Hen and Eddie in this episode: I don’t know why I am the way I am.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel try to compute Season 3 Episode 8 of 9-1-1, “Malfunction,” where Hen's life is in full-on meltdown mode and Eddie is busy trying to gaslight himself around his grief. We dive into Hen and Eddie’s psyches and how grief can manifest in very different ways.

Hen’s family is normally the rock upon which she stands, but the fallout of the IVF failure has destabilized her home life, and her attempts to maintain her usual composure at work are visibly unsteady. Hen and Karen’s relationship is strained with the heavy weight of grief, making them both feel alone even when they’re together. We reflect on Hen’s struggle with compartmentalizing, a skill she usually excels at, as it’s thoroughly tested, leading to an emotional crescendo with the ambulance crash that leaves us questioning how far one can go before breaking down completely.

Meanwhile, we explore Eddie’s no good, very bad choices, particularly the reckless behavior as he grapples with the aftermath of Shannon's death, the tsunami, and not being able to talk to Buck. His misguided attempts to beat his thoughts and feelings into submission via illegal fights reveals a pattern of self harm, destruction, and punishment. What he really needs and longs for is a deeper connection and to be understood, but he isolates himself in his own pain instead.

We applaud the intricate use of sound design and cinematography in the episode, particularly the fights and ambulance crash, where it helps create a visceral experience that brings the audience right into the characters’ inner worlds.

This episode has us discussing how unexpected tragedies can alter characters' trajectories, with Hen's emotional breakdown paralleling Eddie's impulsive decisions and the consequences that follow. They both try to scrape themselves off the pavement, but they’re not quite strong enough yet.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 Ryan Guzman: Eddie Diaz of ‘9-1-1’, Faith, Loss, & Filing Forward (Full Episode), Zach Sang Show on YouTube

📰 Yo-Yo Ma on how Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 gives us all the code to rebuild after disruption and tragedy, Classic fm

📰 What’s that tear-jerking string music in The Last of Us?, Classic fm

Episode Title inspired by “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius

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I'll find you in the morning sun and when the night is new I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be seeing you.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss the super uplifting contents of Season 3 Episode 7 of 9-1-1, “Athena Begins.” We dive into Athena's past as she confronts the resurfacing of a cold case linked to the tragic loss of her fiancé, Emmett.

Have you rewatched this episode since 8x15? No? Well, strap in folks, because that bittersweet ending is not so sweet anymore. We explore the not inconsequential number of parallels between her quest for closure with Emmett and the emotional aftermath of Bobby’s death in Season 8. As she navigates the deluge of memories and unresolved feelings, we see her grappling with the desire for justice and her career, her relationship with her mother and extended family, and the expectations everyone places on her.

Through flashbacks, we see young Athena, vibrant and full of hope as she embarks on her journey in law school, contrasting sharply with the heavy burden she carries as an adult (2 dead loves of her life and 1 gay ex-husband later). We examine the road Athena takes from law school to the police academy, inspired after her meet-cute with Emmett on her college campus. Their story would almost pass for a rom-com if we didn’t know about the tragic ending going into it. We dissect the scene where Beatrice tries to control Athena’s life and how this juxtaposes with the mother we saw depicted in the rest of the flashbacks prior to Emmett’s death. Ah, there’s the Beatrice we know and barely tolerate.

In the present we follow Athena’s search for closure, not just for herself but for Emmett's mother. When she finds Dennis Jenkins, she is forced to face her assumptions about the “monster” who killed her fiancé. At the end of the journey, we see Athena finally break down and let Bobby support her, physically and emotionally.

Here’s a fun idea, listen to this episode, then watch 8x01, 8x02, 8x03, and then 8x16. Let us know if you can breathe through the tears!

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 ‘9-1-1’s Angela Bassett Teases Athena’s Origin Story Episode, TV Insider

📰 9-1-1‘s Angela Bassett Talks Athena’s ‘Surprising’ Origin Story, Including How She Helped Cast Her Younger Self, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Star Angela Bassett on Athena’s ‘Messy’ Romantic Backstory, Future With Bobby, The Wrap

Episode Title inspired by “I’ll Be Seeing You” by Billie Holiday

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What the people need is a way to make 'em smile!

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel go on a musical interlude from our regularly scheduled programming to celebrate Han’s birthday with songs for Buddie Canon!

We each share a few songs we believe could elevate a scene to new emotional heights. Get ready to picture Eddie and Buck’s individual feelings realizations, their first kiss, and some bonus activities to the soundtrack of our dreams.

We dissect why the tracks resonate with us and how they perfectly mirror the emotional journeys of our boys. From deep, soulful ballads that tug at your heartstrings to upbeat anthems that get you pumped up, we analyze how each song choice can enhance a scene's impact.

We also touch on the idea of fan edits and how they can create a new narrative with just the right soundtrack.

By the end, we hope to leave you with a playlist that not only complements our discussions but also resonates with your own experiences with these characters. Do like The Doobie Brothers do and listen to the music, all the time!

🎶Check out our Songs for Buddie Canon Companion Playlist and listen along!

📔 References Mentioned

🎼 Listen to the Music • Songs for Buddie Canon • Our Episode Companion Playlist

🐤 Eddie’s “gold rush” eyes tweet, quoted by ircnshield, original by eddiecnvs on Twitter

🎶 Hozier - Do I Wanna Know (Arctic Monkeys COver in the BBC Live Lounge), on YouTube

🎞️ Cil’s Dean & Castiel || I Want to Love You edit to Neptune, by ircnshieldedits on YouTube

🎞️ “peace” Buddie Parallel edit, by thehumforever on Twitter

🎞️ “Talk” Buck and Eddie edit, by makaylasalena on TikTok

Episode Title inspired by “Listen to the Music” by The Doobie Brothers

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The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by

Buck and Eddie walked into the kitchen like, “I’ma fight a man tonight.”

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss the infamous kitchen fight from Season 8 Episode 17 of 9-1-1. Yes, you read that correctly, just that scene. Get comfortable, we’re talking about this less than 3 minute scene for almost 2 hours!

There’s nothing we love more than a good character deep dive, and this scene was too juicy to not savor properly in a full episode. Picture this: a kitchen, two bros buddies, and a whole lot of unresolved emotions flying around like confetti at a party nobody wanted to attend.

We thoroughly dissect this 'kitchen divorce' scene, where our dear friends Buck and Eddie are not just fighting over groceries — they’re wrestling with their feelings, insecurities, and the weight of their shared history. We’re peeling back the layers, one passive-aggressive statement at a time. Buck’s handling his grief in the most Eddie Diaz way — conceal don’t feel, while Eddie’s unsuccessfully doing his best Buck cosplay to conquer his worst enemy — talking about his emotions.

Buck and Eddie are about as close as two best friends can get, but when it comes to emotional honesty, it’s like they’re playing a game of dodgeball with their feelings. We break down how every grimace, eyebrow furrow, glance, and pause speaks volumes — more than the words themselves. As they circle each other like two heavyweight boxers, you can feel the tension crackling in the air.

We take a closer look at how the cinematography adds another layer, like the handheld camera work that immerses the audience in the scene, making us feel as though we are unwilling witnesses to this intimate exchange. The kitchen, a place usually filled with warmth and comfort, turns into a battleground of unspoken words and unresolved issues, with both characters warring with their own demons while trying to connect with each other.

The dialogue is rich with nuance that we explore, from Buck’s bratty remarks hiding a deeper pain to Eddie’s defensiveness masking his desperation for connection, all of which reflect their struggles as they navigate the complexities of their relationship. Buck, who is usually the emotional rock, finds himself stumbling over his words, feeling invalidated and misunderstood, while Eddie grapples with his own guilt and the fear of not being there for the people he loves in their darkest moments. It’s a poignant reminder of how grief can fracture connections and how communication, or the lack thereof, can create walls between even the closest of friends.

So grab your snacks, maybe doordash some dinner (not sponsored, but hey, could be!), and let’s get into this pressure cooker of emotions, misunderstandings, and a whole lot of "what were they thinking?" because honestly, it’s a knock-down, drag-out fight you won't want to miss!

Episode Title inspired by “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna

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Buck got the thing he wanted, it's just not what he imagined.

This week, Han, Cil, and Rachel enter the haunted house of Season 3 Episode 6 of 9-1-1, “Monsters,” where Buck is back working at the 118 feeling the icy reception, Maddie is on her vigilante shit again, and Bobby is back on his helicopter parent bullshit. Also, Chimney makes skeptical friends with a crow.

We explore how Maddie’s latest, but certainly not last, questionable antics walk the fine line between heroism and obsession. Is she a savior or a stalker? Spoiler alert: it’s a bit of both. Maddie's attempts to help others often reflect her own unresolved trauma, showcasing the dangers of overstepping boundaries in relationships.

Then we pivot to our detailed notes on Bobby's parenting style, which is like a classic overprotective dad trying to navigate the emotional waters of parenting without actually connecting with his kids. It's like he’s got a GPS that leads to the wrong address, and let’s just say, it’s not the destination we’d hoped for. We examine how Bobby's overprotective nature stems from his past, revealing how parental experiences shape current behaviors and relationships with loved ones.

Meanwhile, Eddie is asking Buck, “What about us? What about everything we’ve been through? What about trust?” in the epic conclusion to the first Buddie divorce. We dissect every super normal totally platonic bro moment of Buck and Eddie’s reconciliation, from “I don’t know what you want from me Buck” to “Of course I forgive you.” We applaud the cinematography in this scene and discuss how it enhances the emotional depth but also visually represents the characters' internal conflicts and connections.

Eddie and Maddie are pushing away the people who know them the best as they pull the sheets over their heads and make their own beds.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 Buddie Reconciliation Cinematography tweet, courtesy of minix3PLL on Twitter

Episode Title inspired by “making the bed” by Olivia Rodrigo

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Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:52) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:02:58) General Thoughts

(00:06:10) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:07:07) Needledrop

(00:09:41) Red String Corner

(00:16:48) Flashover - Themes

(00:20:34) Who’s Cookin’? - Character Arcs

(00:20:43) Maddie

(00:31:27) Chimney

(00:32:20) Bobby

(00:40:46)...

Oh, the misery. Everybody wants to be Buck’s enemy.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss Season 3 Episode 5 of 9-1-1, “Rage.” We run the emotional gamut from systemic high-stakes racial profiling to less dire grocery store domestic disputes.

The bad traffic stop with Michael, May, and Harry is one of the heavier, more nuanced things that the show has covered and we take a look at the heart of the storyline: how they have to operate differently in the world in order to stay safe, even from those who are supposed to serve and protect them.

We discuss the raw and heart wrenching conversations Michael has with both Bobby and Harry, delving into the meaning for our characters, but also how important the portrayal of this storyline is to show audience members who are not black Americans.

Meanwhile, Buck’s not just fighting for his job back, he's trying to regain control in a world that feels like it's slipping through his fingers. We dive into Buck’s psyche and explore how his feelings of isolation are exacerbated at the arbitration hearing when it becomes a family feud, not just for legal matters, but for the fragile dynamics of the 118.

Eddie's no good, very bad week(s) finally boils over into hands thrown in a parking lot, landing him in jail. We dig into the root cause of Eddie’s actions from his fear and worry for Christopher to his frustration and anger at the utter lack of control he’s experiencing lately.

As Buck seeks to apologize and reconnect, Eddie throws verbal darts and the ‘deadbeat dad’ card in the grocery store like it’s an Olympic event for emotional outbursts—like, can we not air our laundry in public?

Eddie’s sparing no sympathy while Buck’s looking out for himself.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰 9-1-1 Boss on Athena’s ‘Authentic’ Family Crisis, What’s Next for Buck, TV Line

📰 ‘9-1-1’ Showrunner on Michael’s Harrowing Run-In With the Police, Buck’s Future at Station 118, The Wrap

Episode Title inspired by “Enemy” by Imagine Dragons feat. JID

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

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Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:50:21) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:02:10) General Thoughts

(00:05:17) Jaws of Life - Deep Dive

(00:09:13) Red String

They aren’t angry at you, love, Bobby’s the greatest thing they’ve lost.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss Season 8 of 9-1-1 — from beenado to baby Bobby. In this season wrap-up, we take a stroll down memory lane, reflecting on the transformation of our fire fam throughout Season 8. Each character’s arc felt like a journey through a maze — sometimes getting lost (off screen), sometimes finding the exit (bye Tommy), and sometimes just hitting dead ends (RIP Bobby Nash).

We explore the thematic elements of sacrifice and growth, emphasizing the emotional stakes that made this season one to remember. We also touch on the ever-present narrative of family (both nuclear and found), love, and loss, as Bobby’s death casts a long shadow over the series, prompting big changes for the characters and the show as a whole. Our discussion highlights the importance of community and support, especially in the face of tragedy. We also touch on the lighter moments that made us feel like we were watching fanfiction on screen (in the best way), cheer like we were at the superbowl, and even cringe at some of the choices our faves (Buck) made.

Looking ahead to Season 9, we share our educated wishes for how the storylines might unfold, hoping for more depth in character arcs and a return to the heart of what makes this show so compelling. There’s lots of laughter (we cope with humor), bittersweet ruminations, and a whole lot of speculation about what next season has in store for us. Will our favorite duo finally confront their feelings? What new challenges await them? With so many unanswered questions lingering from Season 8, we can’t wait to see how the creators continue with these storylines into the next season.

As we unravel the threads of Season 8, we can't help but feel a mix of hope and cautious optimism for what lies ahead. In the wise words of Noah Kahan, “We’ll all be here forever.”

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰9-1-1’s Ryan Guzman Worried Eddie Might Be Killed Off — But Now He’s Hoping for a Season 9 Romance (Exclusive), Us Weekly

📰 Oliver Stark discusses the Season 8 finale of '9-1-1,' Buck's significant moments, and more in exclusive Interview, YardBarker

📔 Fanworks Mentioned:

📚 Shelter Us, Harbor Me, by kingcapri on Archive of Our Own

📚 Breathe Into Me, by songbvrd on Archive of Our Own

Episode title inspired by “You’re Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahan

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Even when Bobby’s body blows away, his soul will stay.

This week Han, Cil, and Rachel discuss Season 8, Episode 17 “Don’t Drink the Water” and Episode 18 “Seismic Shifts” of 9-1-1, where we get to see our favorite characters navigating the messy aftermath of loss while trying to honor Bobby's legacy.

No surprise here, Buck and Eddie’s dynamic takes center stage in our conversation as they struggle to show vulnerability when they truly need each other the most. We also tap into the root cause of Buck’s decision to transfer: feeling unnecessary, and how this reflects his inner turmoil and isolation. Meanwhile, Eddie is desperate for Buck to pull him out of his own head like he normally does, but finds Buck buried behind a brick wall of stoicism, leaving Eddie to drown in his own survivor’s guilt and regret, unwilling and unable to ask for help.

As the 118 navigates a building collapse, the camaraderie among the team showcases the strength found in vulnerability and we explore how grief can shake the foundations of each person and relationship, but it can also forge deeper connections. It’s all about those tight-knit friendships, the bittersweet moments, and how our heroes defy the odds and save everyone in an impossible situation, because they’re finally reunited doing what they were meant to do.

Hen finds herself caught between Athena and Chimney, her besties, who are grappling with their own struggles in the wake of an unthinkable loss. Athena stops avoiding Chimney and bolsters him to channel his grief into preserving his found family in an Emmy-deserving speech that Bobby would be proud of.

A hospital room sees the fire family finding its footing anew as they rally together to celebrate the joy of a new life while honoring their fallen patriarch, reminding the characters (and the audience) that while tragedy may shape our stories, it doesn’t define them. The 118 is their home, where they go when they’ve got nowhere else to go.

📔 Articles Mentioned

📰9-1-1’s Ryan Guzman Worried Eddie Might Be Killed Off — But Now He’s Hoping for a Season 9 Romance (Exclusive), Us Weekly

Episode Title inspired by “This is My Home” by Ingrid Michaelson

We are @buddiesystempod everywhere:

TikTok

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Watch The Buddie System podcast episodes and our live reactions to the most recent 9-1-1 episodes on YouTube!

Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi for perks and extra content like access to our exclusive Discord, Fire Fam Chats, New 9-1-1 Episode Livestreams, and more!

The Buddie System is a Nerdvergent Media production.

Music by DIV!NITY

Chapters

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:52) Welcome to Dispatch

(00:01:23) General Thoughts

(00:09:01) Abbreviated AF...