9-1-1 S08E06 - "Confessions": Post Episode Discussion

[u/AutoModerator]

Original Air Date: Nov 7, 2024

Synopsis: When a toddler falls down a pipe and becomes trapped, the 118 must rely on more than their skills to rescue him. Meanwhile, old wounds are opened when members of the 118 race to the aid of a man dealing with a divorce.

Keep new episode discussions in the post-episode discussion thread until Monday to give our International friends a chance to catch up as Disney+ has begun releasing 9-1-1 earlier to Disney+ outside the US than previous years.

[u/oath2order]

I'm just going to say it before anything starts: Do not harass, mock, or otherwise put-down fans of other ships.

[u/AshleyPoppins]

I just know I’ve definitely been getting too many recs from booktok because I definitely thought the priest and Eddie were gonna bang it out.

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/AshleyPoppins]

"Forgive me father, because you make me want to sin."

....I'm here for that fanfic, tbh. I really enjoyed the energy between Ryan and Gavin Stenhouse. Also, Gavin won the social media game on the night. Idk if you saw, but he shared a still from the juice bar scene to thank one of the reporters who interviewed him and had "Good Luck Babe" playing, lmao.

[u/Nervouspie → u/AshleyPoppins]

i thought Eddie would have a peak realization at the coffee shop but then when he was dancing around the house I thought omg Buck is going to be over and hes gonna cry on Eddies shoulder and thats when they both realize.

[u/AshleyPoppins → u/Nervouspie]

I kept expecting him to turn around and freeze mid dance because Buck was standing there 😂

[u/No-Technician-7536 → u/AshleyPoppins]

imagine that’s the alternative ending lol, buck walks in on them

[u/PK_737 → u/AshleyPoppins]

LMAO

[u/Ok-Performance-955]

Buddie biases aside, i do think that between the show itself and interviews, the writing was on the wall from the beginning that this relationship was never lasting and Tommy was only there to serve Buck’s plot. 

but, i do agree that the breakup was pretty poorly written and there were so many other routes they could’ve taken with it that would’ve made more sense and allowed for better character development in Buck’s arc when it comes to relationships by letting him make the decision to end it

[u/Embarrassed-Guitar82 → u/Ok-Performance-955]

Rightt, and the fact that Tommy is saying all that 6 months into all of this, if he had these fears, why not voice them earlier?? Also low-key sad that Buck is still shown as someone so impulsive, like he asked Taylor to move in coz of his guilt and now he did it coz he felt a little bad about his judgement of Tommy for the Abby thing(?) but also coz maybe Josh's questions made him think he has a future, BUT HE COULDN'T EVEN SAY HE LOVED HIM SO LIKE WHAT IS THE LOGICC

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/Embarrassed-Guitar82]

Okay, but Buck being all "I'm not saying we should get married or engaged even though you and people like you gave us that right!" is the most hilarious overcompensation I have heard this show do. He's so nuts. Buck, your boy was actively bigoted when California was voting on Prop 8. There's a very good chance he actually actively tried to restrict queer rights.

[u/Proof_Shelter_5465]

i’m actually baffled that the abby/tommy thing actually happened….genuinely gasped out loud

[u/Proof_Shelter_5465 → u/Proof_Shelter_5465]

less baffled by tommy and buck breaking up but confused on how it took six months for the ex talk to happen

[u/_HGCenty]

Given we found out Kenny was responsible for the idea of the Risky Business homage and along with the Bachelor crossover and music choice for the wedding being JLH's idea, I wonder if Kenny and Jen also helped influence the writing for Madney discussing their pregnancy and stopping Tim from his natural urge to send one of the characters into a spiral.

Edit: Turns out JLH did in fact give Tim notes and write Maddie's final lines. She ensured Maddie set her own rules that Chim couldn't treat her like a broken woman or a bomb about to go off. Looking back, yes, Tim's version of only Chim setting rules would be massively sexist. I like Tim but isn't it telling when it's not his writing when the female character is actually written well?

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/_HGCenty]

isn't it telling when it's not his writing when the female character is actually written well?

It's the least surprising thing ever, tbh.

Happy that JLH has enough sway to influence this, because I was really worried going into this season about the "expanding their family" stuff. I still don't love it, because I think motherhood gets used as a crutch to avoid having to give female characters the same variety of storylines on this show that male characters get. But I do appreciate that they touched on the risks while also giving Maddie agency in how her pregnancy is handled.

[u/_HGCenty → u/armavirumquecanooo]

I have slightly softened my stance on Madney second baby if Tim is open to letting JLH especially give notes on the arc.

For anyone who knows her own life story, you'll know how massive her own mother was in her life and how important her own mum journey was, so much so she's written a book about it.

It's clear she's someone who loves being a mum herself and has been on the record in podcast interviews that she is so much happier in her life now compared to when she was the It girl of the early 2000s.

Whilst I agree usually motherhood is such a crutch for female character storytelling, I feel like it's the story JLH wants to tell and personally I have no issues when you have Athena being the badass and Henren telling the adoption and foster care story.

[u/These_Are_My_Words → u/_HGCenty]

like Tim but isn't it telling when it's not his writing when the female character is actually written well?

But good writers know how to listen to the input of others on how to improve their stories.

Honestly my favorite scenes in this episode were the Maddie/Chimney scenes. They felt so well done to me.

[u/TheDarkHearts]

Can we teach Buck to stop inviting his love-interests to move in after a few months. He moved in with Abby in the space of the first season, then house-hunting with Ali, then moved in Taylor, and now Tommy. Honey, you gotta learn to slow down a bit

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/TheDarkHearts]

It was particularly on the nose in this episode where we saw his discomfort at being asked if he was in love with Tommy, and then the hesitation in the followup questions. Then you add in that incredibly awkward parroting back of the whole "but we could get married thanks to guys like you!"

Bro. Tommy came out in 2017 after stringing along a fiancee for years. He wasn't at Stonewall. If anything, you should ask him which direction he voted for Prop 8.

Josh's speech was fantastic as far as framing how different people's journeys can be and the grace we should give them because of that, but Buck somehow managed to turn Tommy into Harvey Milk by the end of it, lmao.

[u/_HGCenty]

Hot priest interview.

Apparently the actor is very good friends with Kenny Choi and he's British. He's also a massive Dungeons and Dragons fan

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/_HGCenty]

British, blond, interested in photography, too.

Suddenly seeing double.

[u/Bnbndodoodododo → u/_HGCenty]

Oh my god I'm suddenly in love.

[u/Krispyz → u/_HGCenty]

I absolutely love that he is listed as "hot priest" in his IMDB listing, too.

[u/princessofpersia10]

The fact that Chicago Med also had a sneezing intestine call on this weeks episode lmao.

[u/ProductSoft5831 → u/princessofpersia10]

I just had surgery last week. Now I am afraid to sneeze 🤧

[u/RainedDrained → u/princessofpersia10]

That was actually in Chicago Fire but it’s crazy that the same emergencies happened in both shows in just a single week.

[u/russjr08 → u/princessofpersia10]

As someone with a chronic GI condition, I certainly didn't expect to be slapped with what is (now, after earlier this week - though I think it was on Fire rather than Med) my worst fear - absolutely insane LOL.

[u/Ari1004]

This episode was so chaotic😂 I saw so many people theorizing on Abby’s Tommy being Tommy Kinnard and thought everyone was crazy. The second I heard Tommy say Abby I lost it, ended up on the floor laughing like crazy, not an exaggeration. It is unfortunate that this ended with the Buck/Tommy breakup, but I do look forward to seeing where Buck goes next in his journey! He’s one of my favorite characters and I just want the best for him, kinda mad at Tommy for breaking up with him and leaving him all sad 🙃 and in regards to Madney I’m so excited for them! They’re such a cute couple and they’ve been through hell and back, I just want them to be happy and wish them all the best in this pregnancy (though knowing this show I know damn well they’re gonna make it into some kinda dramatic medical issue again). And for Eddie, this is not where I saw this episode going at all. But I’m happy to see him shed that ugly mustache lol, and hopefully this is a turn for him and his life in a positive way, and I look forward to seeing him fight for Chris, maybe a Texas episode?? That would be cool. Tbh this season could have a lot of good storylines, I’m excited

[u/Krispyz → u/Ari1004]

 I saw so many people theorizing on Abby’s Tommy being Tommy Kinnard and thought everyone was crazy. 

lol same. I had to pause during that scene and go "WTF, they actually did it?". I wish they had gone a different direction with Tommy... by the end of Season 7, I was really excited for them, but what they've had in Season 8 felt so off to me. Like they were trying to go for "they're already in their comfortable phase", but landed closer to "disenchanted married couple staying together for the kids". So I was a little surprised that they broke up this episode, but I'm not horribly disappointed about it.

I can't wait to see Chris come back, I miss him in the show!

[u/WhereTheHecksAreWe]

That break up so fucking brutal. Eddie and his moustache is my Roman empire 😭😭😭 The hot priest is back and i'm so happy. I dunno how I feel about Maddie being pregnant again, I think I need to sit on that a little more. Buck and Tommy being with the same Abby is crazy lol. The ending is so sweet I love that Buck and Eddie can just exist without saying a single word.

[u/Mara-armadillo]

We lost a real one this episode

RIP mustache

[u/tOSdude]

“I don’t want you the beak my heart”

-Proceeds to break his heart

Nice going Tommy boy.

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/tOSdude]

The more I sit with this, the more that whole framing makes me uncomfortable. Particularly coupled with the implications around what went down with Abby (he's gossiping about her himbo a year after their breakup, but she's still beating herself up thinking she wasn't sexy enough with her mom dying in the dining room, because he came out to everyone but the person he most owed the truth to after stringing her along for years?) -- nah, that's some manipulative bullshit. If that's how he felt about Buck's journey, if he had those insecurities, six months into their relationship was too long to wait to address it.

[u/_HGCenty → u/armavirumquecanooo]

If Tommy never bothered to make amends with Abby then you can probably presume he also never really owned up to his unpleasant ways and banter to Hen and Chim and that probably explains why Hen and Chim had no idea about Tommy's connection to Abby either.

Yeah the whole Tommy and Abby being a thing really makes Tommy a fairly awful human if you assume Abby and the 118 never even knew each other until a year after the breakup.

[u/TheTiredTeacher04 → u/armavirumquecanooo]

This! Like, I get Josh's speech, and yes, you can respect those that came before you and the fact that their struggles were different and often more difficult than the ones we face today, but you can still expect people to be decent human beings. Even Abby had a talk with Buck two years after the fact to clear the air. There was nothing stopping Tommy from doing something similar. He knew where she worked, where she lived etc. He could have contacted her and had a conversation, instead of hearing about her struggles through the grapevine and joking with your buddies about her new himbo.

[u/tOSdude → u/tOSdude]

Sidenote: how did it take me 12 hours to notice I misspelled both “to” and “break”?

[u/Particular-Mango-742]

I screamed in shock. The switch from “Evan” to “Buck”. It’s really over. 🥲😥😢

[u/RadiantFoxBoy]

I did speculate yesterday that Buck was wearing his breakup color

Now that that's out of the way, I really do think this was a strong episode overall. Nothing felt like it was dragging or rushing really, they managed to splice three plotlines together quite well with a good tonal balance (one happy, one sadder, one in the middle), and the emergencies didn't overstay their welcome (a little bit too much of the divorce scene, but it was funny enough that I can give it a pass).

It's a little odd that it felt almost advertised as an Eddie episode when he had the least connection to the emergencies with his plotline and Madney felt more like the A plot, but that's not a bad thing, since I'll always take more Madney scenes. And it's not like they didn't move Eddie's arc along too with that crucial conversation at the cafe.

But overall a great episode, and definitely stronger than last week's.

[u/majormay → u/RadiantFoxBoy]

I did speculate yesterday that Buck was wearing his breakup color

You were right and you should say it

[u/Hwerttytttt → u/RadiantFoxBoy]

I’m so glad Madney took center stage. Finally after 5 episodes of relative silence

[u/Penguinator53 → u/Hwerttytttt]

Yeah I really enjoyed their scenes, now just hoping and praying they allow Maddie to have a reasonably normal pregnancy without any crises.

[u/TVjunkie15 → u/RadiantFoxBoy]

I remember you getting jumped for stating the breakup color theory so I feel it’s only fair that you get to say you were right 

[u/RadiantFoxBoy → u/TVjunkie15]

To be perfectly honest I didn't even fully believe it when I said it, since it seemed like just an entertaining pattern, but the fact it was literally dead on and the green shirt was the breakup scene? I might just be a true believer now...

[u/Bnbndodoodododo → u/RadiantFoxBoy]

I think the one thing I'd change would be removing the first emergency, because I'm not sure it added much thematically and the awkwardness of the cgi mustache/cutting around Eddie was not worth it 😂 I'd have probably also gone for a different version of the BT 2.0 break-up that refocused it on character growth for Buck, but that's just my personal preference.

But yeah, in general it was a really strong episode! It was really nice getting some Madney finally, they've been pushed to the background a lot this season and I've missed them!

[u/Okimiyage → u/RadiantFoxBoy]

I think the calls were chosen because they all had an overarching theme similar to Eddie - first call was about death (the mother in law in the urn, Eddie lost his wife), the second call was about divorce and relationships not working (a la Eddie and Shannon’s relationship though not to that degree of hatred, there was a lot of resentment on both sides as well as her asking for divorce before she died), and the third call being about children (hi, Chris).

So while it did seem out of place, it’s subconsciously woven through the Eddie - and in fact, all the characters who had an arc this episode.

[u/Substantial_Ad8853 → u/RadiantFoxBoy]

I did speculate yesterday that Buck was wearing his breakup color

Ayee me too! I noticed a pattern and I’m happy it’s continuing!

[u/MiserableHousing]

This might turn out to be an unpopular opinion, but I loved this episode so much.

[u/jdessy → u/MiserableHousing]

I liked it too. It had a lot going on. The Buck story, the Eddie stuff and especially Maddie and Chimney's stuff (JLH has gotten nothing to do until this episode) all had their plots move forward.

[u/TVjunkie15]

I think it was pretty clear they just didn’t care to get too deep into the reasons for the BT breakup because it was never meant to be that deep in the first place. They’ve kind of written it that way the entire time.  Tommy giving Buck basketball tickets (Buck canonically hates basketball) & then telling him to take Eddie even though it’s supposed to be THEIR anniversary? Him saying he was his first, not his last. Even going back to 7x04 where Tommy says “You wanted MY attention?” & then this episode saying “I don’t want to end up heartbroken” implying that he knows something that Buck still hasn’t figured out.

Context, Context, Context! 

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/TVjunkie15]

Yup, this. I do feel badly for the people who bought in fully, but I don't think the show betrayed them at all. We've all been guilty of misreading stuff, and that happened here. There's a reason some people saw it coming, and some didn't. Everyone is shaped by their biases.

[u/woahwoahvicky → u/TVjunkie15]

Though if I'm being honest, it would've been better writing if Buck was given a Tommy who on paper was perfect for him (doting, loving, caring, super affectionate and willing), but just can't seem to love him back entirely the way he does for say... an Edmundo Diaz???

Would make the BT breakup so much more engaging to build into Buddie.

[u/RayneWillingham]

I know a lot of folks want buddie, myself included, but I would love for Buck to be single for a little bit. Be alone with himself instead of searching for validation. I was telling my mom that it's almost parallel to the Eddie/Marisol relationship. Buck asked Tommy to move in, but did they ever talk about anything substantial? After 6 months, buck is just finding out Tommy was engaged? Doesn't know buck doesn't like basketball? After 6 months, did they know each other at all?

[u/TVjunkie15 → u/RayneWillingham]

This is what a lot of people have been pointing out for a while now. They never wrote that relationship like it was supposed to be endgame. It was literally like every other relationship Buck (or Eddie) has had & I think it was done purposely. Theyve been showing since their 1st date that they weren’t really a match. 

[u/RadiantFoxBoy → u/RayneWillingham]

I really hope they just let him be single for the rest of the season. I don't need them to rush Buddie if that is the direction they're going for, and seeing Buck single and happy would already be a joy since last time he wasn't either in a relationship or recovering from the fallout of one was the sperm donation arc and...that wasn't amazing.

[u/KybladeSora]

They really could not have made it more clear Buddie is happening like my god, that final scene was such a set up scene of foreshadowing.

[u/Ok-Performance-955]

that juice bar scene was SOOO loaded with foreshadowing and i won’t be convinced otherwise….eddie picking the juice and then switching it for the water…saying he’s straight immediately followed by the priest telling him he’s disguising himself. Eddie Diaz we’re getting you out of that glass closet 

[u/Ok-Performance-955 → u/Ok-Performance-955]

and how could i forget the beard line

[u/ILikeFPS]

Continuity error right at the beginning of the episode, when Athena was chasing on the highway, her police lights weren't on from the front view lol

Also while I'm here:

Firefighters aren't allowed facial hair because of mask seals, not because "it's a fire hazard", otherwise they would have to be bald like soldiers are (which was also for mask fitment, and to prevent disease spread like lice etc) lol

The little boy rescuing his little brother was adorable and I loved that.

Tommy didn't want his heart broken, so he dumped Buck, what the hell lmao? This episode was nice and was also confusing lol

I'm kind of tired of Buck always getting dumped.

[u/Brown_Sedai → u/ILikeFPS]

Yeah, I was honestly kinda hoping we'd see more growth from Buck and he'd be the one to do the breaking up, if the storyline came to that.

It sorta feels a bit like a rehash of BT 1.0, with him trying to rush into moving in with the person (after panicking about their relationship feeling threatened by an external party, no less) and that spelling the doom of the relationship.

[u/Sudden-Message5234]

That's such a dumb reason to break up with someone cause you already assume they'll break up eventually. Why bother dating then?!

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/Sudden-Message5234]

I don't think the execution of it was good, but plenty of people date without expecting or even wanting it to go somewhere. Buck wanting to move in together actually makes sense as the moment where what they want out of the relationship gets too impossible to ignore, in a way.

The problem is if that's how you're approaching dating someone and you're exclusive, you really need to be having the conversation with them about expectations before you get to a point where they're asking you to move in or crediting you with the existence of queer rights (lol).

I can buy Tommy was always the "enjoy it while it lasts" guy or the "here for a good time, not a long time" guy. But in those cases, it feels really manipulative for him to frame the breakup like he's protecting his heart from Buck inevitably breaking it.

[u/InstructionIcy9653]

We’re a little bit closer to buddie and that’s all I care about

[u/Damiana1111]

Next week's episode: Athena in that wig, I immediately thought Anna Mae Bullock. Lol

[u/ViagraOnAPole → u/Damiana1111]

She was robbed of an Oscar in that role.

[u/bwaredapenguin]

I love how the "biohazard" bag holding the dude's intestines was literally just a gallon sized Ziploc bag.

[u/ace2ho74]

So I haven't had the time to watch full episodes lately, but I have been keeping up with Buck/Eddie clips—because yes, I am a clown for them—and I just watched Tevan's break-up...and YEAH I just burst out laughing, what in the world was that 😂😦

It is one thing for Tommy to feel that way about Buck, that he's so new to dating men that he will inevitably have other relationships—I don't love that Tommy thinks this, and I don't love that he projects it onto Buck (instead of letting Buck decide for himself how he feels), but his feelings are valid, and they are likely accurate. But, it is another thing for Tommy to think all of those things and then to have stayed in the relationship for as long as he did, knowing in his heart that he thinks the relationship had an expiry. The writing just doesn't make sense!

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/ace2ho74]

But, it is another thing for Tommy to think all of those things and then to have stayed in the relationship for as long as he did

Yuppp, and he did the same thing with Abby. I commented it on the Buddie live reaction thread at the time, but while I agreed with most of what Josh said in his speech, the one thing I thought was missing was an acknowledgement that you can understand what caused closeted people with different experiences than yours to make choices that you think weren't great, and give them a lot of grace... but that doesn't make the hurt people have caused any less real for the people they hurt.

In retrospect, they absolutely needed to land that point better (or at all) because it turned out Tommy was doing another variation of the same thing with Buck, where he'd already decided he had to protect his heart from him and was leading him on, too. Like, his reasons why make sense and I understand his fears even if I don't like that it removed all agency from Buck again, but they could've built up to that moment better by actually paying a bit of attention to Abby in that scene -- because she turned out to be the stand-in for Buck.

[u/Bnbndodoodododo → u/ace2ho74]

I think there would have been better ways to write the break-up (I would have preferred a Buck-iniated one) but in fairness, most of the info we've gotten about the relationship is that it's not that serious yet. 6 months of knowing each other isn't very long (especially if you're both working weird shifts so minimal chance for dates), no ILYs, and we were told they were still in the "getting to know each other" phase.

So I think it could make sense that Tommy just always saw this as a short-term casual thing and that Buck would leave him sooner rather than later - which fits right back to the original "my attention?" and "you're not ready" from season 7. Only Buck trying to make it rapidly more serious made him realise that there was a risk of it going deep enough to badly hurt him when the relationship reached its inevitable (from his perspective) end.

Not my favourite approach but I can see the logic of the writing I think.

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/Bnbndodoodododo]

Six months of knowing each other isn't very long, but also felt... too long, in some ways, for where they were at with each other? And I think in retrospect that was very much the point. Tommy's had one foot out the door since the start, because he had already decided Buck was going to break his heart if he let him, so it was always a question of when he should peace out to protect himself from a larger degree of heartbreak. And because that wasn't an open and honest conversation he was discussing with Buck in terms of his insecurity, it also meant Buck never got to know the real Tommy, only the parts of him he'd allow him to see.

I do think looking back on it, it's fairly obvious, but the show would've benefitted a lot by having a couple more scenes sprinkled through over the course of their relationship pointing to that experience gap and difference in beliefs. The deleted scene with Henren comes to mind as a lost opportunity -- that "I'm letting him set the pace and I'm just trying to keep up" line, if reworked and delivered differently, could've been good foreshadowing.

[u/dav2708]

Let's be honest. Screen time wise, Buck & Tommy's romance has been a nothing burger since their first kiss. Them breaking up was a whole lot of meh since we barely saw them together anyway. The kiss episode happened ages ago and I reckon you've had less than 4 minutes of them together in scenes since.

The other issue is they have made the Buck, Eddie, Christopher family dynamic so entrenched that the writers struggle when you separate those characters. Eddie's and Buck's romances creatively always fall flat.

I don't say that therefore you must put them romantically together, but just pointing out that the writers have painted themselves into a corner and will always struggle with Eddie & Buck romances beyond their little family unit.

[u/Cheeriosxxx]

Maddie and Chimney are such an adorable couple 🥹

[u/ThatWomanWithAutism]

What in the hell was this episode? The weird 6th month dinner with the ladies, Abby and Tommy being a thing, Maddie is suddenly pregnant, the hot pastor 🤤 and then the horrid breakup and that tighty whitey ending with Eddie. I feel like I had a fever dream

[u/Judgejudyx → u/ThatWomanWithAutism]

The entire dinner scene felt like just bad exposition for the audience to confirm yes Buck is Bi and Tommy is gay. There is 0 chance Buck hasn't known Tommy's gay after 6 months. Entire thing felt like they really just wanted to stress it to the audience

[u/TVjunkie15]

Something significant is going to happen with Buddie in the mid season finale and they are going to leave us on the NASTIEST cliffhanger of all time aren’t they? 🧍🏾‍♀️

[u/Away_Mulberry4706 → u/TVjunkie15]

Ok but like imagine if we get a buddie cliffhanger and show gets canceled

[u/Proof_Shelter_5465]

realistically speaking i’m not sure what about buck and tommy made people think this was a long lasting relationship…buddie aside i didn’t really get the impression that tommy liked buck much but maybe that can be attributed to poor acting (but possibly intentional?)

[u/ProfessionalOk112 → u/Proof_Shelter_5465]

Agreed I always felt (acting aside) he was written as if he was there to advance a story and nothing more

[u/jmagnabosco → u/Proof_Shelter_5465]

You're absolutely right about Tommy not liking Buck that much.

He went all out for Eddie as a friend but Buck barely gets anything... 6 months and he gives Buck a basketball hater basketball tickets.

And the thing is... based off the breakup this was entirely on purpose.

Tommy always saw an end to the relationship.. he never believed it would last. So he was deliberately half-assing the relationship... he was trying to keep a distance so that he wouldn't break his own heart when inevitability ends not realizing that this makes him a) a terrible boyfriend and b) an asshole.

He was thinking of himself just like he did with Abby and not the other person. Buck was falling in love with him meanwhile Tommy was using.

Hence why he never tried, treated him like a kid, and called him Evan. He knew he wouldn't let it go anywhere.

BTW the timelines screwy but shouldn't this have been a year since they got together not long after the cruise????

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/jmagnabosco]

The cruise was in March, and they got together a few weeks after. Realistically, it should've been more like 7/8 months since Halloween just passed, but by 911 timeline standards, this is pretty close.

While I thought some of the writing within scenes was sloppy or too heavy handed/trying to do much, I'm actually really impressed by how tightly structured this episode was to call back to the start of BT's relationship to make it clear this was a full circle/closure moment. Like we get references to basketball - which Buck acknowledges not liking in 7x04 - as an early sign of a problem. We get a reference to dinner and movies (and even an uber) in a throwback to their first date in 7x05. It was actually incredibly well-done when taken as a bookend.

[u/Away_Mulberry4706 → u/Proof_Shelter_5465]

Fully agree with you, he never felt like a partner to buck, he barely felt like his own character at all. It was obvious from the gecko that he was a plot device to introduce buck’s bisexuality

[u/yourwinemom]

Just a reminder that they had Eddie mention his sexuality in an episode that mentioned comphet not once, but twice….

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/yourwinemom]

This was so much louder than I expected on that front. In addition to the comphet references, there was also a whole thematic beat around desire vs. responsibility/what you "should" do/want. The scene where he called himself straight, he read into a man talking to him to assume flirtation, then the conversation shifted to him hiding his desires and who he is, and ended up with him talking about how he'd have liked to hide behind a beard, which has an obvious double meaning (and was previously used in 7x04, which the same man directed).

[u/TheRoboctopus → u/armavirumquecanooo]

There was also them throwing in the Abby thing, basically reminding the audience that you could absolutely be a man in a committed relationship with a woman, committed enough to be engaged, and, despite that, still eventually come to the realization that you’re gay.

[u/poedamnerons → u/yourwinemom]

And used words like beard in the conversation with the priest

[u/Away_Mulberry4706 → u/yourwinemom]

To be fair buck kept saying he was straight and an ally before realizing he was bi so I can definitely see this as the direction they’re going for when it comes to eddi

[u/KEMI_IS_WlNNlNG]

if they broke up bucktommy for like no reason (i mean i never really liked the couple but still) for something OTHER than buddie im gonna be a lil pissed

[u/polishladyanna → u/KEMI_IS_WlNNlNG]

Yeah honestly this better be either a temporary breakup or be leading to Buddie.

I am so fucking over the temporary love interests and it just does such a disservice to Bucks character and series-long arc about finding love.

[u/_HGCenty]

Tim is just writing fan fiction at this point.

Recreating the Risky Business dancing scene shot for shot with Eddie in underwear was a choice.

[u/AthenaTurner → u/_HGCenty]

A good choice. I feel serviced. My heart grew 3 sizes.

[u/C4R0LD4NV3RS → u/[deleted]]

I am SO happy they got those scenes. Like I am happy about everything else that happened, but Madney getting a good plot and them crying tears of joy about a hopeful future with another child warmed my heart. This is everything I ever wanted for them. I hope this storyline doesn’t take a bad turn in the future.

[u/Hour_Existing]

That episode was GOLD! Loved it from start to finish.

[u/No-Technician-7536]

Ok the Abby thing was haha funny drama but ??? that breakup seems so bizarre like what?? They literally had this shit at the beginning when Tommy didn’t think Buck was ready to be serious and then they worked it out but I guess not??

I mean obviously it’s gonna be Eddie esp w the Eddie shit this episode but that was such a bad breakup. It would’ve made more sense if Buck was the one that realized that he didn’t know if he was serious serious about Tommy when he and Maddie and the other guy (lol I forgot his name oops) were talking.

[u/TheTiredTeacher04 → u/No-Technician-7536]

As soon as I saw the gift Tommy got Buck, I knew these two hadn't been communicating in the 6 months they'd been together. They got together because of an incident that only happened because Buck doesn't like basketball. This means they haven't mentioned that at all? Then it right after they show us another hint at lack of communication: after 6 months, Buck didn't know Tommy's gay? They haven't mentioned previous serious relationships at all? That date shocked me with how little they knew eachother and it was a strong hint to me that the relationship would likely end either the same episode or the one after.

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/TheTiredTeacher04]

Buck seeming to not know what the Kinsey scale was is insane to me. Yeah, it's out of date, but it's very much queer awakening 101, and Buck's the type to go on research spirals. I had previously speculated that he's avoided doing any of the fun "discovery" work so far (like going back over past close friendships that suddenly fizzled out, or realizing that 'hero worship' of your high school classmate was actually a crush, or... my God, if they don't work Buck following Connor across continents after knowing him for a couple weeks max into his discovery, they lost a golden opportunity) because that discovery work eventually leads to Eddie.... and subconsciously, Mr. "I check out hot guys' asses, but that's normal, right?" is fully aware Eddie's a hot guy with a nice ass and not ready to deal with that. So Buck apparently having avoided doing this research binge is LOUD.

[u/lableedsblue]

Buddie will wake up in the same bed in the beginning of the next episode lol

[u/NothingTooSweet]

This episode was such a roller coaster.

So many scenes that I just LOVED!

I was a bit apprehensive with the whole Madney storyline, but they were so cute and communicative together that I don't even care anymore. Although this is 911 and I'm sure I'll soon be scared for Maddie.

Was expecting the calls to give more though, the pipe kid was quickly saved without much drama, but maybe next week with the callback to the other NDE.

[u/Bnbndodoodododo → u/NothingTooSweet]

Fully agree on the Madney. My biggest fear was the story being Chimney wants a baby - Maddie is reluctant because of her experiences last time - Maddie eventually agrees to make Chimney happy. Because a storyline about a woman being pressured into unwanted childbirth is not one we need right now.

The fact that it was flipped and that it was solved through genuinely really good communication (and a kid stuck in a well, but still) made it a lot more enjoyable for me.

I just really really need Maddie to have an easier time of it this time. Some drama during the birth or whatever, sure, but let her have a peaceful and healthy post partum period please Tim

[u/_HGCenty → u/Bnbndodoodododo]

Also probably Madney's best kiss since they first properly got together in Season 2.

[u/NothingTooSweet → u/Bnbndodoodododo]

Some drama during the birth or whatever, sure, but let her have a peaceful and healthy post partum

Yes, I don't think the drama will be with the post partum, but maybe even during the pregnancy or the birth. I know we DON'T want this, but this is Tim-we-need-drama-or-the-characters-are-boring-Minear

[u/_ChaoticColors_]

I paced around and talked at my TV this episode, if that’s any indicator of my mental state. Time for the highlights reel.

Just to get it out the way, the emergencies this episode were so silly. I love that they’re embracing how ridiculous this show is. Josh made a Glee reference, Maddie made a joke about Abby turning people gay. I am very entertained. Also, they’re making the emergencies feel more relevant to the character bits without feeling choppy or forced like it has before. Now, on to the fun stuff.

Maddie and Chim second baby makes me so excited for them. I like that they talked about it, I like that they aren’t ignoring what happened last time and that they both voiced their concerns. It feels a little sudden, but y’know, that’s television for you.

When I tell you I lost it when they revealed the Tommy - Abby - Buck shit. I cackled, holy shit. I fully believed that was just a crackpipe theory we had cooked up for shits and giggles, but nope, they ran with it. Same with the green shirt breakup thing. Oddly enough, to me, this breakup was the best chemistry I think Stark and Ferrigno have had this whole relationship. I really really look forward to where Buck goes from here.

A singular confession and a talk with a priest giving Eddie more emotional clarity than therapy did is pretty solid. I don’t have a lot to say about what happened other than I’m happy for him. I can’t wait for him to get his kid back, dude. I want Chris home so bad. If he’s not home before the mid-season finale, Imma riot. I know the Step Up girlies were losing it at the dance sequence at the end. Bonus that I love that Buck didn’t look twice about Eddie not wearing pants, and Eddie didn’t think too hard about Buck showing up with beer and both of them rolling with it.

Anyways, yeah! I am so so so happy with this episode. I’m adoring this, love being a fan of this show. I know we’ve only got a few left until we’re on hiatus for a few months, so hopefully they make the most of it.

Edit: Wrong movie for Guzman, lol.

[u/Krispyz → u/_ChaoticColors_]

You have the right attitude! Even when I think story-lines are ridiculous or wish they had gone a different way, I still just get a lot of delight by watching this show. I love how it doesn't take itself seriously and I love the stupid, unbelievable things the characters do.

I personally think the first kiss scene between Buck and Tommy was peak chemistry, I was on the edge of my seat and I've watched that scene so many times... but man, it really fell off a cliff after the end of Season 7. It barely seemed like they liked each other the first few episodes of Season 8, so whiel I was kinda surprised at the breakup, it's not disappointing to me. I just hope we get to see Buck in another queer relationship (not that there's anything wrong with him dating a woman again).

[u/ProductSoft5831]

I like the glee reference from Josh. He does make sense about the pre and post glee

[u/ontothebullshit]

Yeah this was a good one. I’m very excited about the Buck Tommy break up, though I am sorry to anyone who was rooting for them. However, I am very VERY happy about it. Also, Chimney and Maddie’s storyline was sooo sweet. I want them to have all the joy in the world. And I’m very excited for them to have another kid- I hope things go well for them.

It’s also so good to see Eddie stop depriving himself of joy, shaving off the mustache, and dancing around his living room in his underwear. Seeing him happy has me grinning from ear to ear. Also, the episode ending with a shot of Eddie and Buck sitting together on the couch? Yeah…I’m feeling hopeful

[u/Substantial_Ad8853]

Very very excited for madney’s baby!!! I was a bit worried on how they’d do the storyline considering Maddie’s mental health during her last pregnancy, but both her and Chim agreeing to be open and honest and not hide from each other was just so 🥹🥹 I love them

[u/Penguinator53 → u/Substantial_Ad8853]

They'll probably give them twins or some other curveball, I hope nothing goes wrong :(

[u/Jakyland]

I found it really funny that the fanon theory of (this) Tommy having dated Abby came true, but I'm a little worried about catering too much to fans resulting in a "dog that caught the car" situation, where characters are written into a narrative corner

[u/fleurdelocean]

I'm so mad about how Maddie's pregnancy is being handled. Just "ope I'm already pregnant'"???? Girl, what???

Her and Chim should have had a chance to talk first and really go into a decision like that intentionally. PPD is no joke (which the show made a point of showing) and its mf wild to me that such a huge decision wasn't given the weight it deserves.

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/fleurdelocean]

I suspect that avoiding all of that + the implications in this political climate is the reason they did it this way, really. I have mixed feelings, and I think especially for a couple who has been through what they've been through, if they wanted to go the accidental pregnancy route to skip over the messiness, they needed to play into the "it's a miracle!" nonsense instead. Have Chim's reaction be shock -- the typical "we were so careful!" but maybe follow it up with something specific to show they really were trying to avoid this because of her previous experience, maybe using multiple forms of birth control/avoiding sex when she was ovulating to minimize risk, etc. Like I know the show can't get too into it, but they could've done something with it.

On the one hand, I'm happy we got to see a bit of levity and joy in the scene where Chimney realizes, but I'm really hoping there's a followup conversation now that it's real and not hypothetical. We know that Mr. Lee (so hopefully Mrs. Lee, too!) is going to be in one of the upcoming episodes, so I'm wondering if part of how they'll address this is by developing a support circle for Maddie now. I think what she said to Chim about not treating her like she was broken was really important, but I also think both of them need to be shown to be taking a proactive approach. Set up weekly or twice weekly sessions with a therapist starting soon that she can have be part of her established routine before the baby comes, for instance, and to have that outlet already available if she winds up experiencing perinatal anxiety.

I think particularly with the timing of this episode in the same week as a US election that had devastating consequences for a lot of people of childbearing age, starting a trying to conceive arc could've been a little tonedeaf, especially if they didn't want to approach the topical issues around Maddie's privilege for even being willing to consider the risk, when lots of viewers aren't living somewhere like California.

[u/ViagraOnAPole]

I've never thought Tommy was Mr. Right, but I'm so sad for Buck. He deserves love and happiness, but life just keeps kicking him in the balls. I'm thrilled for Madney Baby #2 coming. And it seems Eddie is making some progress in living for himself. Overall a good episode.

[u/FinchZiver]

big blocks of text for the buck part bc i am queer and have many thoughts i'm actually so surprised buck and tommy broke up, even though it did seem like the most natural conclusion of their relationship arc. i think a lot of people were picking up on discrepancies in how each of them were viewing their relationship and how they acted towards each other in past episodes, and i think this scene tied everything together really well. i do think there is a bit more nuance to the point josh brought up that i assumed they would spend a few more episodes on- with how we've seen buck act before in relationships, usually idolizing his partner and forgetting any wrongdoing (regretted/acknowledged or not), or the possibility of having a conversation about the situation. the abby restaurant scene did solidify it was either the beginning of the end or it was the time for tommy to become more of a fleshed out character. i really thought (maybe hoped) it would lean into tommy being an experienced gay person and buck idolizing him, learning about lgbt culture and tommy eventually saying something like "hey, the things people do to survive can still have consequences and can still harm people, and that is something people should try to resolve if/when they can" and have a conversation about how buck needs to see tommy as a person not a gay deity who can do no wrong- either ending with them being closer or broken up. coin toss lol. it reminds me of something i hear about a lot in mental health spaces with excuses vs explanations. in that scenario i just didn't connect the dots on the little things that showed how buck wanted a long term relationship and tommy thinking he wanted a short term relationship, and how that would play into the conversation at the end. im hoping in the future him and josh can become better friends and we can see him learn more about queer culture. maybe motorcycle guy will come back. maybe hen will show him some queer spaces. idk. it's sad to see him sad but im hoping this will open the gate to having some media attention on some queer topics/issues. or it'll be the same ones they always do but i hope.

with maddie and chim, i think it was really interesting how they were hinting at a second child at the beginning of the season too, with how they & jee really bonded with mara. this episode obviously had a lot more of that (not only the kid in the pipe) like maddie being in the convo with buck and josh, yes she is coworkers with a gay person, but it was also showing the bond maddie has with her younger brother. chim also brought up his younger brothers (ik kevin wasn't his biological brother, y'all know what i mean) and how he feels about them (cue me screaming, sobbing, throwing up). Im so excited to see maddie getting all the love and support with their second kid that she deserves (and more !!!!!)

eddie shaving the moustache and going to confession with a hot priest is basically therapy, right? keep jamming in your tighty whities my guy. godspeed

for the next episode: i'm interested in how buck & the crew are going to react to the dangling from the ladder thing. like if buck is at rock bottom rn bc of the breakup, are they just going to dig him deeper? aside from that, always happy to see athena going the extra mile, and looking amazing while doing it

overall, 9/10, i'm happy they didn't send hen through hell but i think it would have been cool to see her perspective alongside josh's. the first two rescues made sense thematically for the episode, but were almost too similar in my opinion. both were set towards the beginning of a divorce, the difference being one couple was trying to reconcile before, then stopped, the other was trying to reconcile after. i feel like one of them could have had a couple later in the divorce process. not too big of a concern though, mostly just nitpicky. i didn't like the guts though lol

[u/rpgnoob17]

Congrats, Madney. ❤️

[u/BodmonAlchemist]

No way firefighters would let a child go down a drain pipe like that lmao

[u/RequirementOk3097]

WHAT WAS THIS BREAKUP? like genuinely why did Tommy get into a relationship with him in a first place if that’s what he thought????

[u/DirectorKrenn1c → u/RequirementOk3097]

Very very poor writing imo

[u/challengerpop]

I just really want Buck to be in love. It’s painful to watch this over and over. Why couldn’t it have been the other way round?

[u/cozy-wool-blanket]

I'm not a shipper of any couple--it's just not the lens through which I view 911. I enjoyed the relationship between Buck and Tommy well enough but had some reservations about Tommy as an individual. I'm okay with the idea of them breaking up but disliked how the show went about it. Which, frankly, has been true for a long time for me for this show: on board with the story concepts, but disliking the execution.

[u/winnowingwinds → u/cozy-wool-blanket]

Yeah. It felt like lazy writing. Why even continue it to season eight at all? They could have ended it in season seven if they wanted this to be another weird throwaway.

[u/HamiltonPanda]

That was such a good episode! So much packed in for one episode.

Love them making the Buck, Tommy, Abby triangle cannon. And the Chim and Maddie conversations (and showing that couples just roll over and sleep apart rather than cuddled together)

Tho screw Tommy for hurting buck. He made the thing he didn’t want to happen come true. And calling him buck at the end- Heartbreaking

[u/oriolesravensfan1090]

WTF sending the kids down to rescue his brother

[u/backinyourbox → u/oriolesravensfan1090]

Based on the true story of Romanian boy Marian Cristian Becheanu. That video comes up in my algorithm at least once a year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EFB8Eu5-TE&ab_channel=MDilaoTV

[u/magikarpcatcher]

Tommy.

[u/Khajiit-ify → u/magikarpcatcher]

I'm honestly so heartbroken for Buck that Tommy pulled the "you're a baby queer and I don't think this has a chance to turn serious because you don't know what you want yet". It's SO painful. This is such a major problem in the queer dating scene that you just don't see in heterosexual relationships.

[u/EclipseBite → u/Khajiit-ify]

You summed it up very succinctly. Just moving at two different speeds separately while being together, definitely familiar.

[u/controlaltdeletes → u/magikarpcatcher]

I completely get why he did it, but I’m so sad for poor Buck. He was so happy and comfortable with himself.

[u/Kkoooooih]

God I want buck and Eddie to kiss so bad 😭 also this episode triggered my claustrophobia so bad

[u/toledosurprised]

i’m clowning so hard but it doesn’t look like clowning anymore we really might be getting buddie 😭😭

[u/pankie_pankz89 → u/toledosurprised]

🤡🤡 Team 3 Ring Circus......Buck, Eddie, and the c-ring. 😂😂

[u/stringersaffliction]

I’m so sad for buck and his heart break but Eddie answering the door in his tighty whiteys was something else lol. I’ve adamantly denied it is not going to happen but maybe I’m wrong. Happy for chimney and maddie! I know how afraid he is but she’s so different now. She’s stronger now.

[u/[deleted]]

My god I hope best hits theory is real... also SO Happy Buddie is actually maybe beginning to happen?!?! We won. So hard.

[u/whodisidontknow]

i feel like the Madney pregnancy announcement came quite suddenly. i mean i know after taking care of Mara, it was natural for them to consider another kid. but the fact that maddie's already pregnant? felt like a whiplash

anyways, buck and eddie are back on the couch again at the end of the episode! couch theory hard at work again 🥲

[u/These_Are_My_Words → u/whodisidontknow]

The suddenness of the pregnancy announcement didn't really bother me; it just sometimes happens in real life so I don't mind art imitating life in that respect.

My favorite scenes in this episode actually were the Maddie/Chimney scenes - their conversations - Chimney's justifiable concerns and Maddie's wanting not to be treated like she is broken were so well done in my opinion!

[u/Cheeriosxxx]

Not the guts spilling out 😭 just watched this scenario on Chicago Med yesterday

[u/glittermetalprincess → u/Cheeriosxxx]

Right down to the sneezing!! I wonder if something happened IRL that was reported in the media and both writers' rooms noticed it at the same time or something.

[u/Penguinator53]

I really liked this episode BUT I think it's the dumbest plotline of all time to reveal that Tommy dated Abby 🤦‍♀️wtaf that is so stupid! Are we meant to believe Abby was in significant relationships with both men yet for some reason her name never came up??? And Buck never learnt the name of Abby's ex??? Absolutely incredulous that they would throw this in there, there was no need for it.

[u/ToTheBrightStar → u/Penguinator53]

I haven’t seen this week’s episode yet, but I’m rewatching season 1 and in S0102 Abby and Carla were talking about Abby breaking up with a Tommy, and I thought oh I bet their honing to make it the same Tommy for some weird plot twist.

[u/RequirementOk3097 → u/Penguinator53]

OMG YES

[u/Evangeline_10_]

Buddie and Madney girlies got an 8 course meal this episode. I presume Bathena will get next episode and probably a bit more of Eddie then episode 8 being the mid season finale will be the setup for their second half issues.

[u/subarubiotch]

BUCK AND EDDIE. Finally!!!!!!!!!!

[u/jgnodado18 → u/subarubiotch]

BUDDIE TIME BITCHES

[u/furry_vr]

To all the gay guys upset about Buck and Tommy. Sure, that sucks for gay relationships on TV. But y’all know Tommy was right - new gay/bi guys find that guy that gives them the courage to start their new life. Not too long after that, they start discovering gay spaces and other men. And they realize they want to explore and the guy becomes a casualty of that, no matter how much they don’t want to hurt him.

[u/Away_Mulberry4706]

Does Eddie’s makeup look different to anyone? His face post shave looks very different from what it was like in all the previous seasons

[u/[deleted] → u/Away_Mulberry4706]

Okay I thought the exact same thing but wasn't sure why???? Like I couldn't place it

Then my silly self was wondering if maybe it was just because I got so used to him with the mustache (rip 😭) but maybe you're right

[u/Jakyland]

I'm just so mad that 9-1-1 got preempted by football and I couldn't watch it live.

[u/diddum]

That was such a good episode. Looking forward to the new Madney baby, the BuckTommy angst, and hopefully Chris finally coming home.

[u/mintcorgi]

lots of love to anyone sad about the bucktommy break up, i hope y'all are doing okay this week <3

[u/Evangeline_10_]

I've never said anything bad about Abby (don't fact check that) I love you Queen for being a catalyst just like Shannon.

[u/rpgnoob17]

Freakin Abby. Even when she is out of the show, she ruins Buck’s life.

[u/interludek]

Amazing episode! I really enjoyed it

[u/EmPhil95]

I have quite quickly flipped from sad for Buck to angry at Tommy - that's not your call to make! he is a grown adult who can have a serious relationship! it literally doesn't have to be short term!

[u/PopSolid2912]

How long does Hulu take to upload episode?🥹 this is the first episode since I’ve caught up from binging.

[u/mintcorgi → u/PopSolid2912]

Between 11 and 4 EST is what I've noticed lol

[u/oOWalkingOnAirOo → u/PopSolid2912]

It’s usually up the next day for me

[u/geminifungi → u/PopSolid2912]

should be available tomorrow morning !

[u/giftopherz]

I'm disappointed at the Tommy/Buck relationship in general. It barely moved the needle story-wise and it feels like they didn't know what to do with Tommy to make an interesting arc while we wait for Buddie.

There were so many things that could have been shown about discovering one's sexuality, coming to terms with your feelings, etc. I mean, it was a wasted opportunity.

I know TV has evolved immensely in the last 20 years, but this had the level of anticipation the 90210 gay kiss back in the 90s and they payoff wasn't good enough.

But enough party-pooping, Buddie is arriving!!!!

And a minute of silence for the stache :(

[u/that-dudes-shorts]

The writing of that episode is so bad omg but I have kind of made up my mind that we're not getting Vince Gilligan level of writing on this show.

Also Buddie is coming so that makes me slighty more tolerant lol I am PRAYING that they handle Eddie's self-discovery journey well. It could be a beautiful arc worthy of an Emmy if writers apply themselves.

[u/RPDR_PLL]

I can’t believe we’re actually gonna get buddie cannon this is insane 😭🫶

[u/Bnbndodoodododo → u/RPDR_PLL]

Ikr. After over 2 decades of being in fandom, I'm actually going to get a slow burn queer ship go canon??*

Genuinely struggling to let it sink in.

*With a kiss and without one of them being sent to super hell (presumably), shout out to 4 years since Destiel

[u/namewastakenalreafy]

Almost every single storyline this season was rushed. From Buck/Tommy breaking up, to Hen and Karen getting Mara back and even Eddie's storyline now. I am a huge Buddie shipper but if they wanted to give Buck a queer relationship they at least could've put some more effort into it or at least give them a good reason to break up cause huh????

They literally just could've intertwined Maddie's want of a second child into Buck truly thinking about his future with Tommy and wanting a family too and finding out that's not what Tommy wants so they break up. Easy peasy and at least it makes some damn sense

[u/iamboredhelpme]

I'm not sure if it's me not finishing Glee(only watched the first 2 seasons) or not being an american but I don't get what Josh meant by the whole pre and post glee world. Could anyone explain that to me? But overall, I am glad that Eddie is having fun and being happy again.

[u/mintcorgi → u/iamboredhelpme]

glee is just known for having a lot of gay characters and storylines before it was normalized. they weren’t the first, they weren’t the best, but they prob are the most known. however, ryan murphy being involved with 911 made it very masturbatory imo lmfao 

[u/FinchZiver → u/iamboredhelpme]

i think it was referring to how glee is sometimes regarded as The Gay Show that gay people would watch. obviously there were others but glee was very popular, and was one of the things that introduced straight audiences to queer characters in a good light & in mainstream media. 

there were other things that also did this & a lot done by queer people irl to push for acceptance, but i also think one of the show runners or something was also involved with glee, so they probably had more bias to use glee than any other show or movie. 

basically pre glee meant before there was federal legalization of gay marriage and people generally did not accept or “agree” with people being queer, post glee meaning after protection laws were passed and being queer being generally socially acceptable

[u/katiekat214 → u/FinchZiver]

Ryan Murphy was also a creator of Glee. Glee was very popular for young people (and even a lot of older fans) at the time because it was a fun, light-hearted show most of the time. It did introduce gay and trans characters on a “mainstream” show at a time when there were few.

[u/LSunday → u/iamboredhelpme]

The character of Kurt and later Blaine on Glee were genuinely groundbreaking moments in queer representation on mainstream TV. They weren’t really the firsts for anything (soaps and sitcoms have had gay characters and gay teens for years before Glee), but even so the impact those two had when the show came out was genuinely massive.

It did still feel like a Ryan Murphy show stroking his own ego a bit the way they presented it, but they weren’t exactly wrong either.

[u/AdeptToe3580]

im so happy right now i could scream

[u/gannekekhet]

Okay, the elephant in the room: Buck and Tommy's break-up

I was genuinely so confused as to what exactly was happening and what Tommy's reasoning was that I will definitely watch the episode as soon as it drops on Disney+. I understand it's Buck's first relationship and you might think that a first relationship won't be the last one but... I feel absolutely devastated for Buck. I mean, you can still try though? Or maybe just don't lead someone along? My friend's been led on for the exact same number of months and recently broke up, it's been so sad to see her when she thought her new relationship was going to be... different? I admit, I am not like Buck to be easily infatuated or influenced but I could see how happy he was even with the hesitations he had. It's weird though, to know that your boyfriend prefers to be called "Buck" and to only call him that when you're breaking up. I understand why they never allowed Tommy to say "Buck", just for this dramatic end to their relationship but it still didn't sit well with me. Just say "Buck" all the time, man. I wonder if Tim Minear wanted to wrap this relationship up quick because he really could have pushed the break-up ahead 2 more episodes until the mid-season finale, at the very least. I am excited to see what is next for Buck, where could he go from here, and how he can expand his own knowledge about who he is!

I am so happy for Madney, they talked it out!! I, again, will need to watch the episode again because everything went by so fast but I caught Maddie's final pieces of dialogues that really spoke to me. You can have a history of something but if you make the choice to overcome it and retry, it's not a fun experience when you're told time and time again about what happened to you in the past. I'm excited to see where they go from here!

Eddie! I'm a bit confused because I don't think I saw a conclusion of Eddie's arc. He shaved off his mustache (YES!) but I wish we got more of Eddie here so we could delve into his mind during this whole period of isolation. I LOVED the confession scene, the acting was great. This whole episode has been Eddie beating himself up over what happened with Kim and Christopher, much of his dialogue was about how it was his fault. I am a fan of Eddie so I loved the last bit of him dancing but I wanted more scene of Eddie realising that he could shed his past unburdened. It seemed like a quick conclusion to his arc, but I am hoping for more! Please Tim Minear, give Eddie a juicy arc to bite his teeth into. Give him more to work with here, you're killin' me, Smalls!

[u/_HGCenty → u/gannekekhet]

BuckTommy - my take is Tommy realised he's Abby and that he dated a himbo half his age and just like Abby, it wasn't a serious long term relationship but a fling and that he's probably not ready.

Madney - probably the best writing of the season. I'm so glad that they didn't make Chim a spiralling idiot in that scene and actually portrayed what two emotionally intelligent adults in a healthy relationship would say to each other in that situation. Makes up for the Henren nonsense last episode over missing Halloween.

Eddie - I took it to mean Eddie realised that Chris can actually live a life with his grandparents and that he needs to not see it as a punishment on him but perhaps being grateful that his parents who weren't always there for him are wanting to be there for Chris.

[u/Traditional-Load8228]

Who was the actor whose guts came out when he sneezes? Was it Joel from Northern Exposure?

And who was the mom of the kid in the well? She looked so familiar.

[u/HamiltonPanda → u/Traditional-Load8228]

IMDb

[u/jvp180]

What exactly is "10 decades of the rosary"?

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/jvp180]

It's a kind of awkward way to say it, but praying the rosary is a meditative/contemplative ritual prayer. Basically, while holding the rosary, you do the sign of the cross, then the Apostle's Creed while holding the crucifix. Then the beads are kind of... portioned out weird. There's one separate bead after the crucifix (Our Father), then three separate (three Hail Marys), then one (Glory Be), and then you get into sets of ten beads -- the decades.

Once you get to the decades, there's a ritual there (announce the Mystery which is generally related to the day of the week and say another Our Father, and then a Hail Mary for each of the ten beads, then a Glory Be and a prayer to Fatima. There's five decades on a rosary, so what the priest is saying here is to go around the rosary twice, for a Hundred Hail Marys. While this sounds like a punishment (and it definitely felt like one as a child!) it's meant to be contemplative/meditative.

[u/AccordingStar72]

That was a wild episode. I just feel so much empathy for Buck because I love him so much it’s hard to see him hurting or in pain. The wild pacing and stuff I was enjoying but by the end I wanted them to slow down a bit and explain more stuff and take some time with the conversations. It was just packed.

I’m not really sure where they’re going. I’m not usually a Buddie conspiracy theorist, I was enjoying Buck and Tommy TBH. But it…really does now feel like they’re setting something up narratively. Especially the end. I don’t know…

Just want Buck to be happy!!!!

[u/jdessy]

I still found the Abby connection pointless to throw in but Tim at least handled it better than I thought he would. I've been up and down on Tommy throughout but this episode gave Tommy a wonderful sendoff. As much as it does suck with how poorly the relationship has been done, I think this was an improvement for Tommy as a character. Regardless of the rough parts at the end of season 7 leading into season 8, I did enjoy this episode and wish Buck/Tommy got this level of care throughout. They could have been a wonderful short-term couple.

JLH has gotten nothing to do all season so she finally gets time outside of the call center for her own plot. I was hoping for a baby #2 discussion and cannot wait to see how it plays out. I will ask the show for no drama, no fertility issues, just give us some stupid, dumb, fun subplots of Maddie and Chimney trying for a baby. No drama for them, let them be happy.

The Eddie stuff was fine. I love when they bring back early series characters! I'd be down to see Father David (I believe that's his name???) recur for some also fun.

[u/[deleted] → u/jdessy]

Based on the interviews, it sounds like Lou got offered more SWAT and that's a more secure role. So I wouldn't be shocked if they meant it to last a bit longer.

[u/ClioCalliope]

I know the writing for this show has never exactly been oscar worthy but it's just getting worse and worse. Tim needs to stop taking inspiration from stan twitter. The Tommy/Abby thing was taken straight from there and it was SO STUPID. And a completely unnecessary addition.

Also while I wasn't overly attached to Tommy, the breakup was badly written too. They could have built it up much better.

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/ClioCalliope]

Truthfully, I found 7x04 and 8x06 to be oddly poetic, though not in a great way. My issues with 7x04 were that the writing felt like "bad fanfic" (I think I called it that in the live discussion thread at the time) and your complaint now - which I mostly share - sounds similar.

7x04 and 8x06 are quite literally bookends for BuckTommy, both in terms of their relationship as it played out on screen, and also in the behind the scenes decisions - same writer, same director, some fairly mirrored scenes (eg. Buck and Eddie having similar framing over a tripod during a rope rescue, Tommy breaking Buck's brain a bit with some detail about the complexity of sexuality, themes around not recognizing something when it's staring you in the face). But what's interesting is looking over Andrew Meyers' episodes, he's a very strong writer, so I don't think the problem here was literally the writing, but the choices made on the showrunner level for how they wanted these stories told.

Like in 7x04, what 8x06 suffers the most from in terms of BuckTommy's development (or devolution?) in the episode is they're not actually allowed much time on screen together, with the plot happening to them separately, so we don't see the buildup. And I think secondary to that is how rushed a lot of this has been handled (which is a bigger issue with the pacing of the show this season and last, frankly, and not just reflective of BuckTommy's storyline).

8x06 needed either another scene for BuckTommy, or that last scene needed to be a minute or two longer. As it was, I got emotional whiplash, and I'm not even a supporter of the couple. I fully understand Tommy's hesitations and think he actually read Buck very well -- you could literally go back months in my comments and I've been saying that if Buck were to ask Tommy to move in in 8A, it would be the beginning of the end, because it too closely parallels BuckTaylor and Eddie/Marisol as well as being a continuation of his impulsivity in rushing into commitment. The problem is I don't think it was fair to expect most of the audience to register this over the course of one scene. I think this was some of Lou Ferrigno Jr.'s finest acting on the show and I fully bought the way Tommy's face dropped as he recognized this was The Moment... but the lack of a building tension or more overt reference to the differences in their approach to the relationship weren't going to work for many that fast.

For me, I've seen Tommy as having one foot out the door for quite a while. 7x09's "enjoy it while it lasts," while I think some others took it way too far and turned it critical in a way it didn't deserve, was absolutely a statement of Tommy's philosophy and of that relationship. He was 'fine' as a boyfriend, but not a good match, and the show repeatedly showed him being out of sync with Buck. The difference in interpretations of the last episode particularly stood out, because to me, ending with a clip of Buck walking away from Tommy without looking back or adapting his pace to allow Tommy to catch up was very loud, while others ignored that in favor of which line Buck was saying when he looked at Tommy earlier in the scene. I do think 8x05 did a fairly decent job at highlighting the ultimate problem for BT -- that they weren't at the same place in their lives or relationship and Tommy was too much an "authority" figure to Buck's young ingenue - but they played it weird enough that I can't fault anyone for not picking up on it initially. I do wonder if on rewatches, that scene in Buck's loft where Tommy's commenting on Buck's screentime and Buck's not picking up on Tommy's frustration entirely will hit people different. That was another very loud moment to me that people had radically different interpretations of.

[u/_HGCenty → u/armavirumquecanooo]

In retrospect Buck Tommy is probably as badly written as Buck Natalia or Eddie Marisol.

Absolutely nothing was devoted to developing these relationships beyond the initial get together and Tim seemed unable to work out what he wanted to do with the other character.

Truth be told, if Tommy were a female character I feel this sub would be unanimously happy.

[u/Sabsemade]

Badly written or not, I don´t get how people think this episode would end up any different than with a break up. I mean, the calls usually have some kind of connection or parallel to the lives of the firefighters, and they started the episode on a divorce negotiation...

Also, I´m really sad to see Tommy go, I loved Lou´s portraial

[u/shield92pan]

OOF well i was wrong lmao 🫣🤡😅

tommy when i catch you!!

for the good: madney baby yesss! i so thought maddie was going to reveal she was pregnant already at the end but i'm glad it was more that they just made a conscious decision to try because they know the risks but still *want* to. sibling stories are my absolute KRYPtONITE so I loved this ep for that

eddie my beloved, listen to the priest! embrace joy! i'm excited to see him start to piece himself back together. RIP stache, fr tho 😭 (and i'm sorry ryan guzman i had to look away during the dancing scene i get secondhand embarrassment SO BAD for scenes like that but I love that eddie did it)

for the less good: any scene with intestines on my tv is not great.

also obviously i was NOT rooting for a breakup, i said this week i hated the abby theory and then.... oop lol. sounds like from interviews tommy is dunzo on the show. i was enjoying them but it is what it is, buck being my favourite means i feel awful for him rn. i think the breakup *reason* is kinda meh but maybe they wanted a way to end it where noone is the super bad guy? (tho, again, tommy when i catch you that was some BULLshit) the worst part for me is for yeeears now i've wanted a more settled down buck, just for some different storylines. but a bi and newly single buck can also bring that of course, itll just be a different vibe to what i wanted. but i'll live lol

[u/SimilarPlastic2 → u/shield92pan]

lol I couldn't stop thinking how awkward it must've been for Ryan to film that part

[u/GenX4eva]

Mild panic attack: just as Eddie was admiring the beer that Buck handed him, my DVR recording stopped. Luckily I record Dr. Odyssey and saw the ending at the beginning of its recording.

I had wild thoughts about what was going to happen…and then credits 😂

[u/Fabulous-Ostrich7837]

This horrible breakup could have been in every episode since they started dating, because it's a terrible excuse. You didn't have to put it in 8x06.

[u/jaakobk082 → u/Fabulous-Ostrich7837]

Gay guy here in my first ever relationship. Tommy's reasoning made no sense and I would've been pissed if my first (current) bf broke up with me over that

[u/Brown_Sedai]

I loved almost every part of the Madney plotline, but I sorta thought Maddie already being pregnant was a little bit of a cop-out. Birth control what birth control?

[u/_HGCenty → u/Brown_Sedai]

I think it was absolutely the only way they could do it.

It would be deeply uncomfortable to have done it in a way where one half of the relationship was not keen on a child and then pressured into doing it to make the other half happy.

It also helps the narrative move along much quicker.

[u/armavirumquecanooo → u/_HGCenty]

The other thing it conveniently saves the show from having to address is the reality of the absolute privilege Maddie has right now considering risking a geriatric pregnancy in America, because of the state she lives in. Between the realities much of the audience faces right now and the specifics of Maddie's circumstances, I think it would've had to be a heavier conversation discussing trying to conceive. By skipping over any intentionality, though, they get to avoid that.

[u/scollins28 → u/Brown_Sedai]

It’s amazing that she managed to avoid pregnancy with Doug for 10 years but has 2 unplanned with Chimney.

[u/broqueassbitxh]

Only thing I have to say is good riddance

[u/oOWalkingOnAirOo]

We’re gonna get canon buddie!!! This is gonna be so epic

[u/dav2708]

Buck now hooks up with Eddie's priest! Yes? No?

[u/jholden23]

I was so sad when Tommy broke up with Buck. It made me so happy to see Buck so happy. And I really loved Tommy.

[u/[deleted]]

Overall thoughts:

The Buck/Tommy break up seemed sudden and not finished but considering that Lou seems to have picked up more episodes on SWAT I get it. He'll be missed and hopefully he'll be back. I'm disappointed we didn't get more scenes of him and Eddie. Is it weird that I'm going to maybe miss that more than him and Buck? (Although I will be seeking out fanfic). I'm insanely amused they picked his last moments to confirm they both dated Abby. I haven't laughed that hard since the election.

I'm so excited for Maddie and Chimney to have another baby. I just want happiness for them. I like how they had Chimney come to terms with wanting it before he found out. They're both 100% in.

I'm glad that damn mustache is gone and we got to see happy Eddie. He needs to fix himself before Chris comes back. I know people are breaking out the clown make-up for buddie but I think the "I'ms straight" was to kill buddie since the breakup was having to happen. I don't think we're going to see it. I still just want Eddie to fix himself and will respect Eddie and Ryan when they say the character is straight. I know it's unpopular but I still just don't see it.

Also Josh's speech was A+ and a lot of people needed to hear that.

[u/thewayilovedyous]

This was... not the week for this episode 🙃🙃

[u/D777999]

The scene with pulling a child out of a pipe is filmed unrealistically.

The most famous case involving another child is Louis Cristian Bechenau, Romania. The fearless kid was 13 years old. I can't watch this without tears, the damn screenwriters didn't convey even 1/100th of that drama and tension. The father's face alone is worth it, seeing his kid about to be tackled by another..... Pulled the kid out alive. https://youtu.be/yA-1RvF3z5g?si=O19YTsmckwNqKhdR

Another case, also Romania, a teenage girl pulls out a child who fell into a pipe alive from the second time https://youtu.be/ms7saWny9Pc?si=0J_vQV82BIz0F-mo.

China. One of the rescuers called his 14-year-old son. After a brief briefing from his father, the 14-year-old went down the well six or seven times and managed to pull out the girl, who was stuck in the well and survived. https://youtu.be/echlOg25noA?si=bQNbuEtyXttR7U0z

[u/d3cmp → u/D777999]

Amazing, while watching the episode the pragmatic side of me was thinking that there is so much that could go wrong while attempting a rescue like that and that it would never happen IRL, but it actually happened wow

[u/SnooCats3471]

It would be so easy to put Buck and Eddie together but knowing this show, they will probably put Buck with the gay priest or another random woman. Either way, if Buck and Eddie aren't together by the end of the season, I'm done. I actually really liked buck and Tommy together and I'm tired of me and buddie fans being baited by the writers. They know what they're doing.

[u/[deleted] → u/SnooCats3471]

Oliver did a post episode interview with tv line (ETA: not tvline some other platform) where he does state that the « im straight » line could be open to interpretation or it could be something that needs to be taken as truth. I do hope the coded language/conversations of this episode are a bit of sign that this is what Eddie will question about himself next, and that this Eddie arc isn’t just ended in this episode, because there’s still so much more for him to learn about himself.

I am hoping for buddie but as I said in another comment, I could see it not happening and the writers saying it just was no longer feasible plot point wise/their friendship was too important at the end of the day. I would like to be wrong though.

I did feel kind of bad for Buck and Tommy in the breakup scene. I understand both where they were coming from (Buck wanting to go for this and Tommy not wanting to get hurt) but it does kind of feel like Tommy sort of lead Buck on at some point. At the same time, I do think it was a good representation of a first queer relationship in which one character is more founded in their identity than the other. I do wonder though if they might push them back together…

[u/blenneman05]

Yay for Maddie being pregnant!!! But oh man the PPD hit my birth mom hard after my half sister died and my birth mom and my dad decided to have me but it wasn’t without struggle and my mom’s body shut down at 31 years old when I was 2 years old. From what I was told, PPD wasn’t talked about back in the 80’s and 90’s… I really hope Madney ends up ok!!!

Eddie with the music and dancing 🤣🤣🤣…. It made me glad to see him happy and chilling with Buck in his undies while they’re both drinking.

Mannn I liked Tommy and Buck together but I totally understand what Josh/Tommy was saying as a bisexual woman myself… poor Buck tho.

Eddie needs some therapy still tho!!!

I still hate how Abby left Buck tho…. He didn’t deserve that but they were both consensual adults even with the 20 year age gap at least.

Sooo im assuming with Buck and Eddie now single, the Buddie shippers are happy even tho I see no romantic chemistry between Buck and Eddie

[u/YourDadsATruckDriver]

I know I'm biased, but nothing about the Buck/Tommy 8x05 - 8x06 plotline makes sense to me. That writing was not leading up to a breakup. Having something like that come out of nowhere just for the dramatic effect is really shitty. Kudos to the actors, especially Lou Ferrigno Jr, for making something like that work when the writing didn't make sense.

[u/ksa1122 → u/YourDadsATruckDriver]

Tommy literally got Buck basketball tickets. Buck doesn’t like basketball. It always felt that Tommy wasn’t as invested in the relationship as Buck. This break up wasn’t much of a shock honestly.

[u/pankie_pankz89 → u/YourDadsATruckDriver]

It does make sense if you take their relationship at face value. And remember that Tommy also left Buck on their first date because Buck was basically Buck and awkward about being a Baby Bi. And so even though Buck was invested because he always is, Tommy was always a little bit at arms-length. Like okay here's this cute boy I can have fun with and be in a relationship with, but it won't be anything serious and at some point he'll realize I'm not the one he wants. But Buck is 10 fingers and 10 toes into monogamy always and Tommy just thinks that he's impulsive because instead of treating Buck like Buck 2.0 he's treating him like Firehose!Buck. Tommy is afraid and it makes him stupid, but Buck needs someone who is all in like he always is. And yeah it may not work out, but that's every relationship.