I'm Worried About Where Buck Might Be Headed on '9-1-1' After Bobby's Death

9-1-1's Peter Krause played, undeniably, one of the greatest Captains in procedural TV history. It’s no wonder that fans even put up a billboard to commemorate Bobby Nash (and manifest his miraculous return.) Bobby was more than just a captain to the entire 118 – but to Oliver Stark’s Buck, he was the closest thing he had to a father. Let’s revisit this relationship, why it was so important to the characters and the series, and where this shocker death will leave Buck. I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous... and you should be, too.

Where Buck and Bobby Began

Over eight seasons, Buck and Bobby grew incredibly close, but they didn’t exactly start off that way. In fact, the two frequently butted heads in Buck’s time as a probie. The first episode of 9-1-1 saw Bobby on the verge of firing Buck after some (ahem) misconduct regarding a fire engine… and presumably a history of typical Buck 1.0 behavior. Still, though, Bobby’s discipline and guidance eventually set Buck on the path to becoming a great firefighter – and a better man.

Over the years, life has changed massively for these two. Bobby married Angela Bassett’s Athena, contemplated (and briefly went through with) retirement, and forgave himself for his years spent deep in addiction. Buck reconnected with his sister Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), made a best friend in Ryan Guzman’s Eddie, and eventually came out as bisexual. Much of this growth came from within: but if you ask me, having each other helped them both with the growing pains.

Buck and Bobby Were Instrumental in Each Other’s Growth

Having Buck as a son-like figure allowed Bobby to step into a parental role for the first time since losing his family in the apartment fire that he spent years blaming himself for. It’s undeniable that building a relationship with Buck was instrumental in Bobby overcoming his suicidal urges and being able to form a new family in the 118, Athena, and Athena’s children. In fact, Bobby spent his final moments promising Athena that his death was not a result of suicidal impulses, because he had finally forgiven himself. Buck was undeniably a huge part of that forgiveness.

Likewise, Bobby allowed Buck the time, space, and patience needed for him to evolve as a character. Episodes like ‘Buck Begins’ give a great deal of context to Buck’s character: after being born to provide genetic material for his terminally ill brother (who then died), Buck resorted to increasing acts of dangerous, death-defying behavior in order to get attention from his often neglectful parents. This behavior is clearly visible in Buck in early seasons, but Bobby taught Buck that unconditional love is being able to confide your emotions in someone without having to get the message across via near-death experiences. As a result, Buck was able to come to Bobby when he needed advice, help, or just reassurance and love. With Bobby's kindness, discipline, and mentorship, Buck was forced to confront his behavior and grow into the character I know and love today.

The concept of “found family” is near and dear to any member of the LGBTQ community, and Buck is no exception. Throughout the years, Buck’s reliance and love for his found family in the face of rejection from his parents made his character resonate with many queer audience members, even before the character came to terms with his sexuality in Season 7. Bobby’s support encouraged Buck to look inward, and it’s undeniable that Bobby was crucial in Buck finding himself.

Where Does Bobby’s Death Leave Buck?

To be literal, the last time we saw Evan Buckley, he had broken down sobbing after Bobby urged Buck to leave before he would bear witness to Bobby’s rapidly oncoming death. While Bobby shared an intimate final moment with Athena, Buck was the only member of the 118 that Bobby truly said goodbye to. “You’re going to be okay, Buck. They’re going to need you,” Bobby said, before sending Buck to get Athena with a last “I love you, kid.” Bobby’s final words do, of course, give us a sense of where Buck may be headed: as a pillar of love and support that the 118 needs to survive Bobby’s death as a team. But Buck’s previous tendencies following huge emotional moments have me very concerned about what the next few episodes may look like for Buck.

In the face of pain and grief, Buck tends to have a tough time managing his emotions. Take his Season 3 arc, for example: after Bobby shelved Buck in fear that he’d overextend himself after injury, Buck lashed out at the entire 118, isolating himself and even briefly considering suing the firehouse for his injuries. Season 2 also featured a very different side to Buck’s grief, when he refused to move on from Abby (Connie Britton) leaving him and LA behind, and staying at her house with the hopes that she’d eventually come back. Season 8, even, has paralleled Buck’s strong tendencies toward denial: after his best friend Eddie left for Texas, Buck once again found himself in Eddie’s house, where he sought to fill the void of Eddie with other friends and eventually his ex, Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.)

If these episodes have taught us anything, it’s that Buck doesn’t always make the best decisions when he’s dealing with big emotions. Bobby’s death is undeniably the biggest loss we’ve ever seen Buck (or the 118, or the series as a whole) have to deal with. I, and likely anyone who has spent the last eight seasons with Evan Buckley, am pretty sure that a loss of this caliber will send Buck in a dark direction, at least for a while. Buck fans everywhere, I’m warning you: the next few episodes of 9-1-1 may see Buck engaging in self-sacrificial behavior, isolating, or attempting to fill the void with bad decisions. But ultimately, as Bobby Nash himself predicted, Buck will eventually be okay. And for all of you mourning Bobby Nash, don’t worry: you will be too.