Now that we’ve finally gotten to see Buck and Jee together, it’s notable the distinctly different energy between Uncle Buck and Christopher’s Dad.
Of course Jee is a literal baby and Chris is an eleven year old. But we’ve seen Buck interact with kids a lot over the years, and he’s one of those people who doesn’t do the goo goo gaga thing with babies. He engages with kids of all ages the same way, with care and respect. So, it’s not Jee and Chris’s age that that is the difference.
Buck is Jee’s uncle and he’s Christopher’s Dad and I think that’s telling.
One of the things that strikes me the most about Eddie’s dream sequence is Christopher’s disinterest. Not even just the “you’re always dying” line (and again, holy fuck, the layers to that) but the way he scarcely even looks at him at all. Of equal fascination is the way that Eddie does everything to keep his son’s attention on him: he pretends to be a waiter, he gets cream cheese on his nose, he ruffles his hair… There’s such an air of overcompensation there (a recurring theme [?] in this back half of the season: food + overcompensation as a diversionary tactic for avoidance of internal distress and discomfort etc etc) but the only time Christopher actually looksat Eddie long enough to study him is when he’s “dying.”
What does this say about Eddie’s subconscious, about Eddie’s fears? I mean, yes, yes, there is trauma there, obviously, but more specifically, what does this dream say about his relationship with his son? What layers of fear linger there? The dream sequence has all the hallmarks of normalcy (even calling back to Stuck in 2x04 with the bowl of cereal and even 5x11 with Eddie and Chris having breakfast), but it turns sinister so quickly. Not even because of the nature of Eddie’s traumas, but because of the insane out-of-character behavior from his own son.
IMO it all comes back to this (heinous and absurd) idea that Christopher would be better off if Eddie was dead. He continues eating his cereal like his dad’s not bleeding out/drowning in front of him; Christopher’s world doesn’t stop just because Eddie isn’t in it anymore, and that…. that is the thing that terrifies him. In a dream of terror and trauma, the idea of his son simply not caring if he wasn’t around more is one of the key things that rattles Eddie to his very core. Christopher saved him. Christopher is the reason Eddie is even alive and Christopher saves him every day just by existing. So the idea that he wouldn’t even be fazed to see him dead…. no wonder the idea haunts his dreams.
“You wanted us to bond, we might end up real close.” // “You could have my back any day.” “Yeah, or you could have mine.” // “Is your son really the reason you don’t date?” // “So does this boy crush on Eddie mean you’re over Abby?” // “Yeah, he gets that a lot. You should meet his kid, though.” // “You don’t find it son, you make it.” // “You two have an adorable son.” // “Hang on, Buck.” // “You’re gonna get out of this house, take a walk around the block, and get some fresh air.” // “He’s hanging out with his Buck today.” // “He was looking for Buck.” // “There’s nobody in this world I trust with my son more than you.” // “Thank you, for not giving up.” // “Do you know how much Christopher misses you? How could you, you’re not around.” // “I couldn’t even call you to bail me out of jail.” // “Your actions have consequences. Also what it means to be part of a team.” // “ I just want you to talk to me. Even if it’s just to say you’re still mad.” // “Whatever it takes for you to forgive me.” // “I forgive you. Just don’t do it again.” // “A total impulse buy. Not like you at all.” // “Especially if you’re not around to see that they need saving.” // “You and Chris needed me and I had my head so far up my own behind with that stupid law suit.” // “I should have been there.” // “This is my kind of therapy.” // “Buck, can I spend Christmas with you?” // “Yeah, I think you might be over-correcting here.” // “Then we dig by hand.” // “Wait. You all think he’s dead.” // “That won’t happen to us.” // “Two weeks away from home? What if something happens? What if he gets homesick?” // “Buck, stop, look, I know you made a promise.” // “What’s next?” // “Buck, can we go to your house to play video games?” // “I can know weird stuff, too.” // “If that’s how you feel, how they made you feel, you have every right to say so.” // “I had to do it.” “I know you did.” // “Still not sure what inspired the software update.” // “You’re a miracle worker.” // “You always got me, cuz I’m not going anywhere.” // “Curious what your definition of too much discipline is.” // “Two heads are better than one. What if we teamed up?” // “Just make sure you’re following your heart, and not Christopher’s.” // “Are you hurt?” // “Eddie, I need you to hang on.” // “Your dad’s tough as nails. He’s a fighter.” // “The team feels off without Eddie.” // “Hey, Buck.” // “You were there for him when I couldn’t be. That’s what matters.” // “Christopher would be taken care of. By you.” // “Nobody will ever fight for my son as hard as you, that is what I want for him.” // “Because, Evan.” // “You act like you’re expendable, but you’re wrong.” // “He takes Christopher there all the time, got the place memorized.” // “You need to tell me if something is wrong.” // “You’re the guy who likes to fix things.” // “Ice goes on the eye bud.” // “You don’t have to pretend with me.” // “Wait here, I’m gonna go get him okay?” // “Eddie, it’s me. I’m coming in. Stay away from the door.” // “I’m afraid.” “Okay. Okay. What are you afraid of?” // “Where’s Chris?” “Buck took him to school already, figured you could use the extra sleep.” // “That one’s mine. I misunderstood the assignment.” // “You guys should take this act on the road.” // “I know, I’m the guy who likes to fix things.” “Hey, it comes in handy when I have a bunch of holes in my wall.”
