9-1-1‘s Oliver Stark came to his character’s defense as the show continues to introduce surprise shakeups — such as having Buck consider giving up custody of his son.
During the Thursday, November 5, episode of the hit ABC show, Buck (Stark) was crumbling under the pressure of fostering his 4-year-old son, Theo. The duo weren’t adjusting well to living together — especially since Buck refused to parent Theo.
This led to Theo throwing a tantrum at the park, which made some parents call the cops on Buck. He realized that the issue was that Theo didn’t see him as a father but rather a temporary caregiver following the loss of his parents.
After a conversation with Eddie (Ryan Guzman), Buck said he thought it would be better if he didn’t look after Theo anymore.
“It’s important to remember that everything Buck is doing is with the best of intentions,” Stark, 35, exclusively told Us about Buck’s journey this season. “He is making decisions day to day in this new role that he’s found himself in. He is always thinking it is the right decision and, obviously, we’ve seen it’s not always, and he’s struggling with it.”
The actor urged viewers to be patient with Buck. “As with any new parent, which is the role that he’s now in, you figure it out as you go,” he told Us. “No one is immediately good at anything. You have to make some mistakes and you have to learn along the way, and that’s just part of the process that he’s currently in.”
He continued: “It’s a particularly difficult situation. There’s a lot of trauma involved. I’m sure there is some level of guilt involved for Buck as well. He’s not necessarily making the right choices every step of the way, but he is making them with the best of intentions.”
Stark went on to say he was excited about what the new arc could lead to.
“Any apprehension that I had [about the story line] when I first heard about it [vanished] after last season,” he said. “I was fully on board, and I continue to be. I love working with the twins who played Theo. I’m really excited for the growth that it will mean for Buck — seeing him mirrored in so many ways and how it will make look at himself and how he can grow through that and how it can bring different characters in and out of his life. I just think it’s a big step for him, and I’m excited — very much so — about the story line.”
9-1-1 airs on ABC Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
