9-1-1's Buck doesn't deal with change effectively.

The firefighter (performed by Oliver Stark) is reeling from his greatest pal Eddie's (Ryan Guzman) departure to Texas, and over the course of Thursday's episode of the ABC first responder drama he finally ends up again in mattress along with his ex Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), who questions if Buck's emotions for Eddie are strictly platonic — one thing followers have been debating for seasons, effectively earlier than Buck got here out as bisexual.

Right here 9-1-1 showrunner Tim Minear solutions Leisure Weekly's burning questions on season 8, episode 11, "Holy Mom of God."

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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What made now the correct time to convey Tommy again?

TIM MINEAR: I believe what Buck's going by way of on this episode is simply the quick lack of an enormous a part of his life, which is his greatest pal leaving. And it's actually laborious for him to spend an evening in that home, so he's on the lookout for distractions. [Jennifer Love Hewitt's] Maddie tells him, "You in all probability must make some new buddies." So he tries to try this. He tries to befriend [Anirudh Pisharody's] Ravi, who seems is definitely a enjoyable man, however Buck's actually by no means given him an opportunity. So he tries that, after which a factor occurs, which I believe most individuals can relate to: You run into an ex, and also you're in a spot the place you might simply use some firm and a few distraction, and form of one factor results in one other.

And why now tackle the character of Buck's connection to Eddie?

For me, whether or not Tommy is correct in his suspicions or not form of doesn't matter…. Tommy is the particular person to convey up that topic greater than anybody else on the present, as a result of Buck is unnaturally depending on his friendship with Eddie. He places numerous himself into that, and it takes up numerous house in his id, and in his world. And so I believe it could simply be pure for the man's boyfriend to be like, "You're actually tight with that good-looking pal of yours, and I believe you may need a factor for him." And it was additionally necessary for me to have Buck say, "Look, I don't need to sleep with everybody I’ve emotions for, and I don't need to have emotions for everybody I sleep with," which is a direct reference to who Buck was within the first season or so. However that basically stings Tommy to the core. The reality of the matter is, Buck is utilizing Tommy as a distraction for the turmoil he's going by way of. And precisely what meaning is form of left as much as your interpretation.

Buck finally tells Maddie he must name and apologize to Tommy. Will we see Tommy again quickly?

You'll see him once more this season, however what I’d say is that Tommy has a perform on this universe that isn't simply to be Buck's mattress buddy, proper? Tommy is a former a part of the 118, and Tommy has explicit abilities that different characters don't, and people abilities will come into play very shortly.

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9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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