Eddie (Ryan Guzman) and Buck (Oliver Stark) of 9-1-1 have paid a special tribute to Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Tara (Amber Benson) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan). The nod to Buffy may have been done inadvertently by the writers of 9-1-1, but the highly topical show really has its finger on the pulse of current and past events. While the two series couldn’t be more different from each other in the content they cover, both have a following within the LGBTQ+ community.
Eddie and Buck aren’t in any kind of romantic relationship with each other at this time, but the two have been described as having a really close bond, and fans on social media are all for something more between the two characters. The show has also been praised for its sensitive representation of diverse populations. Buffy was also ahead on its LGBTQ+ representation, but one scene in particular left members of the community feeling a bit betrayed.
One fan of both shows has made an interesting connection between two of their most dramatic scenes (via Tumblr). When Tara is killed by a stray bullet in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 6, episode 20, “Villains,” it is done in front of her girlfriend, Willow, blood splatters on her shirt, and in a controversial twist, Tara dies in Willow’s arms. In 9-1-1, season 4, episode 13, “Suspicion,” Eddie is hit by a sniper in front of Buck, blood splatters on Buck’s shirt, but instead of Eddie dying, Buck is able to pull him to safety and get him the help he needs. The parallels between the two scenes are hard to ignore. This tribute to Tara and Willow, two gay characters that were ripped apart too soon, can be viewed as a step towards healing, as Eddie and Buck were given a chance to still be with each other.
The relationship between Tara and Willow was the first depiction of a lesbian couple in recurring roles on a primetime television show in the United States. The two witches loved each other, and despite the fact that the network put pressure on the writers to not show too much intimacy between the characters, they ultimately found a way to tell Tara and Willow’s story through subtext, as is so often the case for LGBTQ+ plotlines. Their relationship was not overhyped or sensationalized, but blossomed rather organically into a stable partnership, which is why when Tara was killed off by something as simple as a stray bullet meant for Buffy, it made the move all the more hard to bear, even if it had been done just to advance the plot.
Enter Eddie and Buck’s relationship. While not confirmed to be romantic at this time, the two connect on a deep and often emotional level with one another and it’s hard to ignore their chemistry. The two trust each other and work well together. When Eddie gets hit by a sniper, Buck is given a choice: watch Eddie die, or try to save him. He chooses the latter, and instead of his close friend dying in his arms, he gets him to the hospital. The parallels between the scene in 9-1-1 and the scene in Buffy the Vampire Slayer are pretty obvious. Whether or not this was done on purpose by the writers of 9-1-1, it is hard to say. That said, when analyzing scenes important to the LGBTQ+ canon, it is critical that subtext be a part of the conversation.