It’s been a long time coming (well, since earlier in 9-1-1 Season 8), but Eddie Diaz touched down in Texas during 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 12, sparking a new chapter in the story of the decorated Army vet and devoted father.
Leaving Los Angeles and the life he built wasn’t an easy decision, but Eddie knew that he had to fix the relationship with his son, Christopher, and if that meant uprooting his life, then he would do just that.
Settling into Texas proved to be more difficult than he imagined, and when he couldn’t land a firefighter job in his hometown, he became a full-time rideshare driver, which he eventually excelled at. But there was one big problem with his new job: he was lying to his family about it.
When Christopher and his friend dialed up Eddie’s new Toyota Prius to snag a ride, Eddie found himself confronting his lie and feeling like he had once again let down his son.
This season has been a whirlwind for the elder Diaz, who struggled with Christopher’s absence and is now embarking on this new journey in a familiar place but at a whole new place in his life.
It was a big episode for Eddie, and we had to talk about it with the always thoughtful and generous Ryan Guzman, who was a delight and broke down Eddie’s mindset and what we can expect to see coming up.
Check out this fun and enlightening conversation below.
Eddie’s move to Texas has been in the works for a few episodes now, but seeing him begin again in Texas feels like such a big moment for his character and journey. How have you felt about the storyline and starting this new chapter in Eddie’s journey?
I’ve been looking forward to it personally because there’s so much involved in it. And I think one of the scariest things that you can do from being separated from your family for so long is to go back to the family dynamic and see how you can reintegrate. [Laughs]
I think that is relatable to many of us in our personal lives. So, understanding that he’s not coming to a son who’s going to be outright welcoming him, and that there is a bit of tension based on what happened in season seven.
He’s got a lot that he needs to work on to be accepted, so to say, by his own son and to really step into that fatherhood role.
During the episode, Eddie decides to lie to Christopher and his parents about getting the firefighter job.
How long do you think he was prepared to keep that ruse going? He was driven by not wanting to disappoint Christopher, but do you think anything else was at play in his decision-making?
Probably until he could buy his truck back. That’s probably it. [Laughs]
I don’t know. We know that Eddie tends to fib a bit and bend the truth to maneuver around his reality. But at this point, he was so embarrassed about the fact that he was not able to be a part of the El Paso fire department that it seemed like he was less than.
And that he can’t make it work out here like he could in L.A. And that’s the last thing he wants to show his family and the last thing he wants to emulate for his son.
So he felt a bit like a failure, and that drove him to lie and carry out the lie for who knows how long until he ended up getting caught, obviously. When he gets caught, it’s just an overflow—an overwhelming amount of emotions that feel again, like when he got caught with the ghost of his dead ex-wife.
So it’s like he just can’t get it right, no matter how much he tries to be involved in Christopher’s life and do the right thing. He just can’t get it right.
Is he starting to understand more that he won’t always get it right and not to beat himself up as much, or do you think that’s still something he’s struggling with?
I think now he’s got such a safety net in Buck and his 118 family because, I mean, even going out for the job in El Paso, it’s Bobby saying whenever he wants a job, he’s the best candidate you can have.
He’s seeing that he’s got support from the family he curated in L.A., and he’s handling these obstacles a lot differently.
He’s done so much internal work. We’ve seen him be self-destructive in so many different versions of himself. He’s the fight club version of Eddie, doing that, and getting locked up in jail for a bit.
Eddie had to go through all these different things to eventually be the man who decided to slap on some underwear and dance like Tom Cruise. [Laughs]
So, many things have helped Eddie allow himself to love himself, and now he’s handling these new obstacles with a lot more ease. The edges aren’t as sharp anymore. He’s rounded them off. He’s taken on this role a little — not to say easy, but easier.
At the end of the episode, Eddie and Christopher talk, and Eddie is relieved that his son wants him to stick around. But it felt like that was just the first step to strengthening their relationship.
What do you think Eddie will need to do moving forward to continue to repair that dynamic?
Now, it’s just showing up. You just gotta keep on showing up. And I take that from my own personal experiences. Just being there for your kid is half the battle.
Being an adult, you get pulled in so many different directions, and you have to prioritize work, the house, and your own relationships.
But at the same time, if you just show up for your child with the intent to guide your child in the right direction and establish a deeper connection with them, I think it all falls in alignment.
And that’s what Eddie’s doing with Christopher.
He’s like, “Look, I’ve accepted my life in El Paso. I will move anywhere for you, buddy, and I’ll do any kind of job even if it requires me giving up a solidified and very prestigious job as a firefighter and becoming an Uber driver; I’ll do it for you, buddy.”
So, the proof is in the pudding, and he’s leading by example; if he continues this route, I feel like Christopher will pick up on that and really allow for Eddie to be back in his life, and as the father he’s always wanted.
This was the 118th episode of 911, which is very exciting. Since joining the series in season two, we’ve seen Eddie go through so much and learn and grow.
But what have you personally learned about Eddie this season that perhaps you didn’t know when the series began?
Oh, man, that’s a good question.
Over the course of seven years, I didn’t realize how jovial, comedic, and lighthearted Eddie was.
You know, that was something new. When I first got the character, it felt militant, you know, an all-American perfection is the goal kind of atmosphere.
He does what he needs to do for the team. He puts himself last, and over this course of seven years, we’ve seen that all change in the best ways, you know?
We’ve seen him have to lean on other individuals when he couldn’t take care of himself. We’ve seen him lie to himself to an extent where other people had to call him out, and he has to own up to his own truth. And there are so many different evolutions of Eddie now.
It’s a very liked character. Even with the obstacles, he’s handling them differently and allowing more levity in his life.
How important do you think it is for Eddie to have somebody like Buck, who he’s able to call during this episode when he’s struggling, and to know that he has unwavering support from his best friend?
That’s everything. I shout out to my best friends. Like I tried for the longest time to do things — this is just me personally — things on my own, thinking that you have to be a lone warrior. A survive, suffer in silence kind of individual, which does go hand in hand with Eddie.
But knowing that there is a safety net around you and not just a safety net but a sounding board, it’s just the next layer of life.
It allows for so much growth and the ability to balance these ideas and issues.
And with Buck, he’s giving him solid advice and saying, “Just show up. Be there for him. You’re not out there to be the best Uber driver. You’re not out there to be the best firefighter. You’re out there to be the best father.”
So, sound advice. And it’s something so simple that you think, “Oh, well, why didn’t I think of that?” It’s because you couldn’t get outta your own head, and you do need an individual like this best friend in front of you to do that. I think that’s everything to Eddie.
Can you tell us anything about what’s in store for Eddie as the rest of the season unfolds?
Yes. I will say that Eddie will have so much growth in these next couple of episodes, but then he’s also going to be tested and have something bring him back to the old-school Eddie.
And we will see if he has learned anything over the last seven years and if he is applying it, or if he’s gonna go back and stay reserved and go back to how we first met him.
In the past, you’ve spoken about similarities between yourself and Eddie, and you talked about it today, but how do you think you would do if you were a rideshare driver? Do you think you would excel in the way that Eddie was able to excel?
I would have a hard time not talking to people, for sure. [Laughs]. I’m very talkative. I don’t know if I would do great.
Especially turning in my nice truck for a Prius, like no disresgard to the Prius, all love. But I think I would do decent. You know, I’d get five stars.
Five stars?
Maybe, you know, set up the towelettes, mints, and everything. Make everybody feel nice and comfortable in my car. [Laughs]
We’ve edited this interview for length and clarity.
We are very invested in Eddie’s storyline and excited to see what’s coming next as the season progresses. What about you?
How are you feeling about the direction of Eddie’s story?
Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below.
You can watch 9-1-1 on ABC at 8/7c on Thursdays.
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