9-1-1 has delivered both iconic romantic and platonic relationships over the years, yet one duo’s potential remains largely untapped—a storyline season 9 could explore. The first-responder drama premiered on Fox in 2018 and moved to ABC in 2024, maintaining its mix of intense disasters and high-stakes drama in seasons 7 and 8. Despite the tension, the series balances the chaos with heartfelt moments, like Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Chimney (Kenneth Choi) welcoming their second child or Buck (Oliver Stark) embracing his bisexuality.
While near-death experiences—such as Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman) being shot by a sniper—remain some of the show’s most memorable moments, it’s the connections between the cast that truly ground the series. Station 118’s team, including Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Ravi (Anirudh Pisharody), share bonds beyond work, with Athena (Angela Bassett) often providing guidance beyond her professional role. Before his tragic death in season 8, Bobby Nash (Peter Krause) was undeniably the glue holding everyone together. Yet, surprisingly, one pairing rarely interacts on the show.
Maddie & Eddie Were Originally Meant to Be a 9-1-1 Romance
Both characters debuted in 9-1-1 season 2. While Bobby, Athena, Buck, Hen, and Chimney made up Station 118’s original A-team in season 1, Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) arrived in the season 2 premiere. Their introduction created an interesting dynamic: Buck was fiercely protective of his sister Maddie and initially suspicious of Eddie, worrying he might upset the team balance. By the end of the episode, Buck vows to support Eddie just as he promises to keep Maddie safe in LA.
Behind the scenes, Maddie was originally intended to become Eddie’s love interest—a fact Ryan Guzman revealed in a 2025 Spilling the E-Tea interview on Entertainment Tonight’s YouTube channel. Guzman even joked that he agreed to join the show partly because of the planned romance with Jennifer Love Hewitt. While it could have tested Buck and Eddie’s budding friendship, the storyline was quickly scrapped, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.
Why Maddie & Eddie Never Became a Couple in 9-1-1 – Jennifer Love Hewitt Had a Different Vision for Maddie
Maddie and Eddie’s potential romance was never cut for controversy—Jennifer Love Hewitt simply reimagined her character after meeting Kenneth Choi on set. She told Entertainment Weekly, “I just felt like they were two people who were sort of meant to be together.” Before Maddie arrived, Chimney was a very different character, and pairing him with Maddie allowed him to grow, revealing his softer, more caring side.
Maddie and Chimney faced challenges—her post-partum depression in season 5 even led to a breakup—but they reconciled in season 6 and married in season 7. Thanks to Love Hewitt’s insight, Maddie and Chimney became one of 9-1-1’s most beloved couples, a dynamic that wouldn’t have existed if Maddie had been paired with Eddie.
Maddie & Eddie’s Scrapped Romance Could Become 9-1-1 Season 9’s Best Friendship
While it was likely for the best that Maddie and Eddie never dated, that doesn’t mean the two shouldn’t interact. Their absence goes against 9-1-1’s “found family” dynamic, as they share surprisingly similar life experiences. Eddie’s leave from the 118 overlaps with Maddie’s East Coast arc, keeping them apart—but their parallels are striking.
Both were eldest siblings who took on parental responsibilities early—Eddie with his two baby sisters, Maddie with her brothers (raising Buck alone after Daniel’s death). Both also struggled with doubts about parenting their firstborns, Christopher and Jee-Yun, and both faced major mental health lows in season 5. These shared experiences make their platonic potential undeniable.
How 9-1-1 Season 9 Can Finally Bring Maddie & Eddie Together
Season 9 has several ways to bridge the gap between Maddie and Eddie. Since Maddie and Chimney already bond with Hen and Karen, Eddie could naturally be included during family moments like Christopher’s playdates—especially since Christopher and Denny have been shown as friends.
They could also connect during high-stakes emergencies, with Maddie guiding Eddie from the dispatch center if he’s cut off from the 118. With Chimney potentially taking up the captaincy, it’s even more vital for Maddie to maintain strong ties with all the 118, particularly Eddie.
The simplest connection remains Buck. His partnership with Eddie and sibling relationship with Maddie could bring them together—whether through danger or personal crises—proving that uniting for a common goal is all that’s needed to forge a meaningful bond.
