For five seasons, 9-1-1 Spectators saw Los Angeles Fire Chief Evan “Buck” Buckley walk by puer Changes: From borderline addiction to one-woman man, for example. But recklessness and pursuit of a save has remained a signal characteristic of Buck (played by Oliver Stark). Of course, all of Buck’s firefighters are also courageous and face danger in the course of their work, but if one has to volunteer to risk his life, or immediately ignore instructions from superiors on the scene that one will be Buck, e Rescue strangers now and then accept disciplinary action.
Buck was, hands down, the hardcore firefighter 9-1-1 Have viewers ever seen … until now? In this week’s mid-season premiere, firefighters from the 147 bucked buck and the 118 rigged to extract a family from a truck; while Buck barely hesitates for a moment before jumping off the fire truck into the truck bed, another firefighter strikes him: the 147 Lucy Donato, played by Arielle Kebbel. Later, Buck and Lucy are the last two left hanging in a bar after a firefly, and although Buck is happily paired with Taylor (Megan West), there’s just something about Lucy he can not resist. Maybe opposite net always wear!
At the end of the episode, Lucy arrived as the newest addition to the squad at 118, so I spoke with both Arielle Kebbel last week in the Oliver Stark about everyone who does 9-1-1The incredible rescue sequences happen, what their romantic future might be like for their characters, and whether they are also suspenseful offscreen.
DECIDER: Arielle, how did this role come to you?
Arielle Kebbel: I read the script last November, and as I turned every page, I was like, “Oh my God, this is like Speed. Oh my God, I love that. Speed had grown up on one of my favorite movies, so right away, I was hooked. I was aware of this show – I had no idea how passionate the fan base was – but I was very excited to be in the 9-1-1 World. I thought it was such a fun way to introduce my character, Lucy, – not just to the show, but to bring it to 118. And I like to play characters where there is stunt work involved, and there are so many great action sequences: jumping off the fire truck, jumping on the truck, all the things we had to do in the desert on night shots. I just really like that.
With this character, there would be plenty of opportunities for action, but also plenty of opportunities for humor. And I think that’s really important in these shows: these are the moments when you have a break from the drama that you can fall in love with these characters through the funny one-liners.
I assume this is the first time you’ve played a character introduced in the Middle of an intense action scene. How did you prepare for it?
AK: Well, it’s funny. In the past, I played an assassin in a TV show [Midnight, Texas]and I played a cop who became a detective on another TV show [Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt For The Bone Collector]. So I thought I had a pretty good foundation. And then I actually realized, when I got on the set, that this was by far the most high-energy, action-packed show I’ve ever participated in. ech thought I was ready, and I realized that you can never as well prepared. Oliver can tell you, and he really helped me. With the equipment you have to carry as a firefighter, and then add that to the stunts and schedule, I learned that there really is no preparation you can do. You just throw yourself into the fire, as they say, ha ha.
Oliver, you have the experience to bring people into these action scenes aboard because you always do. How is the process for you to bring in a new person?
Oliver Stark: I really like it. One of the most rewarding parts of it for me is seeing the new people, be it Arielle or Anirudh [Pisharody, who plays Ravi] or Bryce [Durfee, who plays Jonah/”Monday”], who is also new to the show. I get to watch them grow into it. Take 1, it might make sense for them to find their way into it. And then with Take 3 or 4, you get this feeling where they like, “Okay. I want to go back. I want to hit it harder.” So it’s really cool for me to see that: there’s growth right before my eyes. You’re right when you say I’ve been through it a few times on the show, so I try to provide some guidance and steer people when I can. But most of all for me it’s just about encouragement: “Trust me. I know it’s creepy. If you do, you will say, ‘Can we do it again?’ because it’s really fun. “
AK: That’s one hundred percent true. Oliver was there at the end of our night shoot. It was, like, 5 or 6 in the morning. It was the first time I had to jump from one truck to another, and I was scared. He was right there, talked me through it and excited me. And after we wound up, I realized that it makes the stunt so much more meaningful when you have the cast and the collaboration. I think that also translates into episodes: the more support it gets behind the scenes, it just fills the moments on screen. I was very grateful for Oliver’s support and behind the scenes leadership.
OS: She destroys it.
Oliver, did you work on the same stunt double over the course of the show?
OS: Yeah, sorry, because I do not really like him. No, he’s one of my best friends. In the pilot, the stunt coordinator comes up to me – a coordinator named Mark Maslow – and he makes me a little bigger and was like, “Yeah, I mean, I have a guy.” So they bring this guy, Skyler Millicano, and we’ve built a really strong report on the seasons. He knows that when it comes down to it, I usually want to do it. So the way it tends to work, they will set it up with him and he will probably run it five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten times and make sure it is safe. And then he will be like, “This is a little naked.” “Look at your hands when you grab this.” He’s great at getting there and preparing for it and making sure I look as cool as I think I’ll ever get there. And then, funny enough, I actually bought a house about five minutes away from him. So he would come and train in my gym and our obligations had only grown over the years. So yeah, I feel like I’m stuck with him at this point.
Seeing these kinds of relationships must make you feel so much more secure as a new person on set, Arielle.
AK: Absolutely. It’s the safest set on I feel like I’ve ever climbed. Set security is so important to me. I feel very happy: Shauna Duggins, who is her stunt coordinator, also directed this episode. So I felt like it was a double win for me: I got to step into this new job with a female director, who I felt had my back to me, not only with acting, but even when it came to every stunt, because she is knowing the best camera angle and the best way to shoot her to make a woman look like a badass. And then, too, Jessie Graff was my stunt double. She is, like, the original American Ninja Warrior Winner, so I completely nerded out in front of her. I learn a lot from both of them and I feel really, really happy to be surrounded not only by such a supportive cast, but also by such a truly professional stunt team.
OS: In terms of her coming to the show – I do not know if that’s how you felt, Arielle – but I feel like it could be something that might be a little intimidating. We are a very close group and of course we always try to be welcoming, but I can imagine that there is a kind of new-child-at-school feeling. From our point of view, it never felt that way for a second. Arielle immediately felt like one of the bands and never missed a step. It fits right in with us. I mean, we all have real happiness in that sense.
AK: ehc! I’m blowing!
OS: Yes, I’m taking it back.
The action scene is one thing, but you two also have a make-out scene. How do you prepare for it?
AK: I think that’s definitely the worst part of the job.
OS: I have to go. Goodbye!
AK: No. Well, first of all, that was my first day of the movie. I was on set at 5:00 p.m. And my first scene was with 118, to celebrate after our big rescue. So that was definitely intimidating, but in a great way, because I felt like, ‘Oh, I can use that nerve, because Lucy would feel that too. She feels great hanging out with them, but it’s still a a little new. And then we went straight to the make-up scene. Oliver was so wonderful the first day too. I think we met in the make-up trailer, and he introduced himself and introduced me, so I immediately felt welcomed in a way that I was not sure I would go.Season 5 of a show, you really do not know what you are going to do in terms of set politics or dynamics.But immediately feel so welcomed, and by him in particular – that helped make things a little more normal, so hours later as we kissed, it was good.
OS: Being an actor is really weird.
AK: Yes. But also – I mean, Oliver, tell me what you think. There was salt all over our faces. Our characters drank. I feel like it was these funny things that happened all day that just make things less difficult.
OS: One hundred percent. Yes. I think this is one thing that happens: if you spend a day and you start at 6:00, pretending to be drunk in a bar, then there is a kind of placebo effect where you take it a bit and you get too stupid and find things funny that should not be funny. And, I feel like there was a real kind of chemistry built up, even in the early hours of that morning, so when we got to that scene, we were good to go.
Lucy and Buck obviously have a lot in common. They are attracted to each other, but could a relationship between two impulsive hotheads like this really work?
AK: I give that right to you, Oliver.
OS: Villmools Merci. I dont know. From my point of view – and listen, we do not really know where the story is going to go to be honest with you – but there is certainly something I enjoy when I think of the characters’ relationship. Lucy woke Buck up a bit and brought him to life in a way that left the way to fall dormant – not necessarily his kind of crazy Playboy side we saw in season 1, but just a lifetime and a wild side that can be profitable. I do not think Buck is looking to get directly into any kind of relationship with anyone new or anything like that. But I think he will surely enjoy and benefit from the Lucy around him.
The show has been out since December. Of course, it has to come back with an extremely gnarly save. Is the show still ready to shock you, Oliver, five seasons?
OS: I think the thing that shocks me about it is, I often read something in the scripts and I’m like, “Man, we will not be able to do that.” And then you turn on the set and there’s a man and his kneecaps hanging out and it looks very convincing. That’s the aspect that shocks me more – just the relentless pursuit of “No, no, no, we really do. This will be practical, at least to some degree. We’re really there and there really are two knees from the legs of this man.
That was one of the few times I had to turn away from the screen. It was brutal. So: well done!
OS: It was. There’s something really cool about it: me open with that. No waiting, no hanging over. No. “Let us meet these new people.” No Bam: Knees on the face. We’re back. I think this is a really fat choice. And I mean …
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