‘I Hope There’s No Conflict’: Tommy’s Future on 9-1-1 Could Be Influenced by Another Show, Reveals 9-1-1 guest star
Lou Ferrigno Jr. revealed that his return as Tommy Kinard could be influenced by another show. In the sixth episode of 9-1-1 season 8, Tommy and Buck (Oliver Stark) broke up. Ferrigno’s character decided to end the relationship gently, essentially believing that Buck was moving too fast and putting too much hope into a relationship that wasn’t built to last. The episode “Confessions” ended with Buck sharing a beer with his best friend Eddie (Ryan Guzman) on the couch.
In an interview with Fangirlish, Ferrigno explained whether the couch scene meant Eddie and Buck would eventually get together. While the actor didn’t answer that question directly, he did talk about how his return to 9-1-1 depends on his involvement in the CBS action drama S.W.A.T., since he’s been a series regular since the beginning as Donovan Rocker. In the quote below, Ferrigno added that he’d love to return to 9-1-1: Unfortunately, I’m not going to tell you [if Tommy’s breakup leads to Buck and Eddie dating]. If I knew. Then I’d have to kill you. You’d have to disappear, for sure. I’d be doing S.W.A.T., so I’d be back in S.W.A.T., which is a great reprieve. Two of the biggest shows that were shot in Los Angeles, I just went from one end to the other, and now I get to play Rocker. It’s very different. The six-year-old who just wanted to run into walls and shoot things, is now a grown man. I really want to come back, but I need to continue my journey here. I have some things going on right now that may or may not happen, and I hope that there won’t be any conflicts if that happens. I’ve never had the artistic, professional experience that I had with 9-1-1. I love the show. I love the higher-ups. I love the crew. It’s fun.
9-1-1 stays true to Buck’s character. Near the beginning of the episode “Confessions,” written by Andrew Meyers and directed by Chad Lowe, he’s not sure if he wants to continue his six-month relationship with Tommy. By the end of the episode, he’s asked Tommy to move in with him. Tommy figures out that the relationship isn’t going to last and decides to end it. But that’s not the last the audience sees of Tommy.
While his relationship with Buck ended badly, he still has other relationships in 118. He’s friendly with Chimney (Kenneth Choi) and is friends with Eddie. The latter could be especially important if, as speculated, a close relationship develops between Buck and Eddie.
For an episode that focuses so much on Tommy and Buck, it ends with Eddie and Buck. Buck is heartbroken after being politely rejected by Tommy. He shows up to find comfort on Eddie’s couch, which is a recurring theme in the first responder drama. The entire scene plays out like a romantic comedy, with Eddie opening the door in his underwear and Buck knowing Eddie well enough to not be surprised. If 9-1-1 season 9 does indeed happen, then Tommy is the one who would be right to react to a potential relationship between Buck and Eddie.
