The 9-1-1: Nashville cast of characters already seems positioned to offer fresh dynamics for the first-responder drama, but the very tone of the second spinoff will set it apart. Whereas 9-1-1: Lone Star’s setting was rarely used to the fullest, 9-1-1: Nashville’s music scene will be a unique complication for the spinoff. Nevertheless, there will be more subtle, much-needed changes.
Owen Strand’s Pointless Romances Were The Worst Part Of 9-1-1: Lone Star
Rob Lowe’s Owen Strand was never part of the 9-1-1 franchise’s best couples— but it certainly wasn’t for lack of trying. 9-1-1: Lone Star introduced love interests for Owen like clockwork, with each season ironically having its own dedicated romance. Regardless of how serious Owen seemed to get with his partners, every season suspiciously became a blank slate.
By the end of 9-1-1: Lone Star, Owen was alone, as the truncated final season opted to avoid another fruitless romance. Some were mere flings, but most of Owen’s serious relationships took up significant space in the story, robbing under-utilized main characters of their due development. Aside from failing to commit, Owen’s love interests weakened the show at large.
9-1-1: Nashville Starting With A Married Couple Means It Won't Repeat Strand's Tiring Romances
Luckily, as the first franchise title to begin with a coupled captain— Chris O’Donnell’s Don being married to Jessica Capshaw’s Blythe— 9-1-1: Nashville will have to create unique storylines that will likely be more interesting than Owen Stand’s doomed dating subplots. Both preceding franchise titles have already proven, however, that couples never truly settle down.
In the flagship series, Bobby (Peter Krause) fell in love with Athena (Angela Bassett) and quickly married by the end of season 2. Until his untimely death in 9-1-1 season 8, Bobby and Athena had plenty of intriguing storylines that never felt weighed down by their relationship; if anything, their marriage added depth and higher stakes to every situation.
With its central couple, 9-1-1: Nashville will be better than Lone Star, but even the Texas-based spinoff had successful long-term couples. Grace (Sierra McClain) and Judd (Jim Parrack), as well as Carlos (Rafael L. Silva) and TK (Ronen Rubinstein), were together for nearly the entire series without narrative stagnation. Comparatively, Owen Strand’s exhausting love interests only feel increasingly unnecessary.
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