'9-1-1' Star Ryan Guzman Knows You're Shipping Buck and Eddie
Ryan Guzman and Oliver Stark as Eddie and Buck on '9-1-1'
Last week's 9-1-1 marked a major turning point for Oliver Stark's Buck, who shared a kiss with former 118 member Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.). Fans had long suspected (and hoped!) that his character might be gay or bisexual, but up until that point, the theory was just that—a theory. For many viewers, the only disappointing thing about their hunch turning out to be true was that Buck's kiss wasn't with Eddie (Ryan Guzman).
"Me and Oliver are very aware of the fandom and what they like to see from our characters and where they want us to go and this was a taste, a sense of that through Buck's character," Guzman told Parade in an interview.
Given the fans' investment in Eddie and Buck's bromance, he added, it was important they got Buck's coming out scene, in which he told Eddie about his date with Tommy, just right.
"How we handled that was going to be so precious, it's so delicate," Guzman said. "And I think it came with a sense of ease to be honest. Both of us didn't really have to talk about it too much. We allowed ourselves to just be truthful to the moment and at the end of the day, they just want the best for each other."
Related: '9-1-1' Moves to ABC for Season 7: Everything To Know About the Show
But what about Eddie and Buck? Is there still a chance for romance between them?
"As far as [Eddie's] sexuality, I think it's pretty clear that he's tried to fill in this motherly, this wife type role—that's all he knows," Guzman explained. "And he's a man [that] first off, he's Catholic. Second off, he's from the military. So those are very straight-edge kind of lifestyles that don't offer too much of exploring. But through the 118, he's had this epiphany each year, like, 'Well, maybe I don't know as much as I thought I did. And maybe I should be exploring a little bit more and maybe I should understand myself a little bit more and even seek a therapist,' which is something new for Eddie. So I feel the representation is reflective of the inclusivity that Ryan Murphy's show likes to have and Tim Minear likes to write."
What else happened to Eddie on 9-1-1 this week?
The Buck storyline aside, Eddie moves out of his old habits and into some newer, healthier ones, as he stops trying to fill the "massive void" left by Shannon, his estranged and late wife who died near the end of Season 2.
“I think the past relationships for Eddie have been always tumultuous because he's gotten in his own way," Guzman said. "He's a person that doesn't like to take things slow. So he goes from zero to 100.”
The episode, titled "You Don't Know Me," kicks off with Marisol (Edy Ganem) moving into Eddie's place. As she's showering, Eddie peruses her packed boxes, discovering a photo of her in nun's clothing, which triggers a moment of religious panic and relationship crisis, causing him to avoid her throughout a majority of the episode. However, by the end, Marisol explains herself and her fears, while Eddie finds it within himself to open up about the need to take it slow; then, the couple mutually decide she move out as they learn more about each other.
Having constantly been in "search for a replacement" for Shannon, Guzman said that Eddie hasn't been able to give new relationships a chance to flourish, which has always "backfired" on him. What Guzman appreciated with his character's storyline this time around was the opportunity for growth, where Eddie is able to take a step back on his own after seeking advice from Buck and Bobby (Peter Krause).
“I think it's gonna bring Marisol and Eddie closer, because it's very hard to open up your vulnerability to somebody brand new," he shared. "In relationships, we like to present our best selves, and sometimes our best self isn't our true self. So taking a moment to step back and show Marisol that, 'Hey, I'm still a mess. I think I'm getting in my own way again.' I think that only made him a little bit more endearing to Marisol, and Marisol can actually see herself in him. And it's going to allow a deeper sense of connection. And I think [his son] Christopher respects that as well, because it's not like, 'Okay, here we go again. Here's another one that he's trying to fill the mom spot again.’”
Related: 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 4: Buck Shares Gay Kiss With Tommy
Season 7 partially kicked off with Christopher's (Gavin McHugh) full processing of his mom's death, when Eddie shared a letter she had written him after leaving the two. Marisol entered the picture early last season, and she and Eddie were introduced via an emergency call that affected her brother.
"What I liked about this character, Eddie, is that we got to see all the trauma and all the darkness a little bit," Guzman said. "We saw this shiny ... action figure in the beginning where he was like this perfect individual. I liked the deconstruction of him over the past couple of years, the de-evolution and now coming into this season, the lightheartedness he's allowed to have because of all of that."
The episode ends with a teaser of what's to come in next week's big wedding installment, with Guzman saying, "This next episode is gonna be extreme chaos, but in the best possible way. Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) are going to get married and as we're trying to celebrate Chimney, everything that can go wrong does go wrong. We have fun with that."
Next, '9-1-1' Renewed for Season 8 on ABC: What We Know So Far
