#911 6x15 lb

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So wait, you have the Madney marriage idea scene right before an Eddie and Christopher scene, where they're watching a wedding scene????

And then on top of it you have Christopher falling asleep as Eddie is about to bring out THREE s'mores? (something the camera made sure to show us) in the same way Buck did??? When Eddie brought out TWO beers????

But this time Christopher is in the middle of the couch, leaving an empty space on one side for someone else???

And then he eats a s'more like he drank the beers???

And he knocks over Shannon's beach picture???

He then calls his mom so he can make plans to go see his family in El Paso the next weekend so he can live in the moment like Buck said in their cemetery scene???

Tell me Buddie is going canon without telling me Buddie is going canon.

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Buck and Eddie standing together at the end of the grave speaks volumes.

Buck putting flowers down while Eddie makes the sign of the cross in blessing.

Eddie: "We're all gonna die alone." (notice he says this after Buck tells him what Natalia said)

Eddie: "That was a beautiful thing Natalia did for her." -> I see you, Eddie

Eddie: "Really? Dating someone you rescued? You know that never ends well." (like I said, she's Ali all over again, but she's also Taylor and Ana)

Love Eddie's eye roll btw.

Buck: "There's something different about her. I feel like she sees me."

"You know, like she sees me for who I really am and what I've been through."

"I think she might even see more of me than I see in myself."

Considering what we saw happen on his date with Natalia and how this whole setup is happening, it's obvious Buck is trying to force something here that just isn't reality. This could be the result of the trauma he went through, but he had better immediate chemistry with Taylor when meeting her on an emergency. This isn't where Buck is supposed to be headed (meaning what his endgame will be) and the show is going to great lengths to showcase that. Which is why we have this scene (and Marie being Eddie's Thomas from 2x08 which doesn't surprise me that Eddie is thinking of the long-term future and Buck is still not thinking big-picture yet, not completely).

And sure enough:

Eddie: "Look, I know we razzed you about your whole math skills, maybe I even tried to get rich off of 'em, but to be honest, you haven't been the same since it happened." -> not only is math mentioned again (Buddie) but it's made very clear that Eddie sees how much Buck is floundering & considering what Buck just said about Natalia (who thinks his experience was really cool and exciting) but we didn't see her seeing into him like this, the show is telling you who really sees Buck the way Buck just described

And Eddie has his own realization and looks down at the grave. "But how could you be?" -> he hasn't been the same since Shannon died and he knows it

Buck: "The truth is I still don't know how to act. I am different, but I feel like I have to try and be the same old Buck. Mostly for the sake of everyone else." -> as we already knew, Buck is being performative with Natalia (aka flirting like the same old Buck would do & dating a woman he met on an emergency) & Eddie pretty much called it

Eddie: "You know, you don't have to be anything for anybody. Nobody is ever the same, from one day to the next. Experiences like this, they change us." -> not only is this the absolute truth, he's giving Buck (and himself) permission to be different and not be the same ol', same ol'

Eddie: "So what changed in you?"

Buck: "When I woke up in that hospital, I felt like I had gotten away with something."

Eddie: "You cheated death."

Buck: "My life could have ended. Right then and there, but it didn't. That has to mean something, right?"

Eddie: "It means you're one lucky guy."

Buck: "I don't think I'm gonna get that lucky again."

Eddie: "Well, maybe you don't have to. Lightning doesn't strike the same place twice."

Buck: "Which is why I have to make the most of every single moment. 'Cause from here on out, it's all a gift."

So not only do we have Buck and Eddie being paralleled to two out of the three main couples this episode (Maddie and Chim go through the auditing together, Bobby is there for Athena when her suspect dies unexpectedly) but we get this scene. And this scene is SO important. Not only from what I mentioned above but also the very scene itself happening. Eddie and Buck have admitted to the audience that they're different and they were standing together at a fresh grave (recent death -> old versions of themselves/their journeys) and had an emotionally intimate moment. When Eddie said Buck didn't have to perform, Buck jumped at the chance to speak his truth. Eddie asked what changed in Buck and we find out, but Buck also didn't ask Eddie this because through Athena, we found out Eddie has more questions than answers. And we've watched him get answers the past two seasons.

This is why when people say 'oh KR is separating Buddie' and 'Buddie will never happen' I shake my head. Because Buddie has been there all along and strengthening to lead to what we're hoping for, for some time now and this scene literally just doubled down on Buddie AGAIN. The same episode where it looks like Buck might have a new love interest, they're already telling us 'don't get comfortable, this is not here to stay'. By Buck's own words, he's being performative and trying to act like old Buck. In the same conversation he talks to Eddie about Natalia. And then they added how Eddie saw the real Buck in contrast to Buck thinking Natalia sees the real him and how it's important to him.

Literally, I almost expected some heart eyes to pop out in this scene or some sort of self-realization, that's how impactful this scene is for Buddie and how blatant it is. And a full episode after Eddie shot down his own date who mutually agreed.

At this point, we might get Buddie sooner than we think. I get the feeling Natalia will be the last ditch effort/pit stop before we get there.

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Maddie: "There's a part of me that never wanted to marry anyone, ever again." -> Eddie

Josh: "But this is Chimney, a completely different situation. He's amazing. And sweet and he loves you to no end." -> could easily describe Buck

They purposely put Josh in here. And not just because he's Maddie's friend. They easily could have had this conversation happening with Linda or Buck or someone else.

Considering that Josh was sent by Maddie to Buck's apartment in 6x12 where he interrupted Buck's convo with Connor, this speaks volumes. Especially given that we then see Chim scrolling on his phone, looking at engagement rings as he's eating ice cream again.

Especially given the promo for the next episode where Buck tells Chim that he can't propose without a plan and then proceeds to pitch potential calls (like Bobby says) including a hot air balloon (Abby/romance).

Especially given that we had a Henren wedding last season. We saw Bathena get married back in season 2. And if we see Madney get married this season (or next) then...yep.

It's all connected.

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Ravi: "I'm not great at doing my taxes either. No one is."

Buck: "Uh, I am."

Ravi: "Seriously?"

Eddie: "You missed his all super power phase."

Buck: "I actually thought about using my newfound math skills to file my taxes by hand this year."

Ravi: "So, did you?"

Buck: "No. I-I said I thought about it but I hired a professional."

Chim: "Still not helping."

Bobby: "Why are you and Maddie doing your own taxes anyway?"

Chim: "We're using a computer program instead of a person because it's cheaper."

Eddie: "Until they hit you with the fines."

Chim: "You guys think I'm a goner, don't you?"

Bobby: "Hey, listen, Chim, remember with the IRS, you can run but you can't hide."

So Buck decided not to use his newfound math skills to file; instead he went to a professional. But he thought about it. He decided not to take the risk, meaning he doesn't 100% trust his newfound math skills to solve that issue for him though he knows he could do it.

Chim's line about a computer program literally could be translated as Eddie deciding not to take a risk either (while also complementing Buck's dialogue) because it's safer. And Eddie himself points out the risk of not taking a risk (i.e. paying the professional) because something bigger can happen. Which sounds an awful lot like what Pepa said to Eddie the last episode.

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Bobby: "Well, you got what you hoped for. You found your answer."

Athena: "Well, I found the first answer. And like any good answer, it raised a whole lot of new questions."

Eddie is definitely closer to finding answers than Buck is but like Athena now has more questions, so will Eddie.

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Buck's date:

Buck asks about Marie from the "living funeral".

Natalia asks about Buck's death experience.

"Look at how excited you are. You're like a legit fangirl for this stuff."

Natalia is here to get Buck to his next spot on his journey. She's literally going to help him process this traumatic event and get him where he needs to be aka his "end of life" aka end of this phase.

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Can I just say on a personal note that I am so proud of Madney and how far they've come. I am legitimately happy to see them happy and thriving. Clears my skin right up.

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Oh Eddie. 💔

"We're all gonna die alone. We might as well spend time with our loved ones while we're still living." (and he looks to HEN)

at the same time that Buck is flirting with an "end of life" doula

"I specialize in scratches" of course you do, Buck, you're a fixer.

Buck's job is to prevent death and Natalia's job is to help people accept it. Buck is the car, she's the funeral. These two people are not the same.

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I also think "Always missed" on Shannon's tombstone is absolutely telling here.

Somehow I think Eddie misses her as more of a possible co-parent or at least as Christopher's mom than he does as his wife. That's the vibe I get from this scene anyway.

I'm not saying he didn't love Shannon. I'm not saying he wasn't devastated by her loss; he was. But I don't think Shannon was the love of his life, and this is kind of indicated by Christopher being there with him and Eddie confirming they go there so she can hear them when they talk to her.

The only time Eddie looks directly at her tombstone is when it's in reference to Christopher ("I'm sure she misses making them with you too, bud"), near the end ("Me, too, bud. Me, too"), and at the end.

Very telling.

And I do appreciate that while Eddie talks about him and Christopher as a singular unit (family) here, he also makes sure to set himself and Christopher apart in the dialogue, showcasing that growth from season 4. As well as I think it's going to play a very instrumental part in his continuing healing from Shannon's loss.

[what-do-1000-swords-look-like]

So wait, Chim snuck out the next morning at the beginning of the season after he and Maddie reconciled and hooked up?

And now Maddie snuck out the next morning after marriage was brought up?

Parallels.

[what-do-1000-swords-look-like]

So Dominic Dawson died anyway.

And now Eddie and Buck are at the cemetery for Marie who died anyway.

Because death is certain, just like taxes. The end is coming meaning of what Buck, Eddie, and the audience have known previously. Buck's lightning strike and death set everything in motion. As did Shannon dying for Eddie.

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So we know math is a Buddie theme. "I aced my math test." "I thought about using my newfound math skills to do my taxes." But let's look at this a bit closer.

We have Madney (a couple and two characters who are have been paralleled to Buddie & Buck and Eddie) being audited. They have no idea why. They're nervous, Chim is spiraling, Maddie accepts the inevitable though she was worried at first. Chim keeps thinking about jail and other people who are purposely defrauding the IRS.

Maddie: "Tax fraud? No, no, no, we--"

Chim: "We're not criminals. I mean, look at us. We're not frauds, either, we're actually very genuine."

They bicker about who was supposed to file as Head of Household and what share of the expenses they pay. They both also claimed Jee as their dependent. "Oh, I didn't know you were going to claim Jee." "I don't think we really discussed it." (I think he says this, I can't quite make it out)

Chim: "I think that's just an honest mistake."

Auditor: "Hmm, two for two?"

Maddie: "Is there more?"

Auditor: "You tell me."

Then they 'fess up to everything, forcing the auditor to try to keep up and to assure them that they're okay with that stuff.

Chim: "Are we going to debter's prison?"

Auditor: "This isn't a Dickens novel." -> this isn't the past

Maddie: "That's what I said." -> she/Eddie already knew that

Auditor: "We just send people to regular prison now." -> this is the present (can be seen as referencing LGBTQIA+ or for Buck and Eddie's stories together and separately)

"You will also need to decide who is the Head of your household." -> "We could switch every year." "I love that idea. Let's alternate." "Love it." -> two firefighters who most likely make the same amount of income per year where there's a child in the mix (and possibly more), just sayin'

The very next scene, we get the Buck and Natalia date where Natalia is wearing red.

All of this leads to: Since math is a Buddie theme and Madney are being audited (and Buck's date is the next scene), the writers are telling us to absolutely sit up and pay attention. They are the auditors per se. They are putting Buddie under the microscope, together and separately.

And once again we see how far along Eddie (Maddie/Christopher) really is in comparison to Buck (Chim) when it comes to the future.

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Can we talk about Eddie's refrigerator?

On one side we have a picture of Eddie and Chris from Eddie Begins.

On the other side, we have a photo of baby Chris, a photo of Shannon and Chris from the beach, a photo of Shannon and Chris from...Christmas I think, a calendar that has a picture of kids in school, and magnets that are the same colors that have been used to represent Buddie over the last two years....

Not only does this show how Eddie has not found his romantic partner yet (left door) but he's looking for one (right door). And what kills me is the picture of the kids on the calendar he's writing on. Like I said last episode, there is something about kids in Eddie's future but it's not Christopher. Considering that Chris was represented in the other photos on the door, this confirms it.

Not to mention that the green (Eddie) magnet and yellow (Shannon) magnet are on the Christmas photo while the blue (Buck) magnet is on its own in between the green and the red (Buck) magnet holding the calendar up. And at the bottom of the calendar is a similar style magnet to the one that is holding up Eddie's picture on the other door. AND there is a red magnet holding the marker that Eddie uses to write the Earth Day field trip on the calendar. Plus there is a red magnet holding up the beach picture (we've seen the beach be symbolic for Shannon, Eddie, Buck, and Maddie in this show).

Green and blue:

Red:

Yellow:

And who red signifies (meaning the role) for Eddie:

Christopher keeps interrupting the plans he's trying to make. The calendar is filled to the brim with Christopher events and work. "You need to find a work-life balance." Seems like Eddie is trying with "How about April 22nd? That looks free" and Christopher reminding him about the field trip. "It's not on here." "It should be." "Sorry, Mom. Apparently, the Earth is more important. How about the summer? We can make a whole week out of it."

Eddie tries to get Christopher to come talk to his "abuela" again showcasing that "kids" theme for him. And Christopher pulls him away from the phone convo with talk about being late.

"Sorry, Mom, I gotta go. We'll figure something out, okay? I promise. We've got time."

Eddie's trying to break out of what he's been stuck in for a while now. He's trying to think for himself; he's separated his heart from Christopher's. But he's not right there just yet. But he's definitely very close. Once he figures out that work-life balance (him running late, forgetting events, looking for his keys all signify this, that a balance is needed), he'll be there.

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Chim: "Broken freezer at the grocery store equals 50 percent off of ice cream. An offer that would be criminal to refuse."

Maddie: "We're never going to eat all that."

Chim: "But think about how much I save. A year's worth of ice cream for the price of 6 months. And there's no such thing as too much ice cream. Here, try this."

Maddie finds notices from the IRS.

So to me, this is relevant dialogue. Death and taxes are always certain and as Bobby said, they can sometimes go together. Chim couldn't resist the ice cream (and sale) in front of him that was due to a broken freezer. He's trying to sell Maddie on how much he saved as well as one particular flavor that he's eating. Maddie isn't interested and instead focuses on the more serious problem at hand. (also good to note there is a beach picture behind Maddie)

Then:

Chim: "Okay, so open it."

Maddie: "Nothing good ever comes from the IRS." (so true, Maddie, so true)

Chim: "Not opening it doesn't change the fact that you got it."

Chim finishes putting away the ice cream except the one he's currently eating.

It turns out Maddie is being audited. And so is Chim.

And now Maddie and Chim are eating their own tubs of ice cream. That Jee then comes in to enjoy.

So, to me, this whole scene connects to Buddie in a big bad way for this episode. Chim is connected to Buck here (especially since this season they've been very linked, but this dialogue cinches it) and Maddie is connected to Eddie.

Maddie is worried but also telling Chim he's spiraling. Not to mention Jee runs to her and has some of her ice cream.

Chim was trying to convince Maddie to try his ice cream earlier, that he got a good deal, and that all would be okay until he finds out he was being audited himself. Then he starts spiraling.

Buck is going to be attempting to convince someone or someones that his flavor of ice cream (a late night snack or treat) is the best thing ever. That he's happy with the deal he's gotten. That nobody has anything to worry about when it comes to him. Until he's forced to look at whatever is under the microscope (perhaps when he died? the lightning strike?) or he's put under the microscope.

Eddie is not buying it and is trying to bring rationale to the table. But once he's forced to look at whatever is under the microscope (probably the Shannon/death theme this episode) or he's put under the microscope, he's going to be in the same boat as Buck.

I see you, 911.

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Buck: "Death and taxes."

Bobby: "Sometimes they go together."

That's a relevant line if I've ever heard one.

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Lovely scene of Marie's family saying goodbye to her and the way it's shot. Nicely done.