atomicrebelfire

[atomicrebelfire]

Love this show sooooo much. Such a vibe.

sister Michael is my fav character ever !!!

DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) Season 2 | Episode 1

[atomicrebelfire]

tommy saving the 118 over the years

[atomicrebelfire]

📌 Caption:

I’ve seen posts dismissing Buck and Tommy’s relationship as shallow or forgettable — and I get it, it was short, Tommy’s a guest star, the arc ended quietly. But I think reducing it like that misses something much more interesting the show was actually trying to do — about Buck, about emotional intimacy, and about what it means to be seen in a relationship. This isn’t about shipping, or trying to make a case for “endgame.” It’s about giving narrative weight its due. And about why Tommy Kinard, even in limited screen time, brought something out of Buck we’ve rarely — if ever — seen before.

🧵 Re: That Buck/Tommy Take — I Disagree (Here’s Why It Deserves More Respect)

I got an anon earlier, and out of respect for their request, I won’t post it directly — but the gist was this:

“Buck and Tommy’s relationship wasn’t that deep. Tommy wasn’t a good partner. Why are people so obsessed with it? Can we stop fixating like it mattered?”

And respectfully?

Absolutely not. That reading misses a lot of what the show actually did — and what it meant. Let’s talk about it.

1. “It wasn’t that deep.”

Then why did it break Buck?

If it was just a fling, why did he:

Go into full spiral trying to get Tommy’s attention in 7x04?

Ask for a second chance and a coffee date — then invite him to Maddie’s wedding as a date (7x05)? That’s not something you do for just anyone.

Practically burst out of the closet to his family when Tommy showed up (7x06)?

Obsessively bake, spiral, and hesitate on texting Tommy again in 8x07? (Compare that to how he treated Taylor, Ali, or even Natasha post-breakup. Nothing. This was different.)

The entirety of 8x11 episode?

Start peacocking in a helicopter in 8x15?

That’s not surface-level. That’s a man who caught real feelings and didn’t know how to handle them.

And Tommy? He wasn’t untouched either. The shock on his face during the breakup, the sadness in the bar conversation, the heartbreak the morning after — and even in that blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in 8x15, watching Buck’s hallway breakdown from across the room — all of it points to something deeper. He felt this.

Maybe he didn’t expect it to be serious. But it became serious — quietly, fully, and in ways that clearly left a mark.

2. “Tommy wasn’t a good partner.”

This one honestly stings. Because Tommy might be the best partner Buck’s had on-screen.

He respected Buck’s boundaries. Checked in often.

He prioritized Buck. He prioritized Buck’s comfort — comforting him post Buck’s basketball spiral, showed up to the wedding like it meant something, and turned into a doting boyfriend during the Billy boils drama.

He offered open, enthusiastic affection — called Buck hot, smart, impulsive, adorable… repeatedly. To his face.

And Buck? Buck called him “cool.” Once. At the very beginning.

Tommy gave emotional warmth constantly. Buck basked in it — but we never saw him offer the same back. That’s not on Tommy.

3. “They barely developed it.”

Yes, Tommy was a guest star. The screen time was limited. But don’t pretend there was no development — because there was, and more quickly than some longer arcs. (Cough Taylor.)

We got:

Initial attraction

Mutual admiration

Emotional hesitation

A breakup with actual dialogue

A post-breakup hookup, driven by unresolved feeling

Lingering fallout that continued afterward

That’s more emotional continuity than Buck’s had with multiple long-term love interests. If the writers didn’t mean for it to matter, they sure wasted a lot of carefully written scenes making it feel like it did.

And yes — we keep using the same five scenes to prove our point. Because that’s what we got. But what we got? Was charged. Focused. Intentional. Emotionally dense.

And let’s be real: screen time is scarce on a show like 9-1-1. It’s not a character drama — half the runtime is dedicated to emergency calls, visual effects, and procedural pacing. Everyone’s fighting for space. Ryan Guzman literally said scenes get cut all the time. Oliver and others have talked about emotional beats that never made it in.

So the fact that Buck and Tommy still got this much? That alone should tell you the writers wanted it to land. And it did.

4. Tommy brought out something new in Buck

What sticks isn’t just the dynamic — it’s who Buck got to be inside it.

He was softer. More grounded. He wasn’t chasing a high or trying to play a role. He was allowed to be unapologetically Buck — extra, campy, chaotic — and Tommy met him there.

No need to impress. Just… show up. And be seen.

Hell, even his whole look shifted — relaxed in a way that felt intentional. Not just a “new season” change, but a visible softening. His hair. His clothes. His vibe. It was noticeable.

That’s rare for Buck. And worth paying attention to.

Just because a relationship was short doesn’t mean it was shallow. Just because it ended doesn’t mean it wasn’t real. Just because you didn’t care for it doesn’t mean the story didn’t.

You don’t have to ship it. But pretending it was meaningless? That’s a disservice to what we actually got — and to a character who, for once, saw Buck clearly… and liked what he saw.

P.S. This isn’t about being a Lou Ferrigno Jr. fan account or trying to hate on people who ship other characters with Buck. I genuinely love character analysis — we’ve been doing it for others as well — and this post or previous are coming from that place, not from bias or bitterness.

You don’t have to ship Buck/Tommy. But if we’re going to talk about what the show chose to give us? Then let’s give it the credit — and the critique — it deserves.

[atomicrebelfire]

Two things that I find kind of funny about this fandom/show, although I don't talk about them that much:

1. As much as some people say that Tommy Kinard is "ugly", it doesn't matter, because what matters is that Evan Buckley looks at Tommy Kinard like he's the hottest, most handsome, most amazing and coolest man he'll ever meet... And, especially for Tommy Kinard, Evan Buckley is all that matters.

2. Tommy Kinard changed this show, and by extension this fandom, forever. He's in the history of 9-1-1, he's in the entire Begins arc of 3 fundamental characters for the 118 to be what it is today, and he was the LI who made Evan Buckley realize his attraction to men. Tommy Kinard is in the 100th episode of the show and in the farewell episodes of one of the most important characters of 118/9-1-1. Whether you like him or not, whether the show brings him back or not, no one can erase the importance of Tommy Kinard even though he's a side character with little screen time. Tommy Kinard's part of the show and he IS unforgettable, you can ask even those who hate him (they can't stop thinking about Tommy either).

[atomicrebelfire]

how am i supposed to live without em dashes. i love them. i need them. if using an em dash makes me AI, then call me ChatGPT, babe. i’m punctuating with feeling.

someone on twitter is trying to claim that use of an em-dash is an indication of AI-generated writing because it’s “relatively rare” for actual humans to use it. skill issue

[atomicrebelfire]

"Part of me wants to print it out and staple it to the writers’ room door"

I wish you were IN the writers' room and writing for the show. You definitely know what you're talking about and it would make for a great BuckTommy storyline.

😭💛 That honestly humbles me — thank you so much, dear!!. I don't think I’m a good writer by any means, but my job as an analyst does seep into my hobbies 😜 If I ever had the privilege of being in that writers’ room? You bet I’d be fighting for consistency, continuity, and giving Buck and Tommy the most romantic arc possible — the story they both deserve. With proper angst. Earned moments. No dropped storylines. Because…GOD DAMN IT.

Seriously, this means a lot. Thank you for saying it. Sending you love 🫶💛

[atomicrebelfire]

I'm so glad I stumbled upon your tumblr blog. Your posts are amazing to read. So well thought-out and ringing true. Like the other anon said, have you considered sending that to abc? You captured every point so perfectly.

💛😭 Thank you so, so much, dear — I always worry I’m rambling too much or being too intense, so hearing it resonated means more than I can say. Makes me feel a little less like I’m yelling into the void.

And yep… I have sent feedback to ABC — once after 8A, and again recently. Will it do anything? Ehhh. But it felt worth trying. Part of me wants to print it out and staple it to the writers’ room door 😅 These days I just scream here instead.

Seriously — thank you. 💛 So glad you’re enjoying them.

[atomicrebelfire]

Love your takes! This is so refreshing to see on tl!

Thanks a bunch, dear! 🌟 So glad these resonate. It makes my day knowing you’re enjoying them. Feel free to drop by anytime with your thoughts! 🫶

[atomicrebelfire]

https://www.tumblr.com/atomicrebelfire/786125519882256384/what-should-not-happen-between-buck-and-tommy-in

This is a fantastic post and honestly highlights a lot of the issues I have been having with the way the show and the cast discuss Buck’s bisexuality. While I think they mean well, the way it’s been discussed is full of outdated tropes and ideas around bisexuality. I hope you consider sending this to abc through their program feedback form because it is excellent!

First of all, sorry it took me a bit to reply — but thank you so much, dear!! 🥺💛

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this — especially knowing it resonated with others who’ve also felt uneasy about how the show (and sometimes even the cast) has been discussing Buck’s bisexuality.

Like you said — I truly believe the intent might be good. But intent doesn’t erase impact. And what we’re seeing is a pattern where queerness is only framed through confusion, heartbreak, or early self-discovery that’s never allowed to land. The worry isn’t just what’s happened — it’s the fear that the narrative will quietly move on, like the queerness served its purpose and now we go back to "normal."

Honestly, it sometimes feels like Buck being bi was treated as a checkbox — not a real character truth. And Buck still hasn’t even said the words “I’m bisexual” — not once. That silence says a lot.

You don’t make a character bi just to tick a box and then shove him back into old patterns. If you’re going to open that door, you owe the character — and the audience — the emotional follow-through.

Thank you so much for the encouragement to send it to ABC — I hadn’t even thought of that but now I’m seriously considering it — I genuinely might. Even if it’s just one small voice in the system, it’s still worth saying.

Sending you love 🫶

[atomicrebelfire]

❌ What Should Not Happen Between Buck and Tommy in Season 9

(And why it’s harmful if it does)

⚠️ Disclaimer:

This isn’t about policing queer identity. People explore. People learn. People fall in love late. That’s all valid. But this is about how media frames queerness — and how 9-1-1 risks reinforcing damaging tropes that queer audiences are exhausted by. When straight love stories are treated as stable and romantic, but queer ones are messy, painful, or never quite “enough,” it stops being representation and starts being a pattern. Especially in 9-1-1, where Buck and Tommy had a chance at something emotionally grounded and real — and the show chose to throw it away. What happens next matters. Not trying to overstep— — just putting into words what I don’t want to see happen.

TL;DR: Stop treating queerness like a detour. Buck doesn’t need to date around to realize he loved Tommy. Tommy isn’t a placeholder. And if Buck won’t talk to him now, don’t pretend he’ll magically be ready for someone else. Growth means honesty. Not avoidance.

🚫 What Should NOT Happen:

1. Buck “explores” queerness by dating multiple men or women before realizing Tommy was “the one” → Bisexuality doesn’t need to be proven through hookups. Tommy is not a test run.

2. Tommy stays emotionally stuck, waiting for Buck to figure himself out → That’s not love. That’s sidelining. Tommy deserves a story that isn’t on pause.

3. Buck returns with no growth, just longing → Love isn’t a Band-Aid for what you refused to confront. Do the work or stay away.

4. Tommy is framed as Buck’s “first but not true” queer love → This is the starter-boyfriend trope. It’s outdated, demeaning, and Tommy deserves better.

5. Tommy starts dating someone else, but they’re just filler before Buck returns → New relationships aren’t fake just because they’re not with the protagonist.

6. Tommy is punished by the narrative for moving on → Moving on is not betrayal. Stop treating emotional survival like a character flaw.

7. Buck’s queerness is only shown through hookups or heartbreak → Being queer doesn’t mean suffering has to be your default love language.

8. Tommy’s new partner is written as toxic just to make Buck look good → That’s not drama. That’s manipulation dressed as plot. Let Tommy choose well.

9. Buck dates someone awful just to realize Tommy was “the good one” → Let Buck grow — not get traumatized into appreciation. Regret isn’t a love story.

10. Buck avoids accountability, hoping time will “solve” things instead of talking to Tommy → You don’t magically become ready in the next relationship if you never faced the last one. Passivity is not a personality. It's avoidance.

If Buck truly loves Tommy — he should talk to him. Be direct. Be honest. If he doesn’t love him — then he should stay away.

✨ Bonus Tropes to Watch Out For in Season 9:

(Because Sometimes Writers Can’t Help Themselves)

11. “Now that he’s queer, Buck must suffer more than anyone else” → Buck has already carried a mountain of emotional pain. Queerness shouldn’t mean more punishment.

12. “Tommy should forgive anything, because Buck’s figuring it out” → This is the same trap Hen/Karen fell into. Hen cheated, Karen had to be “understanding.” Emotional labor ≠ love.

13. “Now that Buck is bi, he becomes hypersexual or ‘confused’ by everyone” → Being bi doesn’t mean you lose your emotional depth or loyalty.

14. “Queer love is always tragic; straight love is stable” → Hen/Karen? Nearly broken up. Buck/Tommy? Already broken.

15. “One queer character is deep, the other becomes a plot device” → Tommy should not become “the guy Buck almost texts.” He deserves his own arc, not ghost-status.

16. Buck’s queerness is “proven,” then erased by pairing him with a woman → Bisexuality isn’t a checkbox or a detour. If Buck dates a woman just to “balance” the narrative, that’s not representation — that’s quiet erasure.

🛑 For contrast: Lone Star handled queerness with more care. (not perfect or that they didn't frustrate with lazy writing)

TK and Carlos already knew they were gay — and their story began with clarity, not confusion. Buck’s journey is different. That’s valid.

But Lone Star gave its queer characters stability, love, and respect, even while showing their flaws.

Carlos’s past marriage to a woman was treated with emotional honesty — not used to erase his queerness.

Neither of them needed to “sleep around” to prove their identity or seriousness about each other.

And their pain (drug abuse, deaths, etc ) didn’t define their queerness — their commitment did.

Mainline 9-1-1 could — and should — learn from that.

💬 Before You Write the Next Chapter:

Buck doesn’t need to date more men or women to figure out if he loves Tommy. Either he does, or he doesn’t. What he doesn’t get to do is use other people as stepping stones to decide. Queerness isn’t a test you pass by hurting people. And love isn’t something you discover by leaving a trail of emotional casualties. If Buck loves Tommy — let him show up. If he doesn’t — let him leave him alone. But don’t make someone else suffer just so he can answer a question he’s too scared to ask.

💬 Final Thought:

If Buck and Tommy reunite, let it be because they choose each other again — from a place of growth, honesty, and mutual readiness. Not because everyone else failed. Not because one waited while the other wandered. And not because the show needed one more tortured queer arc.

If they don’t reunite — then let that be a choice that respects them both. No more tropes. No more lessons. No more ghosts. Just grown-ups. Talking. Feeling. Choosing.

Let’s just walk away from using tired tropes to avoid doing the emotional work — in writing and in love. and using stereotypes to compensate for a lack of storytelling courage. Show some heart in the stories.

[atomicrebelfire]

Buck felt rejected. Tommy felt uninvited.

I don’t think Buck ever truly understood what Tommy needed from him.

He didn’t need a grand gesture — Just a confident sign. A crack in the door. A flicker of warmth. Some signal that says: you’re allowed to try.

And when he gets that? He moves.

— Buck says he wanted Tommy’s attention → Tommy kisses him. — Buck says maybe he’s ready for something → Tommy says yes. Shows up to the party. Shows up to the wedding. — Buck and Tommy hook up → Tommy makes breakfast, unpacks the coffee machine, buys champagne like maybe this means something. — Buck says thank you → Tommy says, “And for you.”

He doesn’t storm in. He doesn’t force his way into anyone’s life. He just reads the room, and when he sees the smallest opening — he acts. Quietly, decisively, fully, with care.

But Buck never understood that. And that’s the real tragedy.

Buck’s emotional. He feels everything. But he doesn’t act on it without certainty. He spirals. He waits to be invited.

Tommy? He came out late. He lived through silence. He was in the Army. Under Gerrard. Engaged to a woman once. He knows how to live with restraint — and still, somehow, he shows up.

Especially for someone like Tommy, who spent years in places where silence was survival — he’s not going to beg. But he will take the risk, if you leave the door cracked.

And S8 Buck? Never did. Not enough.

During the breakup, Tommy said something real:

“I know how this ends. I’m your first, not your last.”

He put his fear on the table. Buck did try — he even said, “they can be the same thing”

But even that wasn’t something Tommy could hold onto. It was a maybe, not a confident yes.

And when Tommy reached for something solid? Buck didn’t say, “You’re wrong.” He didn’t say, “I want this.” He didn’t say, “Stay.” So Tommy left.

Later, at the bar, Tommy brought it up — said he thought about reaching out. He drove past Buck’s place. He typed the message.(bubbling) (But Buck never opened the door. So Tommy never hit send.)

Buck shut it down with : “No way.” No opening. No invitation. Just more confusion.

Then Buck invited him. And Tommy took that as hope. He didn’t just stay the night — he unpacked the coffee machine. He brought food. He probably bought champagne. He thought it meant something.

But when Buck lashed out:

“You know, I don't have to want to sleep with everyone I have feelings for. And I don't have to have feelings for everyone I sleep with.”

Tommy read the room again. Said, “Got it.” And left.

Not because he didn’t care. But because he’d learned to stop reaching where he’s not wanted.

And the part that breaks me?

Buck knew. He told Maddie the morning after: “I was cruel.” Said, “I should call him.” But he never did.

And this is where our headcanon comes in — because based on everything we’ve seen from Tommy:

If Buck had called. Even just a text. Even unsure, even messy. Tommy would’ve taken the chance. He’s always taken the chance.

So yeah. Maybe Buck felt rejected and abandoned. Maybe he thought Tommy gave up too fast.

But from Tommy’s side?

He’d kissed first. Said yes first. Shown up every time. He’d taken risks, again and again — every time Buck gave him a sliver of permission.

And Buck never realized how easy it would’ve been to meet him halfway.

He just needed one more sign.

And he would’ve come back. Like he always did.

PS: This is just my interpretation — canon-supported but built on emotional headcanon. Personally, I don’t think Tommy ran because he was scared. I think he didn’t see an opening. And Buck never realized Tommy didn’t need a guarantee — just a signal. he would moves the second he's allowed. Always open to thoughts, counterpoints, or things I missed — would love to discuss more 💬

[atomicrebelfire]

yes buck darling,

i believe you.

curses are real.

the evil eye is real.

you were right and they should’ve listened. 🧿💔

[atomicrebelfire]

From watching 9-1-1 to actually calling 911…

TV paramedics: emotionally available, fully stocked, heroic

Real-life paramedics: bandage, no ointment, vibes only. I bled for two hours and they said “good luck!” , call if you need!

The show lied to me 😭🩹🚑

Exhibit A: DIY, “you’ll live I guess” bandage

[atomicrebelfire]

Just gonna say it—

Naming Maddie and Chim’s baby Robert Nash Han weeks ( or months, don't understand show's timeline anymore) after Bobby died doesn’t feel like a tribute. It feels re-traumatizing.

If someone I loved deeply had died—especially in a tragic, traumatic way—and then weeks later someone close to me named their baby their full name like “Robert Nash,” I’d be wrecked every time I heard it. It’s not sweet. It’s not healing. It’s grief on loop.

Grief doesn’t need a constant echo. A tribute should bring comfort—not reopen the wound every time someone says the name. That’s why people usually go for middle names or subtle nods—something that honors without overshadowing.

Instead, this feels less like a sweet memorial and more like… emotional possession by proxy. Like the writers are trying to resurrect Bobby through this baby instead of letting his death land.

And Athena calling the baby “hi Bobby”? That’s not your husband reborn. That’s a newborn. It’s giving ghost baby. It’s giving unresolved grief. It’s giving “this poor child will grow up being a walking memorial.” That’s not comforting—it’s creepy. The emotional logic just isn’t there.

So while Jee-Yun’s name was love, Robert’s name feels like loss that hasn’t been dealt with.

Instead of honoring Bobby by living better, the show made a baby his namesake like he's being reinserted into the narrative. That’s not tribute — that’s emotional displacement.

[atomicrebelfire]

I was rewatching Season 4 of 9-1-1: Lone Star and completely lost it all over again at the rescue in Episode 3.

It has to be the funniest rescue — this man legit calls 911 in a panic because his girlfriend slipped off a cliff…

and the 126 shows up and goes full protocol.

They rappelled down.

They did CPR.

On a DOLL.

I can’t with this show 💀🚒🫀🧍‍♀️😂🤣

[atomicrebelfire]

wait. WAIT. is it true firefighters have to do a little wiggle so their gear doesn’t think they’re DEAD??? 😭😭 just found out about PASS alarms and my life is forever changed. the “not-dead-yet” shuffle is REAL. he’s not just moving—he’s communicating with the machine. Someone Please confirm this for me!!???🙏🙏 (also sorry for stealing this video!! i had to. for science.)

[atomicrebelfire]

i don't wanna be perceived right now this is doing things to me.

taking his good boy for a ride 💚

i can’t believe i’ve been SILENCED. full version has thighs and ass, you can see it on x or dm me