‘9-1-1’: Oliver Stark Breaks Down Filming the Intense ‘Speed’ Rescue

Oliver Stark as Buck in 9-1-1
Preview
Mathieu Young/ FOX

LAFD’s first responders report back from winter hiatus with things up in the air for both an unfortunate paraglider in the hour’s opening bit and the crew at Station 118: Firefighter Eddie (Ryan Guzman) has transferred to the 9-1-1 call center, and paramedic Chimney (Kenneth Choi) is off helping dispatcher Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) deal with postpartum.

That leaves two open slots at the 118 and Buck (Oliver Stark, above)—Eddie’s old partner and Maddie’s brother—a bit adrift. In addition, his romance with TV reporter Taylor (Megan West) isn’t exactly newsworthy. “There’s a sense of settling there,” admits 9-1-1‘s Stark, whose impulsive hero finds a more kindred spirit tonight in Lucy Donato (Ballers Arielle Kebbel), a daring firefighter from another station.

The two team up for a breakneck rescue involving a truck wired to blow if it goes under 55 miles an hour. The Speed-like scenario gets pulses racing. “She makes him feel alive in a way he hasn’t in some time,” says Stark. “That’s very appealing.” So too was the chance to play action star. “Parts of it are shot zooming down the freeway. The other half is done stationary, with clever tricks of light. It was such a rush.”

9-1-1, Spring Premiere, Monday, March 21, 8/7c, Fox