Inside the 9-1-1 Fandom: How the Fans Made the Show Their Own

I’ll be the first to admit that until getting swept up in the world of 9-1-1, it had been years since I’d properly seen the inside of a TV show fandom. 

As a result, there was a lot I’d missed about how it looks when fans are as deeply committed to a series as the people who love this “silly firefighter show,” as it’s affectionately called.

From ‘ships to social media wars, fanfictions to fanart, and everything in between, 9-1-1 is treated almost like a religion to loyal fans, and they’ve managed to turn the show into something entirely their own.

The elephant in the proverbial room is, of course, Buddie — the ship name for Buck and Eddie.

As fans pointed out the first time I wrote about the duo, the ship name was coined not by viewers but by the actors themselves in a public online exchange between Ryan Guzman and Oliver Stark.

For years, firefighters Buck and Eddie have been best friends and partners (not only in work but also in life, as seen in the way they support each other in every aspect of their personal and professional lives).

Watching the show carefully, it’s easy to see why people have interpreted their relationship as being romantic. 

9-1-1 is full of meaningful platonic friendships, which makes the stark difference in how Buck and Eddie are written all the more obvious.

But arguably, the most fascinating thing about Buddie is the way the show’s most engaged fans interact with the idea of a couple who aren’t (yet) together in that way.

A quick search of the internet’s largest fanfiction website for works featuring the relationship between Buck and Eddie reveals that over 34,000 stories have been written with a Buddie romance at the center.

More than 49,000 stories (fics, as they’re called in fandom spaces) have been written about the show as a whole, so it’s not just about Buddie.

People genuinely love this show and are driven to expand it however they can.

On Twitter/X, a subcommunity referred to as “911twt” is active around the clock, even when the show is on hiatus. Thousands of people regularly post about 9-1-1.

Whether they share fics or expertly crafted fanart of their favorite characters, the community is generally supportive and friendly as they bond over the show.

But with passion about anything comes strong opinions, and like with any fandom, there are lines in the sand.

Sometimes, the fandom argues about whether Buck’s ex-boyfriend, Tommy (Lou Ferrigno, Jr.), deserved a clean slate after being racist and misogynistic toward Hen and Chimney in early seasons.

The conversation is often serious about issues with real-world impacts, like the consequences of recharacterizing Gerrard as a silly source of comedic relief without addressing his bigotry.

Writing choices like that don’t go unnoticed, and 9-1-1 fans aren’t afraid to be vocal about their criticisms, even when it comes to their favorite show.

One topic that comes up frequently is the intersection of how beloved Athena (Angela Bassett) is and how difficult it is for people to connect with police storylines.

And then there’s the fact that virtually every major storyline involving Hen and Karen has had them suffering in unimaginable ways, despite how badly fans want to see the Wilson family happy.

But the discourse isn’t always heavy — there’s a lot of joy in talking about less severe topics, too.

That’s when the disagreements take a lighter tone. These days, there’s a big debate about whether Buck is a blonde or a brunette, which somehow evolved into edited photos depicting Buck as bald circulating on the timeline.

Back when 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 1 aired, there were very passionate discussions about Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) and the new mustache he was sporting.

The flavor-saver may not have lasted long, but self-proclaimed “Eddie Mustache Truthers” have taken to editing the mustache on stills from recent scenes — the ‘stache lives on.

There’s a fair amount of not-safe-for-work stuff going on within the fandom, too, from sexually explicit fanfiction and art to speculation about characters’ kinks and roles in the bedroom.

Some folks have even veered into controversial territory, engaging in “real person fiction,” or RPF — a concept where fans ship the actual actors themselves. In this case, it’s Ryan and Oliver in the hot seat rather than Eddie and Buck.

But more than the controversies, debates, ‘ships, and what-ifs, the fandom is focused on 9-1-1’s heart, which is its representation of the found family trope.

One of my favorite tropes in media is found families on TV, which gives fans hope that there’s a way to fit in with people who love you even if you weren’t born into it.

All of the main characters explore the meaning of found family in different ways, which translates easily to fans who each bring their own experiences to their interpretation of the show.

There’s Buck, who never felt wanted or loved by his parents; Eddie, who always had to do what was expected of him to earn his family’s love; Bobby, whose past haunted him to the point of feeling undeserving of love.

Then we have Hen, whose trauma has often been downplayed by her family, and Chimney, whose mother died and left him with a father who wasn’t much concerned with him.

Without those varied experiences, the found family at the 118 wouldn’t be as powerful, and its depth is what resonates so deeply with fans.

As the years and seasons have passed, 9-1-1 fans have become such an integral part of the show that their presence is felt on the screen in some ways.

These folks have managed to predict major plot lines with stunning accuracy based on intricate theories they’ve built together over the years.

For example, when ABC released stills for 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 4 showing Buck wearing a green shirt, Twitter/X users immediately guessed that Buck and Tommy would be breaking up in that episode.

Why? Because in all of Buck’s major breakup scenes, he’s been dressed in a green shirt.

They were right; the relationship ended by the time the credits rolled.

Other theories have crept into the writers’ room — whether they have actually impacted any stories remains to be seen, but showrunner Tim Minear has confirmed that he’s aware of the popular “couch theory.”

(In a nutshell, the couch theory is that couches are a metaphor for the overarching relationship between Buck and Eddie.)

Fanfiction, video edits, and art have all made their way into the hands of the show’s stars, a fact that was partly revealed when Oliver Stark admitted that he and Ryan Guzman had seen Buddie fanfiction. 

Stark joked in an interview with Decider about seeing some fan-made Buddie edits that led to him “weeping in the shower” before firmly saying that he’d support a Buddie endgame if it were written.

Still, the writers and the stars alike know how fans feel about a slow-burn romance between Buck and Eddie, and they’re careful to avoid making promises they can’t keep.

In many ways, the show’s cast and crew have formed a relationship with its most devoted fans, wanting to deliver the best possible story while simultaneously protecting fans from feeling led on or baited.

Having been lucky enough to interact within the 9-1-1 fandom as both a fan and a journalist who occasionally talks about the show, I’ve felt enchanted by how this community interacts.

With the same sort of casual internet closeness that can be found in many online circles, 9-1-1 fans tend to act like a found family of their own.

There can be a bit of angst in the community, as is expected in a space full of people who love something this much, but there’s something to be said about finding joy wherever you are.

In a fandom where juice has come to represent joy, Tuesdays are for pre-dinner ice cream, and costume choices send viewers into spirals, there’s never a dull moment — and it’s perfect the way it is.

Watch 911 Online

9-1-1 returns Thursday, March 8 at 8/7c on ABC.