It’s safe to say that Evan Buckley (Oliver Stark) is not okay, despite what he says. Two episodes back, 9-1-1 Season 9 put the firefighter and his best buddy Eddie (Ryan Guzman) through the wringer when their otherwise pleasant road trip goes horrifically off the rails after they’re run off the road, and Buck is kidnapped after the crash. His harrowing experience trapped in Bonnie’s (Melinda McGraw) basement made for the highest-rated episode in the series’ history, but as seen in last week’s episode, he’s still haunted by everything that happened before Eddie came to his rescue. The consequences of trying to hide how he feels from those around him and soldiering on are now about to catch up with him.

Collider can exclusively share a new sneak peek at Buck in the doctor’s office from Episode 15, titled “Pick Your Poison.” The appointment immediately gets unsettling when the physician questions him about the CURES database, aka the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System. He wouldn’t bring it up if there weren’t concerns within the records, and, although he doesn’t specify, it’s clear that Buck’s name is in it far too often. Though he tries to plead his case and use his line of work to get more drugs, his physician isn’t having any of it, especially since he suspects Buck is going doctor shopping for someone who will just fill the prescription for his recreational use. He knows an addict when he sees one, and he makes it very clear that “the system has caught up with you, Mr. Buckley.”

Suddenly, all fears about the pills Buck was taking to help with his panic attack last week have been realized. He suddenly has a very real problem on his hands, and to get off this path, he’s going to need help from those who care about him most. It’s hard not to see the parallels between him and his late great “Pops,” Captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause), who battled his fair share of demons before and while captaining the 118. Bobby struggled with addiction after resorting to opioids and alcohol to cope with a back injury in his past, and all the damage he caused to his loved ones was a core part of his arc to find penance through helping others after transferring to Los Angeles. Perhaps the best lesson Buck can take from his old captain comes from all the way back in Season 1, when he and Hen (Aisha Hinds) reminded Bobby that it’s fine to ask for help after he broke his sobriety. Whether Buck will use that advice for himself, however, remains to be seen.

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Given the seriousness of Buck’s situation, his battle with addiction is bound to be a big part of the rest of Season 9’s story. Bobby showed that such a battle isn’t won overnight, and it’ll take a good support system around Buck, including, of course, Eddie, to get through this and properly process the trauma he’s had to shoulder ever since his father figure’s tragic death. In the meantime, the rest of the 118 have other pressing matters to report to on the job. “Pick Your Poison” will also see Athena (Angela Bassett) wrapped up in a curious murder investigation after a man reports his own death at the station before keeling over right in front of her. The team will also race to respond to a car crash involving a mother who tried to reach the ER after her son stopped breathing.

9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 15 airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Check out our exclusive sneak peek in the player above.

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Release Date

January 3, 2018

Showrunner

Tim Minear