9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 Is About To Make Grace’s Frustrating Exit So Much More Upsetting
Even though many things were going on in the 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 finale, one of the standout moments concerned Judd and how he had been dealing with Grace’s frustrating exit. As many know, Sierra McClain, who began playing Grace in season 1 of the Fox procedural drama, exited the series ahead of season 5 (reportedly due to contract negotiations). So, the writers had to cut Grace from the final season’s story. Unfortunately, though, Grace’s 9-1-1: Lone Star exit was so disappointing, thanks to one glaring issue, and the fall finale surely didn’t fix the character’s upsetting departure.
Following the season 5 fall finale, 9-1-1: Lone Star is going on a seven-week hiatus before returning on Monday, January 20, 2025, at 8 pm ET on Fox. Then, only one episode remains until the series finale of 9-1-1: Lone Star , which premieres on February 3, 2025.
Grace’s exit was explained during the 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 premiere — Judd revealed that Grace had decided to volunteer for Mercy Ships, a real faith-based international organization that provides life-saving care to those in need. Grace had learned about the charity while attending church and felt the urge to help. However, Grace abruptly leaving her family and the country doesn’t make much sense. While it’s believable that Grace would want to help others, it’s confusing as to why she would leave her husband and their young daughter to do so.
9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 Will Explore Judd’s True Feelings About Grace’s Exit
The Fall Finale Reveals How Judd Has Been Coping With Grace’s Absence
9-1-1: Lone Star season 5, episode 9 circled back to Grace’s exit and how Judd had been coping with his wife’s absence. As one would expect, Judd wasn’t dealing with Grace’s departure all too well. After he brought Judd home after a night out, Owen discovered empty alcohol bottles everywhere. Judd admitted that he had been drinking heavily after Grace left, which is why he was so sick (i.e. hungover) at work. He insisted that he was never drunk on the job, though.
| 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5 Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Rob Lowe | Owen Marshal Strand |
| Ronen Rubinstein | Tyler Kennedy “TK” Strand |
| Jim Parrack | Judson “Judd” Ryder |
| Natacha Karam | Marjan Marwani |
| Brian Michael Smith | Paul Strickland |
| Rafael L. Silva | Carlos Tomas Reyes |
| Julian Works | Mateo Chavez |
| Gina Torres | Tommy Vega |
| Brianna Baker | Nancy Gillian |
| Kelsey Yates | Isabella “Izzy” Vega |
| Skyler Yates | Evie Vega |
| Jackson Pace | Wyatt Harris |
| Robyn Lively | Marlene Harris |
| Parker Young | Ranger Campbell |
| Alan Autry | Chief Ranger Bridges |
Judd claimed he lost his “center” once Grace left in 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5. However, Judd promised Owen that he would quit cold turkey. Rob Lowe’s character didn’t seem to believe him, which is why he turned down the New York job offer. Owen wants to help his friend, but only time will tell if Judd lets him when 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 returns in 2025.
How Judd’s Reaction Can Make 9-1-1: Lone Star’s Grace Exit Story Worse
Judd’s Reaction Is Realistic But Upsetting
Grace leaving her family was a hard enough pill to swallow. However, now that it’s making Judd spiral out of control, Grace’s controversial exit might get worse before the finale. Yes, Judd having a negative reaction to his wife’s absence is realistic, but it’s also heartbreaking. Plus, Sierra McClain will not return in the 9-1-1: Lone Star series finale, meaning the show doesn’t have a good way of fixing her character’s departure or Judd’s response to it. What makes it all worse is that the writers had to change Judd’s storyline after McClain’s exit. Co-showrunner Rashad Raisani told TV Insider:
“And to be frank with you, we weren’t going to do this story this year. It wasn’t until Sierra McClain didn’t come back and, therefore, Grace didn’t come back that that led us to start thinking about, well, who is Judd without Grace? And we can’t hide the fact that she was such a stabilizing force in his life. And even though he has, on the outside, all of these things around him to stay strong for, on the inside, his center is gone. And so we really wanted to play that.”
The writers only have three episodes to wrap up Judd and Grace’s story. Unfortunately, that isn’t enough time to fix her exit, especially after Judd’s scenes in the fall finale. It seems like this drinking plotline will be a major part of Judd’s arc as 9-1-1: Lone Star nears its end, making Grace’s absence all the more disappointing.
