If you’ve been following the chaotic, heart-wrenching, and occasionally absurd lives of the 118, you know that the question "does Maddie and Chimney get married" isn't just about a wedding. It’s about survival. These two have been through more trauma than most fictional couples combined. We’re talking kidnappings, postpartum depression, stabbings, and literal near-death experiences.
Yes, Maddie Buckley and Howard "Chimney" Han finally get married.
But it wasn't easy. It was never going to be easy. If you were expecting a simple "I do" in a church with flowers and a reception that goes off without a hitch, you clearly haven't been watching 9-1-1 for the last seven years. Their path to the altar was paved with a medical emergency that felt like a cruel joke from the writers, yet somehow, it ended up being one of the most intimate moments in the show's history.
The Absolute Chaos of the Madney Wedding
The lead-up to the big day in Season 7, Episode 6, titled "There Goes the Groom," was a total nightmare. Chimney goes missing. Not "he’s running late" missing, but "he’s wandering the streets of Los Angeles in a state of viral encephalopathy" missing.
It was terrifying.
While Maddie is sitting there in her wedding dress, trying to keep it together for their daughter Jee-Yun, Chimney is essentially losing his mind. He’s hallucinating. He thinks it’s years in the past. He even sees his late friend Kevin. It was a bold narrative choice by showrunner Tim Minear, shifting what should have been a celebratory episode into a tense, psychological thriller.
Honestly, the tension was through the roof. Most fans were screaming at their TVs because the show has a history of pulling the rug out from under us. We remember Doug. We remember the stabbing in the driveway. So, when Chimney is found hospitalized and confused, the "does Maddie and Chimney get married" question felt like it might have a very depressing answer.
Why the Hospital Wedding Worked
They didn't have the big, flashy ceremony at first. They couldn't. Chimney was stuck in a hospital bed, recovering from a brain infection.
📖 Related: Donna Summer Endless Summer Greatest Hits: What Most People Get Wrong
But Maddie? Maddie Buckley is done waiting.
She realizes that the dress, the venue, and the guest list don't matter. What matters is the commitment. In a small, quiet, and deeply emotional hospital room ceremony, surrounded by their "found family" from the 118, Maddie and Chimney finally exchanged vows. It was raw. It was messy. It was perfect for them.
Bobby Nash officiated, which was the only right choice.
The contrast between the bright, sterile hospital lighting and the warmth of their love created this weird, beautiful atmosphere. It felt more "human" than a thousand-dollar ballroom wedding ever could. They've spent their entire relationship healing each other, so it's only fitting they officially became husband and wife in a place dedicated to healing.
The Long Road to "I Do"
To understand why this wedding mattered so much, you have to look back at the wreckage they climbed over to get there:
- The Doug Factor: Maddie arrived in LA literally running for her life from an abusive husband. Her capacity to trust was shattered.
- The Stabbing: Who could forget Season 2? Chimney gets stabbed by Doug and nearly dies in front of Maddie. It was the ultimate "welcome to the relationship" trauma.
- Postpartum Struggles: After Jee-Yun was born, Maddie’s battle with PPD was one of the most realistic and painful portrayals on television. She left. She had to get better. And Chimney waited. He always waited.
- The Reunion: When they finally found their way back to each other in Season 6, it wasn't a fairy tale. It was a slow rebuilding of trust and shared parenting.
They are the "slow burn" that actually paid off. In a TV landscape where couples are often broken up for cheap drama, 9-1-1 decided to let Maddie and Chimney be the rock.
The Meaning Behind the Name
There’s a small detail many people missed during the wedding. Chimney is rarely called "Howard." But during the vows, that's the name used. It signifies a level of vulnerability he only shares with Maddie. He isn't just the comic relief or the reliable paramedic in that moment; he’s a man taking a stand for the woman he loves.
👉 See also: Do You Believe in Love: The Song That Almost Ended Huey Lewis and the News
Also, can we talk about Jennifer Love Hewitt’s performance? She brought a level of exhaustion and relief to that episode that felt so real. You could see the years of "Buckley family baggage" falling off her shoulders the moment she said "I do."
What This Means for Season 8 and Beyond
Now that the "does Maddie and Chimney get married" saga is settled, the show has shifted their dynamic. They aren't the "will they/won't they" couple anymore. They are the "how do we survive the next disaster as a unit" couple.
Being married hasn't made their lives boring. In the early parts of Season 8, we see them navigating the complexities of a dual-first-responder household. It’s about childcare, trauma management, and trying to keep their spark alive while the world (quite literally) burns around them.
The wedding wasn't an ending. It was a fortification.
Common Misconceptions About the Wedding
A lot of casual viewers thought the wedding was canceled because of the "missing groom" promos.
Nope.
Others thought it was a dream sequence because Chimney was hallucinating so much of the episode.
✨ Don't miss: Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail: Is the New York Botanical Garden Event Worth Your Money?
Also nope.
The marriage is 100% canon. It’s official. The paperwork is filed, even if it was signed while Chimney was wearing a hospital gown. It’s one of those rare moments in network television where the writers actually gave the audience the win they deserved after years of investment.
Moving Forward as the Hans
If you’re looking for a takeaway from Maddie and Chimney’s journey, it’s that timing is usually a disaster, but the person next to you doesn't have to be. They didn't have a perfect wedding because they don't have a perfect life.
For fans who want to revisit this journey, I highly recommend re-watching "Fight or Flight" (Season 2, Episode 13) and then jumping straight to "There Goes the Groom" (Season 7, Episode 6). The growth is staggering. You see two people who were once terrified of their own shadows becoming each other's safest harbor.
Next Steps for 9-1-1 Fans:
- Watch Season 7, Episode 6: This is the definitive answer to the wedding question.
- Track the "Madney" Evolution: Look for the small ways they support each other in Season 8—especially how Maddie handles the dispatch center stress while Chimney is in the field.
- Focus on the Family: Pay attention to Jee-Yun’s role in their lives now; she is the heartbeat of their household and the reason they fought so hard to get to that hospital altar.
- Check the Credits: Keep an eye on the writing team, as the shift toward more character-driven milestones like this marriage has defined the show’s move to ABC.
The "Madney" wedding was a reminder that even in a show defined by plane crashes and earthquakes, the biggest moments are the ones that happen in a quiet room, between two people who simply refuse to give up on each other.