9-1-1 star Oliver Stark, who portrays Buck, has explained the season 8 premiere’s final scene between him and Gerrard (Brian Thompson), revealing the intentions behind the wild moment. Throughout the first episode of 9-1-1 season 8, Gerrard operates as a lackluster leader for the team, going so far as to berate Buck for trying to save lives in an unconventional way during the premiere’s killer bee attack. While he’s verbally abusing Buck during their final scene in the episode together, the firefighter tackles him, inadvertently saving him from a flying saw blade that came loose at a nearby construction site.
Speaking with Screen Rant, Stark explained how Buck’s impulsive decision to tackle Gerrard at the end of 9-1-1 season 8’s premiere wasn’t entirely about saving his life. He revealed how the purpose behind what he did will be explored more in later episodes, with the character not yet sure if he meant to save him. However, the actor believes Buck wasn’t trying to save his life, the Captain simply getting lucky that he was tackled at the right moment. Check out what Stark had to say below:
I don’t quite know how to answer that, because I don’t think Buck quite knows if he was trying to save his life—if he knew what he was doing, or if he was reacting impulsively to the abuse that he’s been getting in that scene. As we move forward, in fact, that is going to be a little bit of a story point for Buck of, “Did I mean to save his life or was I trying to hurt him?”
And yes, it’s had a happy outcome, but was that on purpose? So yeah, it’s hard to speak to what Buck’s thought process is because I don’t think he’s quite sure of it. I like the aspect of, Buck lost his temper. That’s my little secret theory—that he wasn’t trying to save his life, but he got lucky.
What Buck Tackling Gerrard Means For 9-1-1 Season 8
Gerrard was first introduced in the season 2 flashback episode “Hen Begins,” which showed him disparaging Hen (Aisha Hinds), making sexist remarks about her ability to be a firefighter. He was eventually dismissed by the Los Angeles Fire Department, showing up at various intervals throughout the show since then. 9-1-1 season 7 ended with him getting promoted, much to the anger of the team, who know of his antagonistic behavior. Season 8 put this on full display, especially clashing with Buck during the bee-nado.
While Buck seemingly didn’t mean to save Gerrard’s life, the Captain’s near-death experience could help the pair arrive at an understanding with one another. Since they’ll be expected to tackle plenty of new emergencies together, such as the plane crash teased for season 8, episode 2, they’ll need to come to some sort of understanding if they want to continue saving lives effectively. However, with the whole team shaken up by Bobby’s (Peter Krause) replacement, the intense disasters in 9-1-1 will need more concrete trust if the team is to tackle them effectively.
Our Take On Buck Saving Gerrard In 9-1-1 Season 8
Although it’s clear Buck dislikes Gerrard as Station 118’s new Captain, the harrowing moment at the end of 9-1-1’s season 8 premiere could build some shaky levels of trust. If the newcomer is going to stay the team’s leader going forward, then he’ll have to acclimate to the environment already established by everyone else. Without layers of trust built between them, their jobs will be more challenging, leading to more conflict. Perhaps this near-death experience will give the Captain pause about his treatment of the team.
