Ryan Guzman really thought his time as Eddie Diaz was up in 9-1-1 season 8

9-1-1 star Ryan Guzman predicted there would be a major death in season 8, albeit with one caveat. 9-1-1 season 9 is on the way, with filming due to begin in about a month, but the long-running procedural is still reeling from the death of Captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause).

It marks the first time that the show has killed off a major character, though the 118 has been in plenty of danger in the past. That may be why Guzman, who plays Eddie Diaz, wasn't exactly surprised when he learned that a game-changing death was looming. He was just a little off base.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Guzman reflected on the fact that he thought Eddie was going to be the one to die. In the quote below, he talks with the host about readying himself to hear the bad news, only to learn that it's actually Bobby who will be killed off:

You thought it was actually going to be Eddie who died.

Guzman: Yes.

So on the phone call, were you just—was it like white-knuckle?

Guzman: “Okay… here it comes. Okay, I know it’s coming. It’s gonna be—wait, who?’”

 

What This Reveals About 9-1-1

Eddie's Had A Rough Go Of It

Guzman approaches the question playfully. Still, in its own way, season 8 was a weird one for Eddie. He has a significantly more scaled-back back after moving to Texas to strengthen his bon with his son Christopher (Gavin McHugh). This fueled speculation that Guzman would be the next to go after Bobby, which has proved not to be the case.

But because 9-1-1 has done such a strong job of keeping its main group of always keeping its actors right in the middle of the action, Guzman's absence for a few episodes was noticeable. It was also disappointing, in a sense, because the resolution of the storyline left a lot to be desired.

Eddie makes a big deal about needing to be closer to his son. But in the 9-1-1 season 8 finale, a speech from Howard (Kenneth Choi) is all that's needed to make Eddie change his mind. In any case, though, Eddie is back with the 118 and Guzman will be on set once cameras start rolling in about a month.

Our Take On Guzman's Comments

Eddie Needs A Refresh

Eddie may have only missed a few episodes in season 8. But even for the episodes where he was present, he wasn't fully there. The audience doesn't get a lot of insight into, for example, his reaction to Bobby's death. He misses the crucial three-parter almost entirely.

A new season is a chance to refocus. After the overall negative response to what happened to Bobby, showrunner and co-creator Tim Minear would do well to double down on the fan-favorite that's been crucial. Eddie should take the spotlight in 9-1-1 season 9, and there are still avenues worth exploring.