Warning: Contains SPOILERS for 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5, episode 12, "Homecoming."

The Lone Star season 5, episode 12 succeeds in wrapping up some storylines, but arguably misses the ball when it comes to others.

That’s not to say no questions are fully answered by the end of the finale. For instance, the series pretty much wraps up the death of Gabriel Reyes, although there may be some lingering doubts as to how Carlos is supposed to trust the Rangers at all now after everything he’s learned. When it comes to these other eight storylines, however, the questions remaining after the series’ conclusion raise even bigger flags regarding the ultimate fate of Lone Star’s characters.

8 Why Grace Still Hasn’t Come Back Home In The 9-1-1: Lone Star Finale

It Makes Sense For A Mercy Ship But Not For Her Character

Since Sierra McClain left 9-1-1: Lone Star due to behind-the-scenes issues regarding her contract negotiation, the chance of Grace making an onscreen appearance in the finale was slim from the very start. That said, it feels wrong for Grace to stay with her Mercy Ship after everything that’s happened with Judd this season. The moment that Charlie had to go live with her grandparents because Judd’s alcoholism was interfering with his ability to care for her, Grace should have been seeking a way home at the earliest opportunity.

What makes the situation even more egregious is that showrunner Rashad Raisani actually had plans for Grace’s return in Lone Star’s finale. Even though she couldn’t appear onscreen, the finale originally included dialogue establishing Grace’s impending return just one month later. This timeline would coincide with the approximate length of a longer Mercy Ship deployment. Raisani cut the line because he thought fans might find it disappointing to feel like they had just missed Grace’s return, but it’s debatable whether most would have found her complete absence much more satisfying.

7 Is Judd Worthy To Be 126’s Leader Given His Relapse?

He Doesn’t Even Have A Full Year Of Sobriety Under His Belt

Judd’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 alcoholism subplot seems to resolve itself completely during the finale’s time skip, but having Judd embrace sobriety almost entirely offscreen doesn’t work for the character. While there are certainly recovering alcoholics who manage to succeed without ever relapsing, it’s already been established that Judd isn’t one of them. With less than half a year of sobriety under his belt, this promotion is a stressor Judd’s sobriety might not be able to withstand.

Since addiction qualifies as a disability, it could be argued that Judd actually can’t be turned down for a promotion on that basis alone. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that drinking alone isn’t the only issue. Judd also endangered his life during a warehouse fire just two episodes before the finale, an act so troubling that he really should have had mandatory counseling before returning to work at all. It makes sense for Judd to become captain eventually, it’s just not clear that he’s ready for the job this soon.

6 Is Tommy Really Cured Of Cancer?

The Tumors Are Gone, But She Still Has Symptoms

It seemed like Tommy’s fate in Lone Star season 5, episode 11 had been all but completely spelled out. Tommy was told that she had an inoperable tumor that was set to end her life whether her other tumors grew or not. On top of that, it seemed like her other tumors were growing. Tommy was correct to guess that this was merely a case of pseudoprogression resulting from treatment, but the doctor had written her off so quickly that it’s almost unbelievable Tommy happened to guess that correctly.

It seemed as if Tommy’s hallucinations of Charles were implied to be cancer-related, yet those hallucinations are still occurring after her cancer is supposedly healed.

The problem isn’t merely that it seems convenient for Tommy to miraculously go into remission with no leftover signs that the tumors were even there, but it’s questionable how she’s still showing symptoms if the tumors are really gone. It seemed as if Tommy’s hallucinations of Charles were implied to be cancer-related, yet those hallucinations are still occurring after her cancer is supposedly healed. She’s also able to make physical with Charles in the finale, which ought to suggest her hallucinations are actually getting worse rather than better.

5 How Will TK Handle Being A Stay-At-Home Dad In The Long Run?

Jonah’s Only Working Father Figure Still Has A Dangerous Job

After Gabriel and TK failed to adopt Jonah due to the highly dangerous nature of their professions, it seemed like that was pretty much the end of the storyline. The time skip reveals that TK was able to adopt Jonah simply by quitting his job, which the adoption agent had never even suggested as a viable option. This should still present something of an issue, since it hasn’t changed that Jonah’s only working parent might not return home on any given day.

Even putting aside the fact that TK only has one known set of job skills to fall back on if he and Jonah ever lose Gabriel, his parenting itself could use some adjustment. In just one scene, Jonah makes it clear who’s wearing the pants in this relationship. As cute as it is to see Papa-Bro TK spoiling the kid with chocolate chips, it raises some mild concerns about his ability to be a disciplinarian when Jonah needs one. Perhaps the better choice for a primary caregiver would’ve been the man who literally enforces rules for a living.

4 Will Mateo & Nancy Never Really Get Married?

They’re Giving Up Potential Benefits For No Clear Reason

Mateo’s citizenship status remained up in the air leading into the 9-1-1: Lone Star finale, with authorities having informed him in the episode prior that Mateo would have to wait a year or two after deportation to apply for legal re-entry into the country. Although Nancy was willing to pay for a lawyer or even consider marriage in order to protect him, Mateo decided to forgo marriage and act as his own defense in immigration court. Aside from the part where he its in open court to burning down a school, the trial goes off without a hitch.

Considering that Mateo’s anger over Nancy not wanting to get married is what led to the fight that almost got him deported in the first place, it’s odd that he’s now completely okay with it.

The issue is that Mateo seems to give up on marrying Nancy without much discussion about it. Considering that Mateo’s anger over Nancy not wanting to get married is what led to the fight that almost got him deported in the first place, it’s odd that he’s now completely okay with it. Marriage might just be a slip of paper, but it’s a slip of paper that leads to tax benefits, even if his emotional reasons for it have changed. Nancy might not value marriage, but Mateo clearly does. It’s hard to imagine they’ve really had this conversation for both the first and last time in one go.

3 Does Owen’s New York Return Set Up The Next 9-1-1 Spinoff?

The Final Dialogue Practically Includes Multiple Episode Pitches

Although the series finale of Lone Star tries as hard as possible to make it seem like Owen had ed away in the process of saving Austin from a nuclear meltdown, the final scene reveals that Owen is still alive and acting as fire chief of New York City. That’s the real reason TK quit his job at the station, as well as why Judd needed a promotion to fill his shoes. Although he’s still drawing breath, it’s clear the rest of the cast of 9-1-1: Lone Star is very much feeling his absence.

With the location of the next 9-1-1 spinoff still unconfirmed, there’s no reason a New York-based series couldn’t be next on the horizon. The finale actually mentions several ideas that could work for episodes of a New York series, such as a crane blowing over in midtown and a horse-drawn carriage wreaking havoc in Times Square. And these ideas are really just the tip of the iceberg for the sort of unique stories a New York series would be able to deliver.

2 What If 126 Used AT&T?

The Phones Might Still Be Down 5 Months Later

One of the most egregious moments in the 9-1-1: Lone Star finale occurs early on when the asteroid strike leads to most of Austin losing cell service. This initially seems to be setting up a major conflict, in which 126 will have to handle emergencies without actually being able to hear from dispatch. Instead, the problem is fixed within a matter of minutes after Verizon sends out their Tactical Humanitarian Operations Response vehicle, or “THOR,” to boost 5G service in the area.

This is obviously a very poorly veiled product placement, and Lone Star doesn’t even skirt around that issue. Mateo sends the product placement over the top by casually commenting on how cool a name THOR is for a response vehicle, but what’s really egregious is that boosting 5G service seems to help the entire city. Not only do 126 and dispatch appear to use Verizon, but it appears that everyone in Austin must be using Verizon as well - everyone the show cares about saving, anyway.

1 What’s Happening With Paul’s Mentorship Of Jax?

Jax Was Set Up To Become The Firehouse’s Newest Probie

Season 5 of 9-1-1: Lone Star introduced a new character, Jax, with whom Paul forged an almost immediate connection. During the finale, Jax stops by 126 just before the asteroid hits in case they need any help. This winds up working out perfectly since an injured man named Tripper walks in just moments later with a leg full of glass shards. Although Jax has no formal medical training whatsoever, Nancy puts them in charge of removing the glass and irrigating Tripper’s wounds.

...season 6 of 9-1-1: Lone Star would have featured Jax as the station's newest probie receiving mentorship from Paul.

If Jax were any other side character, the fact that they pretty much disappear from the episode after this might not matter. However, Jax is of slightly higher importance. According to a TV Insider interview with showrunner Rashad Raisani, season 6 of 9-1-1: Lone Star would have featured Jax as the station's newest probie receiving mentorship from Paul. Now that Paul has a child on the way, it would have been nice to receive some resolution of that storyline and see more of Paul as a role model before closing the book on the series.

Source: TV Insider

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