Ryan Guzman

“I think the speculation about the mustache is better than a description of why,” the mustache exists…He gave us confirmation enough that he sees the narrative around it and is having fun with it.

But now, “at the 118, everybody’s open and talking about their feelings and he’s been like, whoa, wait a second. This is new territory for me.” And sometimes, it’s hard for Eddie to adjust to that. “So there’s a lot of him trying to re-navigate himself and try a new direction, but with an old version of himself, which doesn’t always end the best.”

In that regard, Guzman was clear that he would like an opportunity for Eddie to show his boss where he stands. “Yeah, it’s a new obstacle for Eddie. And I would love to showcase a little bit more of the truth of what it is to be a Latino. The reason I’ve spoken more and more about being Mexican is the fact that I’m white-passing, so a lot of people assume that I’m more white than not. And that would offer comfort for a lot of individuals to talk bad about Latinos in front of me, not realizing that bro, you’re talking to the wrong one.”

“So now let me make it a staple,” Guzman said, for himself and for Eddie Diaz who we’ve already seen assert his heritage on screen. “Let me make a direct connection that no, I’m Mexican. I want the world to know: don’t be speaking ill about mi gente in my vicinity, or else, you’re going to get some feedback.”

This is also an important exploration for Eddie, according to Guzman, because so much of the way Latinos view life wrongly comes from this foundation. “I want to unpack this in Season 8 because the exploration of that is just like okay, maybe I’m not as religious as the church would like me to be. And I don’t carry a rosary with me at all times. I’m not Bobby. I’m Eddie. And Eddie has his version of religion and spirituality which has shaped his life and relationships.”