9-1-1: Nashville's Chris O'Donnell And Ryan Phillippe React To Season 2 Premiere's Biggest Twists — Grade It!

"9-1-1: Nashville" kicked off Season 2 on Thursday with a premiere of biblical proportions — and we're not just talking about Ryan Phillippe's angelic golden curls.

New series regular Phillippe makes his dramatic debut in the premiere as Rogue Kelly, a former New York City homicide detective who arrives in Nashville just as a mysterious ne'er do well is committing crimes inspired by the Ten Plagues of Egypt. This episode gives us a swarm of murder hornets and a "river" of blood, leaving eight more potential dangers for the 113 to face in the coming weeks.

Rogue technically saves Don's life after he's pierced by a stray stinger, earning him an invitation to Sunday brunch at Chateau Hart, where the only thing more delicious than the food is the tension. Don and Blythe have no plans to share their marriage problems with the group, but when Rogue "innocently" asks how long they've been separated, they're forced to uncomfortably explain their situation. Don gets payback later in the meal when Rogue starts choking on some food, taking his sweet time before lending him a helping hand.

"His character tends to blurt things out, which always makes for awkward social situations," Chris O'Donnell tells TVLine of Rogue. "Rogue came in a little aggressive, a little hot, and Don had to remind him what the house rules are."

Fortunately, it sounds like Don and Rogue's icy relationship will begin to thaw soon, with Phillippe telling TVLine that "certain events kind of change the way that they regard each other."

For his part, Phillippe simply can't believe how much steak he actually ate while filming that tense brunch. "I was really eating it!" he says. "We shot that scene for about six or seven hours, and [I ate it] every time. I had the worst stomachache afterwards. There was just a ball of meat sitting in my stomach. There are about eight characters in that scene, and everybody had to get their coverage off-camera, so I'm just giving them what they need to react to. I guess they're lucky I'm not a vegetarian!"

Read on for more of O'Donnell and Phillippe's thoughts on the "9-1-1: Nashville" Season 2 premiere, including Don and Blythe's "bed divorce," as well as Rogue's not-so-subtle connections to the cities where "9-1-1" and "9-1-1: Lone Star" take place.

The good news? Even after the events of the Season 1 finale, when Don (temporarily) agreed to sleep with Dixie, Blythe and Don are still living under the same roof. The bad news? They aren't sleeping in the same room. As Blythe explains to Don in the premiere, her therapist suggests they try a "bed divorce," sleeping in separate beds in order for Blythe to get the space she needs to sort things out.

"That was a new one to me," Chris O'Donnell tells TVLine of the concept of a bed divorce. "I don't think Don Don is too happy about that. But he does feel a lot of regret for almost going back to Dixie. He cares so much about Blythe, so he'll do whatever it takes to make her happy. So if a bed divorce is necessary, going to jump on board." (Or not jump on board in this case.)

The question is: does Blythe have anything to worry about? O'Donnell would love to say no, but the show suggests otherwise.

"It's undeniable that there's a long history between Dixie and Don," he says. "They share a child and she was a big part of his life for a long time. But he loves Blythe. She's his wife, she's his life. Dixie just tends to rear her head in endless situations and scenarios, and there's always something there."

As punishment for their brawl in the Season 1 finale, Blythe and Dixie now find themselves in court-ordered anger management, where their therapist concludes that they're both misplacing their anger. As she explains, Don is the real source of their fury, so why are they taking it out on each other?

And if that doesn't work for you, one of Blythe and Dixie's fellow group therapy attendees offers up another explanation for their constant conflict: "You guys act like you want to bang each other!"

"I got a kick out of that," Chris O'Donnell tells TVLine of that joke, clarifying that he has "no idea" whether it was written in response to fans wanting Blythe and Dixie to get together. "I actually don't ever read comments or feedback," he says. "It's not my program, but I suppose. I have no idea."

"9-1-1: Nashville" showrunner Rashad Raisani, who also ran "Lone Star" on Fox, previously told TVLine that he hopes to create more connectivity within the "9-1-1" universe via crossovers. So you'd better believe that our ears perked up at Rogue's mention of having two college-aged children, one in Los Angeles and another in Austin. 

With this bit of information, we have to wonder: Could Rogue be the "9-1-1" franchise's missing link? It can't be a coincidence that he happens to have ties to the two cities where "9-1-1" and "9-1-1: Lone Star" are set — not to mention that Rogue is also from the Big Apple, where former "Lone Star" captain Owen Strand is now leading the New York Fire Department.

"Maybe, maybe, I think there's some fun to be had there," Ryan Phillippe tells TVLine coyly.

As far as crossovers are concerned, Phillippe says he's mostly interested in potentially crossing paths with "9-1-1" star Jennifer Love Hewitt, as they both starred in the 1997 slasher "I Know What You Did Last Summer." And that makes two of us.

Your thoughts on the "9-1-1: Nashville" Season 2 premiere? Are you enjoying Phillippe as Detective Rogue Kelly? And what are your hopes and predictions for the show moving forward? Grade the episode in our poll below, then drop a comment with your full review.