The 911: Lone Star series finale brought us a bang. How did the series come to an end?
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for 911: Lone Star season 5, episode 12
The new episode brought an end to the series. It picked up just before the asteroid hit Austin, and we found out exactly where it hit. What exactly would happen to each of the characters, and would anyone get a happy ending?
Setting up the nuclear core explosion in the 911: Lone Star series finale
The finale opened with a look a few minutes before the asteroid hit. We go back to the nuclear plant, which we saw at the start of the penultimate episode. Now we get to find out just how the nuclear core ended up reacting.
After getting the alert, the head of the nuclear plant made a call back to the plant, because he had gone to the other side of the university they’re at for flan. Look, the guy had no idea that the alert was going to come through, but he immediately changed his plans. He called through to get someone to his the SCRAM button. He knew it was important to switch off the nuclear core so it wouldn’t overheat should the asteroid hit.
Well, the person there who could do it had a heart attack. Then this guy slipped and hit his head hard, presumably dying, on the way back to the plant. Yes, the asteroid hit the nuclear plant. Because, you know, that’s the way it has to go for something like this, right?
Nobody can get through to 911 right away
The asteroid didn’t end the state, but it did take out the landlines to 911 and the cell phone towers. It meant nobody could get a call through to dispatch. That’s okay, there was an option to boost the cell phone signals that were still standing, allowing for calls to get through.
As you would expect, people panic over the smallest of things. They called 911 for smashed windows because their insurance companies would need a report filed and because they were scared. 911 is still for emergencies only, and Wyatt handled the calls in style as he got through to the one call that was an emergency.
A student at the university called about the buildings around her on fire. With a siren going off, Wyatt asked her to stop talking so he could hear the siren. It immediately told him there was a nuclear threat, and who better to call in on that in the 911: Lone Star series finale than the 126?
Sure enough, a lot more calls about the nuclear reactor being on fire came through. There were certainly some End of Days vibes. Wyatt was able to get into the schematics to find out what was going on and relay information needed. Owen already knew all about the SCRAM protocol, and without the head of the department around, the 126 had to get in.
Tommy Vega goes in to help in the 911: Lone Star series finale
After seemingly giving up the fight in the previous episode, Tommy woke because of the blast from the asteroid. Charles was still there and didn’t want her to leave the house, but she did anyway. She joins the fight to save the area from the nuclear blast.
It’s lucky she’s there. They find Dr. Chalmers collapsed in the hallway and realize that he’s suffering from a brain bleed and swelling. Tommy chooses to do surgery in the hallway to relieve the pressure in the hope that they can get him to wake up and share where the SCRAM button. While the whole thing was illegal, it’s not like Tommy has to worry about manslaughter charges. She’s dying anyway. She’ll go out making sure everyone in the area remains alive since the nuclear reactor will blow in 10 minutes.
Nobody quite gets to the SCRAM button in time before there’s an explosion. However, the core hasn’t melted down just yet. There is still time to get to the button, but everyone has been hit by the blast from the reactor in serious ways. Mateo is hit the worst with his neck cut and it looks close to the artery.
This is where we started the previous episode. Would Owen manage to get to the button in time?
Of course he would. We couldn’t end 911: Lone Star with the whole of Austin becoming the next Chernobyl. It allows paramedics to get in to treat our fallen firefighters. Do they get to Mateo and Owen in time?
How 911: Lone Star comes to an end
We jump ahead in time to find out that TK and Carlos were able to adopt Jonah. It turns out that TK chose to quit his job and become a stay-at-home-dad, and “Papa Bro” to Jonah. It’s adorable.
Mateo survives the explosion, but we learn that the government is still fighting to deport him. He ends up representing himself. He makes a passionate speech about how much he believes in America. The government’s argument is that Mateo doesn’t protect the safety of citizens, and yet Mateo has always done that as a firefighter. In some great news, his career as a firefighter meant that he got his citizenship expedited. He’s definitely not getting deported.
As for Tommy, she gets some excellent news. The treatment has finally worked, and now she’s in remission. I know that 911: Lone Star had to end with a happy ending for her, but I do think that showing us the reality of cancer would have been better. However, Charles is still there with her, because they’ve never been apart. Judd is also there for her to get the good news.
We spent the whole ending of the episode wondering what happened to Owen. First of all, we had to find out who the new captain would be. After all, even if Owen lived or died, we knew that he would leave Austin for New York. That was set up in the previous episode. Sure enough, Judd was promoted to Captain and finally took the seat that Owen said should be his.
We also learn the exciting news that Marjan is pregnant with her first child. Paul just seems to get the short end of the stick in storylines as he's still lieutenant and doesn't seem to have any sort of future to his story.
The episode does take us back to the start, though. Charlie wants to know who all the photos are, and Judd shares all about the firefighters he worked with.
Of course, Owen didn’t die. He just moved to New York to his new position and got to video call with TK and Carlos. There was no way that 911: Lone Star was going to end with his death, right? Captain Strand is now Chief Strand, and we watch him rush into action to wrap up the series.
911: Lone Star is available to stream on Hulu.
Stay up to date with the latest TV crime dramas with Precinct TV.