9-1-1: Lone Star Review: Studs (Season 1 Episode 5)
While 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 1 Episode 5, “Studs,” appears to be all about men and their egos at first glance, the real heart of the episode comes from the development of Paul and his self-image. Sometimes the best love we can find in this life is in the bonds of friendship.
“Studs,” definitely excels at expanding on the framework for friendship between Paul and TK. The foundation is set there from day one, but up until this episode there hasn’t been any building up of their bond.
It’s great to see that what bonds them together isn’t being a part of the LGBTQ+ community — though that is a commonality between them — it’s that they’ve both lost in the dating game. TK is real quick to show Paul that even though he is the ideal man for both males and females he too has his own share of heartache.
By opening up to Paul about his troubles with his previous relationship, he shows him that struggling to find someone who is perfect for you isn’t exclusive to one gender, race, or sexuality. Audiences can tell that this conversation is what gives Paul the confidence to take his connection with Josie beyond just texting.
Even though no one wants to see characters they care about rejected for who they are, I am glad that 9-1-1: Lone Star goes that route with Josie. It isn’t as believable if she accepted him without any sort of hesitation or discomfort.
That’s not to say Paul’s story has to be tragic — just that trans-individuals do struggle and they do keep going. Paul is a prime example of how hard dating can be.
He can be the perfect man in Josie’s eyes and yet not be right for her because it’s hard for her to wrap her head around his transition. That level of storytelling is okay, as long as it is handled with love and grace.
Which, fortunately, 9-1-1: Lone Star does. It is never a pity party for Paul; instead, it is a celebration of who he is and how much he is growing in his confidence in Austin.
The best part of this whole story isn’t seeing Paul get out there and try his hand at dating — though that is a beautiful sight to behold — it is seeing TK and Carlos show up for him in the end.
Paul: I’m guessing he told you about me?
Carlos: What? That you’re straight? I don’t judge.
That simple exchange speaks volumes about what kind of friendship these three men are going to have on coming episodes. They are going to be there to support each other through the good times and the bad, with a quick joke and a warm embrace.
TK and Carlos — and even Mateo and Marjan, by extension — are exactly the kind of people Paul needs to surround himself with as he continues to come into himself as a member of the Austin community. Sure, things with Josie do not pan out the way that he hopes, but there are still more opportunities and I believe that Paul now has the confidence to pursue them.
Another relationship of note is Judd and Grace. These two have been struggling to connect lately due largely in part to Judd’s lack of confidence about himself as a man.
Judd’s whole world is shaken by the fire that took his whole team and that is something he is still struggling with. Grace has really been a strong support system for him through it all, but she deserves to be supported as well.
It’s refreshing to see her step up and demand to be seen. Judd needs that and she knows it, which is why these two are perfectly made for each other.
It also shows us that Grace isn’t the type of woman to just push aside her needs for the sake of her husband. She knows that she deserves more and she goes after it.
When Judd fails to see her at their Monday night date, our collective hearts break for Grace. Then, a few scenes later, he makes it up to her and reminds her why he loves her.
We root for Judd to figure his emotions out because of scenes like that. We know that there is a wonderful husband and man buried somewhere within him, but we can only stand by as he works his way through the emotions.
These two aren’t on solid ground just yet, but “Studs” is a major stepping stone in the right direction for them. As long as Judd continues to seek professional counseling for what happened they should be able to continue to work on their marriage.
Once again, 9-1-1: Lone Star shows that they’re not a first responder show more than they are a human show. Its focus on the bonds of friendship and love between these individuals is what makes this show strong and worth revisiting week after week.
Further Thoughts:
- Another great relationship is between TK and Owen. I would love to continue to see that relationship cultivate and flourish.
- The case of the man whose medications mixed with O2 and a defibrillator is the most fascinating piece of medicine all season. I hope we get more intriguing cases like this throughout the rest of the season.
- When will it be Marjan or Mateo’s turn to shine? We are ready for it when it does happen!
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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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.