Instagram/@brandonlarracuente
The friendly sharing of filming sights from the most recent episode by Brandon Larracuente not only connected him with his fans but also excited them to express their opinions on the character’s development and behind-the-scenes interactions. The actor encouraged the audience to voice their questions and share their thoughts on the story by posting a collection of his favorite scenes from the show.
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Larracuente very quickly set the stage for a dialogue with his fans and his post became a platform for people to speculate and share their curiosities about the production. It was quite clear from the comments that the audience was very much in favor of Larracuente’s portrayal of the introverted yet captivating fireman Sal Vasquez. Many of them actually wanted him to be accepted by the beloved firehouse family of the show and not disappear from the screen.
Among the gentlest discussions was the airing episode’s combustion scenes. One viewer, who was inquisitive, asked if the scene of a house fire was real and he was not sure if it was real burning a house. Larracuente enlightened about the inside production and gave a well-structured answer to what the shooting was like. He explained the procedure that is normally for such shots; it is done in two stages – first, fire trucks and the outside of the house prep, then the inside of the house, which is almost exactly like he showed in his video. The user was next with an adorable sounding relieved tone asking, “So after the outside of the house with special effects—the fire, the explosion, and the smoke—the house is okay? Sorry, I am just very inquisitive about the production.” This ordinary back-and-forth between the user and Larracuente not only revealed the detailed staging behind the most impressive moments of the show but also transported the audience to the firehouse.
The relationship between Larracuente and Eigenberg’s characters was particularly fascinating for the commenters as well as for the actor himself, who admitted to enjoying the tussle between the characters very much during the time of the shooting. Davidson’s character Christopher Herrmann was the other half of the confrontation. Larracuente replied, albeit paraphrased, “It was really a fun scene to shoot, especially as David and I got to go all out.” He continued, “It’s safe to say that neither of us was holding back,” and thus the actors’ strong and lively chemistry was highlighted. The very first audience member, who was very much thrilled with Larracuente’s positive response, said, “They look like a fun crew! Love this show! Glad you are in it! Now you have to stay for the long haul lol.”
The differentiation of Sal Vasquez’s character was a continual subject of discussion. A spectator made a strange comparison between the actor’s current role and the previous one, saying, “I don’t know why but I think Sal Vasquez is an older version of Jeff Atkins or at least Sal would have been like Jeff in high school. Like they seem kind of connected in a way.” This observation opened up the discussion about the actor’s career and the most difficult characters he creates for the roles he plays. Another person just commented, “Vasquez character is intriguing me,” a sentiment that many others who are captivated by the slow unveiling of the character’s past have expressed.
Occasionally, less observant viewers would pick up on some of the softer moments in the episode. One viewer pointed out that one of the characters was doing the audience a favor by providing a very touching moment, and he or she said: “Jocelyn with her coloring book and Gatorade. She’s just like me, for real. And Miranda is so cute with the little cow stuffie!” These comments indicate the strong resemblance of the audience to the characters in their day-to-day lives with their oddities too, thus confirming that the big fires are not the only things that capture the audience’s hearts.
Support and laudatory comments for Larracuente’s portrayal of the character as the main reaction could be seen in the comments. Some of the messages filling the post were, “Your character is a great addition and you are truly rocking it!” and “So proud of you.” One person’s comment very well encompassed the collective desire of so many, “I’m obsessed with your character- it’s been so interesting learning bits and pieces about Vasquez! Also, the way Vasquez pulled Herrmann out had me sobbing! Please say you’re sticking around?!”
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Brandon Larracuente has not only made a huge effort to strengthen the relationship between the show and its viewers by granting behind-the-scenes access and engaging in personal conversations about stunts and character development but he has also stimulated great interest and commitment to the future of Firehouse 51 through his active role as the energizer of a social media post.