Spoiler alert: this article contains spoilers for9-1-1: Lone Starseason 5, episode 12, “Homecoming.“9-1-1: Lone Star’s teased character death would have made the finale so much better if the writers had not changed their minds. The9-1-1: Lone Starendingfollows the 126 crew as they navigate the impact of an asteroid in Austin and prevent a nuclear meltdown all in one densely packed episode. During a crucial moment, Owen and his team race to shut off a nuclear reactor before it is too late. While Owen manages to shut off the reactor, he is found unconscious moments later, implying the worst has happened.
As Rob Lowe’s character only appears again after the time-skip, much of the episode leaves his fate a mystery. WhileOwen and the 126 crew all survive the finale, many of them come close to death several times in the tense episode. As9-1-1: Lone Starseason 5will be the last season for the9-1-1spinoff, it should be seen as good news that the 126 crew made it until the end. However, some last-minute decisions by the show’s writers weakened the show’s finale, and it has to do with9-1-1: Lone Star’s biggest fake-out death.
9-1-1: Lone Star Considered Killing Owen But Walked Back On It
The Writers Decided To Give 9-1-1: Lone Star A Happy Ending Following Its Cancelation
With9-1-1: Lone Star’s dramatic finale,Owen’s ending could have gone either way. While he ended up surviving the asteroid attack and saving the world, Owen could have easily died.9-1-1: Lone Star’s showrunner, Rashad Raisani revealed that killing off Rob Lowe’s Owen Strand was a real possibility in the show’s conclusion. In an interview withTVLine, Raisani said that he “ended up deciding that it was enough of a kick in the stomach that this show was ending,” which is what swayed him to change his mind regarding Owen’s death. Read his full quote below:
…but ended up deciding that it was enough of a kick in the stomach that this show was ending at all, so I just wanted to leave people with a sense of joy and that life goes on.
I really wanted a full-circle feeling. The fundamental thing for me was to leave people with hope and a smile at the end, not feeling bummed and depressed. It’s bittersweet because the family sort of went their separate ways, but not because people were dead or people got divorced. Life separated them in a beautiful way where they’re all following a higher calling.
The writers' indecision about whether to give Owen a happy ending or not was hinted at when the paramedics found Owen lying on the ground in9-1-1: Lone Starseason 5, episode 12. Fortunately,Owen not only survived the finale but later became the new Fire Chief of New York City. His happy ending offered a great moment for his character and truly showed Owen “following a higher calling” as Raisani said. It also helped offer some solace that although Owen’s story was ending, it was ending on a positive note.
Owen’s Death Would Have Been A More Powerful Ending For 9-1-1: Lone Star
Owen’s Death Could Have Created A Full-Circle Moment
Owen’s death in9-1-1: Lone Starcould have made the finale better. While any major character exit is sad, Owen’s death would have been an excellent narrative choice. Asthe show began with Owen facing a life-or-death situation, it could have ended with him dying while saving his teammates, as an homage and reference to his old unit in New York. A finale centered on Owen’s death would have also unintentionally created a full-circle moment from the pilot episode.
Why 9-1-1: Lone Star Is Ending After Season 5
Fox has canceled the procedural drama TV series 9-1-1: Lone Star after five seasons, which is not too surprising after the fate of 9-1-1.
Owen’s death could have also helped push his team forward and acted as a beacon of motivation, as he could have helped Judd stay motivated to recover.9-1-1: Lone Starhas featured several main characters, but it has always highlighted Owen’s life as the center stage of the show. To begin and end with Owen’s journey in Austin would have added an emotional layer that was missing in the finale.
