"I Gave Her My Word On That": 9-1-1 Lone Star Showrunner Promised One Actor That Their Character Would Never Die
Warning: SPOILERS ahead for 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5, episode 12!9-1-1: Lone Star showrunner Rashad Raisani promised one actor that their character would never die, explaining the process behind their final story. The final episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 saw the 126 responding to the aftermath of the asteroid crash, with everyone playing a key role in the story. This included Tommy Vega (Gina Torres), whose battle with cancer didn't prevent her from assisting the team until she passed out. However, a flash forward revealed she recovered despite the life-threatening circumstances she'd been experiencing not long ago.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Raisani revealed he promised Torres that Tommy wasn't going to die in 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5. He explained that her cancer storyline illustrates "how scary and unpredictable" the diagnosis can be, but that it had to be presented in a way that didn't create a depressing ending for the series. Check out what Raisani had to say about Tommy's positive fate below:
When I talked to Gina about doing this arc, I said, 'We're never going to kill Tommy.' I gave her my word on that. At the same time, I really wanted to show just how scary and unpredictable cancer is — but that, no matter what, every day these first responders go to work. I wanted to play that level of stakes, and that feeling. But at the end of the day, I just didn't want to leave the audience with a punch in the stomach.
What Tommy’s Final Fate Meant For 9-1-1: Lone Star’s Series Finale
A Reflection Of Triumph Over Immesurable Hardship
Tommy's cancer diagnosis was looking grim in season 5, episode 11, when she was informed her tumors were growing despite the treatment she was getting. This led her to hallucinate her husband, Charles (Derek Webster), who died in season 2, signifying she may have been passing on herself. However, the series finale's flashback establishes she managed to recover despite the hardship, and is continuing her duties as the 126's EMT captain like she always has. The flash-forward speaks to Raisani's intention with her story, by showing how a cancer diagnosis can wildly alter over time.
The moment encapsulated many of the other bittersweet ideas in the final flashback, like Owen (Rob Lowe) leaving the 126 for New York City, promoting Judd (Jim Parrack) to captain status. TK (Ronen Rubinstein) and Carlos (Rafael Silva) end up adopting Jonah, while Marjan (Natacha Karam) is revealed to be pregnant. The characters in 9-1-1: Lone Starhave their final moments coalesce into one major final flash-forward, with Tommy's resilience being one reflection of the happy note everyone's story leaves off on.
Our Take On How Tommy's 9-1-1: Lone Star Story Ends
A Fittingly Happy Bookends For The Final Episode
Despite the near-death situation Tommy found herself in, the final moments of 9-1-1: Lone Star alleviated fears about her fate, showcasing her triumph over cancer's deadly grip. Her fate offers a hopeful take on how recovery from the disease can go, matching up its unpredictable nature with a happy ending that she deserves after suffering for so long. With her healing process now over, it seems the EMT captain will have a long career ahead of her at the 126, as she continues to help people in need.
Source: EW
9-1-1: Lone Star
- Release Date
- 2020 - 2024
- Network
- FOX
- Showrunner
- Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Tim Minear
- Writers
- Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Tim Minear
Cast
Liv Tyler
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