‘9-1-1’ Committed to a Gay Character. Will Other Shows Follow Suit? 

aired its 100th episode on April 4, the Los Angeles-set ABC firefighter drama, known for pitting its characters against tsunamis and hijacked cruise ships, did something so wild, so unexpected, that even day-one fans were left shocked: They had one of their main characters kiss another man.

Queerbaiting is a term for when shows use queer relationships to draw viewers in, but never actualize them. It gained widespread use in online fandoms in the 2000s, with television series likeis only one show, fans are curious — could this decision spark a sea change in how network tv approaches queer storylines? Oliver Stark, who’s played Buck for six years, has been aware of fan theories about Buck’s sexuality for a long time.

“Nobody wants to be accused of queerbaiting so I kind of stopped writing those characters together. And I think it hurt the show because I was so afraid to be accused of something that I wasn’t going where I would naturally go with the stories,” Minear says. “I just decided that I just have to write the thing that I think is right. I just have to be honest with the story I’m telling and let the chips fall where they may.

“I think shows have a responsibility to be mindful of their audience,” McFarland says. “There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of anticipation, at some point it just becomes taunting. While I understand that showrunners and writers have a vision and a flow for these shows, I also think that being open to hearing what your fan base feels and wants is crucial to the loyalty and longevity of shows.

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