We heard there’s a special place where boys and girls can drink their juice every single day. This week Han, Cil, and Rachel confess our headcanons, speculations, and educated wishes about Season 8 of 9-1-1, focusing on episodes 8x04 “No Place Like Home,” 8x05 “Masks,” and 8x06 “Confessions.” Buck-le up for a full hour of Buck, Eddie, and Buddie, respectively! (No, that’s not a typo.)

Peeling back the layers of Eddie’s queer-coded arc, as far back as Season 7, all the way to his meet cute with Father Brian (aka Hot Priest™), we revel in Eddie starting to unmask and finally let himself experience joy. Meanwhile, Buck is spiraling out and makes an impulsive decision that ends with him single on Eddie’s couch. The Buddies discuss what the future holds for our namesake when Eddie is breaking free, but Buck realizes he’s still very much on the hamster wheel in a cage.

The rest of the extended fire fam are also here, and we touch on how their arcs are developing their characters and relationships moving toward mid-season. We explore how “being there for the big moments” is integral as Bathena, Madney, and Henren all start new chapters with their families.

We break down the themes across these three episodes as well as the abundant parallels and rich symbolism paving the yellow brick road to Buddie Canon over the rainbow. So grab a beer, take off your pants, and join us on the theoretical couch for some risky business!

📔 Articles Mentioned:

📰 Another Mask, @ ircnshield, Twitter

📰 Parallels of Eddie Opening Up the Door to Kim / Buck, @ lover-of-mine, Tumblr

📰 Past Mid-Season Finale Cliffhangers, @ meowddiehan, Twitter

📰 How Chris’ Leaving Affected Buck, @ ircnshield, Twitter

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Welcome to the Tortured Buddie Department

(00:03:00) Overall thoughts on Episodes 4, 5, and 6

(00:11:43) Episode and Season Themes

(00:18:57) 9-1-1 Behind-the-Scenes

(00:25:33) Bobby and Athena

(00:41:44) Hen and Karen

(00:55:16) Maddie and Chimney

(01:07:51) Buck

(02:16:13) Eddie

(03:17:39) Buddie

(03:43:28) Predictions & Wishes & Theories, Oh My!

(04:15:00) What’s Next and Take a Buddie With You (Outro)

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