While Fox unceremoniously axed 9-1-1: Lone Star, many fans felt the finale was strangely abrupt. Everyone had a cheerful ending, but that doesn’t mean the show’s done for good. Obviously, there’s still the franchise starter, 9-1-1, but the Texas spin-off still seems to have some wind beneath its sails.

But it wouldn’t make much sense to linger in Austin, Texas. For better or worse, it seems that the 126’s story has reached its end. However, its former captain still has plenty of potential. It can even be said that the show’s writers are perfectly positioned for another 9-1-1 spin-off.

Why Did 9-1-1: Lone Star End?

• 9-1-1: Lone Star’s dramatic rescues were often inspired by real-life emergencies.
• Despite being set in Austin, Texas, most of Lone Star was filmed in Los Angeles, California.
• Series regular Sierra McLain departed the show for its final season due to contractual disputes.

So, what happened to the beloved show? Lone Star was seemingly cut down at its peak. It had considerable viewership numbers and plenty of active fans. Its finale had a decent audience and a healthy dose of online hype. Its fifth and final season debuted with approximately three million viewers. In other words, the show wasn’t suffering from a slow decline. If anything, it was enjoying a somewhat steady popularity plateau.

Unfortunately, the final decision wasn’t dictated by the audience. The show was axed for (mostly) financial reasons. It was one of the last Fox originals to be created before Disney acquired Fox. Thus, it joined the firing squad when its parent company decided to cut costs. Its longer-running parent series, 9-1-1, was also nominated for cancelation. (Fortunately, ABC picked up the original show.)

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Producer Ryan Murphy also hinted at an element of network politics. When speaking to Variety about the show’s cancelation, he dubbed the production “a Disney company that was on a Fox network.” Murphy also acknowledged that “the financials just didn’t work.”

How 9-1-1: Lone Star Set Up the Perfect Spin-Off

• Production of 9-1-1: Lone Star was first announced in 2019.
• Rob Lowe’s son, John, worked as a story editor on the show.
• The series has already announced an upcoming spin-off, 9-1-1: Nashville. The new show is set to premiere in 2025.

The finale of 9-1-1: Lone Star has received mixed reception. In some ways, the larger-than-life conclusion was a meteoric return to form. An asteroid may not be a commonplace emergency, but it’s far from the strangest thing to be featured on the show. Despite its dramatic veneer, the 9-1-1 series has always run parallel to old-fashioned camp. But the quality of the finale isn’t the real concern.

What really matters is the final result. Everyone in the 126 has a new place. Judd (Jim Parrack) is the new captain, and T. K. (Ronen Rubinstein) is now a stay-at-home dad. The spunky Marjan (Natacha Karam) is now happily married, and Captain Vega (Gina Torres) is thriving. Despite a heart-pounding death scare, the former 126 captain, Owen Strand (Rob Lowe), has survived his radioactive ordeal.

More importantly, Lowe’s character has become the NYC Fire Chief. That gives the show plenty of room to refocus on a new location. Should writers decide to continue including Lowe as a leading or even recurring role, Lone Star’s conclusion also offers new narrative opportunities. Unfortunately, considering the rest of the cast’s picture-perfect finishes, the 126 is unlikely to return. (But that doesn’t mean they can’t guest star in a new spin-off.)

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This does, of course, assume a lot. The creative minds behind the 9-1-1 universe have already hinted at new horizons. The next spin-off will also debut under the ABC banner. Considering its placement on both ABC and Hulu, the show will likely look for cost-cutting techniques to maximize its profitability.

By extension, that means studio suits are unlikely to approve any show with Rob Lowe as the headlining act. As a big-name star, his inclusion will come with an understandably hefty price tag. Thanks to the success of 9-1-1: Lone Star, its cast will also have similarly pricey contracts. So, once again, there’s a bit of executive greed hampering the creative process.

But that doesn’t mean an NYC spin-off is destined to fail. The show has yet to touch the East Coast. As the region’s most populous and famous cities, any stories are bound to be any combination of entertaining, relatable, and over-the-top bonkers. An NYC spin-off will also have plenty of opportunities for the show to offer tie-ins with generous sponsors. Both Broadway and the East Coast film industry are unlikely to pass up a chance to be part of an esteemed prime time drama, after all.

Could 9-1-1: New York City Succeed?

• Filming for the show’s final season ended in July 2024.
• The show premiered in 2020 with a special two-night debut.
• Liv Tyler left the show after its first season, citing travel difficulties from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

There’s no way to predict the future. Even the best efforts — shows with big-name actors, lavish budgets, and every ingredient necessary to succeed — have fallen flat. Factors outside everyone’s control can easily torpedo the most promising ideas. Even so, it’s easy to speculatively say that an East Cast 9-1-1 spin-off would be a successful show.

Logically, there are two routes for the potential production to follow. The least likely (and potentially most intriguing) continues Owen Strand’s story. This narrative path will give producers new stories and “spins” for audiences to enjoy. Chief Stand’s newfound duties and responsibilities present new challenges for the writer’s room. Considering his personality, Owen is unlikely to sit back and relax behind a desk in an emergency situation.

The “Owen Evolved” route will be more expensive. Considering Lowe’s busy schedule, it also presents plenty of logistical challenges. By all outward appearances, it seems ABC is hesitant to continue the 126’s story. Lone Star had a “good enough” conclusion, and the finale was filled with typical thrills.

So, that leaves writers with a second option. A New York City spin-off could take the “safe” route and completely reboot the series with a new crew. This option follows the show’s current trend of creating interesting new characters and storylines. A new crew will also appease the budgeting department, as it requires only one or two “big name” actors to succeed.

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Creating an entirely new fire crew is certainly the easiest option. There are no established storylines to follow, and audiences can fall in love with new characters. At the same time, it doesn’t entirely negate what Lone Star built. Rob Lowe can still have special guest appearances. Considering their old captain’s presence in the Big Apple, the rest of the 126 can also appear on the new show.

In many ways, the success of both 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star give any series a sense of security. While his place in the television industry is often debated, Ryan Murphy’s writing skills have an undeniable pull; they keep audiences engaged and nurture active fanbases. 9-1-1: New York can easily become a hit, regardless of its narrative choices.

Really, the core of every 9-1-1 is its cast, and Lone Star proved as much. People connect to these characters. They see reflections of themselves on the screen, and it’s hard to fully loathe any of the brave firefighters. Even at their worst, each member of the 126 (and the 118) has a spark of inimitable humanity. It’s hard to watch either show without feeling like part of the family, and that deep connection would be the key to 9-1-1: New York’s success.

That said, it seems no plans for that particular spin-off are in the works. Unfortunately, the 9-1-1 team has already thrown itself behind a new series. Currently, the 9-1-1 universe’s latest iteration is set to debut this year, although the release date may change.