9-1-1’s Buck and Natalia don’t feel like a three-dimensional couple – they’re another example of the TV series not investing in Buck’s love life.
Evan “Buck” Buckley has been a fan-favorite character since the beginning of ABC’s newly acquired 9-1-1. That makes it no surprise that fans are heavily invested in his love life — which has been a disaster. Buck had his most well-written romance in Season 1 with Abby Clark, but actor Connie Britton left 9-1-1 after Season 1 and it’s all been downhill from there.
Since Abby left, Buck has had a series of short-lived and underdeveloped relationships. None of them have made any real impact on the show or come close to capturing the fans’ hearts in the way that Buck and Eddie Diaz have created “Buddie” fans. Buck’s current love interest, Natalia, is the same as all his other girlfriends: a guest-starring character who’s not given enough attention in the story and therefore doesn’t interest viewers.
Buck’s Romances Always Fall Short
Since Abby left 9-1-1, the show has failed to successfully develop an adequate romance for Buck. On most occasions, his love interest lasts a mere few episodes before fizzling out. Buck’s longest relationship has been with Taylor Kelly, a woman he met on a call. While Buck and Taylor’s relationship did have some emotional depth, 9-1-1 did not lay any groundwork to develop the relationship once they became a couple, so it ended like all the others. His current relationship with Natalia likewise shows signs of being short-lived.
Natalia is a Death Doula — someone who guides people through the process of dying — was initially interested in Buck because he had survived a close brush with death. Natalia has showed far more interest in Buck’s near-death experience than anything else. Viewers know that Buck getting struck by lightning was a terrifying ordeal for him and the rest of the 118. For many fans, it’s frustrating to see someone be predominately interested in Buck because she’s romanticizing a traumatic event, and Natalia hasn’t been given enough screen time to develop her beyond that unsettling disposition.
Buck Deserves a Well-Developed Relationship
The consistent problem with Buck’s love interests is that since Abby, they have not been series regulars. Buck and Abby worked because the audience grew to love Abby before she got together with Buck, and Season 1 placed a heavy focus on their relationship that enabled fans to become invested. But no one since has been given the time for either them or their romance with Buck to stand out. Natalia would work better as a character if she were developed outside of her profession as a Death Doula, but it’s unlikely that she’ll get that kind of screen time as a recurring character.
Therefore, if Buck is going to have a satisfying romantic arc, it needs to be with another series regular. 9-1-1 is not completely oblivious to this idea, as it has delivered well-written romances between Maddie and Chimney as well as Bobby and Athena. That just makes it more confusing that the show hasn’t been able to do the same for Buck.
Of course, the easiest solution to Buck’s relationship problem would be to finally give him the romance with Eddie Diaz fans have been pulling for since Eddie was introduced in Season 2. But if 9-1-1 does not want to go this route, a new regular character needs to be in Buck’s future. Buck is a beloved character for a reason and deserves whatever romance comes his way to be given proper attention, so that both he and the audience can be happy.
