On ABC’s 9-1-1, all of the members of the 118 Firehouse are constantly showing up for each other. Sure, there are squabbles and bickering (and an occasional fallout that needs mending), but, at the end of the day, they’re all clearly a family who would do anything for each other. Sometimes, this shows up in acts of heroism on the job or in grand gestures to prove their loyalty. But during Season 4 of the series, two characters display their ultimate trust for one another in a quietly surprising and loving way.
‘9-1-1’s Eddie Makes a Big Decision With Christopher
In the penultimate episode of Season 4, Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) is shot by a sniper in a terrifying turn of events. He’s rushed to the hospital, where he undergoes surgery on his chest and shoulder. Eddie remains in a coma, with the rest of the 118 praying for his life. The entire time he’s intubated and unconscious, Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark) takes care of Eddie’s son, Christopher (Grant McHugh). Eddie ends up pulling through like the fighter he is, and then makes a poignant decision.
Eddie has already seen in prior events that Buck is dedicated to caring for Christopher, and that he’s capable of putting the boy’s life before his own. This is never more evident than in Season 3 when Buck is tasked with caring for Christopher during a catastrophic tsunami that hits Southern California. After getting shot, Eddie has time to think about his own mortality, and what it would mean for Christopher if he was no longer around to take care of him. Christopher’s mother, Shannon (Devin Kelley), has already passed (back in Season 2), which means Christopher would be alone if Eddie died.
One of ‘9-1-1’s Most Intense Moments of All Time Radically Changed This 1 Character
His life literally flashed before his eyes.
This near-death experience also allows Eddie to evaluate his relationship with Buck and the trust they’ve built with each other. This leads to Eddie deciding to include in his will that Buck would be Christopher’s legal guardian if anything should ever happen to him in the future. Because the lives of the 118 are constantly being put in danger and Eddie is a single parent, it’s a responsible and logical choice to select a guardian for Christopher. In fact, in the following seasons, Eddie is taken hostage, nearly struck by lightning, and gets caught in an overpass collapse, so it just goes to show that Eddie making this decision is a pertinent one. Luckily, since then, Eddie has not suffered anything as serious as his gunshot wound, but his decision has impacted his relationship with Buck for the better.
The Decision Further Cements the Bond Between Eddie and Buck in ‘9-1-1’
Initially, it would have seemed like choosing Buck as a guardian would be a misguided choice. Eddie’s parents are very involved in Christopher’s life, and it seems like he has a large family that could take Christopher in. However, Eddie has baggage with his family, and Buck would offer a clean slate without trauma attached. Buck also has a very sweet, playful connection with Christopher, and it’s obvious that Christopher feels safe with him. By telling Buck that he would be Christopher’s guardian, the friendship between the two men becomes even stronger. We get to see that Buck is no longer the irresponsible, aimless kid he used to be. Instead, he can shoulder responsibility and can show up for his friends when they need him. This decision also offers the possibility that Buck won’t make as many reckless choices while out in the field, as he now has to make sure that Christopher has him as a back-up parent if anything were to happen to Eddie.
Although there are some fans out there that are shipping Buck and Eddie (and have coined the nickname Buddie), there hasn’t been a lot of clear-cut movement towards them becoming a couple in the subsequent seasons of 9-1-1. But even if a romance never happens between the two besties, this Season 4 storyline clearly solidified their bond into something as close to family as one can get. They’ve had some bumps in the road, especially after Captain Bobby Nash’s (Peter Krause) death, but they always seem to end up supporting one another through life’s hard times. Obviously, we would never want anything to happen to Eddie, but it’s comforting to know that Buck would always take the best care of Christopher in Eddie’s absence.
9-1-1 airs Thursday nights on ABC, and is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.
