With 9-1-1: Lone Star’s cancelation.
There are already multiple storylines set up for 9-1-1: Lone Star’s bittersweet ending.
10 9-1-1: Lone Star Had A Workplace Romance
A Dynamic Similar To Nancy And Mateo Could Suit The 118
Out of the many 9-1-1: Lone Star couples, Nancy (Brianna Baker) and Mateo (Julian Works) are undeniably one of the sweetest. The two came together in 9-1-1: Lone Star season 2, bonding over a troubling call at work. For the rest of the series, Nancy and Mateo were rock solid and an adorable pairing. The closest thing 9-1-1 has to a workplace romance is Chimney (Kenneth Choi) and Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), but the dispatch center and LAFD don’t offer the same dynamic as two firefighters or a firefighter and paramedic.
How Buck's 9-1-1 Couch Trend s His & Eddie's Romance Chances
A long running 9-1-1 couch theory explores why Buck and Eddie might be perfect for each other and make for a great endgame couple.
The easiest solution, and one that has garnered ample from the audience, would be to pair Buck (Oliver Stark) and Eddie (Ryan Guzman), letting their friendship blossom into romance. 9-1-1 needs to explore Buck’s bisexuality, and there are many scenes from the procedural that could be read as romantic in hindsight. If 9-1-1 doesn’t want to commit to “Buddie,” they could introduce a new character to fulfill the workplace relationship.
9 9-1-1: Lone Star Had A Firehouse Dog
Bobby Failed To Foster A Dog Once, But 9-1-1 Deserves A Redo
When Rob Lowe’s Owen brought home Buttercup the dog in 9-1-1: Lone Star, the pet was an instant scene-stealer. If Buttercup wasn’t included for a stretch of episodes, panic would set in, as the death of the dog likely would have impacted audiences just as much (if not more) than the death of a main character. Furthermore, his bubbly personality made Buttercup the unofficial mascot of 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Alternatively, 9-1-1 could kill two birds with one stone by giving Buck the dog: Buck can circumvent his abandonment issues with his own pet, and he’ll finally move out of the infamous loft.
9-1-1 temporarily introduced dogs on numerous occasions, but none have become memorable, permanent parts of the 118. Athena (Angela Bassett) may be allergic, but there are many other options for host families. In fact, Eddie will benefit greatly from a pet if he returns to California without his son. Alternatively, 9-1-1 could kill two birds with one stone by giving Buck the dog: Buck can circumvent his abandonment issues with his own pet, and he’ll finally move out of the infamous loft.
8 9-1-1: Lone Star Embraced Its Setting’s Local Culture
The Procedural Had Uniquely Texan Storylines
9-1-1: Lone Star took its Texan setting seriously, seamlessly interweaving details about the local culture into the storylines. From Carlos (Rafael L. Silva) becoming a Texas Ranger following the 9-1-1: Lone Star season 4 finale to Judd’s (Jim Parrack) life-changing experience at a rodeo, the procedural never shied away from including Texan idiosyncrasies. More broadly, 9-1-1: Lone Star embraced cultural aspects of the large Hispanic population in Texas, including a curandera character who heals multiple main characters.
While some of 9-1-1’s intense disasters are modeled after realistic events that have hit California, the setting has little to no bearing on the show’s identity. The vast majority of 9-1-1 stories would read the same if it were set on the East coast or Midwest. The only uniquely Californian plot that stands out is the tsunami that hit the Santa Monica pier, which also happened to be one of 9-1-1’s most iconic arcs.
7 9-1-1: Lone Star Temporarily Separated The Team
It's The Perfect Plot Device To Add Tension
Following the arson attack on the firehouse in 9-1-1: Lone Star season 2, the 126 is fragmented and sent to different houses. While most luckily end up in one place, Mateo is sent to work under a fire captain who treats him horribly. 9-1-1: Lone Star resolves the storyline without much angst, but the idea of separating the core team— even temporarily— is a gold mine for realistic, bittersweet conflict. Depending on who winds up where, the possibilities are near endless.
One Forgotten 9-1-1 Character Is Eddie's Perfect 118 Replacement
9-1-1 season 8 left off on a midseason cliffhanger, but the ABC procedural is overlooking one prime candidate to potentially replace Eddie Diaz.
ittedly, 9-1-1 already had the prime opportunity to take this route during the tyrannical yet brief reign of Captain Gerrard (Brian Thompson). Instead of making them do petty chores and bend to his whims, Gerrard could have caused real (but still salvageable) damage if he split up the 118. The Gerrard arc ended unceremoniously in the first half of 9-1-1 season 8, but the likely renewal of 9-1-1 season 9 means this option could be kept in the show’s pocket. If Eddie ends up moving to Texas, 9-1-1 can explore the fragmentation on a smaller scale.
6 9-1-1: Lone Star Included Diverse Faiths
Only Bobby And Eddie Have Talked About Catholicism
As explicitly stated in the pilot episode, 9-1-1: Lone Star had a clear goal to promote diversity in its cast. From race to gender to sexuality, a plethora of demographics were fortunately represented across 9-1-1: Lone Star’s 5 seasons. Another key trait that was celebrated in 9-1-1: Lone Star was the religious beliefs and identities of the main characters. Marjan (Natacha Karam) had multiple mini-plots about her identity as a Muslim woman, TK (Ronen Rubinstein) casually mentioned his Judaism, and Grace (Sierra McClain) was even absent in 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 due to Christian missionary work.
While Grace’s exit in 9-1-1: Lone Star was disappointing, it spoke volumes that the show confronted complicated aspects of multiple faiths and how they interact with the characters’ identities. 9-1-1 showed Bobby (Peter Krause) to be a religious man and briefly touched on Eddie’s Catholic guilt, but the majority of the main characters have no explicit faith. There’s nothing wrong with secular characters (in fact, they’re vital), but the few religions 9-1-1 do deserve further dissection.
5 9-1-1: Lone Star Showed The 126's Downtime At The Firehouse
In-Between Calls, Coworkers Became Family
9-1-1: Lone Star was full of exciting emergencies and emotional character-driven stories, but the Texan procedural also understood the power of letting its characters rest. The 126 was such a believable family because 9-1-1: Lone Star showed them hanging out around the firehouse between calls, having meals together, and even bickering over the chore chart. Small glimpses into the more mundane side of their jobs only further humanized the characters and fortified their bond.
While 9-1-1 has included a handful of dinner scenes, the ABC drama tends to separate the emotional storylines and high-stakes rescues by setting. However, in doing so, they sacrifice the easiest way to establish relationships between the main characters. Buck and Bobby used to have a father-son relationship dynamic in 9-1-1, but recent seasons have failed to utilize it. A simple scene of the two cooking dinner together at the firehouse would be a quick fix that underlines the closeness of the 118.
4 9-1-1: Lone Star Utilized The Lieutenant Role
9-1-1 Just Has An Acting Captain Position
While 9-1-1 is fairly lackadaisical about the structure of the 118 firehouse, 9-1-1: Lone Star explored the hierarchy at work and the many complications that accompany certain roles. After Judd’s brief retirement in 9-1-1: Lone Star, Paul (Brian Michael Smith) and Marjan battled for the lieutenant position, offering intriguing conflict and competition between best friends. Aside from his complex feelings about having authority over his coworkers, the increased responsibilities of Paul’s lieutenant position were a nice if not somewhat bureaucratic change of pace.
The lieutenants were clear right-hand men during 9-1-1: Lone Star’s intense rescues, but 9-1-1 doesn’t distinguish the 118 aside from Bobby’s rank as captain. There was a road bump of a conflict when Bobby named Hen (Aisha Hinds) as the acting captain instead of Buck, but there’s no real hierarchy within the team. 9-1-1 could easily add a competitive arc where the of the 118 campaign for a lieutenant position, which would show off a new side to many characters.
3 9-1-1: Lone Star Had Separate Firefighter And Paramedic Captains
9-1-1 Needs To Dive Into The Medical Aspect More
Furthermore, 9-1-1: Lone Star had distinct teams for fire and medical emergencies, existing in separate sectors but working in perfect tandem. Arguably 9-1-1: Lone Star’s best character, Tommy Vega (Gina Torres), only exists due to the increased role of the paramedics, with Torres ing the 9-1-1: Lone Star cast in season 2 as the new paramedic captain. While the 126 still functions as a unit, dividing the firefighters and paramedics offers more diverse, specialized calls and a unique relationship between fire and paramedic captains.
It’s far too late for 9-1-1 to restructure the firehouse and add a paramedic captain, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing the procedural can do to highlight the medical side of things. 9-1-1 has touched on the difference between firefighting and paramedic work in the past, with Hen and Eddie clashing heads after he temporarily fills in for Chimney as the second paramedic. However, Hen and Chimney’s roles as paramedics should be highlighted and separated from the rest of the team’s firefighting to give the characters the full credit they deserve.
2 9-1-1: Lone Star Had More Dramatic Storylines
Both Shows Have Serious Moments, But Lone Star Had More Stakes
9-1-1: Lone Star was never afraid to veer into ridiculous territory at times, from a man being swept into the air while trapped in a port-a-potty to Owen saving the world from a nuclear meltdown at the very last second. The most dramatic 9-1-1: Lone Star storylines toe the line between camp and melodrama, but the plots were always entertaining, engaging, and memorable. The same extended to its character arcs, with serious developments striking without warning, like Tommy’s breast cancer storyline or Mateo’s deportation hearing.
Thankfully, There's Still Hope That 9-1-1 Season 8 Make Up For Lone Star's Biggest Missed Opportunity
9-1-1: Lone Star has come to an end after its season 5 finale, and 9-1-1 has the chance to redeem one of the spinoff’s biggest mistakes.
Granted, this isn’t a quality that 9-1-1 necessarily lacks. From the amusing to the heartbreaking, the original series has had its fair share of dramatic storylines. Yet, 9-1-1: Lone Star explored the extreme time after time, ensuring there was never a dull moment for better or for worse. There’s something to be said about 9-1-1’s restraint or its more grounded tone, but a few more bizarre stories here and there wouldn’t hurt.
1 9-1-1: Lone Star Let A Team Member Die
9-1-1 Only Includes Close Calls
While the pilot season of 9-1-1: Lone Star was spent laying the foundation for the series, season 2 threw out the rule book as the spinoff began to explore its original identity and take big risks. When Tim Rosewater (Mark Elias), Nancy’s paramedic partner, suddenly died a few episodes into 9-1-1: Lone Star season 2, the entire series became more intense. Tim’s death impacted everyone, kickstarting a notable Survivor’s Guilt arc for Owen and giving the audience a rude awakening: there was never a guarantee that the team would survive.
Meanwhile, 9-1-1 is notorious for not killing any of its main characters. Although there have been plenty of near-death experiences in 9-1-1, no member of the 118 has ever succumbed to their frequent injuries. While the plot armor has been criticized by some and lauded by others, it has undeniably taken the wind out of 9-1-1’s sails on multiple occasions. There never seems to be real danger for the characters, since 9-1-1 has protected every main character up to season 8. Fortunately (and unfortunately), it’s never too late for 9-1-1 to shake things up.
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9-1-1 returns Thursday, March 6 on ABC.
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9-1-1 is a television series that explores the intense experiences of police officers, paramedics, and firefighters. Premiered in 2018, it follows these emergency responders as they navigate high-pressure situations and attempt to balance their demanding work with personal challenges in their own lives.
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9-1-1: Lone Star
- Release Date
- 2020 - 2024
- Network
- FOX
- Showrunner
- Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Tim Minear
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYA 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.
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