9-1-1 Is Chickening Out Of Buck’s Best Story In Years

Published Nov 9, 2026, 9:30 AM EST

Misty Layne started as an actor and sketch comedy writer before deciding to concentrate mainly on writing. Utilizing both her love of television and film and her behind-the-scenes knowledge, she began a website reviewing films in 2013, with a focus on horror and indie media. Eventually, she began writing about all things television and film for other sites as well. Misty shares a home with five cats, a ton of books, and a fairly impressive vinyl collection.
 

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Warning! Some spoilers ahead for 9-1-1 season 10, episode 4.9-1-1 season 10 episode 4 “Imposter Syndrome” was aptly named. While the episode explored imposter syndrome in a few characters, Buck and his relationship with Theo were the main focus; after all, being a parent is the biggest case of imposter syndrome ever. Every parent has felt that at some point: not having a clue what they’re doing and wondering how the universe saw fit to give them this responsibility.

Buck’s imposter syndrome in this episode got a little out of hand, as the show took his and Theo’s clashes to the extreme (because 9-1-1 must always jump to the most extreme option, and we love the show for that). But Buck feeling like a bad father and his overwhelming sense of not knowing what he’s doing led him in a direction that would mean 9-1-1 is chickening out of Buck’s best story in years.

Buck And Theo’s Clashes Make Buck Question His Role In Theo’s Life

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Ever since Theo came into Buck’s life, there have been issues. A lot of it has to do with Buck being way more lenient with Theo than he should be, but it’s partly Theo’s trauma from the wreck that killed his parents, too. Their clashes have injured Buck multiple times and led to fights between him and Eddie. In fact, at the beginning of episode 4, Buck and Eddie aren't talking to each other (unless it’s to snipe at one another), while the other members of their team are betting on when they’ll stop being so awkward around each other.

“Imposter Syndrome” really upped the ante in Buck and Theo’s relationship, though. A montage shows Theo running around like the wild child he is and Buck desperately trying to keep up (and failing). Then it’s off to the child psychologist, who ends up counseling Buck and recommending a therapist for adults to him. It’s all played for laughs, but it’s far more serious.

By the end of episode 4, Buck has been arrested after Theo accused him of being a kidnapper. Once that’s worked out, and they're back home, Buck tries to play with Theo, who has been crashing cars on the coffee table. However, when Buck pulls out a fire truck to come “help,” Theo gets upset and runs off, and Buck realizes Theo is thinking back to the wreck that Buck saved him from.

The good news is that Buck and Eddie reconcile by the end of the episode, with each apologizing to the other. The bad news is that Buck now questions whether he should be in Theo’s life, because he thinks that Theo might see him as the person who took him away from his parents, rather than as a parental figure.

9-1-1 Finally Gave Buck Some Major Responsibility, So Yanking It Away Now Would Be A Step Back

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Buck told Eddie, “I can’t be Theo’s dad,” but if 9-1-1 ends this storyline with him giving Theo up, it could be a massive mistake. Buck has come a long way over 10 seasons. He’s no longer the brash young guy who nicked fire trucks to get laid; now he’s in a more stable place in life where baking is his happy place.

However, despite all his growing up, Buck hasn’t really had any major responsibilities outside of work until Theo. Parents and married couples surround him, but Buck isn’t anywhere close to that kind of life (and that life isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine, too). However, giving Buck his first true major responsibility in the form of a child, only to possibly take it away, feels like taking the character a step back.

In a season that’s already seen a lot of growth, particularly for May, Harry, and Athena, taking the opportunity away from Buck for more seems like the incorrect thing to do. Here’s hoping that 9-1-1 has Buck talk to Theo instead (because have they ever had a conversation?) about what the child wants before making any impulsive decisions.