9-1-1: Lone Star Review: Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1)

Every time a new show airs, it hopes to capture not just the attention of its audiences in a big way, but also their hearts. 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” manages to do just that in small ways instead.

You would think that with it being set in Texas, 9-1-1: Lone Star would go for the obvious “everything’s bigger in Texas” trope. However, it succeeds in its pilot episode by not falling into that trap. It is the little moments that truly make this episode beautiful and worth a watch.

One of the great things about its predecessor, 9-1-1 is its willingness to tackle social issues head-on, but what that show sometimes lacks is diversity. This is where 9-1-1: Lone Star seems to really be breaking the mold.

Even better than having a diverse cast of characters is their ability to make these characters relatable for who they are not the color of their skin or their gender or even their sexuality. All of those elements are touched upon, but they aren’t the focus of who these characters are.

It is in the little moments of showing these characters as humans first that this show is going to break new ground and develop into something wonderful and unique. Sure, the captain of the firehouse is your typical straight white male, but even he breaks the mold by showing through his actions that everyone on his crew is a person first. 

He connects with them on a personal level not even calling attention to their diversity. It’s moments like the bathroom scene where Captain Strand and Paul are discussing skincare routines and trading secrets that set this entire show up as being the all-inclusive image our nation and the world desperately needs right now.

What is even greater than having a character like Paul, who is a black transgender man from Chicago, is the show’s choice in casting Brian Michael Smith for the role. By casting a trans actor for the role of a trans character, 9-1-1: Lone Star is telling us that this community is loved and deserves to be seen. 

This show isn’t just about the diversity — though it paints a beautiful image — it is also about the stories being told. From the start, they draw us in and cement us into the lives of these people.

I really enjoyed the parallels being drawn between Owen and Judd even from the very beginning — before these two men even knew each other. That sets it up for these two men to be each other’s life support. 

Both Judd and Owen have demons to contend with yet neither of them really wants to talk about it. Through helping get Judd back in action Owen just might find himself able to accept defeat and tackle his cancer diagnosis head-on.

The cancer diagnosis is a hot button issue in recent years and it’s phenomenal to see a new show such as 9-1-1: Lone Star tackling it right out of the gate. We don’t even know Captain Owen Strand all that much before he hits us with his cancer. 

It is a ballsy move on the show’s part, but one that is definitely going to pay off in the long run. By allowing us to formulate an opinion about this man while also knowing his secret it is giving us the option to trust the show completely with not only this character but all the others as well.

By revealing the nitty-gritty about Strand from the beginning we can go into this show trusting that the other characters will get similar treatment should the need arise. Sure enough, we are blessed with the same treatment when dealing with TK’s overdose and the aftermath.

This is another winning element for this show — the dynamic between Owen and TK. It is clear from the first few moments that these two characters lean heavily on one another and that truly makes them compelling characters.

It allows us to see early on that Owen has no qualms about his son being gay — the concept is a non-issue which is beautiful in terms of representation. One could argue that they are from New York and going into Texas where it could become an issue — but the important thing is that Owen leads by example and everyone else falls into line. 

It’s never an issue because Owen never makes it one. 

Let’s focus a bit on our lovely female characters for a bit because they deserve to be highlighted as well. With each of these women, we meet them at their toughest moments. 

When we first get a glimpse of Marjan she is fighting fires in a way that doesn’t always follow the rule book. She is bold, brave, and reckless which could easily turn into a caricature to be scoffed at possibly even villainized.

Instead, she is praised and encouraged by Captain Strand’s push to hire her for a position on his crew. He knows that through it all her top priority is the job and with that 9-1-1: Lone Star is telling us that should be our priority as well when we look at her, not the color of her skin or her religious beliefs.

Then there is Michelle Blake who we meet just as she is about to be arrested for screaming at a man from his front porch calling him a murderer. Now, that sets all of us on the path of intrigue because we have no idea what is really going on beyond it involving her sister somehow.

Then, she goes from that moment to the next where she commands a scene from Captain Strand in a firm, yet polite way. She knows her job and she is never going to let anyone stop her from completing that job.

One of the other great things about this episode is how easily Owen Strand accepts her authority and moves aside. So many shows out there feel the need to create a conflict or power trip in situations such as the one between them.

9-1-1: Lone Star does neither — which ends up creating an even bolder statement than any kind of conflict could have.

Through all of the various dynamics on this show, we are given a window into just how the rest of the season should go. With everyone having an equal footing based on their position and rank, not because of their biology. 

When Grace comes to Owen about her husband Judd he could have easily dismissed her and told her to have her husband do the talking if he wanted his job. Instead, he listens to her concerns and he meets her with his own; all the while creating open communication between them as equals. 

Owen is a man with many ideals, which could’ve easily been a gilded image. However, through so many subtle actions throughout the episode, it is obvious that he means what he says and has the action to back it up. 

I will say that if this episode has any flaws it is that there isn’t enough shown pushback from the community at large. Sure there was a little bit from Judd but this is Texas after all.

That’s not to say my views on the state could be a bit cliched because I definitely haven’t lived there. However, we must keep in mind there should have been some based solely on Grace’s comment about it being hard to be black in Texas. 

Here is this outsider coming into a community that was destroyed by the tragedy and he’s making all these big, diverse changes and nothing? It just doesn’t track well for me, but who knows maybe that pushback will come later.

I am not saying I want conflict, but this is a drama. All in all my complaint is very minor and it’s already clear that this show is going to be changing hearts and minds as it trucks right along through its first season.

Stray Musings:

• I anticipated Liv Tyler and Rob Lowe being the breakout stars of this show, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the entire ensemble is phenomenal and noteworthy.
• A baby in a tree? Why must 9-1-1: Lone Star give me heart palpitations like that?
• The line dancing scene was my favorite of the whole episode. It really brought everyone and everything together as a family unit. 

What did you think of this episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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9-1-1: Lone Star airs Mondays at 8/7c on FOX.

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