I’ll be the first to admit that before entering the world of 9-1-1, I hadn’t really had an inside look at the TV show fandom for several years.
As a result, when fans get as deeply invested in a series as the people who love what’s affectionately called “the goofy firefighter show,” I miss a lot about what it looks like.
From ships to social media wars, from fan fiction to fan art, and everything in between, 9-1-1 is almost considered a religion by devoted fans, and they’ve managed to turn the drama around Became something entirely their own.
The proverbial elephant in the room is, of course, Buddy – the name of Buck and Eddie’s ship.
As fans pointed out when I first wrote about the pairing, the ship’s name wasn’t coined by the audience, but by the actors themselves between Ryan Guzman and Oliver Stark Created in public online communication.
Firefighters Buck and Eddie have been best friends and partners for years (not just in work, but in life, as evidenced by the way they support each other in every aspect of their personal and professional lives).
Watching the show carefully, it’s easy to see why people would interpret their relationship as romantic.
“9-1-1” is filled with meaningful platonic friendships, which makes the stark differences between Buck and Eddie’s writing styles even more apparent.
But arguably the most fascinating aspect of “Buddy” is the way the show’s most ardent fans interact with a couple who are not yet together.
A quick search for works focusing on Buck and Eddie’s relationship on the Internet’s largest fan fiction site reveals more than 34,000 stories centered around Buddy’s romance.
There are over 49,000 stories (novels, as they’re called in the fandom) about the entire show, so it’s not just about Buddy.
People really loved the show and were driven to expand it as much as possible.
On Twitter/X, a sub-community called “911twt” is active around the clock, even when the show is on pause. Thousands of people regularly post about 9-1-1.
Whether they share fiction or elaborate fan art of their favorite characters, the community is generally supportive and friendly as they connect through the show.
But with passion for anything comes strong opinions, and like any fan base, there are lines in the sand.
Fans have sometimes debated whether Buck’s ex-boyfriend Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), whose racist and misogynistic behavior towards Hen and Chimney in previous seasons should be restarted.
The conversation often takes a serious look at issues with real-world implications, such as the consequences of recharacterizing Gerrard as a goofy source of comic relief without addressing his bigotry.
Writing choices like this don’t go unnoticed, and 9-1-1 fans aren’t afraid to be vocal about their criticisms, even when it comes to their favorite show.
A recurring topic is how beloved Athena (Angela Bassett) is, yet people have a hard time connecting to the cop storyline.
In fact, nearly every major storyline involving Hen and Karen has them suffering in unimaginable ways, no matter how much fans want to see the Wilsons happy.
But conversation doesn’t always have to be heavy – there’s also a lot of fun in talking about less serious topics.
At that point, the tone of disagreement will soften. Today, there’s a big debate over whether Buck is blonde or brunette, thanks to Twitter/X user @bisasterbuckley, which turned into an edited photo circulating across timelines depicting Buck’s bald head.
When 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 1 aired, there was a lot of buzz about Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) and his new beard.
The flavor protector may not last long, but the self-proclaimed “Eddie Beard Truther” has taken to editing mustaches on stills from recent scenes – “The Beard Lives On.”
There’s also a lot of unsafe stuff happening within the fandom, from explicit fan fiction and art to speculation about character quirks and bedroom roles.
Some have even veered into controversial territory, engaging in “Real Person Fiction” (RPF) – the concept of fans transporting real actors themselves. In this case, it’s Ryan and Oliver who are in trouble, not Eddie and Buck.
But beyond the controversies, debates, “ships” and what-ifs, fans focus on the core of 9-1-1, which is its representation of the family trope.
One of my favorite media tropes is finding family on television, which makes fans wish there was a way to incorporate people who love you even if you weren’t born with it.
All of the main characters explore the meaning of family in different ways that are easily understood by fans, who each bring their own experiences to the interpretation of the show.
Buck never felt needed or loved by his parents. Eddie always had to do what was expected of him to win the love of his family; Bobby’s past haunted him and made him feel unworthy of love.
Then there’s Hen, whose family often downplays her trauma; and Chimney, whose mother died and was left with a father who cared little for him.
Without these diverse experiences, the family of 118 wouldn’t be as strong, and its depth resonates so deeply with fans.
As the years and seasons have passed, 9-1-1 fans online have become so integral to the show that their presence is felt on screen in some way.
These men managed to predict major plot points with astonishing accuracy based on complex theories they had built up together over the years.
For example, when ABC released a still from “9-1-1” Season 8, Episode 6, showing Buck wearing a green shirt, fans immediately speculated that Buck and Tommy would break up during the episode.
Why? Because in all of Buck’s major breakup scenes, he wears a green shirt — a trend Tumblr users @lover-of-mine and @stagefoureddiediaz noticed a few seasons ago.
They were right; the relationship was over by the time the end credits rolled, and that wasn’t even the only major plot point they predicted.
Other theories have crept into the writers’ room as well – whether they actually factored into any stories remains to be seen, but showrunner Tim Minear confirmed he’s aware of the popular “couch theory.”
(In a nutshell, the couch theory is that the couch is a metaphor for the overall relationship between Buck and Eddie.)
Fan fiction, film clips, and art found their way into the hands of the show’s stars, a fact that was partially revealed when Oliver Stark admitted that he and Ryan Guzman had read Buddy fan fiction.
In an interview with Decider, Stark joked that seeing some fan-made clips of Buddy made him “cry in the shower,” before firmly stating that he would support Buddy’s ending if it were written.
Still, the writers and stars knew how fans felt about the slow-burn romance between Buck and Eddie, and they were careful not to make promises they couldn’t keep.
The show’s cast and crew have built relationships with its most loyal fans on many fronts and want to deliver the best stories possible while protecting fans from feeling like they’re being led on or baited.
I’ve been lucky enough to interact within the 9-1-1 fanbase both as a fan and as an occasional reporter who talks about the show, and I’m fascinated by how this community interacts.
Like many online circles, 9-1-1 fans tend to act like they are their own family.
There may be some anxiety in the community, as is to be expected in a space filled with people who love something so passionately, but joy can be found wherever you are.
In a fandom where juice means joy, Tuesdays are for pre-dinner ice cream, and costume choices throw viewers into trouble, there’s never a dull moment—and it’s meant to be perfect.
(Author’s note: This article has been updated to reflect recognition of the Tumblr and Twitter/X users who suggested the above idea.)
Watch 911 online
“9-1-1” airs Thursday, March 6 at 8/7c on ABC.
