Buck is an unreliable narrator — and the writing does him no favors
Honestly, Buck has been such an unreliable narrator for his own story. We’re supposed to believe he’s this mature, grown man in his 30s dealing with complex feelings, but his actions scream otherwise. He avoids accountability, dodges confrontation, and leaves Tommy (and fans) guessing what’s really going on inside his head.
Buck won’t even call or text Tommy to clear things up after they break up — or after their messy hookup. Instead, he lets things fester and runs around asking everyone else for advice. How is this his story if he can’t even own it?
The writers are basically telling us Buck has no agency, no standing — that he needs Maddie, Chim, Hen, Josh, even Bobby’s permission to decide what kind of relationship he wants and how to manage it. He’s not a teenager. Did they forget this guy is eight seasons in, whose whole arc has supposedly been about growth and maturity?
The problem isn’t just that Tommy was “wrong” or “insecure.”
It’s that Buck was:
Passive
Vague
Emotionally evasive
And somehow, we’re asked to:
➡️ Blame the guest character for not reading Buck’s mind?
Yes — Buck should have checked in with Tommy. Especially after:
He initiated the hookup with clear emotional tension
He twisted the meaning of it, turning it into something casual without clarity
He was offended by Tommy’s insecurity instead of showing empathy
Even if Tommy ended things, Buck misled him by:
Hooking up without intention
Reacting with anger instead of reassurance
And yet the writing acts like:
“Poor Buck... just sniffle it out, put up a new shelf, and boom! You’re healed.”
That’s not character growth. That’s narrative evasion.
The bigger problem — the vulnerability imbalance
Tommy constantly shows vulnerability with Buck. He tells him he was jealous of the 118’s bond. He shares how his father and Gerard wasn’t supportive, and how hard it was not being out while working under someone like that. He openly admits his fears about getting hurt.
Buck? We rarely see him meet Tommy halfway. Even when he says he was afraid of losing Bobby (S7E10)— someone he considers like a father — he never really lets Tommy in.
In the breakup, Tommy was misguided but emotionally honest. That fear came from somewhere real. And before the hookup? Tommy says he wanted to reach out, and Buck replies with, “No way.” and nothing.
The next morning, Tommy tries again — asks what Buck’s plans are, brings up his insecurity around Eddie. And Buck? Lashes out.
Tommy leaves. Buck doesn’t follow. He doesn’t text. He goes to Maddie for advice. And when she tells him to learn to live alone, he just sniffs and does nothing.
This isn’t just inconsistent writing — it erases the emotional labor Tommy does and paints Buck as a passive, emotionally blank slate who never has to do anything to grow.
So we’re still expected to root for Buck as the main character?
Why is Buck allowed to be emotionally evasive while Tommy has to carry all the guilt?
Why does Buck’s story hinge on what others say — instead of him taking actual emotional risks?
If this is supposed to be growth, it feels like a step backward.
And the kicker? This isn’t even the first time Buck has acted like a passenger in a relationship. It’s the same story, just a new season. New Buck 8.0, same passive patterns, no visible growth.
You can’t keep calling it development when every emotional beat gets outsourced to side characters while the lead avoids doing the work.
Using abandonment issues as a crutch? That has limits.
You can’t keep handing Buck “abandonment issues” every time he refuses to exercise his autonomy — doing nothing is still a choice. That excuse loses power when it becomes a get-out-of-growth-free card every season.
And honestly? This wasn’t a relationship. It was a checkbox.
Not a real, messy, evolving romance. Not will-they-won’t-they. Not right person, wrong time. Not even a miscommunication arc. — one is a main character while other is guest at best.
This was one person refusing to use their agency — then playing the victim when things fell apart. I’m sorry, I have no kind words.
I wanted to do a full data-backed analysis of this relationship. I really did.
But then I saw season finale. Got mad. And thought, “You know what? Let me lash out now and be more rational later.”
I’ll try to be the adult in the next post. I swear. 😤 I still want to do a more rational, unbiased analysis of this relationship later — pinky promise. 🤦♀️🫶🙏 I love these boys, but man… the writers really fumbled this one. they suck!
