They Wouldn’t! 9-1-1: Lone Star Just Paved the Way For *Another* Original Cast Member’s Exit
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The 126 squad might be losing another member! We already know that dispatcher Grace Ryder won’t be returning for 9-1-1: Lone Star‘s fifth season, but now fans are worried about her husband’s future on the show. Is Judd leaving 9-1-1: Lone Star? Keep reading to see what the FOX procedural has in store for the beloved firefighter.
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Is Judd leaving 9-1-1: Lone Star?
Although we don’t for sure, an official logline for Season 5 has revealed that when 9-1-1: Lone Star returns this fall, Judson “Judd” Ryder (Jim Parrack) will be “resigning from the 126 to take care of his recently handicapped son Wyatt.” Judd was the sole survivor of Austin’s original 126 squad and he’s an integral member of the new squad, which is led by Rob Lowe’s Owen Strand.
Toward the end of Season 4, Judd’s 20-year-old son Wyatt, whom he didn’t know existed until a year prior, was hit by a car while riding his bike, leaving him partially paralyzed. During the finale, Judd made the decision to retire to become Wyatt’s full-time caregiver, but in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Tim Minear made it seem like he wouldn’t be leaving Lone Star anytime soon.
“The emotional reason was that it felt real, and it felt right, and it felt surprising. It’s gut-wrenching. And in the subsequent scenes, how Judd deals with it and how Wyatt deals with it — and how they’re going to deal with this thing going forward,” Minear told the outlet shortly after the finale aired. “The way it changes everything for this particular group of characters is super rich and incredibly moving.”
More: See FOX’s 2024 Fall Schedule
However, now that his wife, Grace Ryder (Sierra McClain), will be gone, fans are wondering if Judd will also leave the show. News first broke that McClain would not be returning to Lone Star in Season 5 in June 2024. The original cast member reportedly went “back and forth” with the studio regarding her contract, but ultimately decided to part ways with the series.
There has been no official confirmation about Parrack’s departure, but the logline did reveal that Owen is “trying to find a new lieutenant to take Judd’s place.” The synopsis continues: “The situation is further complicated when both Marjan (Natacha Karam) and Paul (Brian Michael Smith) apply for the position, leading to a ‘difficult decision’ on Owen’s part.’
The logline mentioned nothing about how Grace will be written off the show, but it did tease some exciting storylines for the rest of the 126 squad. Tommy Vega (Gina Torres) is about to find that the “road to happiness” with her new boyfriend, Pastor Trevor, is “filled with obstacles,” while Carlos Reyes will become obsessed with solving his father’s murder, putting a strain on his new marriage to T.K. (Ronen Rubinstein). Additionally, T.K. will be visited by “someone from his past that could change his and Carlos’ lives forever.”
Judd’s potential exit comes amid rumors that Season 5 will be the show’s final season. FOX has not officially pulled the plug, but several cast members have indicated that the speculation is true. “Eight more shooting days left after five years on a show is a wild feeling,” Karam recently wrote on her Instagram Story. “So much change on the horizon,” she added, along with a broken heart emoji. “So excited to be a part of @911lonestar’s final season!! What a ride it’s been!” Robin Lively, who recurs as Judd’s estranged baby mama, wrote in a since-deleted post.
9-1-1: Lone Star is available to stream on Hulu.
Watch ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ on Hulu
For more on 9-1-1, check out the cast’s salaries per episode — including which star makes the most — in the gallery below.
