‘9-1-1’ Gave Buck A Heartwarming, Hilarious Coming Out Episode That’ll Have Fans Rooting For Him And Tommy

Halfway though its spectacular seventh season, 9-1-1 is leaving characters and fans alike grinning ear to ear over Buck’s bisexuality.

Between a super successful network change, a boost in ratings, an ambitious three-episode Poseidon Adventure premiere, a Bachelor crossover, and a monumental same-sex kiss between firefighters Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark) and Tommy Kinard (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), it’s already been a banner year for the popular first responder procedural. But before 9-1-1‘s midseason hiatus, the series squeezed in another huge win with a heartwarming coming out episode for Buck that will have viewers laughing, crying, and rooting for his happiness harder than ever before.

On top of an utterly unhinged (in a good way!) rogue hand emergency, Karen (Tracie Thoms) and Hen (Aisha Hinds) welcoming a new child to their home, and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) hardcore second-guessing his relationship with Marisol (Edy Ganem) after learning she was once a nun in training (LOL), Season 7, Episode 5, “You Don’t Know Me” showed crucial conversations between Buck and his new crush Tommy, his sister Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and his best friend.

On the heels of their glorious “Buck, Bothered and Bewildered” kiss, Tommy and Buck went on a first date filled with laughter, conversation, pizza, and beer. As the two prepped to head to the movies, Tommy clocked Buck nervously looking around the restaurant and assured him, “Nobody’s looking at us, Evan. Nobody cares. We’re just two guys having dinner. You’re a little tense, but I get it. We’re in a pretty macho line of work. But you’d be surprised how accepting most people are.”

Tommy told Buck he wasn’t always out on the job, confirming the 118 was “a pretty regressive place” under his former captain. He said he didn’t stop lying about who he was until he transferred, to which Buck replied, “I’m not lying about who I am… It’s my first date with a dude, but I’m not weirded out. I’m an ally. Every pride month I put a rainbow on my Instagram.” Following his earnest, mildly hilarious show of support for the queer community (9-1-1 writers did him dirty with that performative Instagram line) Eddie and Marisol rolled up for a date night of their own, which took Buck by surprise. In a painfully awkward attempt sell him and Tommy as friends who were definitely not on a date, Buck babbled to his “bro” Eddie about plans to “pick up hot chicks.” BUCK! Tommy’s face fell, and they left dinner he ditched the second half of the date, telling Buck, “I think you’re adorable I don’t think you’re ready.”

As we saw in Episode 4, Stark and 9-1-1‘s once again writers nailed Buck’s inner conflicts, confusion, and difficulty navigating a whirlwind of new emotions. Rather than showing him confidently dive into a romance with Tommy — as he’s done in past relationships — the date took a more authentic, relatable turn. Buck’s interest in Tommy was apparent, as were his insecurities. The fact that he was withholding such an important a part of himself from loved ones like Eddie visibly weighed on him. At the same time, he was taking an important beat to learn more about himself.

When the date ended early, rather than isolating himself and attempting to sort through feelings alone, 9-1–1 delivered a sweet sibling scene between Buck and Maddie. When Buck sought her advice — saying he lied to Eddie about being on a date and felt like a fraud — he may not have intended to come out to her just yet. But after unintentionally referring to his date as “he,” Maddie questioned the pronoun and Buck confirmed he was on his first date with a guy. “I love women. I’ve always loved women,” Buck said, admitting he’d occasionally “check out a hot guy’s ass” in another comical inclusion. In an adorable show of trust, he told his sister he was captivated by Tommy’s confidence — and cleft! And in response to her brother’s vulnerability, Maddie said, “I don’t think you’re a fraud. I just think maybe you’re not sure of your own feelings yet.” After assuring Buck he would open up to Eddie in his own time, Maddie pressed pause on her processing, warmly smiled, and cut the tension by asking Buck to tell her more about the hot pilot. The uplifting response was another refreshing reminder of Buck’s incredible support system.

Our bewildered boy spent the rest of the episode anxious to share his truth with Eddie, but the right moment arrived when the two were alone in his apartment. While venting about his own relationship, Eddie told Buck, “You and Tommy have the right idea. Stay single. Hang out with the boys.” The look on Buck’s face suggested he was replaying convos with Tommy and Maddie and realizing he should let his best friend in. So he did. “It was a date…when you and Marisol ran into me and Tommy. We were on a date,” he said, bracing for anything. Eddie took a moment to process, asking, “Wait Tommy’s gay?!” But when Buck asked if him felt weird about the date, he said, “NO! Absolutely not… This doesn’t change a thing between us. OK?” A relived Buck explained that Tommy dumped him after he acted like an idiot at the restaurant, and Eddie did what he’d do on any other day of their friendship. “I think you should call him. He doesn’t know you’re an idiot. Once he gets to know you and learns you’re an idiot, he’ll love you like we all do,” he said. If he doesn’t, he added, “Then he’s an idiot.” SOBBING.

The immediate, unconditional acceptance from Eddie was an ideal scenario for viewers and Buck, but after the co-workers spent years building such a rock solid, intimate friendship, 9-1-1 knew the moment needed more. Before Eddie left, he looked back at Buck, said, “Come here, come here!” and walked over to embrace him. On his way out the door, he encouraged him to call Tommy. We saw Buck release several cathartic exhales this episode, but his biggest came from Eddie’s support.

9-1-1 has never shied away from showcasing beautiful queer love stories (heck, in Season 5 we got a HenRen wedding!) but the fact that Buck’s same-sex kiss and bisexual storyline was seven years in the making moved fans of the series on an incredibly personal level. Buck’s coming out experience wasn’t without its challenges, but seeing such a positive show of support from two of the most important people in his life was a beautiful narrative choice. Though a large chunk of 9-1-1‘s fandom spent years shipping Buck and Eddie, Buddie or not, seeing a same-sex romance in a “macho profession” (to quote Tommy) not only being celebrated, but spotlighted on a series with millions of primetime ABC viewers, is incredibly special.

Before the episode ends, Buck meets Tommy for coffee and apologizes, but Tommy tells him he only left early because he didn’t want to pressure him. Though Buck admits he doesn’t know what he’s ready for, he tells Tommy he has high hopes for them and invites him to his sister’s wedding. “She wants to meet you. You already know half the people there. There will be free food and I need someone to dance with,” he says. Yes, the first date to family wedding date pipeline is utterly ridiculous. But Tommy agrees, and here we are, with absolutely no choice but to ship these two precious men.

New episode of 9-1-1 air Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.