9-1-1: Nashville’s Hunter McVey Talks Blue & Taylor’s Budding Romance and the Upcoming 9-1-1 Crossover: “It’s Not All Going to Be Friendly”

Romance is brewing in Nashville!

As the freshman series 9-1-1: Nashville enters into midseason form, a fan-favorite romance between two of the firefighters is starting to take shape.

Sure, we may only be ten episodes into the series, but Blue Bennings and Taylor Thompson have had chemistry from the start, and it’s high time they did something about it.

9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 10 had Blue and Taylor opening up to one another about the longstanding tension between them, after some miscommunication on Blue’s end had him thinking that he and Taylor were destined for nothing more than friendship.

On the heels of this exciting news, we chatted with Blue himself, Hunter McVey, who had extremely warm things to say about his on-screen love interest and teased what’s ahead for the pair.

McVey also gave us a little insight into the upcoming cross with the OG, 9-1-1, and let’s just say, he got us plenty excited about seeing certain 118 firefighters making their way to the Music City.

Much was discussed with the Nashville star, so enjoy!

Fans have been noticing the chemistry between Blue and Taylor all season. And it looks like we’re finally getting a little something there since they both admitted that they like each other. What do you like most about that dynamic between the two of them?

I would say it’s added a lot to Blue’s life. He’s had a lot of hardships and struggles that I think many people can relate to.

It’s something that gives him something to look forward to when he goes to the firehouse, and it’s a new adventure, and it’s something new to explore.

And I don’t think he’s ever had a relationship other, really, than with his mom, with a woman. And so it’s an awesome dynamic to explore with him.

It’s an awesome dynamic to explore with me being a new actor, because Hailey has been so incredible to work with and so supportive. And it’s no easy feat to come into this world and work with an expert like Hailey and someone so beautiful, too.

It can be very nerve-wracking, and she has been nothing but supportive and helpful to me in recording these scenes. And I’m so excited the fans are loving it as much as we’re loving creating the dynamic.

Is there a moment this season that you think defines their dynamic? Even if it’s a subtle one.

The best one, I think, really the turning point is this episode.

But I really liked the last episode; it was my favorite so far this season, where people could actually see, “Okay, we got something real here.” But I think the turning point, and what a lot of people are going to love, was in this episode.

Is there anything specific about Taylor that you think she’s able to bring out in Blue that maybe we don’t get to see anybody else do?

Oh, yeah. A lot of sides of Blue, especially in the episodes that have yet to air. I’m so excited for fans and the audience to see, because you look at someone like Blue and you just think, completely masculine, not really in touch with his emotions or his feminine side.

And I think Taylor brings it right out of him, and you really get to see how much he cares for others and wants to care for her and protect her and be the gentleman that he is.

I think it’s great that Taylor can pull that out of a traditionally masculine-looking, guard-up type of male.

It’s brought up a few times in this episode: dating or being interested in someone you work with. It’s one thing to have a flirty vibe with a coworker, and it’s another thing to be in a relationship. If it does progress to that point, how do you see the two of them navigating that?

Well, I think anyone who’s ever dated someone they’ve worked with knows that at some point, there will be some things that come up that aren’t all sunshine and rainbows.

So, I think it really comes down to how much each person in that dynamic wants to push forward with the other and navigate those hardships, because I don’t really think there’s a way to avoid it.

It is not always sunshine and rainbows; it’s not always easy.

There will be difficult moments that come from that, but I think it’s the willingness to push past them and the passion each side of the romantic relationship brings to the relationship as it moves forward, especially in something like 9-1-1, where we have crazy disasters every single day.

Those situations can come up more often than not, I think, in a romantic relationship. I will tell you, there are definitely some moments that cause a little bit of chaos, but I think Blue and Taylor both appreciate what the relationship has brought, so much so that they’re willing to work past those moments.

As far as Blue and the Harts go, it’s been a rocky road, but things have been going pretty well lately. How much do you think it has meant for Blue to have this deeper relationship with his family?

I think it means more to Blue than anything else in the world. He very much prioritizes family and wants a family he fits into, can take care of, and is loyal to. And I think nothing else really comes above that in terms of his priorities.

You’ll continue to see those relationships prosper and grow, and you’ll also have your fair share of things that don’t make it easy to keep them at the top of his priority list.

But I think it is, if not, the most important thing for him to be included in the Hart family, and I think it’s been the biggest change and biggest light in his life.

We know a crossover is coming up. What can you tease for us about the two 9-1-1s coming together? Is it going to be a friendly rivalry, or will some tensions arise?

Well, I think there would be a lot of spoilers involved if I let myself continue to ramble. But I will tell you that it was a pleasure to have those guys in town, get to know them a little better, and talk with and learn from them, because, obviously, they’ve been doing it for nine years.

So their insights, their knowledge, and their welcoming, supportive energy to me was like no other. And that’s how I felt with every other person I’ve worked with and the entire cast, crew, production, and team.

And I think a lot of people are going to enjoy the crossover episode. And it’s not all going to be friendly, I’ll just tell you that much.

What can you tease fans about Blue’s journey the rest of the season? Anything they should be excited about?

Yes. I think if they enjoyed the family dynamic and Blue finding himself in the first nine episodes, they’re going to be extremely happy with the last half of the season because there’s a lot of character development with Blue, with his mindset, with, again, his priorities, with his family, and with his love interest.

He’s really coming into himself and figuring out what gets him going, what gets him to jump out of bed in the morning, and really, really becoming a good man. S

o that’s what I’ll have to say about that. But I love the journey so far, and I’ve just felt incredibly blessed to play such an amazing character.

***This interview has been edited for length and clarity.***

You can watch 9-1-1: Nashville on Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.