9-1-1 star Oliver Stark is aware of the duty that comes with representing the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood on display screen; his character, Evan “Buck” Buckley, got here out as bisexual on the firefighter procedural final 12 months. And but regardless of the newfound recognition — and loads of model new eyes on the present — Stark rejects any “strain” to play the arc completely.

“There’s satisfaction and there’s a need to do good, clearly, and for [Buck] to be consultant in a optimistic means. However I don’t put an excessive amount of strain on myself,” Stark, 33, solely instructed Us Weekly whereas discussing his character’s queer evolution. “Any individual referred to as me a ‘bisexual bi-con’ in an interview final 12 months, which I type of cherished. However after I’m in my day after day at work, I don’t consider it in these regards. I simply consider it as, ‘Let me simply play Buck, and that is what he’s going by way of and that is what he’s coping with in the mean time.’ And that in itself, I believe, is healthier illustration — a bisexual character simply residing his life.”

Stark, who has portrayed Buck on the ABC collection for the reason that 2018 premiere, “actually wished” the sexual awakening story line for Buck, telling Us that he was a “massive fan of endorsing it” when it was first introduced his means. And whereas a lot of crafting Buck’s journey is in different folks’s arms — like 9-1-1 showrunner Tim Minear — Stark’s “power” stays on “enjoying every scene within the second” and leaning into the “reality” of who the character actually is.

“That in itself is then the illustration,” he defined. “So I’m not consciously being like, ‘Alright what foot do I’ve to place ahead right here to finest painting this in a broader sense?’ I simply attempt to play him as an actual particular person residing in these moments, as a result of that’s the true lifetime of this bisexual character. So I don’t really feel an excessive amount of strain in that regard, not no extra so than I’ve ever enjoying him. I simply play him honestly.”

Being a fan favourite character is nothing new for Stark; identified for going coronary heart first into any and each state of affairs, Buck has been beloved from the present’s starting and has remained an integral a part of the Station 118 household. His bisexuality merely added one other layer to the character, a narrative level that was launched throughout season 7 and shortly after the 9-1-1’s community shift from Fox to ABC.

Season 8 has continued to delve deeper into Buck’s romantic journey, with episode 5, titled “Masks,” showcasing his persevering with romance with boyfriend Tommy Kinard (Lou Ferrigno Jr.). The Thursday, October 24, Halloween-inspired episode noticed the duo navigating Buck’s a number of accidents that he believed had been a results of a curse positioned on him by a mummy.

The story line may need been performed for laughs, but additionally served as a “reintroduction” to the brand new couple of their day after day lives.

“It’s good, I assume, to have Buck being taken care of after he hurts his shoulder. It’s good to see that regard and that facet [of their relationship],” he instructed Us.

“I don’t know many companions that may soar all in and be like, ‘You’re proper. You’re cursed. How will we struggle this?’ So I can’t actually fault him for that,” Stark mentioned with amusing, referencing Tommy’s hesitancy to help Buck’s theories. “After which, you understand, he reveals up on the finish. … Which I believe is sweet. It was a very good little reminder to the viewers, as a result of, clearly, we haven’t seen him for a short while.”

Tommy, nevertheless, isn’t the one character who reveals up for Buck all through the episode. His BFF Eddie (Ryan Guzman) can be there by his pal’s facet for a lot of the drama. Stark mentioned that attending to work with each Ferrigno Jr. and Guzman in scenes is at all times a “nice” expertise — particularly when he requires him to sit down again and watch the duo in motion.

“It’s humorous to say this, however [Ryan and Lou] specifically actually bounce off one another effectively, I believe,” he defined. “They get on very well, so it’s good. I similar to to witness that. However we’ve got a very good time and I just like the dynamic there, and the dynamic inside the scenes the place it tends to be Eddie and Tommy vs. Buck.”

There are fairly a number of scenes with the trio collectively all through “Masks,” from moments at Buck’s residence to the hospital, with each males serving as a continuing help system for Buck as he navigates his “curse.” When requested what Eddie at all times popping up might imply on a deeper stage — some followers have questioned if there’s something deeper than friendship between Buck and Eddie for seasons now — Stark paused earlier than providing a considerate rationalization.

“You realize, Buck and Eddie clearly have an extremely shut relationship, and Buck and Tommy are nonetheless originally of their relationship,” he instructed Us. “So in these moments when Buck wants somebody to indicate up, clearly Tommy is there, however then there’s additionally the steadiness that he is aware of, that pillar of stability, which has been, and can proceed to be, [Eddie]. He’s not going to forged Eddie apart.”

He adopted up by stating that it’s good for Buck to have essential folks in his life “get alongside so effectively,” noting that Eddie was a part of Tommy’s life earlier than Buck got here round.

“Clearly these two characters had been nice associates earlier than Buck and Tommy had been ever a factor. So the truth that we’ve been in a position to proceed that, I believe, is an effective factor,” he mentioned. “I believe they’re each displaying up for him.” (As for Buck displaying up for Eddie after his son, Christopher, moved to Texas, Stark mentioned viewers will “positively see Buck garnering a bit extra understanding of precisely what Eddie’s going by way of” because the season goes on.)

Buck believing he’s been cursed by a mummy is undoubtedly one of many character’s most outrageous, if not entertaining, story strains of the present, but it surely falls consistent with who Buck has at all times been as a personality. For Stark, it’s all of the steadiness between lighthearted and extra significant moments that makes 9-1-1 what it’s.

“This character, I just like the issues that [the writers] throw at him,” he instructed Us. “From a thematic perspective, I just like the enjoyable stuff. I just like the foolish stuff that [Buck] has handled, like, in episode 5, for instance. … I believe episode 5 is only a very nice mix of all of the issues that 9-1-1 does very well. It’s humorous in moments and it’s a bit foolish in moments, after which it has some actually dramatic and laborious hitting stuff, and all of that’s wrapped up right into a 42-minute episode.”

Whereas Stark mentioned he prefers to lean into the “humorous and foolish” facet of that 9-1-1 line, he appreciates the “deeper” moments, too — and warns that there can be lots arising for Buck as early as episode 6. A kind of scenes will embrace a costar Stark hasn’t shared a lot display screen time together with his season: Jennifer Love Hewitt, who performs Buck’s sister, Maddie.

“Subsequent episode, there’s a very pretty Buck and Maddie scene,” he mentioned. “Or, I hope it’s actually pretty. I believe it’s fairly significant in some ways. Buck is, as he typically is, going by way of one thing and spiraling a little bit bit, and he tends to lean on these round him when that begins to occur. Maddie is clearly a type of folks.”

Spiraling, Stark mentioned, is one thing Buck will proceed to do all through season 8, and the actor foreshadowed massive modifications he’s excited to look at play out.

“Episode 6, I believe, is perhaps going to alter the trail that Buck is on a little bit bit, change his trajectory. I’m actually enthusiastic about that and looking out ahead to seeing what meaning for him,” Stark teased. “I don’t know what it means for him but, however I can let you know this: it’s enjoyable.”

Stark additionally referenced extra of these lighter moments for Buck, hinting at “lots of cooking” and “baking” within the character’s future. “I had some enjoyable doing these scenes with plenty of, ‘All proper, combine this and switch this off,’” he quipped, providing up a small spoiler he thinks followers will love: “He’ll be baking together with his niece,” he mentioned. With a sly smile, he added, “There you go, you may have that one without spending a dime.”

Whereas Stark has been shining in entrance of the digicam for eight seasons, he’s additionally turn into a dependable supply for a few of 9-1-1’s extra prized behind-the-scenes moments, capturing flashes of the forged on set by way of his pictures. Stark lights up at simply the point out of the inventive outlet, telling Us snapping pictures has helped “sluggish him down” and “concentrate on the little moments,” each on and off set.

“It simply makes me type of admire issues round me a little bit bit extra,” he mentioned. “After which at work, after I’m photographing behind the scenes, it simply helps me concentrate on the little moments between us. We have now nonetheless photographers on set, however they’re there for a distinct motive and don’t have the private connection or the within monitor that I’ve. The little moments between us that no one else actually will get to see the place, that’s what the place the true type of fantastic thing about {our relationships} lies.”

Stark is most focused on snapping pictures when it’s simply him and his costars “sitting in our chairs, enjoying a foolish sport and laughing with one another,” saying that he feels “fortunate” to have the ability to “honor” the connection he’s constructed over time by way of movie.

“Once I get these negatives again and scan them in, I take a look at them and I simply really feel such pleasure taking a look at these little moments that we share between us,” he instructed Us. ‘I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s captured perpetually now.’ And attending to share them, whether or not it’s sending Aisha [Hinds] an image, sending Ryan [Guzman] an image, sending Kenny [Choi] an image. It’s essential for me to memorialize these moments that we get to share collectively.”

So will these digicam expertise translate to a future as a director? “I don’t know, perhaps someday,” he mentioned. “It’s not one thing that’s in my close to future, but it surely’s one thing that I might see myself open to, or actually, like, even when it’s not directing, being in some type of position that helps craft the story.”

Whereas directing could have to attend, Stark remains to be having a blast portraying Buck — and emphasised how particular it’s for him that individuals have been “clinging” to the character for eight seasons now.

“I do know folks don’t at all times suppose this, however there’s lots of myself in [Buck],” he mentioned. “I believe we put ourselves into something that we do, any character that we play. So to see him be so beloved, and so apparently relatable, means lots to me.”

Earlier than parting methods, Stark relayed a message he hopes to convey to followers: “Thanks for loving the present,” he mentioned. “Thanks for loving Buck. It makes me really feel very accepted.”

New episodes of 9-1-1 season 8 air on ABC Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.