“Not for lack of effort,” Raisani told TVLine about attempts to have McClain return.Grace’s exit was explained earlier in the fifth and final season when her firefighter husband Judd (Jim Parrack) noted she was doing missionary work with real-life Christian nonprofit Mercy Ships, which sends hospital ships around the world to provide life-saving surgeries.
“The only thing that I think could get Grace away from her family was this higher calling, which has been a part of her character from day one,” Raisani previously told Entertainment Weekly. “I just thought that that was the best way to protect her character and also to honor her character.”

He added, “I also thought that might be an interesting place to put Judd as well, where he’s being…not abandoned, but he’s been left by his wife for God — or for this incredible purpose. That puts him in a very complex position where he feels frustrated, he feels alone, but he’s not angry. Or at least he’s not admitting on a conscious level that he’s angry. We get to that a little bit later.”

Amid Grace’s absence, Judd continues reconnecting with his grown son Wyatt. Played by Jackson Pace, the actor was promoted to series regular for Season 5 as his character takes on a job at the titular call center where Grace previously worked.