With 9-1-1: Lone Star‘s second season nearly upon us, it’s time to look back at the show’s hottest couple. Even before the series premiered, Ronen Rubinstein’s T.K. Strand and Rafael Silva’s Carlos Reyes were already making names for themselves, by way of “Tarlos,” as Lone Star‘s “It” couple, courtesy of some pretty hot promos.
Throughout the first season, T.K. and Carlos were merely hooking up but started falling for each other. T.K., after getting rejected back in New York, which, in turn, made him relapse and OD, wants to take things slow. Carlos, on the other hand, knows there’s something about T.K. that he can’t get out of his mind. But after another near-death experience for T.K., it makes the two rethink the status of their relationship.
Keep reading for some of our favorite Tarlos moments from the first season of 9-1-1: Lone Star!
Warning: Spoilers for season 1 of 9-1-1: Lone Star!
The First Hookup
They first met during a call then got closer at a bar. Next, in only the second episode, things heat up between T.K. and Carlos. The two get to Carlos’ house, and things instantly get hotter. They start making out, taking each other’s shirts and sweaters off and soon take it over to the couch, where it soon becomes morning. They both commented on how hot it was, how hot each other is, how good the other one was, and Carlos wants to go for round two. However, T.K. says he has to go to work, and Carlos offers to drive him, but T.K. says he likes to listen to music. When T.K. leaves, Carlos’ expression shows that he doesn’t see this as just another hookup. This begins their complicated relationship that will later blossom into something more.
Police Station
The first moment T.K. opens up to Carlos is after getting into a (sober) bar fight, and Carlos happens to be the officer that T.K. talks to at the station. Carlos finds out that T.K.’s real name is Tyler Kennedy and tries to get him to open up. He’s not trying to be his boyfriend or even his friend, but Carlos tells T.K. that he should talk to someone. T.K. gives in, apologizing about what happened the other night at dinner. He went through a bad breakup and had a relapse with substances, drugs, and overdosed. Carlos tells T.K. he understands, that he’s there for him, whether as a boyfriend or friend, he’s willing to wait. It’s really the first moment we see them both so vulnerable with each other and what they really mean to each other. This scene solidifies the relationship that T.K. and Carlos have and really is the start of Tarlos.
The Hospital
When a little boy accidentally shot T.K. during a call, it was only a matter of time before Carlos visited him. As T.K. is lying in his hospital bed, in a coma, Owen is sitting by his side, talking to him. However, Carlos is standing next to the doorway, not wanting to impose, but Owen offers him to come in. He thinks T.K. would appreciate it. He knows he would. Owen leaves Carlos alone with his son, and Carlos takes a seat, teary-eyed. He takes T.K.’s hand and starts stroking his arm and hair until the 126 come in to offer their support. It’s a heartbreaking but beautiful moment that really captures just how much T.K. means to Carlos, even in the short amount of time they’ve known each other.
The Elephant in the Juice Bar
After T.K. somewhat recovers from his gunshot wound, he meets with Carlos at a juice bar to talk and finally figure out their relationship, though T.K. avoids it. Carlos admits when he saw T.K. in the hospital bed, not knowing if he would wake up or not, he had these intense feelings come up. Are they even a “we?” T.K. says he has no idea, he doesn’t know if this is the life he wants, he needs to figure that out first before they can figure it out. Carlos gets it. He sounds pretty reasonable. If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. After saving civilians during the solar storm, T.K. gets into the ambulance to get checked out for his stitches, and Carlos comments to Owen that T.K. is an impressive guy. “He’s my son.” It’s a short scene, it opens the season finale, but it also opens the possibility that there could be more for them. Especially what they go through during the solar storm, helping everyone, it puts things into perspective. It was also a nice parallel to the pilot episode when Carlos told T.K. that Owen was an impressive guy, and T.K. tells him that he’s his dad.
Aurora Borealis
The season one finale ended on a beautiful note when the Aurora Borealis shined throughout the skies over Austin. After a nearly traumatic day of trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life and risking his life-saving citizens during the solar storm, T.K. found peace and solace that night with Carlos. The two layed down on the hood of Carlos’ car in the middle of a field, looking up at the sky, reflecting on the day they had, saving people together. T.K. points out that they make a pretty good team, Carlos agrees, and T.K. grabs his hand. It’s a beautiful and much needed moment after everything the two of them, especially T.K., has gone through. This moment is truly the start of their relationship and a preview of what is to come for them in season 2.
Honorable Mentions:
Darts
As T.K. is trying to get used to having “Cowboy Judd” on the crew, he’s venting to Carlos about it as the two of them are playing darts at a bar. Carlos mentions that he worked up the nerve to ask him out on a date, and T.K. is spending the night talking about another guy. Carlos tries to advise him about what to do about Judd, and T.K. reminds him what game they’re playing. “You know I’m holding a dart.” “And I’m packing a piece.” “That’s hot.” It’s a short scene, but it shows their playful banter that will be seen once again in season 2.
Deleted Dinner Scene
One of the only upsets of the first season of 9-1-1: Lone Star is the fact that fans were deprived of a bonus Tarlos scene. The scene in question would have been a Take-Two of their dinner that T.K. ran out on due to not wanting to commit to anything. The dinner would have involved tamales, and although not much is known about the scene beside the one promo picture FOX released of it, it seemed like it would have involved a touching scene between Carlos and T.K. Fans will have to turn to fanfiction to see what might have been.
Catch more Tarlos moments in season 2 of 9-1-1: Lone Star premiering this Monday, January 18 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on FOX, following the season 4 premiere of 9-1-1!
