After following this show for so long I keep seeing people wanting to see certain parings of people. This show has provided a surprisingly and refreshingly diverse group of characters. A vocal set of fans I've come across are the Buddie shippers. I understand the appeal of the characters but representation does matter and one is being shown extraordinarily by Buck and Eddie that some may have not considered.
There doesn't need to always be a romantic love between characters to make it equally important. These two guys explore the type of love that is not often displayed. It's the non-romantic soulmate bond, which is rarely shown between two people, and even more rare is that between two men, especially in dramatic TV and cinema. Two men who aren't afraid of showing their emotions to each other. Who do love deeply, sharing a life together, and in many cases still have romantic relationships with other people as well. It's important to show those types of friendships/ brotherhoods exist and are shown. Not just the comedy trope of "Bromances". Those macho barriers need to be broken. For too long, men who are emotionally open have had to feel ashamed because others would call you a sissy, question your masculinity, sexual orientation or whatever.
It may not be a "romance" that certain shippers want, but one that makes the show more diverse and frankly, more realistic. If those characters even did pair up, that could likely end the show as we know it because it would be unlikely that a couple, with a child, would be permitted to serve on the same unit maybe not in the department. Police often are the same way. The risk of losing two parents in an incident is not an acceptable risk. That would be a big hit to the 118 and the show. So I for one appreciate the route the writers and show runners have taken showing the diverse group of characters and their diverse depictions of love. I look forward to seeing more.
