[jediorgana-deactivated20260403]

A little bit more delulu and also some realism.

I think Tim and OS are very aware that Tommy is Buck's endgame. But as OS has yapped about several times, Buck never got to experiment once he came out. They threw him right into a relationship, and much to their shock, the relationship WORKED. Fans loved it (minus the fucking Buddies of course), Tommy can actually exist on his own outside of Buck, the chemistry is hot and entertaining, plus many other things.

But unfortunately, I do think that they are going to try and give Buck time to mingle and experiment now that he's single and technically still fresh out of the closet. OS is now top of the call sheet after AB and JLH, so he has some sway in what direction this is gonna go in, and he's been dying for a Buck experimentation arc for ages. He likes playing Buck as a bachelor, and now there's more to work with.

This is not me dooming. This is just my being realistic. I think Buck experimenting has been in the works for a while, and they've been trying to work it in a way where it's not completely insulting. Now, do I think the arc is going to last very long? No. I think the actual sex scenes are gonna be contained to just a few minutes and the dating part will at most be the B plot in 2 episodes, tops. And honest to god, I really hope they pull it off so it's fun and sexy and not filled to the brim with stereotypes.

Now, onto Tommy.

Do I think he's gonna be in tonight's episode? Unfortunately, no. I don't think there's gonna be any of him until perhaps 906, which I believe is when the dating scenes are supposed to be.

Now I DO think he's gonna be a heavy presence in 9B. Buck is going to continue to try to date, but now that his ex is back in his orbit, the feelings are still very obviously there and driving him insane. And in the meantime, Eddie has met The One and is clicking with her so that's likely driving Buck even more bonkers because if Eddie can get it together, why can't he?

Oh, right, because he already had The One and never actually fought for him.

That's when I think it's finally gonna click for Buck and he's gonna remember the ball is in his court and it's time to fight for his man.

There's also the fact that LFJ hasn't done anything yet. Not even minor guest roles that wouldn't take him far from home. He's hot, he's a good actor, he's well liked amoung everyone he's worked with on other shows. There's just so much bizarre secrecy on this one.

So yeah, these are my thoughts. I do unfortunately think BT has been kicked to 9B due to time constraints. This is not me moving the goalposts, I am simply working with the info that I have. And well, as we all know, nobody wants to look like a Buddie so I do suspect most of us will close by the end of 9A if there isn't anything setting this up. And that's okay. It is what it is and there's really nothing we can do about it except try to enjoy the show.

[baddygab-bi]

Back in the days when we would send our theories to a certain cheese blog, I sent this. I want to post it myself for my own keeps.

I think if I could change anything now, I’d fix what I said about Buck’s 1.0 stage and how he’s not actively falling into it. I actually don’t mind a little bit of that within the larger context of this arc. Buck sleeping around just to sleep around is boring, done, walks a thin line — Buck sleeping around to advance his character in a way that (while it would technically repeat earlier seasons) would serve a strong purpose as well now in a slightly different way.

I also think months as a time jump works. At first I thought it was too much, but thinking now… I don’t mind it as much

This is all just for fun so take what you will, ignore what you won’t.

[baddygab-bi]

@ Bucktommy writers

Who was writing the fic with Buck and his son on the airplane?

I caught the snippets when scrolling, but I totally forgot who’s writing it and I reallyyy need to know because I’m very invested in the story lol

[baddygab-bi]

No idea where the new ring conversation came from for Buck this season, but it made me remember my old theory that I had pre-Masks.

With talk of a past relationship coming up, I thought Buck would find a ring at Tommy’s place and think he was going to propose… Buck thought it was wayyy too fast and almost breaks up with Tommy over it. They have a conversation, but it turns out the ring was actually for a past boyfriend of Tommy’s who rejected him. Buck then feels really insecure about being Tommy’s “second choice” of partner and he’s not sure he can keep going.

So he’d talk to Bobby, Chimney, Maddie, etc. about how it feels to be in a relationship with someone who had such a huge and important prior relationship. And he realizes then that he actually sees such a strong future with Tommy and that’s why it’s messing with him so badly. So Buck “proposes” that Tommy moves in with him. And they happily move in together.

Then Masks came out and was both weirdly close and also not at all like this theory. What could’ve been🥲

[baddygab-bi]

I just finished binging Queer as Folk and honestly after watching that it just makes me realize how weak 911 is with their characters and love interests. Granted it’s a very different show, network vs Showtime, but QAF let storylines linger, grow, they didn’t force a wrap-up of things in 42 minutes. You worried about the safety and lives of characters not because they could be randomly killed off for shock value, but because you actually care about them. Relationships made sense (for the most part), friendships felt more real, and characters (mostly) actually had growth from season to season in a slow, creeping way where you don’t realize how much they’ve changed until the end when you look back.

Great show, big fan. Wish the quality of early 2000s TV could make it to air today.

[baddygab-bi]

Just had a thought about 8x18. I enjoyed Chim’s speech at the end of the episode, I think it foreshadows a possible Chim captain arc which could be really cool…

But, I think it should’ve been Buck’s speech.

He didn’t want anyone else to leave (Ravi, Eddie)

He wanted to bring back family meals (a lot got cut, but we saw what it could’ve been)

He wanted what the 118 used to be. (Flashback)

Bobby said they’d need him (something we never saw beyond the Chim convo and the characters all seemed to actually find his check-ins annoying)

It would’ve made the most sense for him to be the one pulling everyone back together. It would’ve linked a lot of the elements, given a conclusion to some solid threads. If they weren’t going to let Buck explore outside the 118, they should’ve given him a bigger part in bringing it back together. Of course maybe he would’ve been seen as selfish🙄 But I think it would’ve worked

Again, I loved that it was Chim and I think it works if they’re building him up for a higher position, but otherwise…It would’ve given a lot to Buck’s arc this season

[baddygab-bi]

You know what? I’ve had time to think and while it wouldn’t match with the “we’re a team” part of the finale. I wish they would let Buck transfer out of the 118 for a while. It could help build him up to a captain arc if they want it to, it could impact his romantic life if they want it to, it could dive deeper into his feelings towards the 118 without Bobby if they want it to.

They shut down what could be a really interesting and tasty storyline because it was only there to be a shock for the audience and the 118. Which it was until Chim’s speech at the end where he tells Buck no, and we know that means he won’t transfer. If Buck were to leave, the ending episodes would’ve needed to give a little bit more to that, or at the very least have Buck’s reaction to Chim’s speech.

I don’t think it’ll work if we come back in S9 with him having transferred, it would’ve had to be in S8. Not thrown in at the last minute as one line, but something that showed him leaving at least. Risk taken that people will think he’d actually be leaving the show, but that’s when you have an interview pre-S9 saying something like “Buck’s still on the show, he’ll be around, he’s exploring what life is like apart from the 118.” Easy.

It’s the show of wasted potential (which is genuinely sad, because it has so much), but I think this could’ve been good for Buck

[baddygab-bi]

Full season thoughts:

I can barely remember 8A if we’re being honest, so this isn’t really season 8 specific. I think if Tim wanted a death in a season and to really have the effects of said death come into play, that it should’ve been earlier. Mid-season. And then you have the back half of the season to really have these grieving and moving on stories that you actually have time to play with. Of course you risk a lower viewership count compared to the first part of the season, but that’s a risk you’d take regardless when you kill a character.

Idk how it would’ve worked with season 8 as we know it, probably wouldn’t have. But I think if the death was thought of in advance with another time to actually break your full season, then moving it earlier would’ve been ideal.

In writing, if you ever think you can’t move something earlier, just know you can. Instead of ending an episode or a season one way, move it up. Make it the mid-point. See what happens.

[baddygab-bi]

Thought the finale was solid.

Got a little nervous at one point when I thought Eddie was getting a captain edit. But started crying when Chim made his speech because I would want Chim as cap so bad.

Loved Chim and Athena working together. Loved Ravi and Buck teaming up and when they all worked together in the basement.

Didn’t love that Buck’s ending was him looking for a new place and not him settling into a new place. If there was a time jump, which there obviously was, where was he living? (Sorta was hoping he’d end up touring the Bathena house)

Why did Ravi not get a little wrap up moment?

Too much time spent on that girl and her mom at the start that I felt could be used later on. I thought for a moment she’d be a new firefighter or something because of the amount of time we were getting with them. Nope. Just a long pre-emergency bit that I didn’t think was needed. Could’ve intercut the laundry room stuff with something else instead of watching the exact same scenes with Athena again.

Speaking of repeat Athena scenes, I think they used the same clip of her walking? Might have to rewatch that part, but one section felt repeated, or at least was so close that it felt repetitive.

But the worst thing? The thing that made me pause the show and take a lap?

Robert Nash Han

Obviously they were going to name the baby Robert, as it should be. But Nash too?? They gave him a full name in his name. Felt too on the nose.

[baddygab-bi]

See y’all in a few hours✌️ See you on the either side of season 8

[baddygab-bi]

If Tommy isn’t in the finale, there’s two things I can’t stop thinking about.

1. Maddie’s if you love someone tell them speech. Where she said that in light of what’s happening, they should say I love you more. I feel like a good amount of us thought it would have a double meaning for Buck, but, in light of what’s happening with Tommy (and the lack thereof), was this really just a singular meaning line for Maddie? I can’t imagine them stringing this line to season 9, like in universe if there’s a time jump, would Buck really remember something his sister said months earlier? But most importantly, would the audience?

2. If the BTS of Eddie and Chris moving home is really a part of the closing part of the episode, and not like a flashback from when Eddie is moving out and he’s hallucinating Chris there or something… Where does Buck go? I know I assumed it would be to Tommy (though doesn’t make a whole lot of sense narratively), but if “things are up in the air right now” with them that doesn’t sound like a Buck is living with him type of deal, because even though OS couldn’t say that, I doubt he’d say up in the air. Hoping we get a text with Tommy or something to set this up. But, yeah, where does Buck go? The Athena roommate era not looking to crazy ngl

[baddygab-bi]

The issue with if this really is the end of Buck and Tommy, there was literally no conclusion.

The last thing they said: “doing this for you” (paraphrasing)

Last thing we saw: Tommy at the funeral

If they weren’t going to have them together, then let the 8x11 break up stick. Or if a helicopter was needed that badly in 8x15, have the line end with it being about Chimney and not show Tommy at the end. It would’ve been a sad break up, but whatever, they would’ve been over and it would be okay. Because there’s closure. If he’s not even in this episode, they just what? Haven’t ever spoken again? Even after Maddie’s whole thing about love? It’s just open and unresolved

If they brought back Tommy just to spark the buddie conversation and then have that conversation followed by verbal denial and not even a touch of queer Eddie or romantic buddie moments, that’s just a weird fucking choice seeing as it went nowhere and actually, I’d say, was denied in a way that the GA took it fully as the denial it was. If they backtrack on it after the kitchen fight…might need to check in on the writers.

If this is the end, it’s probably one of the worst written storylines on the show. Things like the sperm donation baby we’re short lived and ridiculous, easy to brush away and forget. Shannon’s doppelgänger? Same deal, since it ended up meaning nothing once Chris left. It came up in the talk with the priest and still didn’t mean anything. And there’s so many more obviously. But Tommy was there for nearly 2 whole seasons, was Buck’s throughline for so much of it. Was purposely intertwined in episodes and moments. Tommy literally was either there or named for so much. And for what?

It just makes no sense. If Buck’s story was about learning to be alone, that’s depressing as shit. Send his best friend away, kill his captain, erase his boyfriend.

But yeah anyway, if this is the end, it’s weak. It’s just disappointing and weak

Holding out hope that Tommy isn’t in the episode, but Buck just shows up at his door and we never see him, so he’s still technically there. But I don’t even have that much faith anymore. At this point I’m assuming we’ll end with Buck as captain and his arc (stated by Tim in a post interview) will actually be about how he was supposed to be captain all along this season, even though that wasn’t his story

[baddygab-bi]

Just saw the Nashville teaser trailer and I don’t think the guitar-on-fire graphics were thought through enough

[nqueso-lies-deactivated20250829]

PR Anon from before, I wanted to add something else I just thought of.

If (and this is the biggest, most hypothetical if you can get) all this press was for buddie like people on here and reddit seem to think it is, why would they have OS doing the tour?

If the show / ABC wanted there to be coverage on buddie as a romantic relationship, they’d send out RG. An actor who could talk about where his character is going, to maybe put some ideas in people’s heads. And by people I mean, GA. Yeah, Buck would be a part of that relationship, but the focus would have to be on Eddie. He’d be the one that the audience would have to believe could be gay / in love with Buck / whatever the bobs say.

But they sent OS (see my other anon.)

If they wanted buddie to be highlighted romantically for the GA, have RG do a media tour like this in lieu of OS, not just Buzzfeed and one small night talk show thing, and then have an exclusive with RG with a larger outlet that would drop directly after the episode airs.

Instead we have OS shutting down buddie using their key messaging points, and more interviews with Oliver than anyone else. Aisha has a fair amount too I think. But, again, if the buddies were so sure this was all for buddie canon. The buddie canon media tour, if you will… Then why not have RG involved? Why has OS?

The fact is, that since the press tour and the upfronts are happening at the same time, this seems to be dictated by the show’s PR team and not only an individual actor’s team. (They work together, but I think ABC is the one wanting the press). Meaning that if they wanted RG front and center for what would be a pretty significant change in the show… He’d be front and center. And he’s not.

Not that I have to tell you this, Queso, but obviously this is not a buddie canon media tour. Along with the other stuff I said before, I think it’s the bid for season 10 by getting an eyes on OS, enticing them to watch the finale and S9. It’s them building OS up. It’s using a well-trained actor to do what he can do best. And contrary to what buddies think, RG isn’t the main guy on this show even with Peter gone. He couldn’t lead a media tour like this, he’d only be out as much as OS if they needed him to, and by all accounts, it looks like they don’t

☝️☝️☝️

[nqueso-lies-deactivated20250829]

Okay cracking open my PR knowledge for this.

I’ve seen people say that the interviews with Oliver are “scripted” so he knew they were going to ask him about Buddie and that the show wanted them to because 911 is giving them the script for the interview. This is factually incorrect.

The interviews aren’t “scripted” in the sense that a television show is. More so, planned. With each side planning their own way through the interview. Let me explain.

On the journalism side: you have your reporters who figure out what questions they’re going to ask.

On the subject side: you have the PR team working out what questions they think will be asked and prepping the client for that.

Now this is different if it were, say, an exclusive interview. Which this is not. This is Oliver on a press tour, I’ll say why later.

So each side preps for the interview, using this interview as an example, Oliver’s publicist would’ve prepared a list of questions they think will be asked/topics they think will be covered. Then will have some possible responses. It’ll relate back to whatever key messaging they’re trying to get across.

I haven’t seen all the interviews for this tour and not all of them are out yet, but hypothetically let’s say that the key messages that Oliver’s team wants to get across are about the finale, the closeness of the team both on and off screen, and Oliver’s own ventures outside of the show. The responses they create will relate back to these key messages.

They know they’ll ask about Buddie, it has enough traction that any journalist (or assistant) who is doing research will come across it. They also know it’ll get people to watch the segment and have it go viral — which is good for GMA and OS. Doesn’t mean buddie is big, just means it’s loud. So the Pub preps for that. Gives Oliver an idea of what to say. Connect it back to the messaging.

They don’t know what they’ll ask, but they have an idea. Just like the journalists won’t know how he’ll answer, but a good one will have an idea.

GMA is a place you send someone on a press tour if you want attention on something or someone, it has the second highest viewership count for morning talk shows within an age demographic of about 29-42 (going off memory so may be off a year). The Today Show is slightly higher in viewership, but they’re so close it’s nothing. Plus GMA is on ABC. That’s why GMA was chosen, good viewership numbers and ABC connection.

Now, why OS? Without knowing if it was his personal PR team or the show’s, it makes it a little trickier, but it comes down to the same thing. They want eyes on Oliver. Either because with Peter gone they want audience focus to shift more to him, or because his team wants him to be seen by others outside of the 911 bubble. It’s attention, not secret messaging.

But for all the people saying that 911 gave GMA these questions / signed off on these questions / told them to ask buddie stuff, that’s all not true. That’s not how PR works, that’s not how GMA works

ETA: after typing this all up I was able to quickly watch the GMA segments, and I stand by what I said. It’s very clear OS what instructed to bridge back to key points, especially when it comes to talking about Buck and Eddie. He likely was prepped to throw it back to audience taking whatever they want out of the show, which has been a key message in multiple interviews going back basically a season or more. Him calling Eddie straight directly was a part of that.

Thank you, Annie!!!

And not to put Max on your beautiful, knowledgeable ask, but since BoBs seem to only listen to BoB journalists, I'm using this to back you further (although you don't need it ❤️)

[baddygab-bi]

Verdict on the kitchen scene from my very GA mom:

Thought Eddie was angry because he feels guilty for not being there (I fully agree)

Didn’t understand why Buck was being called selfish when he wasn’t being selfish (thank you!!!)

When I told her that people online are saying the scene was romantic, and wondered if she thought it was, this was her response…

Her: “Romantic?!! What?? No it wasn’t romantic! How? Ew! It was a fight! It was mean. And also Eddie’s not gay, only the other one is.”

Me: “Buck isn’t gay.”

Her: “Then why’s he kissing that boy?”

Me: “He’s bi.”

Her: “Ohhh, he’s bi.”

Then she ranted about Bobby’s death for ten minutes. That’s the general audience for ya.

[baddygab-bi]

Saw the video of RG and Gavin filming 8x18. They were in the Bedford house and in the background are moving boxes, and undecorated walls (Buck’s exercise rope thing is gone), along with Eddie’s blue couch and red armchair. Reddit said that was Buck’s armchair, but his is brown. I looked at both and it definitely looks more like Eddie’s to me. 8x11 for Buck’s, 8x12 for Eddie’s.

Based on this, it really does seem like Eddie and Chris are back in LA. Which isn’t that surprising. Now the question is where is Buck going to end up? I know where I’m hoping