The first trailer for the pilot episode of season 8 of 9-1-1 already set the tone in a few seconds. It promises drama, action, suspense with extraordinary emergencies that will force the protagonists to surpass themselves to help as many people as possible. Far from tsunamis, earthquakes and other natural disasters, this time they will face a new type of emergency : an invasion of bees in the city.
A long-awaited season
At the beginning of the year, 9-1-1 returned to the American network ABC and captivated viewers with episodes full of twists and turns. In the first episode, the series takes us on a cruise with Athena (played by Angela Bassett) and Bobby (played by Peter Kraus) on their honeymoon. The couple's stay does not go as planned as their boat sinks in the middle of the sea. Although this adventure was not easy for the couple, it was only the beginning of their misadventures. Indeed, while they were recovering from their journey, a fire broke out in the Grant-Nash house. Bobby saves his wife, but unfortunately, he doesn't come out of the tragedy unscathed. He survived, but at the cost of his position as captain. It will be Gerrard (Brian Thompson), the former captain of Fire Station 118, who will take his place.
Gerrard's arrival at the fire station is surprising and disapproved of by the public. The former captain is an anachronistic character. He was already seen in seasons 2 and 4 in which his words and behavior towards Chimney and Hen were more than questionable. He has a vision of authority that is far from the one Bobby possesses, and it's inevitable that his arrival will turn the firefighters of Station 118 upside down.
This is not the only change there will be in the next season. The majority of the protagonists have experienced turmoils during season 7, and it will be possible to see the consequences very soon.
In season 7, there was a significant evolution in the story of each character. Christopher (played by Gavin McHugh) has decided to move away with his grandparents (which must be devastating for Eddy). Buck realized that he was also attracted to men. The latter begins a relationship with Tommy Kinard in this season. Hen and Karen must fight for the custody of Amara, a child for whom they were the foster family.
A season that stings
There is no need to say, for this eighth season, there will be a lot of elements to deal with, especially in terms of the relationships between the characters. Fans of the series are already speculating about the upcoming events. Some are convinced that Christopher will return to the series, because the actor is still very invested on social networks. The departure of his character may bring an evolution to Eddy's, who has always prevented Chris from going to his grandparents' house.
There are other theories about Eddy, Tommy, and Buck. On the web, opinions are divided. While some viewers think Tommy and Buck's relationship is going well, others think Tommy isn't the right one for Buck. They believe that the latter behaves inappropriately with the firefighter (questionable jokes, nonchalant air in the face of Buck's enthusiasm...). For another part of the fanbase, Eddy will realize that he is not heterosexual and that he's in love with Buck. For them, it's obvious that the two protagonists will get closer following Christopher's sudden departure. The actors don't let anything appear on the networks, except that Oliver Stark who plays Buck and Ryan Guzman who plays Eddie, interact happily on videos. According to the fans, Buck's sexuality will be further explored, which would explain Oliver's playful mood in each one of his appearances.
In addition, in the Zach Sang Show interview, the actor was very vocal about the importance of having an openly bisexual character like Buck on screen. The British actor says he has already been contacted by firefighters who have not yet come out, but for whom seeing a bisexual firefighter is incredible. Oliver points out that Buck's womanizing past does not make his bisexuality incoherent and invalid. "We can't minimize the fact that he has been attracted to women, and he will continue to be attracted to women. That's the whole point here. He is bisexual."
Him speaking on the issue was mainly a reminder to people in the community that there is nothing shameful about being who they are. However, he emphasizes that Buck is more than his sexuality. He remains a character with multiple characteristics, and flaws " I don't think about him as a Queer character. His bisexuality is not his one defining trait. I think of him as a character who's queer." Viewers are excited to see how Buck evolves and how those around him react to it - mainly his parents.
Bobby's childhood was also explored in season 7, and there's no denying it, his childhood wasn't the happiest. These memories had a significant impact on the character, and it is possible that the writers will look more into his story in order to bring a more elements about the character. On top of that, he will have to fight to regain his place as captain of Fire Station 118, hoping that his colleagues will not have cursed Gerrard too much before that.
In the meantime, the focus will be on the invasion of bees in the city, which will be a particularly tough emergency if we are to believe the number of fire stations that seem to be mobilized. The protagonists will probably face their fears and limits during this emergency. "The average human can't survive 500 bee stings " they announce in the trailer. It is certain that many losses will be expected, but it is to be hoped that none of the heroes of the series are among these people. The answer will only be available from September 26 at 8 p.m. on ABC and streaming on Hulu the next day.
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