How Sierra McClain’s Exit Changed Plans for Judd and Grace (Exclusive)

(Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for 9-1-1: Lone Star Season 5, Episode 9 “Fall From Grace”).

How has Judd (Jim Parrack) fared without Grace (Sierra McClain, who didn’t return last season)? 9-1-1: Lone Star? In two words: not good.

As Owen (Rob Lowe) finds out after dropping him home after a long night, Judd has been drinking – there are bottles everywhere. Judd was hungover at work and wasn’t sick, but he swears he was never drunk at work. It started after Grace left, Judd admits, because he had lost his “center.” He can stop cold turkey, he promises, it’s just a difficult phase. It’s been five months, Owen argues. Judd protests that he acknowledges the problem. But now Owen has decided not to accept a job offer in New York and insists on taking Judd with him to a meeting.

Below, co-showrunner Rashad Raisani takes us through Judd’s arc at the end of the series, what we would have seen if Sierra McClain had returned, and more. (Also, read what he said about Owen’s storyline Hereas well as what Raisani and Parker Young had to say about this episode’s killer reveal Here.)

Why is it that Judd deals with drinking without having his central Grace around him?

Rashad Raisani: Now, if you go back to before Judd met Grace, in the “Saving Grace” episode where we really played what Judd was like before Grace. He was kind of a mess. He drank too much, he fought, he had problems. I mean, his problems were actually anger and alcohol. We wanted to play so that Grace was the stabilizing force.

And to be honest, we didn’t want to do that story this year. It wasn’t until Sierra McClain didn’t come back and Grace didn’t come back that we started thinking about it: Who is Judd without Grace? And we can’t hide the fact that she was such a stabilizing force in his life. And even though he has all these things around him on the outside that he needs to stay strong for, his center on the inside has disappeared. And that’s why we really wanted to play it. And I think if you go back to Episode 1 this season, Owen shows up in the middle of the day and Judd says, “Hey, do you want something to drink?” And every scene we did in the house, there was always a beer . This has been happening all year long. And because that’s exactly what he was before he met Grace.

Kevin Estrada/FOX

And we got the moment at TK’s (Ronen Rubinstein) party.

Yes, 100 percent. And I was very persistent. I was like, “We don’t normally do that.” Lonely starwhere we tie in things that come out two or three episodes later, but I just felt strongly that we had to say that to the audience.” I’m sure most people noticed that moment, but they’re probably not sure aware of its extent. And they probably didn’t realize that this is our fourth or fifth time doing it this year. But the harshest thing was when we said, “No, look, there’s something going on here and no one notices.” I mean, none of the other characters on the show notice, but the audience notices.

So what was the original plan for Judd and Grace this season?

Grace would be going through a spiritual crisis, and I talked to Sierra about that. To be honest, it was her pitch. And I liked it. Funnily enough, we wanted to reverse their usual dynamic, with Judd being more of the scaffolding and strength for Grace, and they would probably end the series with a second child and happy. We definitely wanted to give them a happy ending.

Owen takes Judd to a meeting when we last see them, but things like this are never that easy. So how will this continue? How receptive is Judd to actually getting the help he needs?

Well, let me tell you, Episode 10 has my favorite teaser of the series and it does exactly what you say. And the answer is that it is not. We’ll see in Episode 10 the power of addiction and the things it can make good people do. And that’s what I’m going to say about it. It’s just beginning. It’s not over yet.

Will we get some good Judd and TK scenes then?

We’ll get one in the finale, but he’s not ready for it by episode 10. It will be Owen and Judd.

Will we hear about Grace finding out what’s going on with Judd?

Indirect. There will be a moment at the end of episode 10. Grace is very involved in Judd’s journey in Episode 10, even though she isn’t on the show.

9-1-1: Lone StarReturns, Monday, January 20, 2025, 8/7c, Fox

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration‘s national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.