A new 9-1-1 season 8 promotional still has been released, and it confirms Eddie’s replacement at the 118. Unlike many of its fellow scripted series, Ryan Murphy’s first-responder show on ABC is taking a while longer to return for new episodes. Instead of coming back after the holiday break, the network decided to push 9-1-1 season 8, part 2, to March 2025. This means that viewers have spent months trying to decipher what’s next for Bobby and his team, especially Eddie, as the midseason finale revealed that he was planning to move to Texas to be with his son.
Ahead of its return on broadcast, showrunner Tim Minear (via olga_dr/Reddit) has shared a new promotional still for 9-1-1 season 8, part 2, which confirms Ravi will take over Eddie’s spot in Bobby’s team. The image features 118’s core squad, as they respond to a call. Considering Eddie’s absence, it’s safe to say that he has moved forward with his plan, or at least visited Texas to figure out if he’s really sure about leaving Los Angeles. Check out the image below:
Is Eddie Really Leaving 9-1-1?
Eddie May Still Be Able To Convince Christopher To Come Back
Whether Eddie is really leaving 9-1-1 has been the biggest question among viewers since he dropped the news on Buck that he was planning on following Christopher in Texas. For context, his son moved back to their hometown with his parents after Christopher traumatically encountered his previous girlfriend who looked like his late wife. This strained their otherwise great relationship, leading Christopher’s parents to intervene. By the 9-1-1 season 8 fall finale, Eddie realizes that he’s scared that he’s missing so much of Christopher’s life because they are separated.
Something similar happened when Jennifer Love Hewitt had to miss several episodes of 9-1-1 as Maddie, which was baked into the procedural’s storytelling.
All the people involved in 9-1-1 have either been silent or coy about Ryan Guzman supposedly exiting the series. However, it’s important to note that just because Eddie is absent in some episodes doesn’t mean that the show is fully writing him out. Something similar happened when Jennifer Love Hewitt had to miss several 9-1-1 episodes as Maddie, which was baked into the procedural’s storytelling. Eddie may eventually be able to convince Christopher to return to LA with him after his visit. Ultimately, this will boil down to the story that Minear and his team want to tell.
Our Take On Eddie’s Absence & Ravi’s Return In 9-1-1
Ravi Is Eddie’s Perfect Replacement
As entertaining as its cases are, viewers would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would argue against the idea that 9-1-1’s main appeal is its characters. Bobby and the rest of the team’s dynamic have been thoroughly fleshed out in the last 8 years, so losing any one of them would be devastating in any way. Their relationship goes beyond their shift at 118, as they have gone through various life tragedies — some connected to their work and others not. Eddie knew that leaving would be difficult for everyone, especially Buck.
Eddie’s absence could still be a cause for concern, but it’s great to see that the producers found this the perfect opportunity to bring Ravi back. The character has been missing in action for quite a while, despite his clear chemistry with the rest of the group. Even if Eddie comes back, hopefully, 9-1-1 can still keep him around. The show’s cast hasn’t changed much at all throughout its run. After the reshuffling in its early run, Fox/ABC has maintained its core, which is a rarity in longer-running procedurals.
However, if Eddie is really serious about moving to Texas and Guzman ends up leaving the show, it’s more comforting to know that he will be replaced by someone with whom he has worked before and understands how special the 118 is.
Someone like Ravi should come in and be an official part of the team instead of the show having to cast an entirely new face. 9-1-1 has brought in fresh characters before, albeit only temporarily. However, if Eddie is really serious about moving to Texas and Guzman ends up leaving the show, it’s more comforting to know that he will be replaced by someone with whom he has worked before and understands how special the 118 is.
Why It’s So Difficult To Believe That Eddie Is Really Leaving 9-1-1
There’s No Benefit To Writing Out Ryan Guzman
Character exits are not new for long-running procedurals. Having big ensembles is actually a way to ensure shows will continue if certain cast members leave. Ultimately, there are only two reasons for losing players. Firstly, they are written out either because of story purposes or on-set incidents, and secondly, if the actors decide to move on from the project. Guzman and Eddie’s situation in 9-1-1 fell under neither.
Because of that, this feels like more of a multi-episode arc that would end with Eddie and Christopher back in Los Angeles. Perhaps Guzman needs some personal time off for other endeavors, or maybe it’s simply Minear and his team’s way of changing things up for the 118. Regardless, it’s safe to say that 9-1-1 will find a way to bring Eddie back to his team.
