9-1-1 Nashville fans have theories about why the show made Blue and Ryan brothers — and it all goes back to 9-1-1‘s Buck and Eddie.
The spinoff, which premiered on Thursday, October 9, introduced Captain Don Hart (Chris O’Donnell), his wife, Blythe (Jessica Capshaw), and their son, Ryan (Michael Provost). Don had a surprise for his family when he revealed that a stripper named Blue (Hunter McVey) was also his son following a romance with Dixie (LeAnn Rimes) while on a break from Blythe.
While some noticed possible chemistry between Ryan and Blue, others pointed out that they were siblings, which was considered intentional.
“They had to make them brothers to avoid another buddie situation,” read a TikTok comment in reference to Buck (Oliver Stark) and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) from 9-1-1, which many fans have been hoping to see become a couple.
There were also comparisons to TK Strand (Ronen Rubinstein) and Carlos Reyes (Rafael Silva), an actual couple from 9-1-1: Lone Star who ended the show together. Many viewers poked fun at how Ryan Murphy’s 9-1-1 shows always have two male leads who spark hopes of an onscreen romance.
ABC viewers noticed another complication for those who want Ryan and Blue together, with a comment reading, “So what about the ring on Ryan’s hand?”
The 9-1-1 universe originated with the flagship series, which premiered in 2018 and followed the professional and personal lives of Los Angeles first responders. After initially airing on Fox, the show was canceled in 2023 and made the move to ABC, where it is currently airing.
9-1-1 then expanded with 9-1-1: Lone Star, which followed a New York City firefighter who relocated to Texas. While 9-1-1: Lone Star came to an end in 2024, the fictional universe kept growing via the Nashville spinoff.
Set in Tennessee, the series “follows the lives of emergency responders — including firefighters, paramedics and police officers — as they face life-threatening situations,” according to the synopsis.
In addition to the Nashville version premiering on Thursday, 9-1-1 returned as well. Before the premiere, Stark, 34, previously weighed in on the chances of Us seeing Buck and Eddie together as more than friends.
“It works two ways, right? I definitely see that as a potential story,” Stark said during an April episode of the “I’ve Never Said This Before” podcast. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Eddie’s character. But then I also think you have to tread carefully because I don’t want to tell this story where [a] guy comes out and now all his male friends are like ‘Aw, so what, you got a crush on me?’ Like, I want to be careful of telling that story.”
He continued, “I get asked, ‘Will it happen?’ [all the time], not, ‘Do I want it to happen?’” he said. “But when people ask me, ‘Is it going to happen?’ I’m always like, ‘I don’t know. I don’t write the show.’ But as far as ‘Do I want it to?’ I also don’t know. Certainly, I’m open to it if that’s what [showrunner] Tim [Minear] decides [is] the most honest way to continue telling the story.”
Guzman, 38, meanwhile, exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this year the “ultimate goal” is to keep the “connection” between Buck and Eddie as strong as it’s always been.
“Whatever happens between the characters happens, but I think the sanctity of that vulnerability is what needs to be kept, and the connection,” Guzman explained. “Whatever happens with Buck finding if he wants to explore this route [with his sexuality] even further or not, that connection maintains itself.”
9-1-1 airs on ABC Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET while 9-1-1: Nashville premieres at 9 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.
