9-1-1 fans are reeling after it was revealed that the writers once considered pairing Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) and Maddie Buckley (Jennifer Love Hewitt) as a romantic couple — a storyline that was ultimately scrapped.
According to Screen Rant, this idea had been floating around for a while, with many fans now wondering what could’ve been. With both characters enduring loss, trauma, and personal growth, their quiet understanding and emotional maturity could have made for one of the show’s most grounded and heartfelt relationships.
Online forums have reignited with the theory: “Eddie was originally meant to be Maddie’s love interest,” one fan wrote, pointing to subtle chemistry and strong emotional support between the two. The pairing would have also created rich emotional tension with Buck — Maddie’s brother and Eddie’s closest friend — opening up new layers of character development.
Although the storyline never came to life, many believe this “almost romance” had the potential to outshine Eddie’s previous relationships. Maddie’s calming presence and deep emotional awareness might have balanced Eddie’s intensity in a way no one else could.
Instead, the show opted to keep their bond platonic — but fans aren’t letting it go. Some are still holding out hope that the spark could be revisited in future seasons, especially as both characters continue navigating love, parenthood, and healing.
For now, Eddie x Maddie remains one of 9-1-1’s biggest “what ifs” — a love story that never got the screen time it may have truly deserved.
