pursue it.
What Are The Chances Of Buck & Eddie Becoming A Couple Happening
More Likely Than You’d Think
While9-1-1has already given Buck and Eddie emotional arcs that deepened their bond— including Eddie adding Buck to his will to be his son’s legal guardian— that’s not to say the procedural can’t go further. Some may think9-1-1season 8 proved Buck and Eddie can’t be together, but “Confessions” only further convinced me“Buddie”(Buck and Eddie) could become real. Eddie may have told the pastor he’s straight, but the entire episode was about him lying to himself and starting to realize harsh truths. In context,9-1-1could easily be setting Eddie up for a repressed sexuality storyline.
All episodes of9-1-1are streaming on Hulu.
Furthermore,Oliver Stark implied Buck’s feelings for Eddie in9-1-1could be recontextualized, admitting he“was actually surprised by the extent to which it’s going to be explored.”Whether the Ryan Murphy drama is teasing an unrequited love storyline or something else entirely, it’s clear thatthere’s more to Buck and Eddie’s9-1-1relationship than has been explicitly statedthus far.9-1-1has the perfect pair in Buck and Eddie, but they’ll remain a key aspect of the procedural regardless of whether they become romantically involved.
