9-1-1Tommy actor Lou Ferrigno Jr. has given his thoughts on Buck and Tommy’s breakup. Ferrigno Jr. joined the cast in season 2, before leaving the show for several years and returning for seasons 7 and 8. Tommy had a strong evolution on the show, returning as a proud and happy gay man, after finally learning to accept who he is, and not try to live a lie, before entering into a much-loved relationship with Buck. In season 8, episode 6, however, the coupleunexpectedly split after Buck discovers that Tommy used to be engaged to Abbyfor two years.
In an interview withFangirlish,Ferrigno Jr. explained the breakup and reflected on his character. He pictured that Tommy was a damaged person anddidn’t believe the relationship would last since it wasn’t mature enough. He also acknowledged Tommy’s flaws and that he probably already blames himself, especially given the Abby reveal. Check out the full comments below:
Just don’t hate me. With the way things were going, and the connection that they had, I was under the impression that it was working, and they were connected. [In the backstory I came up with for Tommy, he] is quite a damaged individual. He’s had a long, hard road of solitude, and in the past, his heart has been broken to a point that has really rattled him to the core. If preserving his emotional health and saving himself is the only means to survive, then you can’t shame him for it.
I honestly don’t believe that the relationship matured well enough that they should have made any type of long-term decision. [The breakup scene was] written beautifully [and I hope that fans could take from it that Tommy] is just doing what he knows to survive. I just would have hoped that it would have lasted a little bit more. [Buck is also] looking at those girls, and that sucks for Tommy, and it sucks for any person that’s looking at their partner looking at someone else.
A lot of that stuff is just out of Tommy’s control, and I think that maybe Tommy blames himself, or maybe he thinks he mystified Buck to the point where Buck is compromising on his own character, and I don’t think that Tommy wants to be responsible for doing that, because I think based on how he was with Abby and what happened there, he just doesn’t want to do this again. Yeah, that was hard, saying [Buck], because I knew exactly what that meant.
As far as he was concerned, he was Buck, but then there was something that was really kind of the gateway to just a more intimate situation, everybody knows him as Buck, but he’s now a step further and they’re connecting, and he doesn’t know the guy that was Buck. How did Buck get his name? He was probably doing something to get Buck, but Tommy didn’t know that side of him.
What Ferrigno Jr.’s Comments Mean For Why Tommy Made His Decision
Tommy Believed His Choice Was An Act Of Self-Preservation
Tommy’s unexpected choice to end his relationship with Buck came as a surprise to everyone and Ferrigno Jr. As his comments suggest,he understands the motives behind Tommy’s choice, and how it was an act of self-preservation. Buck is bisexual and is in his first queer relationship, so he is figuring things out as he goes and understanding what he is or isn’t comfortable with. Asking Tommy to move in with him was an impulsive reaction to discovering Tommy had a straight past, but in true Buck fashion, it wasn’t thought out.
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Tommy clearly believed that Buck would end up breaking his heart at some point, and given the former womanizer’s past, this was probably a shrewd conclusion for Tommy to make. A lot of the issues are things that are out of Tommy’s control. He is just doing what he can to save himself, while also not wanting to force Buck into a situation he is uncomfortable with. Thus,the9-1-1characterbelieved a breakup was the best course of action for both of them.
Our Verdict On Whether Tommy Could Return To The Show Again
For Now, It Seems The Character’s Arc Is Done
While it seems that Ferrigno Jr. is done with 9-1-1, and Tommy will conclusively leave the show, this may not be the case. Firstly, the actor has returned before, and Tommy could return in9-1-1season 9, should the show get renewed. But I think it’s more likely that this will be Tommy’s last appearance on the show, and his short relationship with Buck will help form the latter’s story arc moving forward. Ferrigno Jr. could return to9-1-1in the future, but it will depend on how long the show runs.
9-1-1season 8 airs Thursdays, 8 pm ET on ABC
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9-1-1 is a television series that explores the intense experiences of police officers, paramedics, and firefighters. Premiered in 2018, it follows these emergency responders as they navigate high-pressure situations and attempt to balance their demanding work with personal challenges in their own lives.
