Connie Britton’s Season 1 exit from 9-1-1 on Fox was one of the series' biggest game-changers, so obviously there was quite a bit of excitement when it was announced she would return to play Abby Clark for multiple episodes of Season 3. Now, executive producer Tim Minear has noted that Abby will re-enter the series with some “unfinished business,” concerning Buck, and spoke a bit about his thoughts on the character's head space.
Many will remember the two tried a long distance relationship when Abby left to visit Ireland after her mother’s death. That trip ended up turning into a tour of Europe, and eventually Buck moved out of her apartment and on from any hope of a relationship. Tim Minear recapped some of what's happening with Buck upon Abby's return, and teased some of the complications that may arise for him with her coming back.
I do believe she has unfinished business. Abby promised she would come back and she never did. So there’s unfinished business for Abby, and definitely also for Buck. He’s kind of lost at sea right now. He’s still trying to figure out who he is, and his relationship with Abby started to redefine him. Once she left, he had to figure out who he was without her.
Tim Minear’s comments on Abby’s return (which has been in the works for a while) are intriguing, and hint at the main problem Abby’s return could present on 9-1-1. Buck has worked on himself since finding Abby, and her return may put at risk all the growth he’s had while she was away. Is he willing to retread old ground if it means going back on some of the ways he’s grown since she left?
Of course, that's assuming Abby even wants anything to do with Buck. Perhaps he'll unexpectedly learn she's back in the States and not be too happy he had to find out that way? Abby has to be aware that Buck's feelings must be a little hurt after she threw away their relationship for an extended Eurotrip, and seeing as she's the more seasoned one of the pair, may have figured it best to steer clear of him upon her return.
There are a thousand different ways Buck and Abby can reconnect, but perhaps focusing on Tim Minear's core reveal to TVLine is most important. Abby's situation with Buck is "unfinished business," so there should be no doubt their former relationship will be addressed in her return. The chances of the two becoming a permanent couple feel slim considering Connie Britton's return is temporary, but who knows? Perhaps Abby could remain an off-screen girlfriend, or Britton could sign up for a more permanent role on the show after this stint.
9-1-1 airs on Fox Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Tune in there for the eventual return of Connie Britton's Abby, and stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest news happening in television and movies.
