In the wake of9-1-1: Lone Star’s ending,9-1-1will solely carry the franchise’s legacy, butthe procedural drama TV show could also absolve the spinoff of its biggest blunder.Since9-1-1: Lone Staris over, it can’t fix its past mistakes.9-1-1is still airing on ABC, though. So, the parent series can redeem the spinoff’s missed chance to take advantage of an opportunity many other TV show franchises have banked on in the past.
9-1-1season 8 returns from its winter hiatus with episode 9, “Sob Stories,” on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 8 pm ET on ABC. Season 8 is expected to have 18 episodes.
Fox canceled9-1-1: Lone Starbefore its season 5premiere, meaning its fifth season is its last. The show’s large budget and less-than-ideal ratings resulted in its ending, while9-1-1continues to thrive on ABC. During9-1-1: Lone Star’s series finale, Owen becomes the chief of the NYFD; Judd takes over as Station 126’s captain; TK resigns and he and Carlos adopt Jonah; Marjan is pregnant; Mateo becomes a U.S. citizen; and Tommy’s cancer goes into remission. Everyone gets a happy ending, but9-1-1: Lone Star’s curtain call would have been better if the show hadn’t concluded without fixing a significant mistake.
Lone Star Ended Without A 9-1-1 Crossover Despite Fan Clamor
9-1-1: Lone Starnever produced a proper crossover with9-1-1, even though a team-up between the two procedural dramas would have been quite exciting for the audience. Yes, season 2, episode 3,“Hold the Line,” features cameos from some9-1-1cast members.However, it still can’t be considered a crossover. If9-1-1: Lone Starcharactersappeared in a9-1-1episode as well, and the story from that hour carried over into a9-1-1: Lone Starepisode (or vice versa), that would be a crossover. Instead, Buck, Eddie, and Hen simply show up in Texas to help with wildfires in season 2.
Viewers expect TV franchises like9-1-1to have crossovers from time to time.One Chicagohas released many of them over the years (even as recently asOne Chicago’s January 2025 crossover), as have theFBIshows,Law & Order, and theNCISuniverse. These franchises have capitalized on the connection between their TV series by creating big events that strongly appeal to audiences. It’s exciting to see characters from different shows interact and work together to solve a problem. Unfortunately,9-1-1never took this chance, and9-1-1: Lone Starended without producing a proper crossover.
9-1-1 Can Still Stage A Lone Star Crossover Even After The Spinoff’s End
Every 9-1-1: Lone Star Character Is Alive
The good news is that9-1-1can redeem its spinoff’s mistake by featuring9-1-1: Lone Starcharacters in an episode. As stated above, this theoretical crossover still wouldn’t be proper. However, since9-1-1: Lone Starhas ended, it’s the best and only option fans can hope for. Given how the Fox procedural drama’s series finale played out,characters like TK, Carlos, Tommy, Judd, Paul, Marjan, Mateo, or Nancy coming to Los Angeles to assist Station 118 is quite feasible.It would even be possible if one or two of them moved to California and became a permanent member of9-1-1’s team.
8 Biggest Unanswered Questions After 9-1-1: Lone Star’s Ending
The 9-1-1: Lone Star finale wraps up most characters’ storylines, but a few lingering issues remain unaddressed while also raising new ones.
While speaking toTV Insiderafter the9-1-1: Lone Starseries finale,showrunner Rashad Raisani teased the likelihood of the spinoff’s characters popping up in a future9-1-1episode.Raisani said, “I don’t see why not. I would love it.” He also agreed that they could appear in the upcoming9-1-1spinoff (which doesn’t have a confirmed location or cast as of the writing of this article). Anything is possible in this post-9-1-1world, meaning fans shouldn’t give up on a9-1-1/9-1-1: Lone Starcrossover just yet.
How A 9-1-1 & Lone Star Crossover Can Happen Given Their Respective Situations
9-1-1: Lone Star Characters Can Move To LA
Perhaps aside from Owen and Judd,every9-1-1: Lone Starcharacter could feasibly move to Los Angeles and join the Station 118 crew.Or, they could simply be visiting Los Angeles when they encounterthe9-1-1season 8 cast. Owen is quite busy in New York City with his new position as the New York Fire Department’s chief, while Judd is Station 126’s new captain following Owen’s move. So, it might not be as feasible to orchestrate an appearance in9-1-1compared to other characters.
Tommy, Mateo, Nancy, Marjan, and Paul could also easily jump from the spinoff to the parent series following the ending of9-1-1: Lone Star.
On the other hand,TK and Carlos' coming to Los Angeles with Jonah would be realistic.As new parents, they might want to leave Austin and start anew in a different place. Carlos can join Athena in the LAPD, and TK can work alongside Hen and Chimney as a paramedic at Station 118. Or, he could continue being a stay-at-home dad. TK and Carlos aren’t the only9-1-1: Lone Starcharacters who could be in9-1-1, though. Tommy, Mateo, Nancy, Marjan, and Paul could also easily jump from the spinoff to the parent series following the ending of9-1-1: Lone Star.
Why A 9-1-1 & Lone Star Crossover Can Help Ryan Murphy Launch Its Next Spinoff
Another 9-1-1 Spinoff Is In The Works
Before9-1-1: Lone Starseason 5, episode 12aired, news about a second9-1-1spinoff from Ryan Murphy and Tim Minear broke. The original co-creators of the franchise are working on a new ABC series set in the9-1-1universe. Unfortunately, not much is known about it. ABC hasn’t announced the spinoff’s location or characters. However, Rashad Raisani (9-1-1: Lone Star’s showrunner who is also a part of the new spinoff’s team) previously confirmed it wouldn’t take place in Hawai’i, Seattle, Chicago, or other cities that have been the setting for popular shows. Regardless of its mystery,the spinoff would greatly benefit from a9-1-1crossover.
Ryan Guzman
Eddie Diaz
Murphy and Co. would be wise touse9-1-1characters to establish the spinoff in the universe.People from9-1-1: Lone Starappearing in the original series could easily build hype around the franchise as a whole, which, in turn, would generate excitement for the spinoff. Of course, characters from the new spinoff showing up in the theoretical9-1-1/9-1-1: Lone Starcrossover (or a possible backdoor pilot) would also be smart. Or, a9-1-1: Lone Starcharacteror two could join the spinoff’s cast. Whatever the case,9-1-1has a lot of power, and ABC must take advantage of it.
9-1-1
Cast
9-1-1 is a television series that explores the intense experiences of police officers, paramedics, and firefighters. Premiered in 2018, it follows these emergency responders as they navigate high-pressure situations and attempt to balance their demanding work with personal challenges in their own lives.
