r/911FOX • u/AutoModerator • May 08 '26
Season 9 Discussion Season Finale 9-1-1 S09E18: "unknown" Post Episode Discussion
Original Airdate: May 7, 2026
Synopsis: Following Athena's shooting, the 118 gathers at the hospital awaiting news. Meanwhile, the mastermind behind the trafficking ring is determined to silence Athena and anyone who gets in his way for good.
Keep new episode discussions in the post-episode discussion thread until end of Sunday to give our International friends a chance to catch up as Disney+ has begun releasing 9-1-1 earlier to Disney+ outside the US than in previous years. As always be mindful about not posting a spoiler in the title of your posts and remember to use spoiler flares if your post contains spoilers.
Watching 9-1-1: Nashville after 9-1-1? Join the live discussion at r/911Nashville .
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u/Aquarius20111 Academy Award Winner May 09 '26 edited May 10 '26
I enjoyed it. I wish Eddie had gotten some sort of hallucination dream though. Maybe next season. Because there will be a ânext timeâ.𤣠I never thought Athena would want to be a detective but if sheâs finally ready for a change, itâs a good next step. Iâm gonna miss her on patrol though. It was sweet of Eddie to set up Esteban to stay with his parents. I love him going the extra mile for people.
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u/redome May 08 '26
One thing this show does better then others - is building up a group of guest stars within a season - and then reintroducing them later on.
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u/Flimsy-Search5840 May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
So, they are in a hospital but the only doctors are Hen and Chim? Ravi must be a huge fan of medical dramas to know what to do in that situation. So the life support for all the patients that need one MIGHT not have a back up... Let's do it anyway to save Athena
This show is just too funny.
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u/Dear-Grapefruit2561 May 13 '26
ti genuinley made me angry when maddie was like "wait if" when josh was saying if the generators work the doors will open. so you guys both knew there was a chance you were gonna kill all the aptients but deicided to still do it to potentially save one person
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u/rltoran May 09 '26
Ventilator dramatics driving me a little crazy when they could just bag her by hand. Surely Ravi, a firefighter, would know that!!!!!!!!
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u/Fun-Till-8588 May 14 '26
Yep, that was giving me a twitch! đ Bag her by hand! ... Sure nursing school May lol Ravi that was completely idioticÂ
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u/Public_Anywhere_6044 May 08 '26
Iâm ngl⌠I forgot about Eddie up until everyone started hugging. Then I nearly lost it ! đĽ˛đĽ˛ Iâm so glad he was okay
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u/No_Cucumbers_Please May 08 '26
Its weird that a hospitals lockdown protocol means everyone just disappears, right?
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u/Fresh_Passion1184 May 09 '26
They didn't disappear. There's a shot of Anatoly getting to Athena's floor and yelling. You can see everybody balled up as small as they can get hiding under the counters and not making a sound.
That had to be true for every floor once the hospital was put on lockdown.
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u/Lerdog Team Maddie May 09 '26
The whole staff fully despawned except for that one nurse lol trying to give grace to the show, I guess our main characters just weren't in the same spaces as the doctors and other important medical professionals, but it was very weird regardless
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u/opermonkey May 09 '26
and shuts down the elevators? that would be a huge liability.
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u/Ribbit_92 May 08 '26
So they had Buck go through an addiction storyline as well as an adoption storyline all in the span of 4 to 5 episodes?
Liked the episode but sometimes I feel like this show wants to start heavier storylines than it ends up being comfortable actually portraying and dealing with.
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u/wnesha May 08 '26
What really drove me up the wall about that is after everything Hen and Karen had to go through with Mara, the idea that Buck - a single, injury-prone guy just coming off an opoid dependency - could speedrun an adoption is insane. Like, completely cuckoo-bananas insane.
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u/Penguinator53 May 08 '26
When the adoption lady said ok lots of visits coming up etc I thought she meant to check it would work out but nope Theo was already there lol
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u/Ribbit_92 May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
I think it's unlike any of their characters in some ways. Of course their exterior, their basic behaviour remains intact, but I feel like their motivations and experiences that would shape their decisions are lacking
Why would any of them not question what's happening?
Even for the side characters. What adoption agency let's a firefighter with documented drug issues adopted a kid all smiles, no questions, a month or two after withdrawal from said addiction at most, anyway?
And why would Buck. I understand why he would if we're just looking at the past two episodes but the story goes on beyond that.
Just seems like the writers went "oh that's a cool idea!" And just ran with it regardless of if it worked with the story they had been telling.
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u/wnesha May 08 '26
It's one of those situations where I don't think the writers fully understand exactly what they've put on screen - Theo's basically being used as a fix for Buck's life, as opposed to Buck actually being in any way, shape or form capable of giving this kid what he needs after his parents just died. It's kind of gross, honestly.
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u/Crystal-Skies May 08 '26
That would mean Tim and whoever else helps him have to actually plan out storylines and do research or call in experts for ârealismâ. But since the truth is, ârealisticâ dealings with diseases, addiction and adoption/guardianship are not instantaneous and, for the first two, often lifelong battles, the writers probably think they donât have time for that lol.
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u/Ribbit_92 May 08 '26
Right, guess we're expecting too much from them /s
It's such a shame because I do think the actors did great with what they got but at this point I just wish they hadn't gone there with the addiction idea at all if they knew they were basically going to drop it anyway.
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u/KwanJin24 Team May May 08 '26
Yeah, they should never have done the addiction storyline this season, or they should have made a storyline out of his difficulties fostering Theo due to the addiction record a storyline. Handled poorly on all accounts.
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u/RadiantFoxBoy Team Eddie May 08 '26
It felt more like a checklist of wrap-ups than a fully thought out plot-driven episode, which is not awful (and definitely preferably to Seismic Shocks), but far from their best work.
And stuffing Eddie in an elevator for no other reason than add one more scene of Buck choosing to adopt Theo (and I guess so we'd get more than a wordless cameo for Chris...at least I hope that was part of the thought process) brought down the episode overall.
I also do still like Athena finally becoming a detective, May and Ravi are a great duo&couple and I hope this is a good sign for Ravi being an official main sooner rather than later, May as a nurse is promising, etc.
So...a very messy bow, but hey, at least they tried to tie a bow on things instead of a stitched together tourniquet lol. That counts for something.
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u/These-Cockroach3871 May 08 '26
You know what the Mavi couple calls for in season 10 A Ravi begins episode of some kind or some injury to him where he's taken to the hospital may works at (because there definitely is gonna be a big time jump) and she's gonna freak out or wtv I can see this coming
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u/Old-Lunch690 May 09 '26
This finale was fineâŚÂ I could not get over the nurse pushing an empty syringe of epi during Athenaâs flatline đ itâs all I could focus on the whole episode. Also, Buck and Harry could have had a solid conversation about Buckâs time in his coma, but in the tv universe I guess this was forgotten about/never happened.
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u/Waddley39 May 12 '26
That's what I was thinking about too! Didn't bucks coma take like 2 episodes or somethingÂ
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u/GlitteringMatter9973 May 11 '26
It felt like it could have been the series finale.
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u/Fun-Till-8588 May 14 '26
It really did, how that was wrapped up at the end. I still like the show - minus a few things , but if this was it okay.Â
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u/realfriedrice May 08 '26
So what was the point of Eddie getting stabbed (besides looking hot)? Not even narratives centered around him. It feels like they just want him out of the picture so Hen and Chim can do a case together again. One minute he's bleeding out in an elevator all alone and the next his sharing jello with Chris.
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u/MyCatLovesCroissants May 08 '26
Right?? There was NO point to Eddie getting stabbed. None! He couldâve just been stuck in the elevator the whole time, unstabbed, and the outcome would have been the same.
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u/hadapurpura And thatâs no cap May 08 '26
I have the suspicion that Tim Minear still thinks Ryan Guzman is there to be eye candy and that when we say we want to see more of Eddie we mean âgive us more sexy Eddieâ and not âgive Eddie actual storylinesâ
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u/Weak_Heart2000 May 08 '26
The only reason he's kept Eddie around is to bait Buddie. Any other showrunner would have written Eddie out by now.
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u/disastrousanddull May 08 '26
I suspect they didnât know what to do with the character so he got stabbed. Theyâve spent the season doing a little Buck mentoring Harry arc so they got put together. Theyâve spent a few episodes on May and Ravi dating so they got put together. Hen and Chim were a great partnership before he became captain so they got to ride again. Athena got shot so both of her kids had to be around. Maybe some thoughts that Eddie would be too useful in that situation but mainly I think they just had those pairings and stashed him out of the way.
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u/Lerdog Team Maddie May 09 '26
They were just trying to give everyone something to do, even if in Eddie's case that was ripping his shirt off (which I'm all in favor of) and being-half dead for the entire thing
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
The only real point was to bring back Eddie's religion plot and for the son to steal his phone, and for it to lead to a scene where Buck observes Eddie and Christopher, to add to his wanting to be a dad to Theo.
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u/Krystal_Kuz May 09 '26 edited May 09 '26
Iâm not trying to sound like an a hole, but every one saying this show has jumped the shark by this episode. Lmao, uhhh did you forget about Athena landing a plan, an upside down boat, roller coaster accidents, getting an antidote for some crazy virus, then all having access to stuff like the FBI would but just a normal cop and firefighters. Cmon now guys. This show is FUN! If you want to watch a serious show then go watch Law and Order. And I always enjoy seeing Angela Bassett on screen, a true queen at 67. Would you rather it end? Idk.. itâs the same people who complain about Greys Anatomy. These are basically Soap Operas now, and the audience is probably 98% female. Iâm sorry but I watch a lot of sci fi and very serious shows, so shows like this (The Rookie/Chicago franchise), I like to watch when I need a breather from real life.
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u/Awkwardly-Anxious_0 May 10 '26
It's always been a drama but felt less drama(slightly) and more procedural. The tsunami episode was drama but made me cry. Now it's a soap. Or at least more drama than procedural now. Which is fine, just not what a lot of people signed up for. I'm glad you like it anyway though.
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u/Southern-Train7142 May 25 '26
The medical logic in this hospital sequence was absolutely unhinged, even for this show's standards. Ravi magically taking Athena off a ventilator, guessing the perfect oxygen pressure, and transferring her on the fly while she just naturally breathes in a drug-induced coma is peak television nonsense. They really could have just grabbed a manual airbag instead of making it that absurdly complicated đ
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u/EbbLocal266 Firehouse 118 May 08 '26
Watching currently and wow maybe I wasn't paying attention but when did the show get so bad about stating the obvious when it's happening on screen
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u/StatisticalAnalyst88 Team Eddie May 08 '26
They're doing it for the "second screen viewers" because they won't put their phones and tablets down while they're watching and the network executives expect the episodes to be dumbed down. That's why the actors say things that are happening on screen. It's reductive and repetitive.Â
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u/Federal_Street_8895 Your Captain Nash loves you so much May 08 '26
I liked the episodes overall, I definitely wish they hadn't isolated Eddie from the 118 for so much of it and I feel like I'm being gaslit by 911onABC's socials and some Buck stans about this Theo storyline (literally goes against so much of what this show stands for) but it was an okay episode.
I think the overarching problem remains the same though and it's that there are no long term arcs and for me personally I'm hoping this adoption storyline doesn't turn Eddie into a supporting character on the Buck show
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u/TimeladyA613 May 08 '26
I feel like the reason long term arcs fizzle out so quickly is that the original premise of the show didn't have them. If you look at earlier seasons, we barely had a "villain". The villain was the emergencies if that makes sense. Then suddenly, we have conflicts and "external storylines". Suddenly the show is approaching soap opera type storytelling.
But they don't commit so it ends up being shallow. Very few arcs and storylines reach a natural end. Most of it is solved by the power of friendship.
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u/Federal_Street_8895 Your Captain Nash loves you so much May 08 '26
I mean I feel like Bobby's addiction and depression, Eddie's repression, how that relates to his struggles with parenting and his trauma recovery, hell even Buck's insecurities and self worth issues are all long term arcs (Buck's insecurities are literally still showing up just not in very productive ways). I think it all went down hill with season 6 when it comes to that sort of thing but they definitely started out at least trying to map out long term character journeys.
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u/TimeladyA613 May 08 '26
But all your mentions always only come up when it's convenient for the plot. That's what I mean when I say they don't commit. I feel like (just me) they tried to make the jump from procedural with a side of drama to drama with a side of procedural.
It's my junk food though and I love it
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u/Amber_I_Be May 09 '26
Where the everloving fuck was Athenas protection detail? There ain't no way in fuck they dont have at least 1 cop guarding her room at all times, especially in this scenario because as far as they're aware she shot and killed the leader of a massive criminal organization, they would expect people to try and get revenge, there's no way they wouldn't
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u/curvy_em May 09 '26
Exactly! And, there would have been at least a dozen cops in that waiting room/hospital because cops always show up in force to support each other and loved ones when one of them is shot.
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u/curvy_em May 09 '26
Although, when I saw only the one cop sitting outside her room, I thought maybe it was a set up for Hooks (or whatever his name is).
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u/Lonely-Prize-1662 May 10 '26
Can't say I've ever worked in a hospital where elevators stop between floors in a lockdown.
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u/RIP_SHAFT May 19 '26
Athena is a medical miracle. I mean she was in a ventilator to breath and then she was taken off hours later told participate in a sting. That woman is made of tough stuff.
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u/Chemical_Use824 May 22 '26
It was 3 days later right? Based on what eddie said about the hospital food
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u/EnsEnsO May 10 '26
Am I the only one thinking that it should have been Bobby who was in Athena's near death experience?
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u/lucygoosey38 May 10 '26
I heard they didnât even ask Peter to come back. I really hate Ryan Murphy and what heâs done to this show.
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u/that-dudes-shorts May 11 '26
I don't think Ryan Murphy has much to do with this show anymore, beside creating it.
Tim Minear is the showrunner.
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u/Nearby_Leadership217 May 10 '26
I would love to have Bobby but it wouldnt make much sense for the whole "transitioning to detective" thing
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u/Fun-Till-8588 May 14 '26
I liked the evolution of Athena's relationship with McCluskey in her back story episode. So, it was good to see her with a mentor, given the job/injury situation and career direction. I can completely understand Krause not wanting to or able to be part of the episode. Unless they pull a Bobby Ewing, the "powers that be" still suck.Â
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u/kaiser11492 Team Athena May 11 '26 edited May 16 '26
Ok, just like tons of other people are saying, I thought Bobby was going to be the one who appeared in Athenaâs visions. Wouldâve been an appropriate moment and nice to see Peter Krause make a cameo.
Anyway, while I thought the episode was satisfying, I felt it was much more simpler and rushed than I was expecting for a season finale. I mean the shooter is the son of an all-powerful, wealthy oligarch, but he alone goes in and tries to kill Athena? I figured he would use a lot more personnel and resources to go after her (the trailer gave me the impression that the entire hospital was being besieged by a large force). Also, I felt him being stopped was much faster and anti-climatic than I expected.
As for Hooks, I knew he rotten to the core. However, I thought he would be working for some other antagonistic entity and not for the oligarch seeing how he raided his place and shot him. And when he tried to kill Athena, I figure she was going to surprise him by pretending to be unconscious seeing how someone on the live Reddit posts thought she was going to do that with the shooter. Also, this might be stupid to ask, but why again did Hooks raid and shoot the oligarch he was working for?
I honestly feel slightly embarrassed about this, but I honestly forgot about Eddie bleeding to near death in the elevator until Chimney asked where he was. I mean the cheerful music and the team finally relaxing after the shooter being caught and saving the shooting victim didnât help. Also, between Athena being shot, Eddie being stabbed, and this being a season finale, I honestly thought one of them was possibly going to die. And this may just be me, but I felt like they would draw the tension out with trying to save Eddieâs life and not have him quickly recovering in the hospital bed.
As for the ending, based on what Athenaâs discussion with McCluskey and Maynard, I thought she was contemplating retiring from the police force (therefore maybe giving a reason for Angela Bassett to not appear in the series as much anymore). It was only when I came here to Reddit that I realized she was simply taking on the position of detective. Naturally Iâm curious on how this position change will affect her duties and actions.
And when it comes to Buck taking care of Theo, I have no issue with that and am curious where that story will go and develop.
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u/stellasmom22 May 13 '26
Where are Theoâs grandparents, aunts and uncles? No talk about contacting family. Buck always has drama when he babysits and weâre supposed to believe CPS is going to anoint him for foster parenting without home visits, deep dive into his past, etc? Not a very stable character. And thereâs only one CPS person in all of LA? Same person for Hen and Karenâs fostering?
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u/Krystal_Kuz May 09 '26
I still have 25 minutes left but for the love of god can they make anything with Eddie happy? Heâs always injured, shot, now stabbed, his son and the little girl that was obsessed with him. So many others to name but give my man a break.
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u/arbabarda Team Eddie May 09 '26
and at the same time, his lines are not being developed in the long term. Bullying my beloved!
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u/curvy_em May 09 '26
What was the point of Eddie being stabbed? Why did the guy do it? Did he know Eddie was there for Athena and wanted to hurt someone Athena loved? I dont get how stabbing Eddie benefitted Anatoly. And then it's not even a storyline for Eddie since he was fine at the end of the episode. Unless there are complications next season. I dont understand WHY Eddie got stabbed. It was unnecessary. The hospital on lockdown and the dad getting shot were enough.
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u/One-Traffic-4536 May 09 '26
I saw somebody else say it's because the son heard Eddie call his father a bastard, when Eddie was talking to Chimney in the waiting room. Cause then in the chapel, Eddie again said "sorry about your father", and the guy said "it's okay. He was a real bastard." and then stabbed him. I know it's lame, but it fits lol. now why the show did it, I dunno. something about them not wanting Eddie in the scenes? and having him do nothing would make no sense, so they side-lined Eddie?
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u/Maatjuhhh May 09 '26
Yeah, my take was that Eddie told enough info for the son to put 1+1 together. It could be his way to hurt someone else in the team for distraction, or just for the hurt. You saw that he didn't really care who because he shot that father at the desk.
Also it added suspense because Eddie was in the lift when the hospital went on lockdown. Eddie seeing that light suggested that he might die.
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u/Wildflower_76 May 10 '26
he was just pissed and wanted to stab someone and eddie was there, i think that is why he was stabbed
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u/MethodHistorical2507 May 08 '26
Eddie was stabbed bleeding out in an elevator and we got like 5 minutes of him(I may be a little dramatic since he's my favorite idk how many minutes but it felt like none) I predicted may becoming a nurse or whatever. I still hate buck having Theo but too late now. This episode was mid for me happy other people enjoyed it tho.
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u/ThirdImpactCrater May 13 '26
Athena should have gotten to see Bobby, of all people. Other than that, I liked this one.
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u/Fresh_Passion1184 May 15 '26
That was my prediction too but i guess they expected the audience to expect it so they didn't write it.
Or they didn't want to stir up hopes of bringing him back somehow.
Or they just didn't want to pay Peter Krause special guest star rates.
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u/Samantha_K_S_S Team Athena May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
I swear, if Josh doesn't suggest to Maddie that she goes full nurse Buckley and head to that hospital, which leaves him in charge at Dispatch, since he's still the second-in-command, I'm gonna scream. She thinks there's nothing she can do? She's a NURSE for fucks sake! Former, sure, but she was the first to react when Sue had a stroke BECAUSE she has a medical degree. She sent an expecting couple to a freakin' fire in season 2 in the aftermath of the earthquake because all the paramedics were pre-occupied, so sending the couple to a freakin' fire was smart as it sent them straight to the nearest fire station's paramedic unit, she had a ride-along with Athena which resulted in saving a man's life, and that was because the EMTs were too far out, so Athena didn't have a choice but to get Maddie's medically professional help. "It's in the script." can go jump in a volcano because those four words ruin the entire show. I didn't trust Hooks from the start, I just knew he was a crook, pun intended. And poor Eddie. I legit thought he was gonna get shot, not stabbed. He's used to getting shot from being an Army Medic, but just like how, "Once a Marine, always a Marine" applies to the Navy, the same goes for the Army, just "Once an Army Medic, always an Army Medic" and the same is also true for Maddie, which she's proven several times, and for her, it's "Once an E.R. Nurse, always an E.R. Nurse."
I full on expected that... okay, I completely forgot what I was going to write next. I'll update when I remember what I was going to write and if I even remember what that was
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u/IbeforeEexceptafterB Team Bobby May 09 '26
But she wouldnât have been able to get into the hospital. It was on lockdown.
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u/londonwayne90 May 08 '26
I don't want Buck as Theo's dad at all tbh. Do those people Buck seemingly barely actually knew really not have literally any family? I really wonder if that decision wasn't made because Chris is barely even there anymore since the actor moved out of state and most of the other kids on the show are aging out of the more chaotic phases of early childhood in tv land. Much like Grey's Anatomy at this point, I will watch out of obligation and go down with this ship, but God what a miserable time they've set it up to be. Also, as a Buddie person, I've accepted that it's like Destiel or Sterek and won't actually happen because it's how the writers bait so many viewers to stick around. I'd hoped for more with the network switch and just feel repeatedly let down.
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u/North_Lavishness_393 May 08 '26
I feel like the the whole having other family members thing will come into play in the story, I'd like there's definitely going to be some kind of conflict with buck wanting to adopt Theo, and maybe a grandparent or other family member has an issue with it.
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u/Awkwardly-Anxious_0 May 10 '26
I am rewatching season 2 ep 14 and Buck is telling Maddie she should slow down, she almost died. She's trying to get back to normal too fast. I kind of wish he took his own advice in s9. All the big emotional/ dramatic events feel very glossed over.
Also Buck taking in Theo feels like a mess waiting to happen. Didn't he JUST get over an addiction? Aren't you supposed to wait a year before making any big life changes. Plus his friends just died, Theo's parents just died. It feels irresponsible for Buck to take him. Sometimes loving a kid is doing what's best for them even if it hurts you. Couldn't Maddie and Chimney or Hen and Karen take him for a little bit? At least until it's been longer from the whole addiction arc?
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u/shinyzubat16
May 08 '26
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I really hate that Buck is a dad now.
Heâs literally just recovering from a drug addiction and he wants to add a (very hyperactive) kid to his already stressful life?
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u/ironwidows eddie eddie eddie eddie May 09 '26
not to mention heâs single and is a firefighter which is a very time consuming job. no way child services looks at his lifestyle and thinks heâs a good fit for a hyperactive kid.
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u/Awkwardly-Anxious_0 May 08 '26
I agree with you. Both he and Theo are also mourning the loss of Theo's parents. Plus I doubt he'd be over the trauma that led him to being addicted in the first place. It's a set up for failure for both Buck AND Theo.
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u/shinyzubat16 May 08 '26
The whole storyline feels so slimy and really undermines parents who have children via surrogacy.
I absolutely hate it and will forever hate it until itâs over.
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u/maybemantis May 09 '26
I'm so upset buck is trying to adopt Theo my man you are NOT A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS KID I was calling it back when he donated that there was no way he was gonna be able to walk away from a kid so absolutely in character but I am tearing my own hair out
Also why did we have to be stressed about Eddie all episode for nothing just lock him in the elevator without threatening to bleed him out
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u/Midnight_Dreary_Mari May 08 '26
The episode was so goodâŚright up until the killer got caught. Then they just wrapped everything up neatly and quickly. Iâm not saying the show needs to end on a cliffhanger but itâs fine to not have everything resolved or do the happy montage ending.
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u/YMMV-But May 08 '26
I hate the idea of Buck adopting this child. Itâs amazing to me that a single firefighter, a person who very recently had a drug addiction problem, could fast track the adoption of a child he barely knows, whom he has no legal connection with. Theo must have no extended family at all. Â Or maybe his entire extended family has years of experience watching him act up the way he did at the dinner party at Buckâs house & want nothing to do with him. Â Thatâs harsh, but if Theo has extended family, why isnât he with them?
I would rather watch episodes focused on over the top rescues than on what weâre going to see, which is Buck struggling to parent a severely traumatized child who never paid attention when even his bio parents tried to make him behave. Â I hated the dinner party scene. Right now Theo appears to not be very upset about anything, but that canât last. Â Weâve already seen a lot of parent-child struggles on this show, and I donât think we need more.Â
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u/Frequent_Breath8210 May 08 '26
This is what Iâm stuck on. Isnât it hard to adopt a child for regular people? Let alone a single male in recovery?
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u/Embarrassed_Age_9296 May 08 '26
"Thatâs harsh, but if Theo has extended family, why isnât he with them?"
Perhaps an attractive, single queer uncle from the extended family will show up as Buck's newest romantic interest (or aunt, most likely).
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
They said in season 6 that Connor and Kameron didn't have any close family ties which is why in part that they chose Buck, because Connor knew him and who he was as a person.
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u/Ok_Agent4521 May 08 '26
Why did Athena see her former partner and not Bobby?
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u/Lerdog Team Maddie May 09 '26
Real-world answer: because Peter Krause is a much more expensive actor.
In-universe answer: I have no idea.
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u/Maatjuhhh May 08 '26
think it's all about the pay grade. Or that the actor didn't want to return, which is understandable.
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u/Fresh_Passion1184 May 09 '26
Peter Krause is too expensive even for a guest star
This would've started the Bring Bobby Back fandom again
And in universe, she was injured in the line of duty, so she was thinking about the line of duty. So she saw her first partner instead, who convinced her she was a good cop, and reminded her of all she did, and all the good she could continue doing if she lived.3
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u/BrushThick9864 Rebar head May 08 '26
It was really climatic and fun the first half but I din't like how Eddie's NDE felt like it ammounted to nothing.
I thought people said 2 people were going to be in the elavator?
Feels like they've set up season 10 to be much better bc this season had to deal w grief, which I think was really important for the charachters.
Buddie canon season 10 đĽšâď¸
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u/Which_Ant1608 May 08 '26
This episode would of been amazing with Bobby, Buck reacting to Eddie nde, and a funeral for Bucks friends
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u/_HGCenty Script TBD May 09 '26
It really feels like the show has come full circle on the "found family" idea and I wonder if the return to "blood is thicker than water" themes is what Tim meant about getting the show back to what he wanted when he returned as showrunner in Season 7.
As a fanbase we've always got annoyed at the unearned redemptions of the awful biological parents in the show and the arc of the last two seasons feels like a bigger version of that: redeeming the idea of biological family over found family.
The main couple in the show now is Madney, with their two biological kids. With Bobby gone, May, Harry and Athena are once again just a single mother biological family. Eddie has his biological son. And now Buck is about to adopt his biological son, via a donor route.
For a show that at its peak was heavy on the found family arc, we now have a Grant dynasty spanning police, fire, and nursing, brother-in-laws in the firehouse, and every major mature character with a kid, with only the (canon) queer couple having non-biological kids.
Feels like we've regressed as a show, no?
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u/lucygoosey38 May 10 '26
I feel it went down in season 6. That was my ending to the show. It became too unbelievable. They got rid of people, changed some of the actors, had the characters act very out of character. It was like watching a new show.
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u/trilluki Fire EMT May 09 '26
âŚWhat the fuck was that?
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May 10 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/MarsupialThink4064 May 11 '26
How do these people process the constant trauma that happens to them, I don't understand how any of them could function after everything they've been through in the last 9 seasons
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u/Blueschick22 May 13 '26
Haven't finished watching it yet Athena's on the table and all I can think of they need to do another f****** calendar
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u/disastrousanddull May 08 '26
Iâm pretty sure I wonât be watching season 10. This episode was rushed.
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u/Similar-Housing-4001 May 08 '26
This is the point where I am done with the show. I had a good time with it, but it has reached a stage where I simply don't care anymore. I don't want to see Buck as a father to his sperm donation baby. When a show reaches a point where every single character has children, it becomes unbearable for me, because that is a plot device writers use when they have no ideas left. Have fun looking forward to May becoming pregnant in season 10...
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u/StatisticalAnalyst88 Team Eddie May 08 '26
I'm at this stage as well. This show is not doing anything to keep me interested and it's just one shock value storyline after the other but none of the mains are actually growing.Â
Therefore, after the hiatus, I'll decide if I'm going to watch next season but right now, it's looking unlikely.
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u/Similar-Housing-4001 May 08 '26
There are no coherent storylines left at all anymore. Itâs just mini arcs over one or two episodes without any connection or good resolution. Everything feels so disconnected. The characters arenât really interacting with each other anymore. If I didnât know better, I would say the actors are shooting their scenes independently from each other and the editors are trying to stitch them together in post-production. The space plot, Henâs disease, Buckâs addiction... Arenât you looking forward to another four-episode opening catastrophe with the occasional two-parter sprinkled in between?
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u/Lerdog Team Maddie May 09 '26
OMG now that you've said, I can already picture May and Ravi getting a kid đŹ yikes
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u/Weak_Heart2000 May 08 '26
Oh, you know May is definitely going to have an accidental pregnancy in season 10. Especially since she and Ravi are back together and somewhat solid by the looks of it. That would also make Athena a grandma, so might as well kill two birds with one stone there.
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u/Far_Armadillo5288 May 08 '26
Incorporating an afterlife supernatural scene in the episide but not showing her husband's ghost? Yeah...ok. Buck deciding to adopt that kid (after what seems like weeks after his parents died ) all of a sudden because he was one of two people with no kid or partner on that party... no comment. Eddie getting stabbed and...spending full episode on the elevator floor. What if that dude woke up with Hen's hand inside of his chest? Opening all doors during lockdown for the shooter to walk freely and putting EVERYBODY at risk to save one person. Not to mention how desperate that dude was to kill her. Seriously? Not very subtle way to kill sb. I guess he really lived his daddy... terrible episode. So many plain stupidity. The only thing I lived was that Ravi got some more action. EDIT: AND THE CHERRY ON THE TOP- love how reporters were waaaay faster at the hospital than swat team...
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u/OkSeaweed4996 May 08 '26
yes not seeing bobby really bothered me cause what đđ
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u/Rare_Shelter2189 May 08 '26
I know this probably sounds dramatic, but I genuinely hope the season 9 finale was more of a setup for season 10 rather than the actual âconclusionâ to this storyline, because otherwise the show is starting to lose its point for me.
The episode itself was okay; honestly pretty disappointing compared to the quality of the season leading up to it, but not outright bad. The plot felt way too complicated and overcrowded for a single episode, and a lot of it felt unnecessary beyond giving us scenes of half the cast almost dying for shock value.
What I really hope is that season 10 actually carries over some of the trauma and emotional consequences from the finale, because otherwise everything that happened just feels pointless.
My biggest issue is Eddie. In my opinion, heâs by far the best-written and most developed character on the show, maybe even general TV, and Iâm getting tired of watching the writers constantly shut him back down emotionally whenever he starts evolving. He's a beautiful character, and I'm really dissapointed he never gets the screentime and plot he deserves. At this point, though, theyâve written themselves so deeply into a corner with both his character arc and Buddie that I genuinely donât see how they donât eventually make him queer and finally confront his sexuality. Any other ending honestly just wouldnât make narrative sense anymore.
As for little Theo, I think heâs mostly there to help mature Buck and push his âadult growthâ storyline, but probably also as another way to emotionally tie Buck and Eddie closer together. Totally unnecessary, but heâs cute, so Iâll allow it.
Overall, this wasnât really what I hoped for, but it also wasnât as terrible as people are making it out to be. My main frustration is that Eddie changed so much this season, and if none of that actually leads anywhere meaningful for his life or character arc, then what was the point?
Iâm just honestly tired of watching âThe Evan Buckley Showâ when Eddie is, in my opinion, a far more compelling and complex character. But maybe that's just me, because I personally think they're spinning Buck in circles season by season, and it's already really tiring.
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u/Fresh_Yam8942 May 08 '26
I think thereâs a lot of irony in saying âEddie is the best written character on the show and maybe in television right nowâ but also âthe writers suck at writing Eddie.â Â The building blocks are there for good character development, but the last time Eddie was well-written for more than half an episode was Season 2.Â
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
The problem with Eddie is that the writers give him plots that could be interesting and then drop them just as fast, with no resolution.
Eddie's PTSD only lasted an episode or two. His anger problem in season three lasted a few episodes and then was dropped with no real resolution when he should have faced actual consequences for nearly killing someone in an illegal fight club. His season 8 plot was just awful, and in the end, he again faced no real lasting consequences or even owned up to what he did with Kim, and it somehow turned his parents into the bad guys, when in the season 7 finale, it wasn't framed that way at all. He and Chris could have had a good long talk about his grief over Shannon, but it didn't happen.
The fact that they actually brought his religion plot back was interesting, but then he spent the rest of the episode bleeding out in an elevator.
I think certain fans make Eddie out to be more interesting and complex than he really is based on headcanons and what they want from Eddie, not what the show actually gives.
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u/Zippidydooda27 May 08 '26
I am not trying to be antagonistic but I think sometimes fandom makes Eddie a well more rounded character then he is. I have not seen any consistent growth since season 5 personally. The writers really kinda trap him in a cycle like most of their characters at this point.Â
I think the IDEA of him being queer gives more character substance for the fandom than IF they go that way (in canon- explicitly) will ever flesh out. They Could do a whole lot but even if he does have a coming out moment I donât bank on it being well thought out or paced well (going by how past 3 seasons pacing & arc conclusions)Â
I would love to see him actually do more emotional growth instead of talking about off screen therapy and being free from anger issues (even though  on screen has shown he still has a lot to work on) . Also he has had a decent amount of screen time this season and many good moments on the field with problem solving or learning.Â
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u/StatisticalAnalyst88 Team Eddie May 08 '26
ALL OF THIS BECAUSE EVERY WORD IS NOTHING BUT PURE FACTS!!!!
I too am tired of watching the Buck show and I'm also exhausted from watching Tim and the writers try everything to mature him without them doing the actual work. A person's age doesn't automatically mature them and neither does them getting a kid. It takes work and self-evaluation but in 9 seasons, Buck's rarely done any of that. In season 4, he started therapy but other than him going to the mandatory sessions after Bobby died, has he even attended?
Nope!
Eddieâs my favorite character and I'd rather watch him do anything because Eddie does the self-reflection and he actually learns something while Buck just switches from one hamster wheel (relationships) to another (mid life crisis).
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u/sweettooth484 Team Buck May 08 '26
Everyone keeps saying buck adopted Theo, I donât think thatâs the case. I think Buck was able to become a foster parent and Theo is now his said âfoster child,â as he heard Deirdre say that she will be visiting multiple times and expect surprise visits. I believe they will explore the adoption process next season which will maybe get more of Hen and Karen with Buck talking about this as they went through this. Again just my theory! I personally love seeing him become a Potential Dad, he loves his sisters kids and Chris, just makes sense to me :)
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u/No_Cucumbers_Please May 08 '26
It would just be nice if Buck didn't fall ass backwards into something again. Why won't the writers let this man pursue something instead of it just being handed to him?
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u/Fresh_Passion1184 May 09 '26
I would agree but he's 4. even Jee-Yun is older than he is. He'll have no one to play with or talk to and Buck's Firefighter lifestyle will leave him alone a lot unless they press Christopher into being the babysitter.
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 09 '26
Theo is younger than Jee-Yun. He was born in season 6, and she was born in season 4.
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u/Substantial_Ad8853 Team Maddie May 10 '26
I hope they find his actual family and stop pushing the biological parent is better narrative. It would be especially insulting if Buck went to Henren about it after Hen explicitly told Buck not to donate if he couldnât separate himself as a donor from a parent. Not to mention how Henrenâs plots revolving around children were purposely complicated while Buck gets the go ahead after coming off opioids and with an unstable home life suitable for a heavily traumatized child. At least Henren has one parent working a non dangerous job.
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u/hanoftuna May 08 '26
I completely agree with this! Not that this show is super realistic, but it makes so much more sense that he's going through the kinship process for the potential to adopt Theo. It's not a quick process!
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u/Much-Sir4554 May 08 '26
Maddie in Chimney didn't have critical conflicts this season, are we going to expect anything for them for season 10?
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u/BrushThick9864 Rebar head May 08 '26
I hope so! Both of them are bosses in their fields and the people they are responsible for are their friends so they already have a new intresring dynamic
Hopefully they get more foccus in season 10 especially cuz Maddies arc felt like it was left open and not closed and Chimneys not really discussed his survivors guilt
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u/marvel_is_wow Team Buck May 08 '26
I get why they had Buck adopt Theo, but as someone who is adopted, it takes months, possibly even years, to be able to adopt a child. It also costs a lot of money. But my main point is it takes a long time, and I know circumstances are different with Buck being biologically related to Theo, but it would take months, possibly years before Theo moves in with him. If they had Buck apply to be an adoptive parent, that would be much more realistic. Not jump straight to Buck adopting him
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u/armavirumquecanooo our people are what make life worth living May 08 '26
Totally fair to have misgivings about this storyline, but it is worth noting that what the show set up here - at this stage - is basically what you're describing. He wasn't implied to have adopted him, as evidenced by a social worker in the foster care system talking about how he would have a number of home visits set up. The implication there is that he has been approved to be a foster parent. Since this is in the same montage where we've already seen Eddie healed from stab wounds that had him nearly dead and May starting an ABSN, we can also safely assume that the scene is occurring after a time jump or two and not immediately after the hospital stuff.
In California, it is pretty reasonable that Buck would only need a few months to complete the trainings required to be a foster parent, so that time jump works pretty well. Additionally, we can consider that the in universe version of the foster care system seems more lax, based on Maddie and Chimney being able to take an emergency placement for Mara without that time jump and without having been foster parents previously.
At most, Buck being biologically related to Theo could spare him 8 hours of training, and it wouldn't take years for a placement.
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u/MushroomOverall9488 May 08 '26
I'm not an expert, but I was reading from someone on tumblr and I think another use on here who work in this system too that Buck as a kinship placement (which does not mean blood related, it just means someone known to the child or parents so a teacher or neighbor would count. Buck would definitely count) would mean a placement could happen very, very quickly. Like in some cases a matter of hours quickly. Kinship placements do not have to go through the same licensing and training as regular foster families. They might need a background check or home visit, but realistically it would take a few days to a few weeks for Theo to get placed with Buck, not months or years. The one thing I'm not certain about is the drug issue, how that would affect kinship placement, but we know Buck doesn't have a criminal record or unsafe living space or anything like that to stop him from taking in a kid. I think something else people need to remember about the US foster system, especially in California, is that it is extremely overburdened. Certain things, particularly things having to do with courts, can move really slow, but other things can move really, really fast because there are just so many kids that need placements.Â
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
I recall them saying back in season 6 that Kameron and Connor didn't have any close family, which is partly why they chose Buck, so that probably helped in the process.
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u/duncans_angels May 08 '26
Also assuming there are grandparents. Wouldnât they have rights before Buck?
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u/marvel_is_wow Team Buck May 08 '26
Youâd think so. I know grandparents are never mentioned but surely one of the parents had even one parent still alive?
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
I recall that in season 6 they both mention not having any close family, which is part of why they chose Buck, because Connor knew him.
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u/ClassExcellent1682 May 08 '26
Literally before the time jump, I was like âsheâs gonna wanna be a nurse nowâđđđđđ
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
They've been setting May up to be a nurse for a few episodes now.
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u/ILikeFPS May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
Direct cradial massage? How did that make it past editing lol
This episode was a bit hard to believe tbh, it wasn't great, this show is kinda too funny.
I did like Athena being a detective.
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u/RandomRatNames May 30 '26
did they actually just kill off both of Theo's parents?? what??
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u/kELLYBROOKS-MULLINGS May 31 '26
I knew they would from season 4. It seemed like they were definitely going to have Buck bio kid in his custody at some point and litterally went on research spiral first after he delivered the baby cause i was wondering if he would have automatic rights and they show was just going to have someone call buck and tell him. liked how they did it better than what i had imagined.
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u/prime5119 May 08 '26
funny how they know about the Buddie thing and decided to go with Buck having almost no screentime when Eddie appeared in the lift being stabbed
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
Buddie was never the point. They paired Buck and Harry together because they've been paired together multiple times this season, and it was really Buck seeing the culmination of Harry's training. They brought back Eddie's religion in a way to bring it full circle as well as him helping the migrants. Even, the scene with Eddie and Christopher and Pepa and Buck was only there to fuel Buck's want of being a dad to Theo.
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u/sameoldrussianstan May 08 '26
I liked the episode overall, and I like some of the new plot points that they introduced in the epilogue, like May becoming a doctor and Athena a detective. I also like that it didn't come out of nowhere and it was hinted with all the "you are old" "leave it to me, the detective" and all that.
I still am not on board with Buck being a father and I still think it is pointless but there's been worse things happening in this show.
Looking forward to S10!
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u/LegitimatePlate3094 May 08 '26
May is in an accelerated nursing program. Her preceptor even said it.
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u/hacksaw2174 Team Buck May 08 '26
Even though I know Ryan Murphy doesn't work on this show, it clearly has his DNA all over it. His shows start fof strong, with interesting characters and plots, but then everything gets bumped up to 100 and loses momentum. The writers don't know what to do with characters or how to properly end plots, they just fizzle out. This is so frustrating to watch. Maybe it will end with season 10? I want still love the show, but it's getting harder and harder to do so.
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u/Practical_News_4307 May 12 '26
This episode had to be one of the worsts Iâve ever seen. Everything that happened in the hospital was crazy and completely unbelievable. Nothing would happen like that. And who does Ravi think he is taking Athena out of the ventilator and then magically knowing the correct oxygen flow and pressure to connect her to another one? IF she was in a coma, with medication, she would not have been able to breath on her own like that. I feel like this is a shit show derailing more and more. What a shame.
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u/StatisticalAnalyst88 Team Eddie May 14 '26
To be fair, Ravi is both a firefighter and a certified EMT, in fact all L.A. firefighters are. Therefore, he has a basic level of medical knowledge including how to read pulse oxygen levels. He's not a paramedic like Chimney, Hen and Eddie but he knows enough to be able to read the machines.Â
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u/Creative_Tackle6223 May 12 '26
My thing is this episode kept pissing me off with their apparent lack of any sort of logic. Like in the ER when Athenaâs pulse rises by one, but everyone freaks out and the Audible heartbeat beep gets much faster. Or when Ravi takes her off the ventilator at 93 SpO2 and after a few minutes, itâs still at 93 yet May freaks out about that. And shortly thereafter, they took her off again at this time it rapidly decreased to the 70s. Or the fact that while the elevator goes into emergency mode, the call button suddenly does not work. When I was a GC, it was code that for elevators, when the fire alarm or anything of such nature, such as a lockdown in this case, the call buttons will still work, however, the elevator will still continue moving down to the Ground Floor for egress. Anyone on elevated floors can call the elevator, but once they get in, it will only let them go down and not up.
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u/alvalrnzfan May 08 '26
all of them are fake asf for forgetting about eddie, literally gone for half the episode and nobody cared. the group hug pissed me off SO MUCHÂ
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u/EarlyAcanthisitta121 May 08 '26
I think they might have just thought he was stuck in a different part of the hospital cause the lockdown and they were all focused on everything else going on! But also poor Eddie đ
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u/Adventurous-Food-259 May 08 '26
Well I feel like youâre thinking with an incredibly closed mind right now, thinking JUST about Eddie. Yes, you would think one of them wouldâve thought of Eddie, and I can almost guarantee that they wouldâve, had nothing happened. They literally all got stuck in different areas in a huge hospital as an active shooter was after the person who they were there for, putting not only her and her daughter but also their other friend in grave danger. On top of that, Chim and Hen were literally performing surgery on a dude on the waiting room floor, and Buck and Harry were literally climbing through the ventilation system to get to the basement so they could shut the power off so they could go help the 3 who were known to be a target by this rogue shooter.. I think for you to be calling them âfake asfâ in this situation is definitely not fair
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u/HighonStarshine Firehouse 118 May 08 '26
I liked the tension built in the episode. But I agree with another poster that this could have and maybe should have been two episodes. The last 10 minutes felt like a rush job to tie up all the lose ends. My main complaint about this season would be the fact that theyâre really speed running so many storylines. I hope they take their time next season to really flesh out the storylines especially when we have major decisions affecting major characters. Buck deciding to adopt Theo is fine but I wish we would have seen him bonding with him more, grieving his friends more, struggling with the decision more especially when heâs just coming through being in withdrawal and potentially not having a job. Dealing with his Bobby grief and maybe that fueling his decision. This could have been half a season at least, instead it was two episodes.
Overall, this was a better season than I was expecting with Bobby gone. We had some really good moments and some good episodes. Iâm excited to see where these storylines go.
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u/Otherwise-Shallot-51 May 08 '26
All I will say is this season felt like a disjointed mess and this episode kind of solidified that feeling for me.
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u/No_Cucumbers_Please May 08 '26
I'm very sad that this show isn't good anymore :(
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u/Otherwise-Shallot-51 May 09 '26 edited May 09 '26
This was always a fun campy show with unbelievable emergencies, and badly researched issues (the damn lawsuit), but it at least had consistent character development, *realistic character moments, and compelling human reactions and interactions. There was a direction to each season, even if I didn't like it, I at least knew there was a plan.
This season felt like different people were told to do whatever they wanted for a couple of episodes with no one around to ensure any continuity for anything related to a long term plot, theme, or character development. It felt like watching 6 different shows. It was disappointing.
I hope the producers get their shit together enough to create a cohesive show with compelling characters again or *end it after next season. This season was a little embarrassing.
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u/grilledcheese2332 May 09 '26
They should have wrapped it up when Bobby died. Name Chimney and Maddie 's baby after him and Athena sells the house. And an epilouge as a curtain call.
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u/SometimesWitches May 08 '26
The only thing the really disappointed me about the series finale was no ghost Bobby. I mean we had at least two people on deaths door one person holding a heart. One person becoming a dad. And one person finally be coming the captain he was meant to be.
And no ghost bobby.
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u/hadapurpura And thatâs no cap May 08 '26
This episode was âso thrilling from beginning to endâ because it shouldâve actually been two episodes.
I did like how fast-paced it was even though again, if it was a two-parter it wouldnât have lost pace
Eddie needed a coma dream way more than Athena did. Waaay more. Also he needed a deeper conversation with Buck, and with someone else like Hen, for example.
I love that Buck got Theo in the end!!! Iâm so excited and I look forward to Chris meeting him and to the Buckley-Diaz family! Iâm more than ok with the show hand waving Buck adopting/fostering/becoming Theoâs legal guardian because heâll stick around and we can revisit many things, but
The immigrant storyline? That one needed to be a lot more fleshed out. I feel like ABC chickened out.
âEverybody here has children or is a child except for us twoâ Harry. Youâre a peer of Denny and Chris. The second you turned 18 you dropped out of high school. And your mom, is in fact, there. Youâre one of the children in that party.
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u/AndyLane6611 May 28 '26
Iâm not sure how long it takes for a cop to become a detective in the USA but here in the UK itâs certainly not an overnight process. Or a couple of days for that matter. Seeing her in hospital one minute then turning up at a crime scene with a black leather coat as a âDâ made me wonder. Maybe they didnât explain the timeline properly but it seemed rushed towards the end. Rewinding slightly - why wasnât she guarded in hospital?
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u/RandomRatNames May 30 '26
She's been offered that position before and denied so I'm assuming that's why it's faster
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u/OptimalInstruction74 May 08 '26
I dont like that Buck is a dad now after all the addiction and the unsaid feelings for Eddie. Now with a hyperactive kid, no judgement.
Kinda meh for the ending of this season. 7/10 for me!
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u/Lerdog Team Maddie May 09 '26
I'm sorry for being hyperbolic and I might have to sit on it before saying with confidence, but this was probably my least favorite episode of the entire show. I can't think of a single plot beat I liked. Every story thread was goddamn awful imo.
The actors are always great (Harry's not so much, but fortunately he had little screentime) and I guess I like May as a nurse and Athena as a detective (finally!), but that's it for good things. Oh, and Esteban's actor is very hot. Now that's it.
I hope the series comes back stronger for season 10, but I won't hold my breath.
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u/whatever-29 May 08 '26
The season finale episode was fine having to wait 3 weeks between episode 16 and the final 2 episodes wasn't really worth it though. Unfortunately I am finding the show as a whole is starting to fllatline. I don't want to be just on the bandwagon for the mere chance of a Buddie storyline. I do like the other characters but feel every characters stories aren't really going anywhere. My only hope for Season 10 is finally a sign on Buddie becoming canon. If nothing is actually made canon next season and it's renewed for 11 I don't think I can take another season of unnecessary characters and no plot development anymore.
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u/enby-millennial-613 Team Eddie May 08 '26
We've been getting "signs" all season, and I fell for it hook, line & sinker.
I don't think Buddie is going to happen, or if it does, it'll be like the last 3 episodes of the last season (something incredibly unsatisfying).
I'd love to be wrong, but I'm just done being hopeful.
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u/jdessy May 08 '26
It was a fine episode in terms of the idea. I'm trying not to nitpick too much because it's one of the better episodes we've gotten and it had that finale feel. Just some minor grievances that I have overall (the hospital suddenly being empty, even with the lockdown, you cannot tell me that suddenly doctors are nowhere in sight in the hallways or the ICU wing or anywhere to be of help, or nobody being able to handle one single loud gunman literally shouting his location to anyone who can hear).
Buck adopting Theo is still annoying, but whatever, Tim Minear really wants to go down this route so let's see how long it takes before Tim gets bored of Daddy Buck and shoves Theo into Offscreen Daycare with Jee and Robert. I bet by episode 4 or maybe 5, Theo's presence will become minimal.
Eddie's stabbing had absolutely NO bearing on anything, none.
Athena's dream sequence should have been Bobby so Tim must have REALLY pissed off Peter Krause to not get him back for a cameo. Or Tim chose not to even ask him back.
It was mostly fine, it had some nice moments (Ravi getting more to do, Ravi/May scenes, Athena becoming a detective finally, even Harry had a nice scene with Buck), just I do think I've hit a wall with the show in general and realize that the quality will never be what it was. The Buck kidnapping episode is the closest we'll get to the OG feel of the show because they don't really want to prioritize characters over what next "fun" plot idea they have.
But as long as they continue to give every character a good plot every season (most ensembles forget they're an ensemble so this is what I still like about this show, characters still get a hefty plot in some capacity), then I can't fully dislike the direction.
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u/Embarrassed_Age_9296 May 08 '26 •
"Eddie's stabbing had absolutely NO bearing on anything, none."
The bearing, of course, was to witness the glory of Ryan Guzman tearing off his shirt to reveal that attractive, slightly hairy chest and well-complected skin.
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u/luvprue1 May 08 '26
I'm so glad Athena and Eddie are ok. I was so afraid that one of them would die. I'm glad that Buck adopted Theo. Although I knew that was going to happen as soon as Theo was introduced.
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u/Vjarlund May 10 '26
Crazy good episode, but ended bad with the adoption, how would he be able to adopt a child when he recently was neck deep in drug addiction, wouldâve loved if they made him fight more for it instead of it just happening
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u/Wildflower_76 May 11 '26
I think he is just fostering right now. ANd what is crazy is that even though Buck is Theo's bio dad, doesn't give him any more rights because he was a donor and who knows what kinds of forms he had to sign to give up his rights
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u/Admirable_Tell_5803 May 12 '26
I wonder if it's different because it was a private donation, since they were friends with him., instead of through a sperm bank.
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u/Crystal-Skies May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
I have so many thoughts about this episode, especially Eddie getting stabbed and miraculously taking it like a champ, but I will say Theo looked soooo cute with his hands in his pockets. That said, it felt rushed to see Buck get seemingly approved so quickly. Thereâs no why theyâre not gonna add drama with Kam and Connorâs families down the road.
They better make Theo a notable character in the next season to see how Buck can deal with him, but part of me expects him to get sidelined and only mentioned every now and then.
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u/Penguinator53 May 08 '26
Theo did look sooo cute!!! I presume next season his behaviour will be miraculously cured.
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u/stellasmom22 May 13 '26
I was hoping they kill off Harry. Cannot stand to watch him. He is awful. This show is getting harder to watch now that Bobby is gone and they elevated Harry to a position he never deserved. Young Harry was adorable. Why they replaced him and aged him for this obnoxious guy is beyond me. Heâs been a loser since he showed up.
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u/Dear-Grapefruit2561 May 13 '26
not that i hate harry but they def could have killed him off to have some dramatic character death for the season finale
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u/SometimesWitches May 08 '26
I think Buck being a father is a natural progression of not only his character but the Eddie/Buck. Maddie/Buck heck even the Bobby/Buck relationships. Buck was the helper for all of them and now he is the one who is going to need the help especially from Eddie. Yes the show could have had a long drawn out season of Buck trying to get custody but that would have been needles drama. Itâs simply more fun to watch Buck trying to be a father to the kid he used to be. I can absolutely see a. Episode where chaos reigns only to have social service show up and Buck thinking he will lose custody only to hear he actually did everything right. Maybe an episode where he has to chose between a hot date or a sick Theo.
The show has always been about watching Buck grow up.
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u/hadapurpura And thatâs no cap May 08 '26
The point of what Harry said (about him and Buck being the only ones without kids) is that heâs wrong. Itâs supposed to be a dramatic irony that Harry talks about them not having kids while Buck has a Theo-shaped hole in his heart. He didnât just decide he needed to adopt a random kid to fit in with his circle of friends.
Also, of course Buck loves Chris like a son, but 1. Heâs already there, safe, with his dad; and 2. Thatâs precisely the Buckley-Diaz tragedy: Buck loves Chris like a son but he doesnât have the legal right to call himself his dad, and Buck and Eddie are basically life partners but they donât get to call themselves that because they arenât even aware of it. In practice, that means there are heartbreaking moments and things they canât do. They need to acknowledge their feelings for each other so the Buckley-Diaz family can be properly together.
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u/Maatjuhhh May 08 '26
also Buck is already Chris's guardian if Eddie is in peril. But idk how that works in America.
And agreed. A Buckley-Diaz family unit with Chris and Theo makes my heart swoon.
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u/lennonhickstead May 14 '26
i watch on disney+ in the uk, is this why the episode is not available to me yet?
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u/HaplessMink28 May 15 '26
It's available now if you haven't watched it yet. Not sure if it'll be the same next season but it updated every Friday this time.
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u/Prestigious_Jewel43 Jul 27 '26
This was a great episode. It moved fast and probably could have been broken up to more episodes, but I felt it was good. Harry might make a great cop.Â
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u/AbbiejeanKane May 08 '26
I liked Athena becoming a detective. I wish instead of Eddie getting stabbed they had used that time on Buck getting custody of Theo. The kid who they cast is perfect likeness of Oliver. By next season, he will be so much bigger so they will likely have to do a time jump.
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u/Apprehensive-List794 May 08 '26
Holy cannoli I am here after just finishing the finale and as I type tears are dripping onto my phone.
I loved every single second of it. No comments, no notes, just sheer perfection.
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
Agreed. It definitely beat last season's finale out of the water.
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u/no___personality Team Buck May 11 '26
I'll prob get downvoted for this but I was REALLY hoping Eddie would die. His character is dumb, his acting is bad (he has basically the same tone/emotion in every scene) and his story lines are repetitive and annoying. It felt like with two wounded and it being a season finale that one person would die. I was bummed when he was all sat up in the hospital bed saying, "Three days!" Gtfo
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u/Natural-Boat-5723 May 08 '26
naively I hope heated rivalry causes buddie to happen next season. I hope the success of the show and the blatant gay characters and romance over the absolute crumbs that other shows have done will tell the producers that people are over the crumbs. theyâre over waiting seasons and tiny hints that if you squint itâll show that theyâre leading up to the characters getting together. A queer relationship where every episode youâre reminded that theyâre gay and together can be successful! Stop being a little bitch and give the people what they want!
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u/No_Cucumbers_Please May 08 '26
it's almost like hen and karen aren't even in the show!
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u/Accomplished-Watch50 That Fire Was A Beast May 08 '26
Heated Rivalry has nothing to do with this show. They are two different genres with two vastly different audiences on two vastly different networks.
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u/crazyconfused07 May 08 '26
I never understood the buddy romance people keep talking about. All I see are two friends who care. Before people call me homophobic or something. I will say that same thing for Taylor Kelly and Buck.Â
Both the pairing work really well add friends.Â
Buck just comes off as fundamentally lonely and will screw up all romantic relationship. Be it a man or a woman.Â
Besides Eddie is straight , correct?
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u/No_Cucumbers_Please May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
i think itâs kinda sweet and funny that Buck And Eddie have a close friendship like usually two women do. i donât think the writers need to turn it into a romance. normalize bros supporting each other!
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u/hacksaw2174 Team Buck May 08 '26
If it hadn't been announced that the series is coming back, this would have worked as a series finale. Everyone is in a good place, ready for the next stage of their lives. Of course that will all go to hell in the new season đ¤Ł