Ryan Guzman Explains Eddie’s Reaction to Buck’s Reveal on ‘9-1-1’: “There’s Love Here”
There have been some crazy episodes since 9-1-1 returned for Season 7, and there’s no sign of it stopping. Episode 5, “You Don’t Know Me,” picks up after last week’s revelation that Buck (Oliver Stark) isn’t straight. While Buck tries to navigate his new identity by going on a date with Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.), they run into Eddie (Ryan Guzman) on a date with Marisol (Edy Ganem). In a panic, Buck seems to reiterate that the date was just a platonic dinner between the two guys when Eddie reveals that he asked Marisol to move in with him. The episode then focuses on Eddie and his revelation when he realizes that Marisol used to be a nun in training. This causes him to question not only his decision to move in with Marisol, but also his relationship with his faith. Buck suggests he talk to Bobby (Peter Krause), another devout Catholic, and Bobby helps Eddie figure out his relationship.
Later, while visiting Buck at his apartment, Buck comes clean to Eddie and reveals the truth about his date with Tommy. Eddie embraces Buck with open arms and they are both encouraged to move forward in their own relationships. Eddie realizes he is moving too fast with Marisol, she decides not to move in, and they both take it slow. This is a whirlwind episode, one that jumps forward at the end of the film to Chimney (Kenneth Choi) and Maddie’s (Jennifer Love Hewitt) wedding day, where we see Buck and Eddie arriving late to the wedding, Chimney-less, looking like they just survived a night out from The Hangover.
Ahead of the episode’s premiere, Collider spoke with Ryan Guzman about Eddie’s journey and discussed the character’s storyline this season. During the interview below, Guzman elaborates on Eddie’s love life with Marisol and what exactly is holding him back in these romantic relationships. He also talks about Eddie’s relationship with Buck, whether there’s any potential for romance, and how Guzman and Oliver Stark played out that coming-out scene. Finally, Guzman reveals which characters he’d like Eddie to have more scenes with and how Christopher (Gavin McHugh) might react to all of these changes in Eddie’s life.
RYAN GUZMAN: Great question. I love this storyline, it’s very different from the previous storylines he’s talked about because it’s not as dark as it has been. There’s a lot of dark stuff that’s happened in previous seasons. This season isn’t about finding out who he is and what his identity is, it’s about discovering himself in a new light. But I don’t know if I can sum it up in one word. I’d just say new.
Eddie doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to romance. In tonight’s episode, he’s pretty shocked to learn about Marisol’s past as a nun. What do you think is ultimately holding him back from getting into these relationships? Is it something external or something internal to him?
GUZMAN: I think the idealization of replacing Shannon really stalls his relationships. So him giving himself the opportunity to step back and figure things out a little bit before moving in with someone else and starting the whole process over again is a sense of growth for Eddie, and I’m here for that. Because he needs that. But yeah, for these relationships, I think it’s just a filler. You know, that girl’s pretty. She seems to have good values. Oh, my son likes her. Check three boxes. Okay, let’s move in and get married.
Eddie, full circle!
GUZMAN: [Laughs] Yeah, no, literally God has to come and slap him in the face and say, “No, you need to change your lifestyle.”
