9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 5 Review: You Don’t Know Me

After Buck’s storyline on 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 4, “Buck Bothered and Bewildered,” it is nice to see a continuation of his developing relationship with Tommy on 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 5, “You Don’t Know Me.”

With Buck still trying to figure out his feelings and who he is, it makes perfect sense that he is extremely nervous while on his date with Tommy. This obviously gets worse when Eddie and Marisol walk into the restaurant.

Even if nothing on the show officially points to Buck having feelings for Eddie, there is something scary about being honest with your best friend about who you are when you are still figuring it out. Buck’s behavior is completely normal for a queer person who is still trying to understand themselves.

Tommy and Buck clearly like each other, but they are on different stages of their sexuality journey. On the one hand, Tommy is very secure in himself, knows exactly who he is, and isn’t in the closet (or figuring out his sexuality).

Buck, on the other hand, is a queer baby. He is just now allowing himself to explore this side of his persona. As he says, this is the first time he has been on a date with a dude. So, it is understandable that his nerves are all over the place.

When Eddie and Marisol walk in, Buck gets even more nervous and mentions going with Tommy to find hot chicks. Tommy’s immediate reaction, mentioning that one can never have enough closet space, is a nice little indirect comment for Buck.

He isn’t pushing Buck to come out; he completely understands his situation and where he is in his own journey. He won’t pressure Buck, but he won’t go back in the closet for him or anyone else.

But as someone who met his best friend as a firefighter in a macho-oriented industry, Buck cannot predict Eddie’s reaction. He might lose his best friend for taking a chance at being himself.

This represents the queer experience perfectly. Every queer person has found themselves in that situation too. Is it safe for me to come out? Will my relationships change afterward?

Of course, Eddie is nothing but supportive of his best friend. Buck is still the same idiot (as he says) he has always known, and this doesn’t change anything between them.

It is the reaction we were expecting as viewers, but Buck’s sigh of relief after this moment tells us he wasn’t quite sure. Now, he can breathe freely because he won’t lose his best friend.

Maddie’s reaction is also one to highlight. She doesn’t freak out or make a big deal over her brother going out with another man.

She asks the typical questions a sister would ask her brother after finding out he has been on a date. But she also gives Buck that extra insight that only big sisters have.

When he says who he went out on a date with isn’t the point, Maddie pushes him to realize that maybe it is. Not because it is wrong, but because he has to come out to his best friend, which freaked him out during the date.

It is a nice one-episode journey to see Buck go from calling himself an ally to admitting he doesn’t know what he is ready for but that Tommy could be that something. Yes, inviting him to his sister’s wedding might be rushing into things, but that is the perfect way for Buck to show himself to the 118 completely.

The other important storyline on 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 5, “You Don’t Know Me,” works as a reminder that queer characters have always been a key element of this show.

When the social worker tells Hen and Karen that Mara’s best chance to win is with them, we know she is right. For seven seasons, these two women have shown us they are capable of loving, building a home, and giving every child who comes their way a chance at surviving and thriving.

During the emergency call, the dog’s owner says something that strikes Hen and pushes her to look further into what happened with Mara. “She was finally supposed to be safe with me” is how they feel about taking this little girl in.

And just like Chimeny points out, giving up isn’t in Hen’s vocabulary. Thankfully, Hen and Karen take a moment to think and figure out the best way to make Mara feel safe in their home.

What is so beautiful about this storyline is that it shows how every character will always have the support of the rest of this found family. Athena finds Mara’s parents’ criminal records and explains them to Hen (and to us) so that she can learn more about the little girl.

Maddie finds the 911 call Mara made when she found her parents dead. No matter what happens, the 118 and everyone connected to them will always have someone to fall back on in times of need.

That is why we know Mara is in good hands.

Even though there aren’t many emergencies on 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 5, “You Don’t Know Me,” the episode is a great look into the personal lives of some of our favorite characters.

There are times when it’s nice to leave the rush of an emergency behind and focus on the characters’ lives. It will definitely be nice to see how Mara’s story ends.

And it will absolutely be interesting to see how Maddie and Chimeny’s wedding goes. With the little preview at the end of the episode, as Buck and Eddie arrive late and Chimney is missing, anything could happen.

One thing is certain: with the 118, you never know what to expect. Every episode keeps us on our toes.

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9-1-1 airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.

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