Warning: SPOILERS for the season 6 finale of 9-1-1.After six years of success, Fox has made the decision not to renew picked up by ABC.
The season 6 finale did serve as an end of sorts, with multiple ongoing plotlines coming to a close. Maddie and Chimney started planning their wedding, Hen and Karen received a call from the adoption agency, and Buck gave the ultimate gift to Kameron and Connor when he delivered their baby. But despite this sense of closure, there are still endless stories for the series to tell about Buck, Bobby, and the rest of the 118.
Oliver Stark chats with Screen Rant about Buck's journey in 9-1-1 season 6 and shares his thoughts on the show's move from Fox to ABC.
Oliver Stark Talks 9-1-1 Season 6
Screen Rant: The entire team was down in the finale and Buck really stepped up. Do you think the way he handled the situation is a reflection of his growth over the seasons?
Oliver Stark: Yeah, I think it's a bit of a full-circle moment, even when we just look back at the first episode of the season. He was wanting to, obviously, step into that role of interim captain, and was told he's not ready. He's gone through a lot throughout the duration of the season, and we've seen him put those experiences to good use and show that he's maybe ready to step up.
Do you think being captain could be in Buck's future?
Oliver Stark: I think at some point, but I don't think there's any rush. He's not going to be trying to push Bobby down any elevator shafts or anything like that. He knows his place now. Part of that experience he's gained—we even see it during this rescue when Athena is calling for the captain. He kind of knows that Hen is not completely with it in that moment, but instead of trying to take the lead, he takes a step back and says, "Hen, that's you," and shouts out to her. So, yeah, at some point, but he's not in any rush to make that happen.
On another note, Buck wasn't just the sperm donor for Kameron and Connor—he ended up delivering the baby. There was a moment of connection when Buck first held him, so do you think that threw him at all?
Oliver Stark: I think he had convinced himself that he was okay completely with just being the donor and that he was going to have no emotional connection to this baby. But I think, then, as you say, also being the one to deliver it, kind of brought all those feelings and those emotions up for him. He had the choice to make, and I think he handled it pretty well. I think saying, "He's all yours," as he hands the baby off to Kameron is very meaningful.
Do you feel that plotline has come to a close? Or do you see him struggling with that at all next season?
Oliver Stark: I don't think so. I mean, who knows? Obviously, I don't write the show, but I don't foresee that playing as we move forward. I think he's happy for Connor and Kameron and what he was able to do for them. As he sends Connor off to go and see him in the hospital, he says, "Just go love that kid and that's enough." I think that door is closed.
There's also Natalia, who had trouble accepting everything that was going on in Buck's life. She did come around in the finale, so what are your thoughts about the future of that relationship? Do you think there's potential there?
Oliver Stark: Yeah, I definitely do, and I'm excited to see that play out. I've spoken in the past on how Buck needed to be in a relationship with somebody that was willing to meet him wherever he was at. I think we saw that when she didn't quite understand the sperm donor situation, and she left, that he wasn't going to compromise. He said, "Look, I know this is an easy thing to judge," but he wasn't going to bend and try and lessen himself for the sake of it. So the fact that she came around, and she saw it for what it was eventually, I think is very telling. An important part of a relationship is compromise and growing together, so I'm excited to see where that goes.
Buck's near-death experience has been a huge part of his storyline in the latter half of season 6. How do you think the lightning strike changed him, and how did that affect your acting choices?
Oliver Stark: Back in episode 15, he had a very important conversation with Eddie. They were both having different conversations with each other reflecting where they are in their own progression. Buck said, "From here on out, every moment is a gift," and I think that is going to continue to ring true as he moves forward, and he's going to take everything at face value and not try and always dig deeper and find more meaning than is there. He just wants to make the choices that make him happy moment-to-moment. As he has very much learned, at any moment, things can be taken away—life being one of those things.
Chimney is about to officially become Buck's brother-in-law. Do you foresee that changing their dynamic at all?
Oliver Stark: I think they're already brothers in many senses. They're almost brothers-in-law, but they're also in the 118—they're family. I don't think it will present much of a change, other than maybe a few more hugs and maybe slightly closer. I think Chimney will find himself poking even more fun at Buck.
After everything Buck's been through this season, do you think he's closer to finding a sense of peace and fulfillment?
Oliver Stark: Yeah, I think so. As he is, technically, now moving into his 30s, I think he'll find himself to be more settled and more clearly focused on the things that he wants and needs. I think happiness is an ever-moving target, but he's moving in the right direction.
There was a heavy emphasis on Buck and Bobby's relationship this season, especially after the lightning strike. Is there anything that stands out to you about how that dynamic has evolved since the pilot?
Oliver Stark: Playing those scenes out with Pete is one of my favorite things about the show. Buck and Bobby's relationship is very much a mirror of my relationship with Pete. He's a friend/mentor in many senses. I feel like, across seasons, maybe 2, 3, 4, and 5, we didn't have as many scenes as we did in the first season. So we were both really excited, this season, especially in the coma dream episode, to get some more one on one time together and really get to explore that relationship. I think I speak for both of us when I say it's a really important relationship in the show for us.
The different relationships within the 118 are one of the highlights of the show. Is there anyone you'd like Buck to have more scenes with next season?
Oliver Stark: I always enjoy Buck and Hen scenes. Those are always a real highlight for me. Obviously, Aisha being, not only a fantastic actress, but just an incredible person to be around, but I also think there's lots of learning that Buck could do from Hen, and who she is as a person and as a firefighter. I think his growth can only be expedited by spending more time around her.
I loved this fan question. Do you think the 118 has a group chat? What would they talk about?
Oliver Stark: I think they probably have one main group chat, and then some side group chats with just two or three of them, and main information gets put in the big group chat, and then gossipy information gets split up into the more minor ones. I think it's probably pretty basic stuff. Work schedules. Can you cover me? Or cute pictures of Chris at school or things like that. Just family updates for the most part.
Thankfully, you'll be back for season 7, but you're moving from Fox to ABC. You'll be on the same station as procedurals like The Rookie and Station 19, so what are your thoughts about this change?
Oliver Stark: I think it's exciting. Fox has been really good to us over the years, and it will be exciting now to possibly be exposed to something of a new audience. ABC has a really great track record with procedural shows, so I think it's, while sad to part ways with FOX, it's also possibly something that's going to reinvigorate the show. Maybe we'll have some crossovers with The Rookie or Station 19 or something. I don't know if that's possible, but it's an exciting time. Is The Rookie in L.A.?
Yes! It is set in L.A.
Oliver Stark: Alright! Well there you go! Easy.
I could easily see a crossover opportunity. They have a fire department that they always bring in.
Oliver Stark: Well, get rid of those guys!
Let's bring in the 118. That's all we need.
Oliver Stark: There we go.
The sad thing is that you probably won't be able to do any more crossovers with Lone Star. Is there a storyline you wish you could've explored with those characters?
Oliver Stark: I've always liked the idea of some kind of big firefighter convention, which I know they do do, where we all meet up at some convention thing or some kind of sporting event, which I know they have done on their show. Or maybe different fire departments competing in whatever it is—baseball, basketball, soccer. I think that would have been a fun story to touch upon.
Are there any other storylines you'd like to see for Buck in season 7?
Oliver Stark: He has to continue understanding his role within the 118 and his role in the people's lives around him, whether that be as a friend, a partner, a lover, or an almost co-parent in the sense of Christopher. I think he's just got to continue to understand his work and keep on learning and keep on growing.
About The 9-1-1 Season 6 Finale
A series of freeway car accidents leads to a catastrophic over collapse that endangers the lives of civilians and of the 118 in the all-new “Pay It Forward” sixth season finale episode of 9-1-1 airing Monday, May 15 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Check out our other interviews with Oliver Stark, as well:
All episodes of 9-1-1 are currently available to stream on Hulu.