The tenth season of 9-1-1 has erupted onto screens with a volcanic disaster that shakes Los Angeles, but the real tremors are happening in the personal lives of the first responders. Athena, Maddie, and May are adjusting to new roles, while Buck has thrown himself into fatherhood with his biological son, Theo, who has been living with him for three months. On the surface, everything seems rosy—Theo is happy, and Buck is devoted. Yet beneath that, a troubling pattern emerges: Buck has no idea how to set boundaries or enforce rules, and it's starting to take a toll.
In the premiere, Eddie notices that Buck's permissive approach is doing more harm than good. Theo's rough play has already sent Buck to the hospital five times in three months, and a dinner at Eddie's house ends with Theo accidentally knocking Christopher's crutch out from under him. While Theo apologizes immediately, it's clear that without discipline, his behavior will only escalate. But Buck's reluctance to be the bad guy isn't random—it's a direct echo of his own childhood, as explored in the fan-favorite episode "Buck Begins."
A Painful Past Resurfaces
Buck's backstory is one of the most heartbreaking in the series. He was conceived as a bone marrow donor for his older brother Daniel, who was battling leukemia. When the procedure failed and Daniel died, Buck's parents, Margaret and Phillip, were so consumed by grief that they emotionally neglected their surviving son. Buck grew up acting out, getting injured repeatedly, and engaging in risky behavior—all in a desperate bid for his parents' attention. He didn't learn the truth about Daniel until Season 4, and when he confronted his parents, he delivered a gut-wrenching accusation: "I have walked through fire every single day of my life because of you... because nothing I ever did was good enough!"
That revelation reshaped Buck's understanding of his entire life. He's since built a found family with the 118, and he maintains a cordial but distant relationship with his parents. But now, as a parent himself, those old wounds are reopening. Buck is determined to give Theo the love and validation he never received, but he's swinging too far in the opposite direction—avoiding any form of discipline for fear of making Theo feel unwanted, the way Buck once did.
Eddie Steps In
Eddie, who has navigated his own parenting challenges with Christopher, is the perfect person to call Buck out. He sees that Buck's leniency isn't kindness—it's a survival mechanism from a childhood where rules were absent because love was absent. Eddie gently but firmly points out that setting boundaries isn't the same as rejection. In fact, it's a form of care. Buck needs to learn that saying "no" to Theo won't replicate the emotional neglect he suffered; rather, it will provide the structure Theo needs to thrive.
This storyline is a powerful callback to the Buckley family's complicated dynamics, much like when Maddie faced her own parenting journey in Season 4. It also sets up a compelling arc for Buck as he confronts his past to become the father he never had. The premiere's focus on Buck's internal struggle adds depth to the action-packed chaos, reminding us that the most intense battles often happen off the field.
As 9-1-1 continues its tenth season, fans can expect Buck's journey to be a central thread. Will he find the balance between love and discipline? Can he break the cycle of his own upbringing? The show has a knack for weaving personal trauma into high-stakes drama, and this season looks to be no exception. For more on the premiere's explosive events, check out our full review. And if you're craving more character-driven drama, our list of adult animated shows with zero weak episodes might be your next binge.
9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8:00 P.M. EST on ABC.
