Buck got the thing he wanted, it's just not what he imagined.

This week, Han, Cil, and Rachel enter the haunted house of Season 3 Episode 6 of 9-1-1, “Monsters,” where Buck is back working at the 118 feeling the icy reception, Maddie is on her vigilante shit again, and Bobby is back on his helicopter parent bullshit. Also, Chimney makes skeptical friends with a crow.

We explore how Maddie’s latest, but certainly not last, questionable antics walk the fine line between heroism and obsession. Is she a savior or a stalker? Spoiler alert: it’s a bit of both. Maddie's attempts to help others often reflect her own unresolved trauma, showcasing the dangers of overstepping boundaries in relationships.

Then we pivot to our detailed notes on Bobby's parenting style, which is like a classic overprotective dad trying to navigate the emotional waters of parenting without actually connecting with his kids. It's like he’s got a GPS that leads to the wrong address, and let’s just say, it’s not the destination we’d hoped for. We examine how Bobby's overprotective nature stems from his past, revealing how parental experiences shape current behaviors and relationships with loved ones.

Meanwhile, Eddie is asking Buck, “What about us? What about everything we’ve been through? What about trust?” in the epic conclusion to the first Buddie divorce. We dissect every super normal totally platonic bro moment of Buck and Eddie’s reconciliation, from “I don’t know what you want from me Buck” to “Of course I forgive you.” We applaud the cinematography in this scene and discuss how it enhances the emotional depth but also visually represents the characters' internal conflicts and connections.

Eddie and Maddie are pushing away the people who know them the best as they pull the sheets over their heads and make their own beds.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 Buddie Reconciliation Cinematography tweet, courtesy of minix3PLL on Twitter

Episode Title inspired by “making the bed” by Olivia Rodrigo

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

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Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:52) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:02:58) General Thoughts

(00:06:10) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:07:07) Needledrop

(00:09:41) Red String Corner

(00:16:48) Flashover - Themes

(00:20:34) Who’s Cookin’? - Character Arcs

(00:20:43) Maddie

(00:31:27) Chimney

(00:32:20) Bobby

(00:40:46)...

Oh, the misery. Everybody wants to be Buck’s enemy.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss Season 3 Episode 5 of 9-1-1, “Rage.” We run the emotional gamut from systemic high-stakes racial profiling to less dire grocery store domestic disputes.

The bad traffic stop with Michael, May, and Harry is one of the heavier, more nuanced things that the show has covered and we take a look at the heart of the storyline: how they have to operate differently in the world in order to stay safe, even from those who are supposed to serve and protect them.

We discuss the raw and heart wrenching conversations Michael has with both Bobby and Harry, delving into the meaning for our characters, but also how important the portrayal of this storyline is to show audience members who are not black Americans.

Meanwhile, Buck’s not just fighting for his job back, he's trying to regain control in a world that feels like it's slipping through his fingers. We dive into Buck’s psyche and explore how his feelings of isolation are exacerbated at the arbitration hearing when it becomes a family feud, not just for legal matters, but for the fragile dynamics of the 118.

Eddie's no good, very bad week(s) finally boils over into hands thrown in a parking lot, landing him in jail. We dig into the root cause of Eddie’s actions from his fear and worry for Christopher to his frustration and anger at the utter lack of control he’s experiencing lately.

As Buck seeks to apologize and reconnect, Eddie throws verbal darts and the ‘deadbeat dad’ card in the grocery store like it’s an Olympic event for emotional outbursts—like, can we not air our laundry in public?

Eddie’s sparing no sympathy while Buck’s looking out for himself.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1 Boss on Athena’s ‘Authentic’ Family Crisis, What’s Next for Buck, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Showrunner on Michael’s Harrowing Run-In With the Police, Buck’s Future at Station 118, The Wrap

Episode Title inspired by “Enemy” by Imagine Dragons feat. JID

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

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Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:50:21) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:02:10) General Thoughts

(00:05:17) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:09:13) Red String

They aren’t angry at you, love, Bobby’s the greatest thing they’ve lost.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss Season 8 of 9-1-1 — from beenado to baby Bobby. In this season wrap-up, we take a stroll down memory lane, reflecting on the transformation of our fire fam throughout Season 8. Each character’s arc felt like a journey through a maze — sometimes getting lost (off screen), sometimes finding the exit (bye Tommy), and sometimes just hitting dead ends (RIP Bobby Nash).

We explore the thematic elements of sacrifice and growth, emphasizing the emotional stakes that made this season one to remember. We also touch on the ever-present narrative of family (both nuclear and found), love, and loss, as Bobby’s death casts a long shadow over the series, prompting big changes for the characters and the show as a whole. Our discussion highlights the importance of community and support, especially in the face of tragedy. We also touch on the lighter moments that made us feel like we were watching fanfiction on screen (in the best way), cheer like we were at the superbowl, and even cringe at some of the choices our faves (Buck) made.

Looking ahead to Season 9, we share our educated wishes for how the storylines might unfold, hoping for more depth in character arcs and a return to the heart of what makes this show so compelling. There’s lots of laughter (we cope with humor), bittersweet ruminations, and a whole lot of speculation about what next season has in store for us. Will our favorite duo finally confront their feelings? What new challenges await them? With so many unanswered questions lingering from Season 8, we can’t wait to see how the creators continue with these storylines into the next season.

As we unravel the threads of Season 8, we can't help but feel a mix of hope and cautious optimism for what lies ahead. In the wise words of Noah Kahan, “We’ll all be here forever.”

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰9-1-1’s Ryan Guzman Worried Eddie Might Be Killed Off — But Now He’s Hoping for a Season 9 Romance (Exclusive), Us Weekly

📰 Oliver Stark discusses the Season 8 finale of '9-1-1,' Buck's significant moments, and more in exclusive Interview, YardBarker

📔 Fanworks Mentioned:

📚 Shelter Us, Harbor Me, by kingcapri on Archive of Our Own

📚 Breathe Into Me, by songbvrd on Archive of Our Own

Episode title inspired by “You’re Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahan

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

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Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on

Even when Bobby’s body blows away, his soul will stay.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss Season 8, Episode 17 “Don’t Drink the Water” and Episode 18 “Seismic Shifts” of 9-1-1, where we get to see our favorite characters navigating the messy aftermath of loss while trying to honor Bobby's legacy.

No surprise here, Buck and Eddie’s dynamic takes center stage in our conversation as they struggle to show vulnerability when they truly need each other the most. We also tap into the root cause of Buck’s decision to transfer: feeling unnecessary, and how this reflects his inner turmoil and isolation. Meanwhile, Eddie is desperate for Buck to pull him out of his own head like he normally does, but finds Buck buried behind a brick wall of stoicism, leaving Eddie to drown in his own survivor’s guilt and regret, unwilling and unable to ask for help.

As the 118 navigates a building collapse, the camaraderie among the team showcases the strength found in vulnerability and we explore how grief can shake the foundations of each person and relationship, but it can also forge deeper connections. It’s all about those tight-knit friendships, the bittersweet moments, and how our heroes defy the odds and save everyone in an impossible situation, because they’re finally reunited doing what they were meant to do.

Hen finds herself caught between Athena and Chimney, her besties, who are grappling with their own struggles in the wake of an unthinkable loss. Athena stops avoiding Chimney and bolsters him to channel his grief into preserving his found family in an Emmy-deserving speech that Bobby would be proud of.

A hospital room sees the fire family finding its footing anew as they rally together to celebrate the joy of a new life while honoring their fallen patriarch, reminding the characters (and the audience) that while tragedy may shape our stories, it doesn’t define them. The 118 is their home, where they go when they’ve got nowhere else to go.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰9-1-1’s Ryan Guzman Worried Eddie Might Be Killed Off — But Now He’s Hoping for a Season 9 Romance (Exclusive), Us Weekly

Episode Title inspired by “This is My Home” by Ingrid Michaelson

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:52) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:01:23) General Thoughts

(00:09:01) Abbreviated AF...

POV, you’re the 118: “My anxiety creeps inside of me, makes it hard to breathe, what’s come over me? Feels like I’m somebody else.”

This week, Han, Cil, and Rachel wade into the troubled waters of Season 3, Episode 4 of 9-1-1 “Triggers,” where trauma manifests in unexpected ways, especially in Maddie, Christopher, and Buck. Familial bonds are tested from father and son dynamics to past and future siblings, and not everyone comes out unscathed.

We discuss how the 118 are acting more like co-workers than the found family we’ve grown to love. Bobby is digging himself a deeper hole (and not just metaphorically) as he tries to balance his duties as captain with his unofficial role as Buck’s father figure.

Begging our girl to see a therapist, we explore how Maddie’s personal experience with domestic abuse leads her down a treacherous path with good intentions as she attempts to be the savior she wishes she had for a 9-1-1 ding-dong-ditcher in a similar position.

Unfortunately, Christopher takes after his dads in all things, even back-to-back trauma—which manifests for him as night terrors and deeply concerning crayon drawings, but he tells Eddie he’s fine (the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree).

Eddie takes advice from Buck’s stand-in who helps him realize the importance of communicating his own feelings, even if they’re negative, with Christopher.

Buck is bereft and reeling with the sting of being replaced and continues to struggle with finding purpose outside of his role as a firefighter. We dive into Buck’s brain (it’s scary here) to break down his tangled web of self-doubt and anger when he discovers Bobby's decision to purposefully hold him back from coming home to the 118 in a masterclass in projection.

A food fight would have been less messy than this dinner scene where Athena tries to smooth over explosive tension between Buck and Bobby with some delicious cornbread. The buddies grab our forks and dig into this brief, but dense meal with a giant serving of emotional constipation from Bobby.

While the Buck and Bobby family dynamic falls apart, Hen is ruminating on the pros and cons of changing the status quo of her own. We applaud Chimney as the GOAT of this exercise, channeling his familial triggers into emotional intelligence to strengthen his relationship with Maddie.

Our favorite characters keep telling themselves it’s fine, but it’s all too much. They think they should be fine, but let’s be so for real, they’re not.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰9-1-1 Sets Buck on a Troubling New Path — Whose Side Are You On?, TV Line

📰 Is Buck Making a Huge Mistake on ‘9-1-1’?, TV Insider

Episode Title inspired by “overwhelmed” by Royal & the Serpent

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Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on

The 118 has never known a silence like the one fallen here, never watched their future darken in a single tear.

This week, Han, Cil, and Rachel begrudgingly—and not at all angrily— discuss 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 14 “Sick Day,” Episode 15 “Lab Rats,” and Episode 16 “The Last Alarm.” We’re diving into the emotional turmoil of the latest three episodes, exploring the poignant and gut-wrenching impact of Bobby's death on the characters and the audience.

We share our thoughts on what worked, what didn’t, and how the “creative decisions” impact our viewing experience, especially when it comes to the depth of the characters' emotional responses.

Ultimately, we ask the tough questions: what does it mean to truly honor a character's legacy, and how do we process loss in a narrative that was never structured to do so?

We examine the dynamics at play—how characters cope with loss, the pressures of duty, and the need for connection in the face of tragedy: from Buck’s struggle to hold the team together and Chimney’s personal battle with survivor’s guilt, to Hen’s resilience and Athena’s avoidance and anger. It’s clear that the emotional stakes are high and the characters are grappling not just with the loss of a loved one but also with their own identities and roles within this found family. We lament the lack of screen time for Eddie throughout all three of these episodes and our hopes to see more of his grief journey on screen in the following two.

The caliber of the acting is undeniable! We celebrate the stunning performances, particularly from Angela Bassett, Kenny Choi, and Peter Krause, and the emotional weight they brought to their character’s stories.

There’s a palpable sense of frustration as we critique the show’s pacing and the emotional payoff, or lack thereof, when it comes to the arc of the 9-1-1 Contagion emergency and subsequent funeral. We discuss our thoughts on how major character deaths can have a time and place, this one does not do Bobby’s journey or the audience justice.

When people say that something is forever, either way, it ends. Hopefully we’ll see the foundations of the 118 family begin again.

📝 Fan Works Mentioned

🖋️ What 8x16 Should Have Been, redrosydiaz on tumblr

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 Angela Bassett & Tim Minear Dissect ‘9-1-1’ Shocker, Explain Why Bobby Had To Die, Reveal Alternate Scene & Easter Egg, Deadline

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Shocker: Original Cast Member Leaving After 8 Seasons, Admits “It’s A Tough Goodbye”, Deadline

📰 ‘911’ Star and Showrunner Unpack a Series-Altering Death in “Lab Rats”, The Hollywood Reporter

📰 ‘9-1-1’: Tim Minear Explains Bobby’s Death & Reveals How Everyone Will Be Grieving, TV Insider

📰 9-1-1 Shocker: [Spoiler] Just Made a Heroic Exit After 8 Seasons — EP Explains Why It ‘Needed to Happen’, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Creator Breaks...

Holdin’ Buck’s shoulder ‘til their eyes meet, they won’t ever be alone.

This week Han, Cil, Rachel, and guest star Meg keep our love for Season 3, Episode 3 of 9-1-1, “The Searchers” in a photograph buried deep within our souls. We explore how the 118 finds their makeshift family amidst the chaos and navigate the tumultuous waters of Buck's psyche as he contends with his fears and perceived failures during this final installment of the tsunami crisis.

Buck's vulnerability shines through as he pushes himself to the brink, embodying the very definition of tenacity, even while doubting his own worth. We discuss Buck’s palpable panic and fear of failing his loved ones, and how he grapples with the burden of responsibility. Throughout these moments, Buck's fierce love for Christopher shines through as he tirelessly follows every sign to find him, showcasing the lengths to which a parental figure will go to protect their child.

Buck's frantic search for Christopher becomes a metaphor for his own quest for validation and acceptance, intertwining the concepts of searching for family and belonging.

The emotional stakes rise (like the tide) as Buck and Eddie's relationship evolves against the backdrop of the unimaginable. We examine Eddie’s gentleness and strength as he gives Buck the space to tell him what happened to Christopher without expressing any anger or blame.

We take a microscope to the final scene of the episode for a combined Slow Burn and Scene Dissection. Discussing everything from Eddie's playful jabs trying to put Buck at ease to the meaningful dialogue with intense eye contact and shoulder touch. This balance between humor and heart is a hallmark of their relationship and Eddie’s unwavering faith in Buck reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the bonds we forge can guide us like a lighthouse in a storm.

Join us at Buck’s kitchen table as we wait for Eddie and Christopher to come home.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1 Fans Rally Around Christopher After Dramatic Tsunami Cliffhanger: ‘He Must Be Protected At All Costs!’, TV Line

📰 9-1-1‘s Oliver Stark Breaks Down Buck’s ‘Mind-Blowing’ Rescue Mission, Shares ‘Emotional’ Stories From the Tsunami, TV Line

📰 Oliver Stark Watching 3x03 The Searchers on His Instagram Live 4/13/20, YouTube

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by

Don’t be, don’t be afraid, we promise Buck will keep Chris safe.

All aboard the fire engine life raft! Han, Cil, Rachel, and guest host Niki wade into the waters of Season 3 Episode 2 of 9-1-1 titled, “Sink or Swim.”

Buck is using his firefighter training again, but at what cost? May gets a taste of being a first responder as she helps keep a woman alive while Athena takes charge in a post mani-pedi pileup. Maddie is triaging dispatch and setting up a field hospital while the 118 (minus Buck) are saving lives and surfing waves. The episode cleverly contrasts the innocence of childhood with the harsh realities of adulthood and we highlight how moments of crisis shift perspectives in our favorite characters.

We discuss how the tsunami acts as a catalyst for growth, pushing Buck to reassess his purpose and identity as a guardian. Buck embraces his role as a protector, striving to keep Christopher safe while also confronting his own fears and insecurities. We zoom into how Buck's firefighting instincts serve as both a literal and metaphorical lifeline, enabling him to save several people and most importantly, Christopher, until he’s swept away by the receding tide.

Bring your ponchos and arm floaties for this splash zone and make like Dory and Christopher and just keep swimming!

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1‘s Oliver Stark Breaks Down Buck’s ‘Mind-Blowing’ Rescue Mission, Shares ‘Emotional’ Stories From the Tsunami, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Star Oliver Stark on Buck’s Mid-Tsunami ‘Do or Die’ Cliffhanger With 8-Year-Old Christopher, The Wrap

📰 ‘9-1-1’: Peter Krause Talks Filming Underwater for Tsunami Episode, Ronda Rousey’s ‘Perfect Casting’, The Wrap

📺 Video

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Chief on Premiere’s Tsunami Cliffhanger and How They Sunk the Santa Monica Pier, The Wrap

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:52) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:02:47)...