Does Buck Die on ‘9-1-1’? What We Know About The Future of Oliver Stark’s Character

Ryan Murphy’s Fox drama 9-1-1 is finally back, but honestly, at what cost!? Fans have been eagerly awaiting the show’s return since its winter finale aired in November 2022. But the March 6 spring premiere ended with a downright torturous cliffhanger that put a major character’s life in jeopardy.

In Season 6, Episode 10, “In a Flash,” the 118 spent the day dealing with emergencies caused by a dry thunderstorm that rolled through Los Angeles. In the episode’s final minutes, disaster struck as the first responders were working to put out an apartment fire, so now we’re left to ponder the fate of a fan-favorite character for the next week.

If you have yet to watch 9-1-1’s 2023 return and want to avoid spoilers, consider this your chance to stop reading. But if you’re longing to break down what happened in those final intense moments and hear Decider’s predictions for the firefighter’s fate, you’re in the right place.

Curious if Buck dies on 9-1-1? Wondering if Oliver Stark leaving the show? Or if Buck will just be in a coma for a bit? Read on for everything Decider knows about Buck’s Season 6 fate and next week’s episode.

What Happens to Buck in 9-1-1 Season 6, Episode 10? Buckle Up, Oliver Stark Fans:

On the final 911 call of Season 6, Episode 10, Buck (Oliver Stark) climbed to the top of the truck’s ladder to start hosing down the apartment fire from above. He was struck by a bolt of lightning with a jolt so strong it sent Eddie flying off the truck and Buck toppling over the ladder’s edge. Luckily, Buck’s harness caught him before he hit the ground, but as Chimney, Hen, and Bobby stared up at the limp body dangling from the ladder, we knew Buck was in trouble.

Bobby called for an additional task force and rescue, while Eddie quickly regained composure, screamed Buck’s name, and climbed to the top of the ladder to rescue him. After Eddie lowered an unconscious, unresponsive Buck to the ground, Bobby got him on a gurney and Hen said they couldn’t shock him because he was in full cardiac arrest. The team loaded Buck in the ambulance, sped off to the hospital, and the last shot of the episode was Buck’s helmet left behind on the street. DARK. 

So Does Buck Die on 9-1-1?

We’ll admit that things DON’T look good for Buck at the end of Season 6, Episode 10. But is this show really about to kill off one of its core characters? We’ll have to wait and see how the cliffhanger plays out in episodes to come, but based on running plot points and quotes from 9-1-1’s executive producer Kristen Reidel, we have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of Buck.

Aside from the fact that his death would absolutely crush fans, we doubt the show would kill Stark’s character off right in the middle of his big sperm donor storyline. In the spring premiere, Buck finally told his family he donated sperm to help his old roommate and his wife get pregnant. He showed them the sonogram of the baby boy, and much to his surprise, his parents were supportive. “I think it’s great,” Buck’s mom said. “You’re a miracle baby yourself, Buck. Why not share it?” We saw Buck being a natural with kids at the start of the episode and he enjoyed time with his family throughout, which suggests he might want a family of his own one day. Later the episode, Buck said he thought his parents may be less thrilled about the situation than they let on. And it sounds like Buck may have some doubts about his decision at some point during the season.

In a post-winter finale interview with Entertainment Weekly, Reidel gave fans an idea of what’s to come for Buck. Though she doesn’t share any huge spoilers, her comments suggest that Buck’s story doesn’t end after that lightning strike. “When Buck made this decision to be a sperm donor, it came from a sort of selfless place. He saw two people who needed help and he had the ability to help and he thought, ‘Of course I should help these people.’ But I think he never really considered what he did or didn’t want to get out of it. And now it’s not a theoretical kid. He’ll have a lot to figure out as this baby gets closer, because with sperm donors, the relationship can vary: some are never known, others are involved in the life of the child. I think the question for Buck going forward is, ‘Why did I say yes to this?'” Reidel explained.

Since Buck has yet to really question his decision to donate sperm, we can only assume those conflicting emotions crop up later in the season, which means Buck likely recovers from the lightning strike, god(Ryan Murphy)-willing.

Looking ahead to next week, Season 6, Episode 11 can also give us some valuable insight into Buck’s future. The description for 9-1-1’s March 13 episode, “In Another Life,” reads: “As Buck’s life hangs in the balance, he dreams of a world where he never became a firefighter, for better and worse.” It sounds like Buck may be in a coma for a bit after his accident, but here’s hoping he comes back to us soon. We can’t imagine the show without him, we can’t imagine Eddie without him, and we’re also not sure how much more tragedy Bobby can take this season! Bring Buck back and let Bobby REST, 9-1-1 writers!

New episodes of 9-1-1 air Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Episodes are available for next-day streaming on Hulu.