Eddie’s 9-1-1 Season 8 Exit Is Actually Good Because Of 3 Reasons

9-1-1 season 8, episode 8 left on a cliffhanger of Eddie Guzman (Ryan Guzman) potentially moving to Texas, which would actually be the best move for the character. Eddie spent the first half of 9-1-1 season 8 coming to terms with the fact that his son Christopher (Gavin McHugh) moved to Texas to live with his grandparents following the events of the 9-1-1 season 7 finale. Halfway through the current year, Christopher has yet to forgive his father or move home, leading Eddie to consider relocation.

While Eddie potentially leaving 9-1-1 season 8 is a divisive topic for viewers, there are clear reasons for Eddie to visit the Lone Star state that have been set up all year. Eddie feels fundamentally distanced from Christopher in Texas, and he’s had to watch him grow up through a FaceTime screen. Every call and conversation involving Eddie has cemented one central idea: as a father, your child always comes first. As such, Eddie moving to Texas is the natural progression for his character development.

Eddie’s Move To Texas Allows Him To Fix His Relationship With Christopher In 9-1-1 Season 8

Eddie Needs To Reconnect With His Son And Confront His Parents

Since his introduction in 9-1-1, Eddie’s character has been a loving father. During his first natural disaster with the 118, his primary concern was his son’s safety, and Eddie’s main motivation has been Christopher ever since. In season 7, a grief-stricken Eddie begins an emotional affair with the doppelgänger of his late ex-wife. After Christopher accidentally walks in and mistakes the woman for his deceased mother, he sees his father in a different light. In order to fix the estrangement between him and Chris, Eddie needs to go to Texas as a grand gesture.

Aside from showing Christopher he’s serious about healing their relationship, Eddie needs to have a serious conversation with his parents. The last time viewers saw Helena and Ramon Diaz, they used Eddie’s breakdown as an excuse to take custody of Christopher, an angle the show hinted at as early as 9-1-1 season 2. While Christopher leaving LA may have been positive for his character, they had anything but pure intentions. Returning to Texas offers Eddie the option to confront his parents or also fix their dynamic. Either way, their complicated relationship will come to the forefront.

Eddie’s 9-1-1 Season 8 Move To Texas Can Set Up A Lone Star Crossover

With The Spin-Off Ending, A Crossover Feels Necessary

Since it was announced that 9-1-1: Lone Star will end after season 5, fans have speculated if the original show will absorb any memorable characters from its spin-off. From Marjan Marwani to Paul Strickland to Carlos Reyes, there’s a long list of characters who can join 9-1-1 after Lone Star ends. Some characters, like Judd, make more sense in Texas. Others already have potential motivations to move to LA, like Marjan’s viral online presence. In the season 2 crossover episode, Eddie and Marjan even build a rapport; it would make sense for her to be the connecting piece.

Despite El Paso and Austin being nearly 600 miles away from each other, there are many ways to pull off another 9-1-1/9-1-1: Lone Star crossover episode, this time to set up a character transfer. Eddie’s truck could break down while the 126 is responding to a statewide emergency, a Lone Star character could already be on their way to LA and run into Eddie, or Marjan could simply help Eddie move in and admit she’s taking his spot, offering a new conflict for Eddie to navigate as he approaches his next chapter.

Eddie’s Absence Can Result In Buck’s Romance Realization In 9-1-1

Distance Could Make The Heart Grow Fonder And Kickstart “Buddie”

Showrunner Tim Minear has already teased how Eddie leaving will impact Buck’s storyline in 9-1-1 season 8. Buck’s character is perfectly set up for Eddie’s departure to awaken something in him. Minear told Screen Rant: “Buck has abandonment issues [going back to] birth, basically. And as much as he wants to be supportive and mature about this, he will end up spinning like a top.” After six and half seasons of their friendship, this may be the catalyst for Buck and Eddie — called “Buddie” by affectionate fans — to develop their relationship in a more romantic direction

While the idea of Eddie leaving already visibly upsets Buck, his actual absence will make the firefighter reconsider their relationship and where these feelings of abandonment stem from. That also includes if their dynamic can turn romantic. Additionally, Buck has been a father figure to Christopher since they first met. Eddie even added a clause in his will for Buck to be Christopher’s legal guardian in the event of his death. Though they don’t share blood, Buck also needs closure with Christopher who can only come from a road trip to Texas in the second half of 9-1-1 season 8.