Warning: this article contains spoilers for9-1-1.9-1-1made waves when itconfirmed Buck’s bisexuality, but the show is failing to properly incorporate his sexuality into his character. Since9-1-1’s pilot season, Evan“Buck”Buckley (Oliver Stark) has had a habit of rushing into relationships. Every serious romance he experienced followed the same pattern that he’d criticize after a breakup: Buck would impulsively enter a relationship, invest too much too quickly, and prioritize his partner over himself. In the last two seasons, though, his character underwent what should have been a highly reflective storyline. Until9-1-1 season 8, episode 9 releases, however, the future for Buck’s character is unclear.
Even including romantic partners, Buck’s longest relationships are with the members of the 118, but best friend Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) might send Buck spiraling.Eddie potentially leaving9-1-1season 8mixed with Tommy Kinard (Lou Ferrigno Jr.) dumping him will be a wake-up call for Buck to truly reflect on his identity and his relationships. With9-1-1season 9still unconfirmed, time is of the essence for showrunnerTim Minear to flesh out Buck’s bisexualityand allow him to undergo some actual self-discovery.9-1-1doesn’t need to make bisexuality Buck’s only character trait, but the story shouldn’t outright ignore it.
Buck Needs To Explore His Sexuality Properly In 9-1-1
Buck Doesn’t Need To Rush Into Another Relationship
The biggest mistake9-1-1made during Buck’s bi awakeningwas having him immediately enter a committed, monogamous relationship with the first man he ever kissed. Instead of taking his realization in stride and taking time to understand what it means for him,Buck starts dating Tommy, but their romance was sidelined until9-1-1season 8. The little we see of Buck dating a man is no different from past girlfriends who appear for a season and then leave just as quickly as they appear. One could argue that makes his bisexuality merely a part of him instead of the entire focus, but it feels unearned.
9-1-1 Finally Remembers Ryan Guzman’s Forgotten Talent With Eddie’s Most Fun Scene Yet
Eddie’s emotional roller coaster storyline in 9-1-1 season 8 thus far gets an unexpected ending, which revives Ryan Guzman’s forgotten talent.
While it took him until9-1-1season 7 to fully realize it,Buck’s attraction to men has been lying dormant for years. He even admits to his sister that he thought it was“normal”to find men hot. As such, his bisexuality doesn’t have to be a dramatic revelation; it could’ve been a beautiful moment for Buck to feel things falling into place. Unfortunately, viewers never see Buck come to terms with his identity because his bisexuality was put on the backburner as soon as it’s introduced. Before he settles down into his next relationship, Buck needs to reflect.
9-1-1 Needs To Be Careful With Exploring Buck’s Sexuality
Buck 1.0 Doesn’t Need To Return
9-1-1needs to approach Buck’s journey of self-discovery with care. It could be incredibly easy for writers torevert Buck to his9-1-1season 1 personawhere he used sex as a coping mechanism. All the work Buck’s done to distance himself from“Buck 1.0”doesn’t need to go to waste; it’s possible for his maturity and identity exploration to coexist. But rather than saddle Buck with a random partner, the show should let Buck go on first dates. Exploring multiple avenues without rushing to be someone’s boyfriend will let Buck explore his taste in men and women alike.
Queerness has been a part of9-1-1since the show’s conception, with a lesbian couple in the main cast and many queer couples on calls from season 1 onward.
Of course, there’s an obvious reason for9-1-1to attempt to downplay Buck’s bisexuality. Not all viewers took kindly to his bisexual awakening, butOliver Stark responded to the9-1-1season 7 backlashperfectly:“If [Buck’s] bisexuality is your deal breaker — I fear you’ve missed the entire point of the show.”Thousands of fans see themselves in Buck, due in part to his bisexuality. to offer the audience good-faith bisexual representation,9-1-1needs to take a brave stance andhighlight Buck’s queernessby allowing him to explore his sexuality without judgment.
9-1-1returns Thursday, July 07, 2025 on ABC.
9-1-1
9-1-1 is a television series that explores the intense experiences of police officers, paramedics, and firefighters. Premiered in 2018, it follows these emergency responders as they navigate high-pressure situations and attempt to balance their demanding work with personal challenges in their own lives.
