Sierra McClain’s exit ahead of the 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 premiere came as a massive shock, and co-showrunner/executive producer, Rashad Raisani, reveals whether her absence is permanent. Despite high viewership numbers, FOX recently announced that the fifth season would be the show’s last. It’s set to premiere on the network on Monday, September 23, and will consist of twelve episodes total. While the cancelation is disappointing, Lone Star’s future has remained a question mark since its flagship series, 9-1-1, moved to ABC in 2024. There are currently no plans for the spinoff to do the same.
Among many things viewers will miss about the show, McClain’s character, Grace Ryder, is at the top of the list. The departure of the main cast member leaves fans pondering how the final season will fare without her, and, unfortunately, even a cameo from the emergency operator is off the table. During a recent interview with Screen Rant, Raisani shared that McClain will not appear in season 5 in any capacity. Check out what he had to say below:
Screen Rant: Sierra McClain has exited the series. Will she be completely absent from the final season, or did you have some time with her beforehand?
Rashad Raisani: Yeah, unfortunately, she departed before we rolled any cameras. We didn’t have access to her at all, as much as we tried.
What Grace’s Absence Means For Her Relationship With Judd
It’s doubtful that the couple will separate voluntarily
In Entertainment Weekly’s official sneak peek of 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5, Judd and Marlene surprise Wyatt with a renovated home. Judd takes a picture of the occasion for Grace, stating that she’s off “doing the Lord’s work.” While her whereabouts are vague, the clip confirms that Grace and Judd are still together when the show returns. However, twelve episodes is a significant amount of time for such a vital character to be off-screen, away from her family.
Judd and Grace’s marriage has been the beating heart of Lone Star since the pilot, and they are a refreshing reminder of what unconditional love can look like. Regardless of how McClain’s exit may affect the story down the line, splitting up the couple feels implausible. Grace’s death remains a possibility, but there’s hope that the writers have found a way to keep her, and her relationship with Judd, alive through the series finale.
Grace Is Pivotal To 9-1-1: Lone Star’s Success
She saves just as many lives as the 126
The 9-1-1 franchise emphasizes the amount of work emergency dispatchers do behind the scenes. Despite not being out in the field, operators are often the reason a caller stays alive until first responders arrive to help. Grace has proven to be one of the smartest characters in the show, coming up with creative solutions under high-pressure situations.
Rob Lowe, Gina Torres, Ronen Rubinstein, Jim Parrack, Natacha Karam, Brian Michael Smith, Rafael Silva, and Julian Works make up the rest of the main cast.
She answers back-to-back calls each day and helps just as many people, if not more, as the 126 does daily. From the impact she has at the call center, to her relationships with friends and family, Grace entices viewers with her compassion and fiery spirit. Her lack of warmth will surely be felt during the final season, but it serves as proof of the significant impact she’s had on Lone Star.