9-1-1: Lone Star may be drawing to a close, but the first responder drama has introduced a few major conflicts with only one episode left for resolution. 9-1-1: Lone Star’s cancelation gave the procedural only 12 episodes to wrap things up for the ensemble cast. Because of this, it has heavily leaned into final moments of shock, heartache, and intrigue. Even with a single episode left, 9-1-1: Lone Star is complicating things further.

Aside from the intense rescues in 9-1-1: Lone Star, the heart of the show lies in its characters. Whether blood bonds like Owen (Rob Lowe) and TK Strand (Ronen Rubinstein), romantic partners like Nancy Gillian (Brianna Baker) and Mateo Chavez (Julian Works), or platonic pairs like Tommy Vega (Gina Torres) and Judson “Judd” Ryder (Jim Parrack), 9-1-1: Lone Star is about family. Like any family, however, the penultimate episode proved that love may not conquer all.

5Nancy And Mateo’s Relationship Stalls At A Stalemate

Their Future Plans Don’t Align

Despite being a rock-solid couple since season 2, Mateo and Nancy run into trouble during 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5, episode 11. While shopping for a “pet” plant, Mateo suggests he and Nancy move in together since they’ll end up married someday anyway. Nancy shocks him by rebutting that she doesn’t want to get married ever.

Baker and Works have been pillars of the 9-1-1: Lone Star cast since the pilot season, and their characters have been together for nearly as long. It seems unrealistic that it would have taken this long for the topic to come up, but there are ways to navigate the disagreement. The finale of 9-1-1: Lone Star must have Mateo accept commitment without marriage. Having Nancy compromise her lifelong values would ruin her character.

Mateo Is Being Deported

A Scuffle Threatens His Immigration Status

Mateo has lightly touched on his experience as an immigrant in 9-1-1: Lone Star, specifically in relation to his doppelgänger cousin Marvin (“Double Trouble”). Yet, his immigration status has never threatened his citizenship until now. In the penultimate episode, Mateo gets into a small fight with an off-duty cop, leading an immigration officer to present him with a notice of removal letter.

There are many routes to take for Mateo to avoid deportation, but few would fit the narrative. One response to a notice of removal would perfectly fit Mateo, however. Based on his history of public service and a team of people to vouch for him, 9-1-1: Lone Star’s finale should have Mateo apply for the cancelation of removal. The 126 could rally together to demonstrate how all the good he’s done for Austin proves he deserves to stay in the US.

3TK And Carlos Fail The Adoption Home Screening

Jonah Is Currently Secluded At A Boarding School

TK and Carlos Reyes (Rafael L. Silva) have been together the second longest out of any 9-1-1: Lone Star couple, but their marriage was tested when TK decided he wanted to adopt his younger brother, Jonah. Carlos was initially against the idea, but he came around to it after solving his father’s murder that occurred at the end of 9-1-1: Lone Star season 4. Unfortunately, it only became more difficult from there.

In the penultimate episode, a social worker admits she won’t recommend the couple to be Jonah’s guardians, since they both work such dangerous jobs. The simple fix would be for Carlos and/or TK to retire, but both are too devoted to what they do for that to be a viable option. 9-1-1: Lone Star’s series finale will have to work a little magic and let their dedication to raising a child sway the court’s decision.

2Tommy’s Cancer Turns Fatal

Her Doctor Gave Her Less Than Weeks To Live

Gina Torres has been an integral member of 9-1-1: Lone Star since she joined the cast in season 2, but season 5 has been her most tumultuous of all. After proposing to boyfriend Trevor (D.B. Woodside), she breaks up with him shortly after in 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5, episode 4. A mere two episodes later, Tommy was suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Although she was undergoing experimental treatment with perfect results, the penultimate episode reveals that Tommy’s cancer has worsened and is on the precipice of killing her. It’s never too late for it to be a false alarm, but 9-1-1: Lone Star might let Tommy die to conclude her story. It would be miraculous for the series finale to show her improving, but recovery may be too unrealistic now.

1A Nuclear Meltdown Is Imminent

Owen Failed To Hit The Emergency Shut-Off

Although 9-1-1: Lone Star set up an asteroid as its final tragedy, the penultimate episode spoiled the real ending in its first scene: a meltdown at a nuclear reactor. The asteroid’s fallout will likely still cause intense medical emergencies and rescue missions, but the series finale will now contend with the threat of nuclear radiation. While still a significant danger, there are many ways to conclude the final emergency.

Logically, the 126 should abandon extraction attempts and focus on evacuation, but that’s simply not who the first responders are. They’ll try to avoid the disaster at all costs, not caring how futile their efforts may be. Not all will escape unscathed, but the series finale of 9-1-1: Lone Star will surely have a satisfying conclusion one way or another.

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