Why 9-1-1: Lone Star’s cancellation does not make sense in the face of upcoming 9-1-1: Nashville, explained
The cancellation of 9-1-1: Lone Star after five successful seasons has puzzled many fans, especially with the announcement that a new spinoff, 9-1-1: Nashville, is slated to premiere during the 2025-26 television season on ABC, though it's unclear if it will debut in the fall or be a midseason addition. ABC announced development on 9-1-1: Nashville in February 2025, and it's clear that the network hopes to bring it to the small screen as soon as possible.
As per Fox Fandom, Lone Star averaged approximately 3 million viewers per episode during its final season, making it one of Fox's highest-rated dramas. The show was canceled due to financial issues and network realignment rather than declining popularity.
In an October 2024 interview with Variety, showrunner Ryan Murphy highlighted that the show's financials didn't align since it was a Disney company airing on the Fox network. What is even more puzzling about the cancellation is that 9-1-1: Nashville is touted to be a clone of Lone Star. The new show appears to copy most of what made Lone Star popular, which makes the cancellation even more disappointing.
The new show stars Chris O'Donnell as Captain Don Sharpe, a tough fire captain and rodeo rider who commands Nashville's busiest firehouse with his son. This follows the father-son relationship between Captain Owen Strand and TK Strand in Lone Star, which was a foundational element of the show.
9-1-1: Nashville is a copy of Lone Star?
Perhaps one of the most obvious problems with 9-1-1: Nashville is that it is uncomfortably close to Lone Star, and the cancellation of its predecessor is all the more baffling. The new series features Chris O'Donnell as Captain Don Sharpe, a rugged fire captain who operates Nashville's busiest firehouse with his son. This is a direct parallel to Lone Star's father-son team, Captain Owen Strand and TK Strand, who were the emotional center of the series.
Sharpe's rodeo experience recalls the Texan origins of Judd Ryder in Lone Star, and his stable family life is an antithesis to the franchise's trend of captains who start single. These similarities appear to prove the redundancy of canceling Lone Star just to bring in a virtually similar show.
Missed opportunities for innovation in 9-1-1: Nashville
Rather than bringing new stories to the table, Nashville seems to follow a formula that is already established to work within the franchise. As per a People article published on March 18, 2025, that highlighted the details, this observation is based on character descriptions and announcements, not the show itself, as it is yet to air. Though this strategy may gain an already existing fan base, it remains to be seen if the new series will be able to distinguish itself.
The franchise has been depicting middle-aged white male captains with complicated family lives, such as Bobby Nash in 9-1-1, Owen Strand in Lone Star, and now Don Sharpe in Nashville.
Having a leader from a different background, like a woman, an ethnic minority, or a younger firefighter, might have brought a fresh angle. By not adopting such innovation, the series may end up being a repetitive reboot instead of an exciting expansion.
Lone Star's storylines deserved a more meaningful conclusion
Lone Star ended with a number of open-ended storylines, including Tommy Vega's breast cancer, Mateo Chavez's risk of deportation, and Judd's battle with alcoholism. The sudden stop only left viewers wanting more closure.
While the show made an attempt to give most of its characters a happy ending, the timeskip could be seen as a tool of convenience to wrap up the story arcs. This could imply that Lone Star might have had more to offer but was ultimately concluded due to financial factors.
What does this mean for the future of the 9-1-1 franchise?
The cancellation of 9-1-1: Lone Star in exchange for a similarly themed spinoff is a worrying sign of where the franchise is headed. Instead of keeping up with popular programs, the franchise is rehashing familiar ideas under new names. This plan has the potential to drive away long-term viewers who cared about the characters and narratives of Lone Star.
To differentiate itself, Nashville needs to truly reflect the cultural and geographical identity of its environment, delve into distinct crises, and bring in characters that shatter the franchise's current stereotype. Without doing so, Nashville might be overshadowed by Lone Star, making its predecessor's cancellation unnecessary.
Finally, Lone Star needed a more considerate ending, either in the form of another season to achieve true closure or a better explanation of why it was canceled. As Nashville approaches, the franchise is now obligated to demonstrate that this new spinoff is not Lone Star simply renamed. Any failure to accomplish that would make the cancellation of Lone Star one of the most bewildering decisions made in the 9-1-1 franchise so far.
Also read: 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 episode 12 ending explained: Does Owen Strand move back to New York?
