9-1-1's Buck Makes A Dramatic Decision About Theo — Are You Worried? (Or Relieved?)

Well, "9-1-1" fans, we've got some news for you. Whether you take that news as "good" or "bad," however, depends entirely upon how you feel about the show's newest character.

After months of ER visits and silent judgment from Eddie, Buck finally reaches his limit with Theo in this week's episode, which finds Buck getting falsely arrested for kidnapping after Theo tells a concerned police officer that Buck isn't his father. Buck begins to wonder if Theo will ever see him as more than the stranger who took him from his parents, and he gets his answer when he notices Theo reenacting their fatal crash with his toys. (That would probably also explain why Theo is less than excited when Buck tries to add the firetruck into the mix.)

If there's one silver lining to this realization, it's that Buck and Eddie finally end their cold war; Buck apologizes for lashing out, and Eddie apologizes for overstepping. Still, Buck doesn't think he can be Christopher's father anymore, a sad declaration that closes out the episode. We don't know for sure whether Buck will actually follow through with this, but even if he does, would that really be the worst thing in the world?

We were never crazy about the whole sperm donor storyline to begin with, but when "9-1-1" brought Theo back at the end of Season 9, our interest was piqued. Oliver Stark's instant chemistry with the young actors playing Theo made for a fun watch, and with Christopher all grown up, it was nice to see Buck palling around with a kid again — you know, someone his own speed. But the storyline we've watched unfold since then has been something else entirely.

"No one is tuning in to '9-1-1' to watch Buck's parenting adventure," wrote one TVLine commenter after the Season 10 premiere, with another adding, "The storyline with Buck and Theo needs to go away." Even readers who support the idea of Buck becoming a parent still take issue with the storyline's execution: "I like the idea of Buck raising his son, but it is time to ease up on the Tasmanian Devil routine," one wrote.

And we can't say we disagree. Buck has grown a lot over the last 10 seasons, but every decision he's making as Christopher's guardian suggests otherwise. We understand that parenting is difficult, and this is an especially complicated situation, but it doesn't feel like Buck has been using his brain this season, and we're getting tired of watching him play dumb. Be honest: Are you enjoying the way this Theo arc is playing out, or are you hoping that Buck takes the L on this one? (We'll see you in the comments section!)

While Buck is busy agonizing over his failed parenting this week, Detective Athena Grant finds herself on the hunt for a man who misrepresented himself as a doctor at the scene of a car accident, giving out terrible medical advice to some incredibly vulnerable victims. Long story short, the guy comes from a family of doctors, and a neurological disorder is causing him to believe that he is also one.

The situation escalates when the man poses as a doctor at May's hospital, strong-arming her into assisting with an unnecessary appendectomy on a random patient. Fortunately, May — who was recently told that she's too nice while receiving feedback from doctors — figures out what he's up to and sedates him before he can inflict any more damage.

It's also a reassuring week for Maddie, who considers quitting her job after she's duped by that fake doctor over the phone. He fooled everyone, but Maddie takes it especially personally, even suggesting to Chimney that she could find a part-time job and spend more time at home. Her insecurities are eventually overcome when a woman she saves from a carbon monoxide leak shows up at the call center to thank her. (Poor Maddie. It feels like she's always either fighting to keep her job or fighting her own insecurities over whether she even belongs there.)

What did you think of this week's "9-1-1"? And how disappointed would you be (honestly!) if Buck decides he isn't a good fit for Theo? Drop a comment with your thoughts below.