
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for 9-1-1 Season 6 Episode 11, “In Another Life.”]
9-1-1 is all about Buck (Oliver Stark) within the episode following that cliffhanger of him getting struck by lightning.
Whereas Buck’s in a coma within the hospital, we go into his head and see what he’s experiencing, particularly a dream during which he’s not a firefighter, his brother Daniel by no means died, and Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) remains to be with the abusive Doug (Brian Hallisay). And earlier than he can come out of it, he should face off with himself.
Stark breaks down the episode and teases who Buck goes ahead.
Speak about studying the script. It’s such a special episode for Buck, particularly exploring the “what if” along with his brother surviving.
Oliver Stark: Yeah, it was fairly daunting, to be trustworthy with you, simply because I felt prefer it was such an enormous episode, and it’s actually a departure for the present. It’s fairly an experimental episode, and I simply actually wished to have the ability to do what I assumed was a very sensible script justice, and so I’m actually completely happy to see it now all come collectively. I feel it’s a very good episode. It nearly felt like I used to be taking pictures a special present for a little bit bit. It’s not essentially the usual 9-1-1 episode, so it was a very fulfilling and collaborative expertise.
Talking of filming, the Buck you’re taking part in is just not a firefighter. You do ultimately work with the identical folks as standard however in numerous methods, and Buck is making an attempt to narrate to them in the identical means, however they’re like, who’re you?
Yeah, it’s nearly like lucid dreaming, the place you already know you’re in a dream, however you’ll be able to’t essentially get out of it. So it was actually enjoyable to get to work together with these characters however have them not know who he was, particularly, the early scenes with Hen [Aisha Hinds] and Chimney [Kenneth Choi]. I actually loved when Buck is having in the actual world issue respiration [it’s] mirrored in his coma world, and Hen and Chimney are discussing if I’m a loopy particular person whereas I’m simply there struggling to breathe the entire time. It was actually enjoyable to get to swap positions and alter up the relationships.
Buck says when he wakes up, Hen is just about the identical. And it’s true.
Yeah, as a result of if you consider it, Buck has been there for these fairly profound modifications in most of their lives. However I feel with regards to the Buck and Hen relationship that we’ve seen over time, it’s usually her being there for him and serving to information him. So though she’s clearly impacted by realizing him, it’s not essentially the identical sort of persona or situation-altering means.

FOX
It’s additionally what he wanted on the time in his unconscious. He wanted Hen to be Hen.
Completely. It’s sort of her that breaks it down for him and begins to work issues out the place she says, “this isn’t a special actuality, that is in your head, and the rationale that you’re operating out of time right here is as a result of primarily, you’re dying in the actual world. So we higher get to this.”
The Buck-Bobby (Peter Krause) scenes, whether or not within the coma dream or the one on the finish, had been so good.
I’m at all times an enormous fan of any time there’s Buck and Bobby content material. From the primary season, that’s been such an vital relationship, and one which I do know myself and Peter each actually take pleasure in taking part in, and each really feel very secure and cozy to only discover it and let issues occur. So I used to be actually delighted with the alternatives, particularly within the coma dream, to get to do these scenes with him. He’s such an incredible scene associate and actually helps make me really feel comfy. I used to be actually proud of how they turned out.
Particularly as a result of within the coma dream, Buck wished Bobby to be Bobby, however Buck sort of needed to be Bobby as a result of it was all Buck.
Proper. That’s it. There was really, at one level, a model of the script the place, as soon as he figured it out and we’d seen Daniel rework into Buck, there have been going to be these little pops the place you replay a number of the earlier scenes from the episode, but it surely was at all times Buck speaking to Buck. Buck was there wearing Chimney’s garments, Buck was there wearing Hen’s garments as a result of they’re, at this level, all figments of his coma creativeness. So yeah, it is very important keep in mind when you look again that every one these interactions he was, in reality, having with himself.
We do see one interplay with himself. Speak about filming that.
Yeah, it was bizarre. I acquired to do it with my buddy and, in reality, stunt double, Skyler Millicano, who I’ve nice belief with. He’s been my stunt double for the reason that pilot, so we’ve been by way of so much collectively. They mentioned to me, do I do know one other actor that’s sort of my construct that might play reverse me? I used to be like, let’s get Skyler on this as a result of I really feel completely comfy with him, and I do know he’ll be up for the problem of it. So it was attention-grabbing for me as a result of I assume the problem was that I’m taking part in Buck on either side of it, however I’m taking part in a special a part of Buck’s psyche at that second. So what slight modifications can I make? Does he transfer barely otherwise to distinguish between the 2?
Due to the coma dream, Buck does come to some key revelations. I favored the “I used to be Buck.” “That’s sufficient?” “I feel it’s.” change. What wouldn’t it have taken for Buck to come back to these revelations with out this?
Perhaps he wouldn’t have. Perhaps he would have been continuously searching for one thing and searching for exterior validation, as we’ve seen him achieve this many occasions. Perhaps that is what it took for him to get to some extent the place he goes, “no, I’m doing simply high quality,” and as you say, “I’m sufficient.”

FOX
Who’s Buck transferring ahead?
He’s going to battle, particularly at first, simply with the concept that he got here so near dying, and so he’s going to battle with the concept of mortality and what does all of it imply. However then I feel following the battle, there’s potential for peace and for him to really feel a little bit extra grounded. When you’ve accepted that issues can come to an finish at any level, why not simply take pleasure in when you nonetheless can and take possession of your selections, and be one of the best model of your self you can be?
Talking of variations, as a result of we’ve heard of like Buck 2.0, what model is he now? Simply Buck?
[Laughs] I feel we’re on about model 7.3? There’s continuously an replace file being advised that you have to obtain, however I don’t suppose that’s essentially a foul factor. He’s in his early 30s, and he’s figuring issues out about himself and utilizing them as possibilities to improve who he believes he’s. I feel that’s solely a great factor at this level.We received’t see something completely different from him on the job, proper? He couldn’t have predicted he’d be struck by lightning.
I feel there’s going to be some hesitation about how shortly he desires to return. However I feel as soon as he will get again, we’re most likely going to search out him with some new abilities due to what he’s been by way of.
Will Buck be on calls in Episode 6×12?
Not in 612. There’s a little bit bit extra restoration forward first. … I feel by 6×13, he’ll be again across the firehouse.
Early this season, we noticed him need to be interim captain whereas Bobby was out. Is that arising once more now that he has time to consider it whereas recovering?
Yeah, I don’t suppose that’s a thought that’s going anyplace from his head anytime quickly. He’s going to need to step into that function, and in direction of the tip of the season, he’s going to have some alternatives too, and he’s going to be compelled to in some senses. So yeah, he’s a bit tough across the edges, however there’s a sense of him being a frontrunner. He’s clearly very adept at his job, and I feel all these experiences that he’s going by way of are solely serving to form him into a greater chief. We noticed Bobby say to him firstly of the season that he simply must reside a little bit bit extra life. We’ve actually seen him doing that throughout the season thus far.
He was the sperm donor for his buddies, which has had him fascinated with his personal future as a father. And it looks as if he could be getting a brand new sofa, a bit of furnishings he’s related to girlfriends earlier than. What’s his private life like going ahead?
I feel the principle factor for him is that anyone that he’s to develop into romantically entwined with has to satisfy him the place he’s. He’s not going to sacrifice or compromise who he’s. He’s turning into very settled in himself, and if the person who he finally ends up partnering up with isn’t OK with that, then they’re simply not the appropriate particular person. He’s not going to try to match anyone else’s field anymore. He’s going to be comfy with who he’s, and anyone that comes alongside must be equally as comfy with that.
That’s a wholesome perspective for him to have after what we’ve seen thus far.
Yeah, completely. He’s at all times been searching for different folks to form him or validate him. And so it’s very nice for me — ‘trigger pay attention, I’m a fan of Buck — to see him get to a spot that I feel is far more healthy.
What else is arising for Buck? Who will he be leaning on?
He’s going to have extra folks at first, I feel, desirous to be leaned on by him. He’s nearly going to get so many presents of assist that it’s going to develop into a bit an excessive amount of for him, and as vital as it’s for him to be taught to lean on others, we’ve seen him try this so much. I feel greater than something, really, he’s going to be taught to lean on himself a little bit bit and look inwardly moderately than outwardly with regards to needing a crutch of assist.
9-1-1, Mondays, 8/7c, Fox
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