9-1-1’s Oliver Stark ‘excited’ for ‘Buddie’ relationship to continue in season nine
Oliver Stark as Buck and Ryan Guzman as Eddie – ‘Buddie’ in 9-1-1. (Disney/Justin Stephens)
Oliver Stark as Buck and Ryan Guzman as Eddie - 'Buddie' in 9-1-1. (Disney/Justin Stephens)
Oliver Stark has hinted that 9-1-1 fans’ dreams may come true and that ‘Buddie’ might get more air time in the upcoming ninth season.
The British actor stars as Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley in the ABC/Hulu show about Los Angeles first responders which returns on Thursday 9 October. Ryan Guzman plays Eddie, a character often paired up with Buck (creating ‘Buddie’) and with whom there is a particular chemistry.
In a video uploaded to social media on Tuesday (7 October) Stark joined the cast of the new spinoff, 9-1-1 Nashville, for a tour of the set.
Along the way, Stark chats to Chris O’Donnell, who will be playing the Captain Don Hart, as well as LeAnn Rimes and Michael Provost.
The latter character has caused particular excitement among the 9-1-1 fandom who are hoping he can add to the franchise’s LGBTQ+ representation by getting a boyfriend. At one point during the video Stark challenges Provost and Hunter McVey, who play Ryan Hart and Blue Bennings respectively, to a push-up challenge.
During the tour, Stark meets cast members Hailey Kilgore and Juani Feliz, who play Taylor Thompson and Juani Roxie Alba respectively.
“What is the relationship between you guys? Stark asks of the pair. They agree, “besties.” Kilgore then adds, “Hailey and Roxie, when they’re out in the field they have, like, their own language.”
Referencing “the way they have each other’s back and they do have that shorthand,” Stark relates it back to ‘Buddie’. “It’s the same thing,” he shares. “There’s almost that unspoken key part of being able to do the job. They know each other and trust each other so well. I’m excited to see that relationship continue.”
Fans have been begging for ‘Buddie’ be romantically linked for eight seasons now, with even Stark calling interactions between the pair “super gay”.
The actor recently took to Instagram to celebrate Bisexual Day of Visibility (23 September). While doing so, during a shirtless and sweaty workout no less, Stark said, “One of my biggest joys of playing Buck over the past eight/nine seasons is getting to tell the story of him discovering his bisexuality.”
He went on to say he was proud of the representation he got to provide. “I know there are a lot of people that think things like, you know, bisexual men are just too scared to come out as gay or whatever it is, and obviously that’s not the case,” he added. He then said, “I really hope we get to hammer home that point this season. I’m excited to delve deeper and deeper into it.”
Previously Stark, on a potential ‘Buddie’ romance, said he’d be open to exploring a relationship between the pair if it’s “the right story to tell”. As well as making hot clear they want more from ‘Buddie’ fans have also made it clear they want Buck to specifically say the word ‘bisexual’ at some point.
Showrunner for 9-1-1 season nine Tim Minear has also already teased a key ‘Buddie’ episode in the upcoming instalment, telling Entertainment Weekly that a Hallowe’en episode will focus on the pair.
9-1-1 is streaming on Disney+ in the UK. Season nine will premiere 9 October on ABC in the US.
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