‘9-1-1’: Will Buck Adopt Theo? (POLL)
Back in 9-1-1 Season 6, Buck (Oliver Stark) was a sperm donor for his friends, Connor (Colin McCalla) and Kameron (Chelsea Kane). The couple returned in Season 9, with that kid (Lincoln and Theodore Sykes), but it ended in tragedy: They died in a horrific car accident, which the 118 responded to — cue parallels to Eddie (Ryan Guzman) being on scene when Shannon (Devin Kelley), the mother of his son Christopher Gavin McHugh), died — leaving Theo an orphan.
In the ending montage of the 9-1-1 Season 9 finale, after Harry (Elijah M. Cooper) commented that everyone they know either has a kid or is a kid, Buck decided to bring Theo into his home. He’s fostering the kid, Stark made sure to note when discussing the season with TV Insider in May.
He made that decision because, at this point, he’s “looking for movement” in his life, seeing his friends and family with children, and “feels at a place in his life emotionally where he can show up for somebody in that sense,” Stark explained.
He also stressed that he’s not so sure that Buck will be a “father” to Theo “as much as it is foster parent.” He expects Buck to offer “a guiding hand, but I like to think he’ll be a parent that would let a child make mistakes and maybe talk about why this or that was wrong. Not a parent who is overly controlling, but is there to guide and support.”
At the time, Stark said he expected Season 10 to see his character navigating “the foster system and the difficulties and will we have to fight for him or why is nobody else fostering him, where is his extended family?” and leaning on those around him with kids, like Eddie who has experience being a single dad.
So, the question then becomes, will fostering Theo lead to Buck adopting him? If it does, it feels likely that there will be some sort of drama first, like a relative of Connor or Kameron’s wanting (and fighting Buck for) custody. It could also take Buck a bit of time to decide if he wants to adopt Theo and if that’s the right move for both of them, especially given his job. We could see Buck planning to adopt Theo, only for something to happen on the job that makes him realize it’s best for the kid if he’s living with someone else.
What do you think? Let us know in the poll and comments section below.
9-1-1, Season 10, Fall 2026, Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC
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M
He better not. It’s the worst storyline they’ve ever done and will ruin his character for the rest of the show.
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J
Seriously, that storyline is making me not want to watch the new season live (and I've been watching live since season 1 episode 1), because I'll want to fast forward all of those scenes with that kid. I don't have a problem with the actual kid, obviously, but, to me, that storyline is all over the place and is destroying a few things about the show. I already didn't like the storyline in S6, for a few reasons, but this... this is worst. And it seems like it's the only thing they can talk about, which is so annoying. I was already annoyed (and bored) while watching 9x17 (at least the parts about the kid); I can't even imagine how it will be when the season airs.
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C
I think that he should adopt Theo. Theo is him when he was younger, Buck needs that connection to having someone in his life. They are nowhere near making Buddie happen. Let Buck have a little happiness in his life.
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C
He will also have the support of his sister and the fire family to support him
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K
This is the most annoying storyline. I don't like bratty kids. Especially where the parent does nothing to control them. I don't think Buck could handle a well behaved kid, let alone this terror. I guess I'm done with 911. I have stopped watching several times but this will seal it.
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M
I hope he does! I am very excited about this storyline and its potential to bring Eddie and Buck even closer as well as help Buck understand a bit more about himself and keep on walking the maturity road he's been on since s6...
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G
I think we wait and see! If he get used to him in few episodes and he probably decide.
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B
Hopefully they bring Tommy back and complete the family unit.
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