In episode 8x06, Tommy broke-up with Buck because he was afraid to move to the next step: moving in together. This is so out-of-character for Tommy. He's usually very caring and considerate to other people's feelings. That's why he visited Buck to clear the air between Buck & Eddie back in episode 7x04. Tommy wouldn't get into a relationship with Buck if he knows that he will break Buck's heart someday.
Is a more reasonable cause for the break up possible?
I can think two of them:
Tommy is transferred to a new city. He has a traumatic break up from a long distance relationship before, and is not willing to take the risk again. The 'long distance relationship' reason has been used to explain Grace's absence in Lone Star.
Tommy is killed in an accident. A repeat of Shannon storyline. It's not really a good idea. Audience might chalk it up as a lazy writing. But it is easy and ensure a big dramatic impact.
So, why they use such an out-of-character reason for Tevan break-up?
They couldn't think of a better idea, which is nonsense considering some of the writers are involved in Lone Star.
They need Tommy to be the bad guy. They want Buck to have several more love interests to strectch the life of the show. They may even take Oliver's suggestion: #LetBuckF–k ala Wedding Crashers with guy, guy, girl, girl, guy, guy... 🙄 (link). However, they don't want Buck to look like he regresses to the slutty Buck a.k.a Buck 1.0. So, they need a fall guy to be blamed as the cause for Buck's second slutty awakening.
They want to make a character growth storyline for Tommy, before bringing Buck & Tommy together again. It means Tommy will come back in the future.
Despite how much I hope they will go with Scenario #3 (with Tommy), there is no guarantee that they won't go with Scenario #2 (without Tommy). I refuse to be tricked again, so I will not watching until I get official confirmation that Tommy will be on the episode. I also REFUSE to reward people who are cruel enough to make Tommy the bad guy despite how much harrasments Lou has been endured from toxic Buddie fans.
If they have actually decided to go on without Tommy, I'm afraid online backlash IS NOT enough to make them bring Tommy back. In the BuckLucy debacle (Season 6), the General Audience and the fandom had the same voice. This time, there are two opposite voices on the internet, both probably are equally loud.
The only certain way to make them ask Lou to come back is if THE RATING/VIEWERSHIP is swayed enough to really show our voice.
Without naming them, post (up to) 10 gifs of characters that altered your brain chemistry✨
Tagged by @iphyslitterator. Thank you for tagging me.
Here's the list, in no particular order, except the first one. Currently, he's my main crush :D.
I'm still recovering from a surgery, so I can't be active in fandom that much. I apologize if I've missed (and will miss) any posts, tags, comments, or chats.
Last month I was in the ER, the most vulnerable emotionally that I've ever been while putting myself in the hands of a stranger. That the intake doctor had a lanyard heavy with Pride pins mattered. It's such a tiny gesture, but the amount of safety I felt because of it, during an agonizing moment in my life, was huge.
I'm a volunteer docent at my city's zoo. We all wear badges, and I wear mine on a rainbow-striped lanyard. I was talking to a family once - mom, dad, kids, and what seemed to be Grandpa - and as they were heading off, Grandpa politely touched my lanyard and said "Thanks for your support."
I just smiled and wished them a good day. I don't know who in his family - himself, or someone else - he was thanking me for, or if he was just generally glad to see the visible signal, but if I made their family feel a little safer that day, then it was a good day.
IF you would be interested I would love your take on 107. “Your ass is going to be seven different shades of red after that little stunt.” and Bucktommy!
107. “Your ass is going to be seven different shades of red after that little stunt.”
Tommy still isn’t used to this. He’s at a bar with the 118, drinking and laughing with his arm slung over the top of the booth behind Evan’s shoulders. Warmth bursts through him every time Evan leans back against him, every time someone laughs at his jokes or asks him a question.
He knows that the 118 fractured after Bobby’s death, but they seem to have rallied under the leadership of Captain Han. They’re closer than ever, and that’s saying something. Even Ravi is here. He’s opening up and telling more personal stories than Tommy—and, from the looks of it, the entire 118—has ever heard from him. The night is warm and loose and happy in a way that has Tommy feeling drunker than the two empty beer bottles in front of him normally would.
Tommy isn’t the only one. Hen’s laughs devolve into snorts, Eddie’s shoulders are lighter than they have been for over a year, and pride shines in Chim’s eyes. Evan had one drink before switching to club soda—something he does a lot now, Tommy has noticed; Tommy thinks it makes him feel closer to Bobby—but you wouldn’t know that from the way he’s crying laughing and melting against Tommy’s side like it’s been a long night of hard drinking. It makes Tommy feel floaty and free to see them all like this; to be allowed to take part in it. Everything is giddy and relaxed.
The night goes on, and after a while there’s a lull in the conversation. A few people get up to use the bathroom, a few go to get more drinks, and the few left at the table are engaged in a heated debate about something so inconsequential that Tommy tuned them out minutes ago. He’s focused on the press of Evan against him, the heat of his body, and the soft, casual way their legs brush together. It’s far from the most intimate they’ve been since getting back together, but it is the most public. There’s a deep, rolling contentment in Tommy’s stomach at the knowledge that Evan chose him and wants everyone to know it.
The debate heats up across the table and Evan taps out; losing either interest or track of the conversation. He leans back and smiles soft and sweet when he sees that Tommy is already looking at him.
“Hey,” Evan says. He leans closer, warmer; fits himself more snugly into Tommy’s side. “Do you wanna play pool?”
“Do you want to lose at pool?” Tommy teases.
“Oh, I see how it is.” The flirtatious spark in Evan’s eye settles low in Tommy’s gut. “You, uh, you know the firehouse has a pool table, right? I’ve had a lot of practice.”
“I do know the firehouse has a pool table.” Tommy smirks. “Who do you think carried it up the stairs?”
Evan’s eyes go dark and his breath visibly hitches in his chest. Tommy decides not to clarify that it wasn’t just him, and that he and Sal had sweated and sworn at each other the entire time. He lets Evan have his fantasy of Tommy—current Tommy, with his thicker muscles, not the leaner frame he had in 2008—single-handedly carrying a heavy pool table up a long flight of stairs. No one has ever looked at Tommy the way that Evan does. He doesn’t want to say anything that would put a stop to it.
Instead of forming a response, Evan hip-checks Tommy as well as he can while they’re both sitting down. Tommy takes the hint and scoots out of the booth, Evan following right behind him. Evan takes his hand and leads the way through the bar.
They find an empty pool table and set it up. Tommy watches Evan’s thick fingers chalk up the cue. He tries to keep his thoughts appropriate for a bar, for an outing with people they know, but it’s hard to do that when Evan’s big hands run up and down the smooth length of the cue. Tommy is already feeling loose from the beers and the good atmosphere. Looking at Evan, it’s easy to feel just a little looser.
Evan is better at pool than Tommy thought he would be. He’s slow and methodical, taking his time to really line up each shot, and he sinks the ball more often than not. It takes Tommy longer than it should to notice that Evan is moving so slowly on purpose; intentionally wiggling his hips as he bends over the table. Brat. It draws Tommy’s attention to his ass, and suddenly hitting the ball isn’t the main thing that Tommy is thinking about as he lines up his next shot. Tommy doesn’t want to be playing pool anymore. He wants to get his hands on Evan.
Not now. Not yet. Calming, relaxing breath in, then out. This game will pass, this outing will be over, and then he’ll take Evan home. He’ll have Evan all to himself soon enough. He’ll have Evan naked. He’ll have Evan spread out on the bed under him, moaning and begging on his fingers.
Tommy takes his shot and misses. It’s not a surprise. His head isn’t in the game anymore and his fingers had fumbled over the cue with the trembling desire to touch Evan. It would have been more of a surprise if he had made the shot. He tries not to let his lust show on his face as he nods across the table for Evan to take his turn.
Tommy assumes that Evan will take the perfect setup right in front of him, so Tommy doesn’t back away from his side of the table. Evan doesn’t take it. He looks at Tommy, looks at the table, then back at Tommy, and smirks. Slowly, without taking his eyes off of Tommy, Evan slinks around from the other side. He’s surprisingly graceful in his movements for someone so large, for someone who Tommy has seen trip over his own feet more than once. Evan stalks closer and, like a hypnotized prey animal, Tommy doesn’t move a muscle.
When Evan is almost within kissing distance, he smirks and turns his back to Tommy, sliding in between him and the pool table. Evan bends over, cue in hand, and pushes his ass back against Tommy’s crotch. Just like all of the shots that Evan has taken tonight, he wiggles his hips.
“Evan,” Tommy hisses, but his cock twitches and he can’t get himself to back away. Evan feels electric against him.
“I’m taking my shot,” Evan says casually. “You’re in my way.”
They’re in public. They’re in a bar, in public, with the rest of the 118 somewhere nearby. He knows that Evan has an exhibitionist streak a mile wide, but this is bold even for him. His family is here—his family who Tommy still feels like he needs to be on his best behavior for. This isn’t their best behavior. They’re never going to hear the end of this.
Still, Tommy doesn’t back away. The rest of the bar starts to fade from his attention the longer Evan is pressed against him, the more his cock fills out from the friction of Evan’s hips. Tommy isn’t going to rub himself against Evan’s ass in a crowded bar, but it’s a close thing.
“You could’ve asked me to move,” Tommy says dryly.
Evan shoots a flirty glance over his shoulder. “Didn’t want you to move.”
Evan takes his shot. It’s awful; easily his worst of the night, sending balls flying in all directions. Tommy thinks he sees one of his own balls go in, but he can’t be sure because Evan is straightening back up and pressing the long line of his back against Tommy’s front.
“Oops,” Evan says, and wiggles his hips again.
Tommy is sweating. He grabs Evan’s hips to still him, but he doesn’t make any move to put space between them like he should. He’s beyond that. He wants Evan so badly.
“When we get home,” he whispers, low and growly in Evan’s ear. “Your ass is going to be seven different shades of red after that little stunt.”
Evan leans to the side and looks at Tommy playfully. “Only seven?”
“Brat.” Tommy’s hands tighten on Evan’s hips. “You’re not gonna win with dirty tricks.”
Evan hums and rubs his ass against Tommy’s growing erection. “I think I already did.”
Against his better judgment, Tommy gives into the urge to touch. He slides one hand up Evan’s hip and slips his fingers just under Evan’s shirt. Evan’s skin is warm and soft. The muscles jump under Tommy’s touch. Evan lets out a shuddering breath and Tommy gives up the last bit of pretense that they’re going to finish this game. Tommy wants Evan, and Evan wants Tommy enough to make such a display of himself. Tommy has no problem letting Evan say he won. They’re both going to get what they want.
“Congratulations,” Tommy rumbles into Evan’s ear. “Do you think you can wait until we’re home to get your prize?” He dips a finger under Evan’s waistband and traces a small pattern into the skin.
Evan shakes his head. “Bathroom,” he says.
“Truck,” Tommy counters. It’s arguably more public, but there’s less of a risk of someone they know seeing him on his knees. There’s less of a risk of anyone hearing Evan’s sweet noises: the moans and whines and high-pitched please please pleases Tommy plans on wringing out of him before letting him come. Those sounds are for Tommy’s ears only.
“Yeah, deal, deal.” Evan leans his weight against Tommy’s body; heavy and trusting.
Tommy bites a kiss against Evan’s jaw and feels him shudder. “Lead the way.”
Evan grabs Tommy’s hand where it rests over his stomach. He drags Tommy out the back door and into the parking lot. They barely remember to drop their pool cues onto the table in their rush.
For about thirty seconds, Tommy feels bad about leaving without saying goodbye to the 118. Then Evan backs Tommy against the truck and kisses him—presses his plush lips against Tommy’s and shoves his tongue into his mouth, moans so beautifully and rubs the line of his hard cock against Tommy’s—and all thoughts about anyone else fall away.
They scramble into the backseat of the truck. Tommy gets Evan’s clothes off, gets his hands and his mouth and his body all over Evan, and he has never been happier to lose a game of pool.
To say 9-1-1 Season 8 is a frustrating season of television is an understatement, with the second half unable to stick the landing.
I just read a review of 9-1-1 Season 8 by Katey Stoetzel. Once again, I agree with every single thing she wrote.
It actually makes me sad, because these are some of what she mentioned:
For much of this season, it didn’t seem like there was ever a plan in place. Many ideas feel hastily thrown together and fail to deliver on a larger scale.
Episodically, the season succeeded more than any overarching story.
A lot of Eddie’s story this season feels like a result of not knowing what to do with him, and it’s become very obvious on screen by how little effort is being put into writing him a decent storyline.
For Hen, the rest of 9-1-1 Season 8 was a series of inconsequential moments.
Maddie and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) also lacked in their stories this season, hardly getting much to do in the first half. (Because Brad Torrence took up most screen time in the first half of the season 😒)
9-1-1 never seems interested in exploring their characters to that level of depth in 9-1-1 Season 8, especially for Buck.
Great performances kept 9-1-1 Season 8 tethered while its storylines didn’t. (Exactly! The writing is garbage in many ways. If the show didn't have exceptional actors, it would not survive this long).
However, what hit me the most is this paragraph:
If 9-1-1 Season 8 gets credit for anything, it’s for boldly killing off a main character. Bobby’s death, while tragic, was the most interesting thing this show has done in a while. It shakes up the status quo for every character, something 9-1-1 needs. But by the end of the season, it ultimately falls flat. The three-episode grieving arc to close the season did not live up to expectations, much like the rest of what 9-1-1 Season 8 promised.
Bobby's death is arguably the most important storyline in the show so far. In my opinion, it's even more important than the Begin episodes. This is the one storyline where Tim Minear was supposed to deliver his best. Yet, the landing is still flat and disappointing.
I've seen a lot of major character death and the subsequent grief in other TV shows. They are always handled with care. Although heartbreaking and often devastating, those storylines are among the best I've ever seen, except this one.
If this is Tim's best effort, I have little confidence in how he will deliver Season 9 and beyond. Especially because I suspect that he was forced to let Peter go. I don't think Tim actually has a clear path about what to do with the remaining characters after Bobby's gone.
There are moments when I feel that Tommy Kinard is trapped within this show. This is one of those moments. Tommy is a great character, and he's held hostage by a mediocre writer whose writing is so unreliable, that he has to rely on gimmicks like outrageous disaster scenes and shipbaiting to keep people interested.
Tim's shipbaiting has ruined several characters in the show. He made some fans dislike Maddie. How come Maddie told Buck to call Eddie, but when Buck asked her should he call Tommy, she told him to learn to live alone? Didn't she just tell Buck to call Eddie? So, she thinks it's better for Buck to live alone than being with Tommy, but Buck doesn't have to live alone when he could call Eddie? If Maddie doesn't like Buck to be with Tommy, she needs to say it out loud. No need to use 'Buck has to learn to live alone' as an excuse. It makes her look like a wishy-washy character who lacks a backbone.
Tim also made Buck a man-child who couldn't decide for himself when it's about Tommy. After Tommy broke up with him, Buck repeatedly asked other people whether he should call Tommy or not. Why couldn't he decide for himself? Then he used Tommy as distraction from his loneliness, and hurt Tommy's feeling by making Tommy feel like a cheap hook up. After that, instead of apologize, he only called Tommy when he needed a favor. Tommy deserves a better partner than this Buck.
Last but not least, Tim ruined Eddie's character because of his baiting. First he made Eddie hurt — and ultimately broke up with his girlfriends, using Eddie's undying love to Shanon as an excuse. It seemed romantic in the surface, but actually he made Eddie look like an asshole. I think Tim just wants to make Eddie perpetually single to feed the Buddie delusion. It's also why he made Buck usually dumped by his LIs.
However, after the backlash, ABC seemed to oppose the Buddie baiting. Then the show took a 180⁰ turn. Eddie repeatedly became hostile towards Buck, probably to thwart any romantic accusation about them. Unfortunately, once again the show made Eddie look like an asshole in the process.
At moments like this, I half-wish that Tim let Tommy go with a happy ending, so I can also let this show go. The fanfictions treat him better than this mediocre show anyway.