9-1-1’s Oliver Stark explains how Buck’s recent near-death experience will change him
Warning! The following contains spoilers for 9-1-1 episode “In Another Life”. Read at your own risk!
9-1-1 just can’t help but throw in some drama Goatin his own way, although I’m sure he would have preferred another emotional heartbreak if he knew the alternative was literal cardiac arrest. Bobby and the crew rushed Buck to the hospital after he was struck by lightning, and viewers were treated to a wild “coma episode” in which Buck imagined a life where he never became a firefighter. Oliver Stark explained how this near-death experience will change his character.
Now that Buck is back home and on the mend, actor Oliver Stark spoke with TVLine about what’s next for his 9-1-1 character. For those wondering if this was just a two-episode thriller going out the window next week, Stark assured that this story will play out through Season 6:
The show is definitely not going to skip this too quickly. He came really, really close to dying, which is a very sobering experience. And while it’s positive in the sense that he survived, it’s sure to make him reflect on who he is and who he wants to be.
Viewers may have figured this out when Buck and Maddiethe parents decided to move into Buck’s apartment during his recovery, but for those who didn’t pick up, 9-1-1 apparently sticking with this story for a while. This recovery time allows Buck to reflect on the traumatic experience he endured and perhaps even question what it is he really wants in life.
9-1-1 fans might roll their eyes at that, and hey, I get it. So much of Buck’s story so far on the Fox series has revolved around major life changes and reinventing himself. Oliver Stark admitted that he is also aware of that trend but noted that there is something special about this circumstance that can only push Buck that much closer to being a finished product as opposed to a work in progress:
Yes I think so. We always do this joke about Buck with the writers, we say, ‘This is the new Buck’ or ‘This is the new, new Buck’ or ‘This is the new, new, new Buck.’ He is constantly developing and trying to find himself. I believe this delve into his inner workings will help propel him towards the finished version of himself.
As for how Buck might change, it seems like he’s already allowing for small changes when he surprised Maddie by letting his parents’ parents meddle in his life by redesigning his apartment. The 9-1-1 character seemed to actively stop himself from wanting to tell his parents to let him live without a couch.
What that means for Buck long-term, we can only speculate. We know that Buck is in contact with the family he’s a sperm donor for, and that’s a pretty big deal. Maybe it might even convince Buck that he’s willing to try for his own family, even if he doesn’t really have any immediate prospects for a relationship on the horizon.
And to be perfectly honest, Buck in a romance sounds exactly like the same Buck as 9-1-1 has given viewers before. Because now I would be just as happy to watch him heal on his soon-to-be-purchased couch and slowly recover. After all, he still needs to regain his strength while growing as a person!
9-1-1 airs on Fox on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes will air as part of a range of new and returning shows on the 2023 TV schedule, so be sure to keep an eye out for what’s coming.
