After nearly nine seasons of playing firefighter Evan “Buck” Buckley on 9-1-1, Oliver Stark says his character is still surprising him, and viewers, in meaningful ways.
In the Season 9 episode “Secrets,” Buck embarks on an unexpected bisexual storyline that finds him romantically involved with both a husband and a wife he meets during a night out. The twist adds a new layer to Buck’s journey, which began two seasons ago when the character came out as bisexual, and further cements 9-1-1 as one of network television’s more LGBTQ-inclusive dramas.
The married couple at the center of Buck’s latest entanglement is played by Dean Geyer and Jillian Murray, who, as it turns out, are married in real life as well. Stark acknowledged that filming intimate scenes with an actual couple added a unique dynamic on set.
“It made it a little awkward, I can’t lie,” Stark told Deadline. “And it didn’t feel awkward until we were shooting the intimate scenes, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s your real-life husband right there,’ or, ‘Oh, that’s your real life wife right there.’”
Despite the initial discomfort, Stark said the experience quickly became collaborative, and even supportive. “They were so great and coaching each other, like, ‘Do this a little bit more, arch a little bit more,’” he said. “And I was like, ‘Wow, I wish I had that, somebody to like coach me through this.’”
Onscreen, Buck’s connection with the couple is less about shock value and more about self-discovery. Stark explained that the storyline reflects Buck’s growing awareness that his impulsive, party-heavy lifestyle is no longer fulfilling.
“He just wants his person,” Stark said. “He sees that around him, right? He has Hen and Karen, his sister Maddie and Chimney. They have such great relationships. They have their person. They know they’re safe with them.”
While the episode depicts Buck enjoying the thrill of a nontraditional relationship, Stark said it ultimately points to something deeper. “While this wild life may seem appealing, I think at the end of the day, what you want is to go home and have your safety there,” he said. “The person that sees you and understands you.”
For LGBTQ+ viewers, the storyline stands out not only because Buck is involved with both a man and a woman, but because the show treats his bisexuality as matter-of-fact rather than sensationalized. Buck’s attraction to both partners is portrayed as natural, reinforcing the idea that bisexuality does not require choosing one gender over another.
The development also arrives as fans continue to passionately ship Buck with his longtime best friend and fellow firefighter Eddie Diaz, played by Ryan Guzman. Stark said he understands why viewers are invested in the possibility of “Buddie.”
“Tim Minear, who writes the show, said in an interview a few days ago he’s actively a fan of the ship of Buddie,” Stark said. “He understands it and roots for it, and doesn’t not like the idea of it.”
Stark added that he sees what fans see when they rewatch scenes through a romantic lens. “You see fan edits and there’s nice romantic music playing over the top of it, and you go, ‘Oh yeah, those do feel like charged moments,’” he said.
For now, Buck’s relationship with a husband and a wife represents another step in his evolution, one that affirms bisexual visibility while underscoring a universal desire for connection, safety and love.
