10 Couples From ‘9-1-1,’ Ranked
The first responders of the Fox-turned-ABC drama 9-1-1 are the first ones we’d want to hear on the end of the line and see coming our way in the middle of an emergency. But when it comes to matters of the heart, well, some of them have that figured out much better than others.
Three relationships have been going strong—for the most part—for a majority of the show thus far, with the eighth season set to air in fall 2024. Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Karen (Tracie Thoms) came into the show already married, though they’d face some drama early on in the show’s run. The show surprised fans with Bobby (Peter Krause) and Athena’s (Angela Bassett) date at the end of Season 1. Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) had to get through more trauma than anyone should to find happiness. And love has not been easy for Buck (Oliver Stark) or Eddie (Ryan Guzman), but one of them might be making something work now.
Below, we take a look at 10 couples on 9-1-1 and rank them. Now, remember: These are pairs who have been shown to be romantically involved onscreen and only 10, so that means no Buck and Eddie.
What are your top couples from the show? Let us know in the comments section, below.
10. Eddie & Marisol
Honestly, we don’t even know where to start with these two. In Season 6, Eddie meets Marisol (Edy Ganem) on a call during which he and the rest of the 118 save her brother from a home renovation gone wrong. And to be honest, we never expect to see her again. Next thing we know, Eddie bumps into her at a hardware store, then calls her for a date, and soon into Season 7, she’s moving in … without any time for them to get to know each other. Fortunately, they realize just that when he discovers how close she came to becoming a nun, but sadly, that’s not the worst of it. They’re together when he runs into a doppelgänger of his late wife and starts to semi-date her and things get very messy. Let’s just say that the best part of this relationship is that it doesn’t seem like there will be one again after Marisol finds out about Kim.
9. Buck & Taylor
These two may have worked as just friends with benefits or even just friends who had a one-night stand, as they are in Season 4 (following their hookup two years earlier). But instead, the two end up getting together, he kisses Lucy (Arielle Kebbel) and follows that up by asking Taylor (Megan West) to move in, and it might as well have been the beginning of the end. Unfortunately, it’s not. Instead, it takes several (too many) more episodes and Taylor running a story she’d said she wouldn’t for them to eventually break up for good. But let’s be honest: She never stood a chance after her introduction to the team and following them around on the day they also were dosed with drugs.
8. Buck & Abby
The romance between the firefighter—especially considering he uses the truck for hookups when we first meet him—and dispatcher is a surprise in the first season, and on the one hand, it can be said that it helped Buck to grow. But on the other hand, when Abby (Connie Britton) left at the end of the first season, that really should have been it for their relationship. For her, it is. He stays loyal even as Maddie tells him she’s not. And it only gets worse when Abby shows back up, in the middle of a train derailment, and needs Buck to save the life of her fiancé.
7. Eddie & Ana
It’s not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with this relationship, it’s just, to be frank, boring. There are no sparks, and it seems to be more about how Ana (Gabrielle Walsh) and Eddie’s son Christopher (Gavin McHugh) relate to each other than the romance. The relationship is pretty much doomed from the moment Eddie has a panic attack after she’s mistaken for his wife.
6. Eddie & Shannon
Maybe in another life, Eddie and his wife last. Maybe they raise Christopher together. Maybe she still leaves for Los Angeles (with a note for Eddie) but they make it work when they reunite to get their son into a school. Maybe Shannon doesn’t want a divorce. Maybe she doesn’t get hit by a car and die. Maybe he doesn’t realize, as he seems to think now in Season 7, that she may have been the love of his life. But those are just maybes and what ifs. And despite how rocky their marriage was, it’s still probably his best relationship to date.
5. Buck & Tommy
Buck’s best relationship so far is his latest with Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.); he realizes he’s bisexual after getting jealous when Eddie makes a new friend, only to reveal that it’s because he wanted the attention of the former member of the 118, leading to a kiss in the show’s 100th episode. At first, Buck struggles to admit he’s on a date with Tommy when Eddie runs into them, but he does then tell his best friend and his sister and invites Tommy to her wedding as his date. It’s at that point that the rest of the 118 finds out about them. Season 7 ends with them still together, and really, whatever happens next, it would take a lot to make it Buck’s worst relationship.
4. Michael & David
One good thing comes out of the blackout that causes a whole lot of chaos: Athena’s ex-husband Michael (Rockmond Dunbar) meets a doctor, David (La Monde Byrd), in an elevator. The two date and live together through the pandemic, and David pretty much becomes part of the family (with Michael and Bobby’s hijinks) even before Michael eventually proposes—which is derailed by a major fire in the hospital. The two then leave Los Angeles, but an update in Season 7 reveals they’re married. This is probably the least drama-filled, successful relationship on the show (helped, admittedly, by a lot taking place off-screen).
3. Hen & Karen
One of the best couples on TV is already married when the series begins. And we have to give all the thanks to Chimney for setting up his coworker and neighbor, as 9-1-1 finally reveals in Season 6 flashbacks. It’s not smooth sailing even from the start, to get to the happy family they are with their son Denny (Declan Pratt)—from Hen’s ex Eva (Abby Brammell), another obstacle—but a firefighter/paramedic and a literal rocket scientist? Their love is solid, and they’re a great example of a couple making it through the hard times, near-death experiences, and tough blows together.
2. Maddie & Chimney
Their relationship starts out sweet enough, with the dispatcher and firefighter/paramedic having sparks from the moment he, Buck, and Eddie help her move into a new place. Then they’re basically dating without realizing it, but when they finally do plan to have dinner, her abusive ex-husband (Brian Hallisay) shows up, stabs Chimney, and kidnaps Maddie. It’s an emotional rollercoaster from there, consisting of the birth of their daughter, her postpartum depression (causing her to leave for a period of time), an off-screen breakup, awkward one-night stand then reunion, and finally an engagement and wedding. These two deserve all the joy they get, and we love that we finally see that in Season 7.
1. Bobby & Athena
The couple we don’t expect becomes the one we can’t live without. The captain of the 118 and the sergeant surprisingly go on a date (after a rough call) at the end of Season 1, and as they navigate the early stages of dating in Season 2 (keeping it secret, for example), we realize just how great they are together. Their fights are raw (like when she discovers he’s sponsoring a woman whose drunk driving caused a pile-up at AA, or he faces that tragic fire from his past coming back to haunt him), and there’s nothing like her saving him or the two of them working together to save an entire cruise ship on their honeymoon).
Be on the Front Line
Get absolutely everything about 9-1-1 in your inbox!
Conversation57 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
R
Bucktommy my beloved!! I am SO excited to see where the show takes them and their relationship - it's been such a beautiful journey of tenderness and care between them so far, and I can't wait for more!!How can you not love how much Tommy shows up for Buck, literally coming straight from fighting a wildfire to the hospital simply because Buck asked? How can you not love how well Tommy can read Buck? Noticing his mood shifts, constantly checking in on him, and matching his vulnerability? How can you not love Buck consistently reminding Tommy, who never had a family but desperately wanting one, that he has a place with them, with the 118? That Tommy belongs and is cared for?And just...the fact that they've been carving out these spaces for each other for so long, long before they even knew the other existed. It's so, so good! Thank you ABC, thank you Tim and Oliver and Lou, and thank you TVInsider for including it in this article!
-
R
Thank you for your beautiful words, they are stunning. You are stunning and have worded this in a way that there's nothing more to say. I love this show and the diversity in the relationships and I love to see what will happen next
-
-
R
Bobby and Athena definitely earned that #1 place. I'm liking Buck and Tommy too and looking forward to more.Kind of surprised Eddie and Marisol are even on this list but if you've got to include them, that ranking is probably accurate.
-
R
Love seeing Tommy on there! Buck's storyline was so sweet this season and I related to it a lot as someone who also realized they were bi as an adult. I wish I'd had someone half as sweet as Tommy at the time! Love them and can't wait to see more of them next season <3
-
R
Love seeing Tommy on the list. I love what we've seen of Buck and Tommy so far. I can't to see what the next season has in store for them.
-
R
Bobby and Athena are truly that couple! Henren, Maddie, and BuckTommy are also my favorites. I am looking forward to seeing Buck and Tommy develop more since with a shorter season, it does feel as though we missed out on some key moments between them. Out of all of Buck's previous relationships, I do feel like there is something special they are building between them. Eddie and Marisol though, I mean, Ana had more development than Marisol did honestly and I didn't even ship them.
-
R
Great ranking! Bobby and Athena and Maddie and Chim have been great to watch grow over the seasons. Hen and Karen are amazing, I adore them! And I'm really loving Buck and Tommy so far! Looking forward to more of them!
-
R
I’m so happy to see Buck and Tommy be recognized as a good relationship for Buck. It has so much beautiful potential and I’m so excited to see where it goes next season!
-
R
Love Buck's new love interest for sure. Tommy seems like a cool guy and I'm looking forward to their relationship blossoming next season. Really hope 911 spends more time fleshing him out!
-
R
I LOVE BUCK AND TOMMY! They are definitely the big surprise of this season and they work so perfectly together. I can't wait to see more of them next season! Truly think this could be it for buck <3
-
R
Buck and Tommy are so cute. Tommy is definitely the stability that Buck needs in his life and Buck's the sunshine that Tommy needs.
-
R
Really love seeing Buck and Tommy on the list. They are a really recent couple but so far Tommy has been so good for Buck! Hope to see lots more of them in season 8!
-
R
Buck and Tommy, Bobby and Athena, Hen and Karen, Maddie and Chim are 😍😍😍😍😍 can't wait for my for all of them, especially Buck and Tommy.
-
R
This is so fun! I hope Buck gets to be in a relationship like the 3 at the top, and I think that relationship could be with Tommy ❤️
-
R
I love that BuckTommy made this list and they are so high up. Buck is so smitten with him and Tommy has such heart eyes when Buck's talking. It's one of the better relationships that Buck's been in. I agree the best relationship in the show is between Bobby & Athena.
-
R
I love Bucktommy!! ☀️🌈
-
R
BuckTommy is so great! Happy to see them on here and it's like Kenny said- nice to see Buck with a love interest he actually likes ;)I hope to see more good things for them in season 8 and beyond!And of course, you can't get any better than the top 3- those couples are goals for sure!
-
R
Totally agree with the top 5 ranking! And I can’t wait to see what’s next for bucktommy! 💕
-
R
Agree with the ranking. I've loved Bathena and Henren since the beginning. Madney and Mavid were beautiful additions later on in the show. And now Buck is finally with someone I can root for.
-
R
Amazing list! I am so happy to see BuckTommy made the top 5! Over time, I hope they move up the list. I know they haven’t had as much time as those other couples, but I love their relationship. It’s easily Buck’s best. Tommy is confident, mature, patient, and emotionally intelligent. He inspires Buck to be brave and mature as well. Buck is so enamored in a way we’ve never seen and rightfully so. They are both just totally smitten with each other and it is lovely to behold (still swooning after that finale!). I am so elated that they’re thriving and I am spending the summer enjoying thinking about them, rewatching their scenes together, and just enjoying all the love among my fellow BT fans until the show comes back from hiatus. Thank you thank you thank you times a million Tim and Oliver and Lou for this beautiful story. I really can’t sing Oliver and Lou’s praises enough for their moving performances. They both made such great choices as actors that convey so much to us (facial expressions, inflections in their tones, more!). I cannot wait to see how Buck and Tommy’s relationship deepens in Season 8. I seriously feel like I wasn’t expecting much from the tv season this year, but the development of Buck and Tommy’s relationship has been the best and most wonderful surprise of my recent memory.
-
R
BuckTommy, then Madney, Henren, and Bathena.
-
R
So glad to see Buck in a relationship where he looks so happy and smitten. Can't wait to see more of Buck/Tommy in s8 and beyond, they really struck gold bringing Tommy back as Buck's love interest, he truly fits into the 118 family who can stand as his own character 💕
-
R
Now that is a decent top 5, all of those couples are beautiful and great!
-
R
so excited to see buck and tommy develop more next season!! the representation from them has been amazing to watch. hen and karen, chimney and maddie, and bobby and athena are also always so amazing, this show does canon couples so well !!!
-
R
Liked the order but Marisol & Eddie were the worst example for a couple with Ana & Buck & Taylor right behind them. Thrilled for the Buck realization and his first crush being Tommy. Chemistry is amazing. Tommy is just who Evan needs for his first encounter in this world. He’s Evan’s rock right now. Thank you Tim!!! Please don’t go to fast with Evan’s journey. Whiplash is bad for all of us. I’m not sure Eddie did or will ever reach his realization. But if so, I hope it’s a few seasons away to allow Buck to grow and Eddie to heal.
-
A
Jennifer Love Hewitt AKA Maddie...YUM! 😍
-
R
Shame that people have to spam an article about their hate for a ship, when the people who actually are enjoying the ship could care less. So far Tommy IS Buck's best relationship. There's been no drama, and it's his first relationship since coming out as bisexual. I feel like that's the biggest part people are missing. We beg and beg for queer rep, and we get it! But it's not the fanon ship that you want so you go crazy and send hate to everyone and their mother about it. Like toddlers throwing tantrums. You obviously don't care about the queer rep! I think it's lovely queer storyline, and as we know 9-1-1 never leaves things drama free so I am sure the perfect picture their relationship was in s7 won't stay the same in s8. I'm excited to see what challenges they face, because I still believe they'll get through things healthier than he ever did with Taylor or Abby, because Buck has grown! And Tommy seems level-headed.
-
R
Nunca había visto a Buck tan, tan feliz y sano en mi una relación. Espero con todo mi corazón que el amor entre Buck y Tommy florezca y próspero y, sea éste, la relación definitiva de Buck. Que sean felices, queridos. Love and thanks to Oliver Star, Lou Ferrigno JR and Tim Minear for bringing these beautiful characters to life. Spreading pure love.
-
R
Some of these were surprising at first, but the rankings do make sense. Also love to see Buck and Tommy on the list. Their relationship has been such a breath of fresh air. Plus having another canon queer relationship that's developed in such a fun, organic way makes me very excited to see where the show takes them next season!
-
R
A lot of great couples listed, but I'm going to highlight the newest one, because they really really struck gold with them: Buck & Tommy! Fantastic arc for Buck, not just because it's nice to see more queer rep on tv especially in such a nice way, but because Tommy is actually a good match for him and is already showing us new sides of Buck. And Tommy? such a great addition to the cast, he fits very well and I cannot wait to know more about him. A huge win any way you look at it, they really knocked it out of the park with this couple!
-
R
Tommy is definitely Buck’s best relationship so far! I really hope there endgame <3 I’m so glad to see more queer relationship representation!
-
R
Buck and Tommy have very quickly caught my heart!!!!!! I love them so much!!!! It’s not often that we get to explore this kind of dynamic in tv shows and Buck’s bisexual awakening arc was perfect!!!! Tommy is such a good addition (return really) to the main cast and his presence feels organic!!! I really hope he gets to stay ❤️
-
R
Did he tell you he doesn't support Trump? Because he posted things in support of him and hasn't posted anything to counter that. If he has, please link it. He posted anti choice, misogynistic, ableist, fatphobic garbage as well. He's never apologized and that trash is still on his insta and twitter.
-
R
you know buck and eddie had always bad relationships one because eddie is gay (just waiting for it to become canon) and two because the only person that can make buck and eddie happy are EACH OTHER. you can admit tommy isn’t the best relationship isn’t a homophobic thing to say btw but completely lie when we literally don’t have anything that PROVES is a good relationship. you could’ve add ali since she was probably the best gf that btw had the same screen time as tommy or more even. she was supportive, nice and cared for buck. tommy hasn’t done anything to show that he truly cares for buck. thanks.
-
R
Marisol has got to go. Tommy is okay for now but not in the long run.
-
R
Natalia and Ali belong into this list, Marisol and Tommy not at all.
-
R
Despite not actually dating, Buck and Eddie are true soulmates and will soon be on this list here
-
R
Where is Ali? She almost had the same amount of screentime as this strange Tommy guy and didn‘t make the list? She also was so much nicer than that dude.
-
R
Buck‘s best relationship is Eddie, otherwise (except for Tommy) the list is pretty accurate.
-
R
I really hope we see Buddie finally get together in season 8! No one has ever come close to having their chemistry and their little family unit with Chris is so wonderful.
-
R
I was hopeful when I first saw Buck and Tommy that it'd be a cute and engaging relationship it is NOT. Tommy is so wooden and such a bore. Buck deserves someone who matches his energy!
-
R
Really hate seeing Buck and Tommy on the list. They are a not even a real couple but so far Tommy has been so awful for Buck! Hope to see even less of them in season 8!
-
R
This is so fun! I hope Buck gets to be in a relationship like the 3 at the top, and I think that relationship could be with Eddie ❤️
-
R
Buck and Tommy are so unappealing. Tommy is definitely not the stability that Buck needs in his life and Buck's simply just a body that Tommy needs, because he thankfully can‘t have Eddie. Poor Buck deserves so much better.
-
R
Buck and Eddie, Bobby and Athena, Hen and Karen, Maddie and Chim are 😍😍😍😍😍 can't wait for my for all of them, especially Buck and Eddie.
-
R
Tommy is Buck’s WORST date. It‘s not even a relationship,
-
R
The fact that this article named Tommy Buck‘s best relationship so far, when its basically Buck dating a gay racist says it all.
-
R
I cannot wait for Eddie and Buck to finally get together next season. This is going to become the most epic moment of the entire season.
-
R
Disgusted seeing Tommy on there! Buck's storyline was so terrible this season. Hate them and can't wait to see nothing more of them next season <3
-
R
bathena really do deserve the number one spot !i'm really despise buck and tommy together. i know that we haven't seen all that much of them yet (thank god) but what we've seen has been really awful.bobby was already delusional when he said that tommy is good for buck.anyway i can't wait to see less of them in season 8 !!
-
R
Buck loves Eddie.Eddie loves Buck.They finally are going to get together next season.I‘m looking forward to it so much.
-
R
I’m so disapponted to see Buck and Tommy be recognized as a good relationship for Buck. It has so much beautiful potential (are you freaking kidding me?) and I’m so NOT excited to see where it goes next season!
-
R
Bucktommy my most hated couple ever !! I am SO excited to not see where the show takes them and their relationship - it's been such a awful and disgusting journey of mental abuse and zero care between them so far, and I can't wait for them to be over!!How can you not hate how much Tommy never shows up for Buck, literally forcing him to show up from fighting a wildfire to the hospital simply because Buck expected it? How can you not hate how bad Tommy can read Buck? Never noticing his mood shifts, constantly not checking in on him, and not even matching his vulnerability at all? How can you not feel sorry for Buck who consistently had to remind Tommy, who never had a family but desperately wanting one (does he really?), that he has a place with them, with the 118 that Tommy 100% is not interested in at all.And just...the fact that they've been carving out these spaces for each other for so long, long before they even knew the other existed, but yet failing to realise that they are fooling themselves, because there is absolutely nothing special between these two. It's so, so awful! No thanks ABC, Tim and Oliver and Lou, and you TVInsider for including it in this article!
-
R
I‘m sorry but Taylor Kelly was Buck‘s best relationship up to now. Mum and Dad (Abby and Tommy) came not even close.
-
R
This begging for Buck and Eddie over the past few years is absolutely correct. Buck always gave indications of being gay until the writers finally pulled it out this season. And Eddie has positively always shown tendencies of being gay. Why do people what this so much? Because they see how these two are true soulmates. However Buck and Tommy had been the weakest part of this series up to date. For a show that has given us two wonderful same-sex relationships/couples -- Hen+Karen and Michael+David, it is so hard to believe that they would actually care for this bland character.
-
R
I must admit Buck and Tommy definetely don‘t belong on this list. This couple is the most awful thing 911 had ever done. Not because of the bisexuality of Buck, but does the show actually want to make me believe that Evan Buckley would have any interest in such a bland guy, who never shown any real interest in Buck. Nope. Not at all. I hope Tommy is gone by episode 8.3
-
R
The show really epicly failed by bringing Tommy back. Sure, he hasn't had that much screentime (which is on par with any newly introduced love interest), but the few scenes he's had with Buck has been both horrific and awful and more than enough to show that they are not a great fit for each other. It's icredibly sad to see Buck not only figuring out that he's bisexual, but also exploring what that might mean to him, with someone who is this awful to him as a human being. It's also not surprising to see that Tommy hasn’t grown and changed as a person since we last saw him, although I do hope that this won’t get adressed further in the upcoming season. Can't wait to see the end of them and their relationship!