#I’m naming this | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

loveyourownsmiilee · 2 years

Text

Talking Buddie Language: Ep 6.01

Episode 6.01 gave us so many wonderful Buck and Eddie moments. There is so much to analyze that my mind was working overtime trying to distinguish everything and what that all means for them.

Firefighter's Buckley and Diaz & their partnership:

We finally get Eddie back as a full fledged firefighter but only get a tiny moment of him and Buck acting like partners. Buck is paired off with Hen, while Eddie is paired off with Chim to go save the two captains. Now I think it was brilliant to show Eddie being the one to do the big save since this is the first time we see him back as a firefighter. They wanted to show us that he is back and better than ever.

I did appreciate Bobby sending Buck up to help Eddie. He knows they work best when they're working together. That comes from years of seamless partnership and just knowing the other like they were an extension of their self. Buck runs up because he will always be there to have Eddie's back. His cute worried face let us know that he was of course worried about Eddie's wellbeing but was going to do everything in his power to make sure Eddie and the other captain got out of the blimp safely. His soft, “Eddie Hey” alerting Eddie that he’s there and he’s got his back was so perfectly them. They don’t need to talk to do their jobs. They’re in each other’s head. But it was great to see that little soft interaction between them. It's interesting to me that we didn't get any other moment of them two afterwards to discuss any emotions they were feeling during those tense few minutes.

The Interim Captain Debacle:

I loved this scene very much. Eddie is being sassy whilst speaking to Lucy, which indicates that there's still a lack of closeness between the two. His voice did not sound genuine enough when he asked her how she broke her foot off duty.

The parallel between this scene and the one from 3.01 is amazing in how they're different. In 3.01, Bobby is telling the team that Buck isn't getting out of bed and that he's not taking this whole unemployed thing well. Eddie's initial reaction is, "He's just sulking Cap, he'll get over it...Look I know it sucks, but that's life right? Whenever stuff didn't work out for me, my dad always told me to brush it off, keep moving forward." They then discuss how Buck has them, the team, because they're his family and that's the thing that makes Eddie realize he has to check in on his partner. Because until Bobby said that, Eddie wasn't taking Buck's duress seriously due to the way he was raised. He didn't realize it himself that he may need to check in with his friend and see if he needs some kind of support.

The difference with this scene in 6.01 is that Eddie notices something is wrong with Buck almost immediately. He immediately looks up from what he's doing because the tone of Buck's voice is enough to make him realize that this may be a deeper issue for Buck. You can tell by the raise of his brow and the way he doesn't take his eyes off Buck. I did a mini analysis of this scene already, so I will just link it here so I am not repeating myself. My entire point is that Eddie has let go of the toxic bullshit his father instilled in him and he's allowed himself to be more in tune with Buck. He doesn't need Bobby or anyone else to tell him something is bothering Buck, he knows it before anyone else. That is massive development for not only Eddie, but his relationship with Buck.

(Gif by @whattarush)

The Buckley-Diaz domestic Family Dinner:

There’s so much to unpack here. First and foremost this is the first Buckley-Diaz family scene we have gotten in such a long time. The last time we saw these three together was in 5.14 and it was during the equine therapy scene. And the last time we saw them having a family dinner, it wasn't just them three because Taylor was also present.

Before anything, I just want to focus on Eddie’s reaction to Buck dismissing Lucy by saying, “She’s whatever you know she’s great. But she’s out.” The man looked up from what he was doing to give Buck the fondest heart eyes ever. He kind of looked at Buck almost as if to say, “Stop talking about other women when I’m sitting in front of you with our child.” It was the second heart eyes we got from him this episode and it was so beautiful to see how Eddie doesn’t even try to hide them at all.

I will say however, that way he raises his right brow and kinda sighs to himself really indicates minor jealousy/hurt over simply hearing her name. It’s almost as if he’s thinking, “Not this again”, which is common when someone is pining for the other person. Which can be the case here. But it’s not something too important for him to dwell on it for long. He just can’t help his reaction to hearing about Buck speak about someone else, especially given he has had some sort of history with that person.

(Gif by @swiftiebuck)

Buck and Eddie, to me at least, were having two different conversations simultaneously while at Buck’s loft. I think it’s so important that Eddie is sat facing towards Buck during this entire exchange. He’s facing him head on and letting him know he can tell him anything he wants.

B: “So it doesn’t bother you that Bobby didn’t even consider either one of us for interim captain?”

E: “Not really. Just got back to the 118. But clearly it’s bothering you.”

This is very important because this is Eddie taking that leap and bringing up something that is bothering Buck more than he is letting on. It is his way of showing that he is in a better mental health space now and that he is so in tune to Buck’s own emotions. He is confident enough to broach this topic with Buck first and have a normal conversation on what is bothering him. He isn’t letting Buck just sulk until the gets over it. He is breaching the door and allowing Buck to confide in him, without judgement. Also it’s important to note his tone of voice because it’s soft and he doesn’t have all his usual sass underlying his words. He does tend to tease Buck often but right now he is letting Buck know is not one of those times. It is also interesting to note how this conversation, Eddie bringing up that something is bothering Buck is very much something that goes on between couples. It is how longterm partners/spouses approach their significant other to let them know, “Hey, I see you, I know you, you can trust me. I’m here whenever you are ready to unburden your problems.”

B: “When he has so many other excellent options right under his nose.”

E: “Like you.”

Now see Eddie isn’t asking this. Eddie is simply stating that he knows what is on Buck’s mind because he knows him. Knows that this is the root of his problem.

B: “It’s like he’s choosing not to see them & everything they have to offer.”

E: “Time.”

Eddie doesn't respond to Buck’s remark then. He busies himself with Christopher to gather his thoughts. Because Buck seems to not only be talking about Bobby choosing someone else to be interim captain. This is where I believe the two simultaneous conversations begin.

I find it very interesting that Eddie is the one who shifts the conversation into another direction. Sure they can still be talking about the interim captaincy. But he asks Buck plain and simple, “What are you offering?” The way he tilts his head to the left and looks up at him indicates that he genuinely wants to know the answer to that question. Now see, I don’t believe for one moment he wants to know the answer solely for why Buck thinks he should be interim captain. I think this is Eddie’s way of asking in general what Buck is offering to other’s around him, possibly even Eddie himself.

(Gif by @whattarush)

Buck chooses that moment to offer Eddie and Christopher lasagna, which happens to be Bobby’s famous lasagna. Again, the saying about the way to a man’s heart is through the stomach is very prevalent here and it parallels Eddie cooking dinner for Buck in 5.11.

Eddie’s body language throughout their entire exchange is very open. When he asks what Buck is offering, he spread his arms wide open in a welcoming stance. He’s welcoming whatever Buck’s response is going to be because he’s already welcomed Buck into his life fully. There’s nothing closed about him in thet moment. On the contrary, it’s almost as if Eddie is also giving himself up to Buck by the way he’s spread his arms and offered himself for the taking.

Eddie’s immediate response is to look proud and fond, and respond with, “It does look good.” That is basically Eddie’s way of saying, “I see you, I see what you bring to the table, and I love it. I want what you're offering.”

Buck emphasizing that it took him 3 tries to perfect what he offered Eddie and Christopher is very interesting because he has had 3 previous failed relationships. It took him 3 tries to perfect this dinner for his boys. He is offering not only his lasagna, but himself after these 3 failed relationships, in the hope that he is enough for them. You guys see how Buck and Eddie seem to be dancing around one another with their words?

The Buddie Couch Debacle:

The couch metaphor has me in the tightest chokehold. I remember I answered an ask last season about the symbolism of Taylor’s and Eddie’s couch and what that means to Buck. I unfortunately cannot locate the ask so just bare with me please.

B: “My last two couches came with girlfriends.”

E: “I think you mean your last two girlfriends came with couches.”

The way Eddie says that in a confident but sassy way makes me laugh. Because he’s very well aware of Buck’s previous girlfriends and the baggage (couch) they brought into Buck’s life. What’s interesting is Buck’s eye squint in response. Because he’s looking at Eddie as if to ask him, with their seamless nonverbal communication, what he’s getting at?

E: “Taylor moved out 4 months ago.”

He’s emphasizing that she’s been gone for months and Buck still hasn’t “moved on”. Moved on in the sense that he wasn’t out actively looking for another couch/girlfriend. These two words are being used in place of each other. They’re using couches as a metaphor for his previous girlfriends/relationships.

Eddie is suggesting that Buck could’ve found another girlfriend with her own couch if he had wanted to, but he hasn’t. His tone of voice is interesting to me because he’s not necessarily jealous but it does come off as somewhat passive.

B: “Maybe I don’t want to pick the wrong couch again.”

As Buck says these words, he holds intense eye contact with Eddie. It’s a heated look for sure because he’s trying to make Eddie understand that sure he couldn’t gotten another couch/girlfriend but he’s worried about finding another wrong person. He’s been burnt a few times and his last relationship was all kinds of wrong, which Eddie knows. So the fact that Buck is looking him in the eyes while saying that, slightly raising his brows to challenge Eddie to say something in return is very interesting. Again it’s like they’re definitely not talking about couches but instead talking about the fact that Eddie basically asked Buck why he hasn’t put himself out there again. Meanwhile Buck is informing Eddie that he’s not actively looking for anybody because he doesn’t want to jump into things and risk the next person being a wrong choice again.

(Gif by @whosoldherout)

I also find Buck’s look to have underlying fond tones. Because even when he’s questioning Eddie, he can’t help the love and fondness that is directed towards him everytime he looks his way. You can see it in his eyes, they’re open and it’s his special look he has reserved for Eddie. But there’s a definite underlying heat to them. Something’s changed because the looks they shared back and forth felt charged with something. They definitely have a sorta flirting back and forth going on in that moment and it’s so similar to how they used to be before their respective girlfriends.

One thing I want to mention is I love how both Eddie and Christopher show their love through teasing. That is sort of their own special love language and I think it was so cute and important for it to be Christopher who started the entire couch conversation by simple telling Buck that he “Doesn’t even have a couch.”

Exasperated Fond Husband Mode Activated:

During the scene in the golf course, I just want to mention how married they are. Buck is acting like an overactive puppy but only so he can prove to Bobby that he is a great candidate for interim captain. Eddie catches on almost immediately to his behavior. The part where Buck is closing off the entire area with caution tape and Eddie glances over his shoulder to where Buck is being Buck, it’s typical exasperated husband energy. He rolls his eyes and looks away in a I can’t believe I love this idiot kinda way. You can tell there isn’t anything malicious behind this look. On the contrary, it’s Eddie’s patented fond, exasperated husband look that is only for Buck. We’ve seen many other instances where he looks at him like this. One prime example is when Buck was teaching Ravi how to break the door in 5.04 and Eddie looked back and rolled his eyes again. This look only comes out when Buck is trying to put on a façade and overcompensate at work. I believe it’s because Eddie knows how capable and what a good firefighter Buck is. So he doesn’t think Buck needs to put on an act and be someone he isn’t to do the job they do. Hence the exasperated fond eye roll.

(Gif by @aa-lionheart)

Saws and Jaws Bring Out the Heart Eyes:

Eddie Diaz is completely smitten over on excitable Evan Buckley. Especially when it comes to Evan Buckley with his saw. You see Eddie standing behind Buck and I love how they immediately share a moment where they have a conversation with their eyes. They always seek each other on the job for any reassurance or just to check in with the one person they’re so close to.

(Gif by @jakejensen)

The heart eyes he can’t help but bring out when Buck is in his element just goes to show that Eddie likes when Buck is Buck. He loves his Buck and doesn’t think he should change himself because he’s perfect the way he is. It’s a vast difference to his exasperated look when Buck is trying to overcompensate and do more than he needs to and it shows. Eddie is at ease and when he’s at ease, his natural love and fondness for Buck just comes out. It’s like second nature for Eddie to look at Buck like this. His little smile and proud stance further proves that he likes when Buck is like this, in his element, doing what he’s best at.

Bobby and Buck + Couch Debacle Part 2:

Adding to the entire couch discussion, I think it was very important for Buck and Bobby to have the discussion they did at the station. It’s no surprise that Buck looks up to Bobby as a father figure and he was hurting inside over the fact that Bobby didn’t even think of him as a candidate for interim captain.

Buck asking Bobby if the reason for him not choosing him was “Because I don’t have a couch” was a great leeway into Bobby tackling what’s really bothering Buck. When Bobby asks Buck why he doesn’t have a couch, he opens up the floor for discussing what the real issue is that is bothering Buck.

Buck explains how he’s been having trouble picking one out because he’s afraid of making another mistake. Him confiding in Bobby that his previous relationship was a mistake is huge because again he views Bobby like a father figure. He feels comfortable enough to let him on his worries because he knows Bobby won’t diminish his feelings. On the contrary, he’ll help him out, which is exactly what happens here. He uses his own life experiences to try and connect with Buck so that it’s done on a more personal level.

BN: “In AA, there’s this idea that you take inventory of your life, admit your shortcomings, and hope that one day, you can look at the world straight in the eye and be alone at perfect peace and ease.”

B: “You uh, don’t think I’m at ease?”

BN: “I think the important thing is that you answer that question yourself. But when you are, you’ll know. And then you’ll be ready.”

Now here is another example of two conversations occurring simultaneously. They’re not really talking about couches and Bobby knows that to an extent. He knows what Buck suffers with the most and that is finding who he is and what his place is in the world. He’s looking for a partner that will stay and love him now he seeks. He’s been searching for that kinda love for a long time and Bobby knows that. Bobby in his own words is basically saying that he shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes or find the wrong person. There’s nothing wrong with being single for a bit and figuring out who you are while single. He wants him to embrace this about himself so that eventually when the right person does come along he will be ready.

That then leads to the final scene where we have Eddie and Christopher at home playing their game. The next clip is of Buck in his living room. He grabs the lone arm chair and moves it so that it’s in the middle of the living room, where the couch should be. This is him embracing his single hood for the time being and not being in any rush to go out and get a new couch (meet a new person). This is him being secure in himself and maybe taking this time to learn who he is without being in a relationship and who he is outside of his job. For now he’s happy with his choice but it leaves so many things open for interpretation. Because his conversation with Eddie is still a major factor in his decision to not get a couch. And a part of me thinks that we probably won’t even see Buck get another couch because the couch he’s been looking for, the right couch has been in front of him this entire time. And this perfect couch will be there waiting for Buck for whenever he’s finally ready to choose it.