Hey 9-1-1 fans! Season 8 is bringing the heat literally and figuratively. Between bee-nados Maddie's kidnapping and Athena facing down danger on a cruise ship things are as intense as ever in Los Angeles. But it's not just the emergencies that have us hooked it's the characters and their oh-so-dramatic lives. Let's take a peek behind the scenes and into the latest episode!
Love Off-Screen Too? Meet the Real-Life Partners of Your Favorite 9-1-1 Cast Members
While the characters on 9-1-1 are dealing with burning buildings and killer bees the actors playing them have their own lives and loves off-screen. Turns out some of them have pretty amazing real-life relationships . Here is a quick look at some of the 9-1-1 stars and their partners :
- Angela Bassett (Athena Grant) & Courtney B. Vance: Talk about a power couple! Angela and Courtney have been married since 1997 after meeting way back at Yale School of Drama. They even wrote a book together and have their own production company. Couple goals!
- Jennifer Love Hewitt (Maddie Kendall) & Brian Hallisay: Remember Maddie's ex-husband Doug on 9-1-1? That was Brian Hallisay Jennifer Love Hewitt's actual husband! They met on a show that never even aired and got married in 2013. They also love working together and have three kids!
- Aisha Hinds (Hen Wilson) & Nigel Walker: Hen found her love later in life and so did Aisha! She and Nigel Walker first met as teenagers but reconnected in 2019 and tied the knot in 2022. They keep their relationship pretty private but Nigel wrote the sweetest anniversary message to Aisha on Instagram.
- Peter Krause (Bobby Nash): Unlike Bobby who is happily married Peter Krause is currently single. He was in a long-term relationship with Lauren Graham (from Parenthood!) for over a decade but they broke up in 2021.
- Kenneth Choi (Chimney Han) Ryan Guzman (Eddie Diaz) & Oliver Stark (Evan 'Buck' Buckley): These awesome actors are currently single in real life. Kenneth Choi is all for Chimney and Maddie's on-screen romance while Ryan Guzman was recently divorced and Oliver Stark keeps his personal life private.
Is There Something More Than Friendship Between Buck and Eddie? The Show Asks the Question!
Okay Buddie shippers get ready! Season 8 episode "Holy Mother of God" finally addressed what some fans have been wondering for a while: could Buck and Eddie be more than just best friends? For the first time the show actually put the question right out there.
In the episode Buck is living in Eddie's old house and his new boyfriend Tommy straight up asks him if he is secretly in love with Eddie! Tommy even jokes that Eddie moving away clears the "competition". Buck is surprised and insists Eddie is straight. But Tommy dismisses that idea saying it is not really the point.
Later Buck talks to Maddie about it all. He denies being in love with Eddie saying he is not "hopelessly pining for my straight best friend." But he does admit that having Eddie gone leaves a big hole in his life both at work and personally. Is Buck telling himself the truth? Is he telling Maddie the truth? The show leaves it open for interpretation. Oliver Stark who plays Buck even said he was "a little shocked by how head-on Tim [Minear the executive producer] wanted to confront it."
"Holy Mother of God" Episode Recap: Faith Healing Family Drama and Flower Bed Surprises!
Beyond the Buck and Eddie drama "Holy Mother of God" was a wild episode in classic 9-1-1 style. It starts with a revival meeting led by Sister Ann a faith healer played by Lesley Ann Warren. Things go sideways when people start collapsing and getting sick at the meeting. Turns out it's carbon monoxide poisoning.
The 118 jumps into action to help. In a funny moment Buck has to talk a woman down from a giant cross she climbed while delirious but she thinks Buck is Satan! And guess who shows up at the scene? Bobby's long-lost mother Sister Ann!
Bobby is not thrilled to see his mom again. They have a complicated past. Turns out Sister Ann left Bobby's abusive dad when Bobby was a kid and Bobby stayed with his dad while his brother went with his mom. Bobby thinks his mom is a fraud but his brother Charlie wants them to reconnect. A tense lunch happens where old wounds are opened and Bobby ends up telling his mom he thinks she is a "fraud as a mother". Ouch.
Meanwhile back at the 118 they respond to a call about a man having a cardiac event in his flower beds. Sounds normal right? Wrong! When Hen is checking him out a woman pops out of the flower bed - it's his wife! Turns out she has been poisoned with cyanide in her sweet potato soup by her husband! Whoa plot twist!
At the end of the episode Bobby witnesses his mom collapse and learns she has terminal cancer. In a moving hospital scene Bobby and his mom have a real heart-to-heart and Bobby finally understands why she left his dad all those years ago. It's emotional stuff.
Aisha Hinds Directs "Holy Mother of God": Cast Member Steps Behind the Camera!
Big props to Aisha Hinds who plays Hen Wilson because she directed "Holy Mother of God" and she knocked it out of the park! This was her directorial debut and both Oliver Stark and Tim Minear praised her work. Oliver Stark even showed up on set on his days off just to support her. Aisha mentioned she was excited to direct this episode in particular because it tackled some interesting character stuff especially the Buck and Eddie situation and Bobby's family history.
What's Next for 9-1-1? Cruise Ship Chaos and Doctor Odyssey Crossover Incoming!
Just when you thought things could not get any crazier 9-1-1 is teasing a crossover with the new show Doctor Odyssey! At the end of "Holy Mother of God" Athena finds herself facing yet another cruise ship hinting at a major crossover event. It looks like Athena is heading undercover on a cruise ship in the 9-1-1/Doctor Odyssey crossover airing on March 20th right after the next new episode of 9-1-1. Poor Athena can't catch a break when it comes to boats!
9-1-1: Always Delivering the Drama On-Screen and Off
So there you have it. 9-1-1 continues to keep us on the edge of our seats with crazy emergencies character drama and maybe even a hint of romance between Buck and Eddie. Plus we got to see Aisha Hinds shine as a director and we have a crossover event to look forward to. What do you think about the latest episode? Are you shipping Buddie? Let us know in the comments!