Tommy Vega’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 storyline was pitched by a former cast member. A spinoff of 9-1-1, the Fox procedural was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear, and focuses on the personal and professional lives of first responders in Austin, Texas. The show premiered to strong ratings across its first three seasons, before a ratings dip in season 4. 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 was renewed, which would be the final season, and a departed cast member pitched a prominent Tommy storyline. In season 5, episode 6, it was revealed that Tommy (played by Gina Torres) tested positive for breast cancer.
Per Entertainment Weekly, co-showrunner Rashad Raisani revealed that the Tommy storyline was pitched by former cast member Sierra McClain, who appeared in the show’s first four seasons. He shared that he and McClain remain close and that the latter pitched her the idea during lunch, stating what a special actor Torres was, and how she would be perfect to take on such a big arc. Check out his comments below:
“She and I are very close, and we met to talk about her character but then she brought up Gina. She said, ‘I think that Gina Torres is just such a special actor and she could take on an arc that could be even bigger than anything we’ve ever done for anyone, with more depth and more stakes. I mean, I don’t want to speak for another character, but what if she found out she had breast cancer?’ And I just thought, ‘Wow, that was kind of a genius pitch.
…it’s a way to begin both Tommy and Nancy’s closing arcs for the series because, not to get ahead of ourselves, but Tommy is going to have to deal with this monster that is cancer. It’s going to affect everyone.”
What Tommy’s Storyline Means For 9-1-1: Lonestar Season 5?
The News Will Affect Many Core Characters In Different Ways
Tommy’s positive result will have a big bearing on the remainder of the show and will kick-start her closing arc. It is bound to have huge repercussions for Nancy, who indirectly caused Tommy to get tested in the first place. Her nude photo, accidentally sent to the entire station, caused Tommy to notice a lump, and prompted her to get tested, with Tommy also getting tested in a show of solidarity. While Nancy appears to be fine as her test was negative, the emotional toll will likely be huge.
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Why Grace’s 911 Lone Star Exit Is So Disappointing (& How The Finale Can Fix It)
Sierra McClain exited 9-1-1: Lone Star ahead of the season 5 premiere, and the TV show’s explanation for Grace’s departure is frustrating.
Other 9-1-1: Lone Star characters impacted by this news include Tommy’s twin daughters, Evie and Isabella. With their father Charles already gone, having passed away from a brain aneurysm at the end of season 2, the girls now face the prospect of losing both parents in a short space of time, which will no doubt be playing on Tommy’s mind. Then there is the issue of Trevor, with whom Tommy has been romantically involved, and though they agreed to call off their engagement, there will still doubtless be feelings between the two.
Will Tommy Survive Her Battle With Breast Cancer?
Every Possibility Remains On The Table For The Show’s Conclusion
With season 5 confirmed as the final season of 9-1-1: Lone Star, Tommy’s fate is far from clear. Every possibility is on the table, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the show ends on an ambiguous note, with Tommy facing her cancer diagnosis, while also continuing to live her life as a mother, colleague, and professional. This would be a perfectly fitting ending, with the message that nothing is ever certain and that life goes on regardless, with the audience left to make their own minds up on what the character’s future holds.
9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 airs on Fox on Mondays at 8 pm ET.
Source: EW
A spin-off series of 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star is an action-drama series created for Fox. The series follows Rob Lowe as Owen Strand, a firefighter from New York City who, after having rebuilt a team in the aftermath of September 11th’s attacks, is brought in to form a new one in Austin, Texas.
- Cast
- Rob Lowe , Liv Tyler , Ronen Rubinstein , Sierra McClain , Jim Parrack , Natacha Karam , Brian Michael Smith , Rafael L. Silva , Julian Works , Gina Torres
- Release Date
- January 19, 2020
- Seasons
- 4
- Network
- FOX
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
