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9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5’s Grace Exit Defended By Showrunner: “We Did All We Could”
9-1-1: Lone Starseason 5 returns to FOX on September 23 after an extended hiatus, and co-showrunner/executive producer Rashad Raisani confirms that there will be a one-year jump, originally meant to coincide with the break between seasons. Filming was first delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and while it was expected to air in early 2024, the final batch of episodes were pushed to fall. The9-1-1universe has undergone several major changes over the past year, asthe original show moved to ABCfor its seventh season.
Months beforeLone Starwas set to return,Deadlinereported that Sierra McClain, who plays emergency dispatcher, Grace Ryder, had exited the series. Even before her departure, there were rumors about the show’s cancelation, with FOX only recently announcing thatLone Starwould end with season 5. In an interview withScreen Rant, Raisani explains the creative decision behind the time jump, and what it means for the characters' upcoming storylines. See his response below:
Screen Rant: So there is going to be a one-year time jump between seasons 4 and 5?
Rashad Raisani: Exactly. Just under a year. In fact, that becomes a major story point. To be honest, we didn’t know, as we were writing this and shooting it, when exactly we would re-air. So we kind of picked the number a year. At the time, it seemed like that was about when we’d come back on. It turned out to be a little longer than that. But also, there are some story reasons.
For example, for Judd to come back as a firefighter, if a year elapses while a firefighter is on sabbatical, they have to go back and start over. So for Judd, it becomes a sort of impossible situation to think “I’d have to start all the way over as a probie and have to come back.” For TK and Carlos, they’re coming up on their year anniversary. It’s a nice benchmark to see, how has that relationship progressed? What are their struggles? What are their joys in a year? You get kind of a nice snapshot of where they are as a couple.
9-1-1: Lone Star’s Time Jump Makes Perfect Sense
It allows Sierra McClain to be written out
The exact details of how Sierra McClain will be written out of9-1-1: Lone Starremain unknown, but a sneak peek fromEntertainment Weeklyconfirms that Grace is still alive and well in the season 5 premiere. This comes as a relief to fans who worried she had been killed offscreen during the break between seasons. Given thatthe actor will not appear in the showbefore its conclusion, Grace’s eventual death remains an unfortunate probability. However, the time jump allows for her absence to be explained through her husband, Judd, as she will have already departed when the show returns.
Judd is portrayed by Jim Parrack, who is confirmed for the final season.
What The Time Jump Means For TK And Carlos
The couple got married in the season 4 finale
TK and Carlos' wedding has been inevitable since they entered an official relationship at the end of9-1-1: Lone Starseason 1. Although they had their fair share of close calls and near-death experiences, TK and Carlos always found their way back to one another. The writing emphasized that the couple was meant to be together long-term, so their engagement, followed by their eventual weddingin the season 4 finale, didn’t come as a shock. What was surprising was the murder of Carlos' dad, Gabriel (Benito Martinez), just days before the ceremony.
9-1-1: Lone Star EP Hints At One Cast Member’s Potential Return In Season 5
Exclusive: 9-1-1: Lone Star co-showrunner and executive producer Rashad Raisani hints that a cast member will return for the show’s final episodes.
One year later, it’s been confirmed that Carlos has become a Texas Ranger and will continue Gabriel’s legacy. However, his murderer remains at large. Carlos was fueled by heartbreak and revenge in the season 4 finale, almost shooting an undercover operative who was working alongside his father. With the case unsolved and Gabriel’s killer still a mystery, it’s possible that Carlos' relationship with TK will be affected by his quest for answers. However, the two have proven there’s nothing they can’t overcome, and will, hopefully, find a way to achieve justice for Gabriel together during the final episodes.
9-1-1: Lone Star
A spin-off series of 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star is an action-drama series created for Fox. The series follows Rob Lowe as Owen Strand, a firefighter from New York City who, after having rebuilt a team in the aftermath of September 11th’s attacks, is brought in to form a new one in Austin, Texas.
