911: Lone Star Season 4 Finale Recap
The Season 4 finale of 911: Lone Star had a lot going on, from the long-awaited Tarlos wedding to another parental death and a significant arc for Carlos. Here is a breakdown of the main highlights and some thoughts on the handling of the season’s storylines.
The Good: Tarlos Wedding finally happened!
The long-anticipated wedding of TK and Carlos finally happened, and it was a joyful celebration of queer love. The two had faced many challenges throughout their journey, but they had each other and their friends and family at their side to celebrate their union. It was a beautiful moment that the fans of the show had been waiting for.
The Bad: The Use of Death as Character Exploration
911: Lone Star has gained a reputation for using death as a means of exploring a character’s growth and depth. In the Season 4 finale, Gabriel, Carlos’ father, dies just days before the wedding, adding an unnecessary layer of tragedy to an already dramatic episode. The show’s writers have resorted to killing off parental figures in three consecutive seasons, which is starting to feel lazy and unoriginal.
Season 2: Charles’ Death
In Season 2, Charles died due to an aneurysm, which led to Tommy and Charles “Begins” episode in “One Day.”
Season 3: Gwyn’s Death
In Season 3, Gwyn died suddenly in the middle of the season, leading to another “Begins” episode for TK, exploring his addiction and his relationship with his mother in “In the Unlikely Event of an Emergency.”
Season 4: Gabriel’s Death
In Season 4, Gabriel’s death just days before the wedding added an unnecessary layer of tragedy to the story.
Death Should Not Be the Only Way to Explore Characters
There are many ways to explore the depths of a character, and killing off a parental figure each season is starting to feel repetitive. The show’s writers should spend more time developing characters without relying on death to add weight or depth to their stories.
The Ugly: Carlos’ Dark Arc
Carlos had a significant arc in Season 4, beginning with the revelation that he is already married, which kicked off a four-episode Carlos-centric storyline. During these four episodes, we learned more about Carlos’s history and backstory than we had in three seasons. Carlos also got to be the one in danger for once when he decided to go after a serial killer by himself, providing some great angsty drama.
The Problem: Things Left Unsaid
However, the issues between Carlos and TK regarding Carlos’ secret and TK’s overreach in reaching out to Iris got swept up in the life and death stakes of Carlos’ hostage situation. The secrets and miscommunication between the two didn’t matter anymore because one of them almost died. This pattern has been present in the show, with high-stakes drama overshadowing the groundwork laid earlier in the season.
Why is Careful Groundwork Important?
The groundwork is crucial to understanding the emotional fallout of the high-stakes drama that’s in store. Without proper groundwork and character development, the audience may not care enough about the characters to become invested in their stories and experiences.
Carlos and Things Left Unsaid
The show did not give Carlos enough room to breathe and grieve for his loss. Gabriels’ death provided Carlos an opportunity to explore his character in-depth but also had many scenes that felt rushed.
The Importance of Acknowledging Grief
Shows should create a balance between grief and joy because both emotions coexist in real life. For example, Carlos tells his mom that today is the happiest day of his life with barely an acknowledgment of his father. It felt like a scene that missed an opportunity to be emotionally complex.
Conclusion
911: Lone Star Season 4 Finale was an emotional rollercoaster for fans of the show. While it had some great moments of triumph and joy, it also missed opportunities to explore characters in more meaningful ways, resorting to death as the only way to add gravity and depth to their journeys.
FAQs
1. Why does 911: Lone Star keep killing off parents as a plot device?
The show’s writers seem to believe that parental death is a powerful way to explore character growth and depth, but it’s starting to feel repetitive and lazy.
2. Why is character groundwork so important?
Character groundwork is essential as it helps the audience to understand characters’ emotional states and their connections to their friends and families. Without good groundwork, characters come across as shallow and not relatable.
3. What could the writers do to make Carlos’s storyline more effective?
The writers need to give Carlos more breathing space to explore his character and his relationship with others instead of adding more life-threatening or intense situations.
4. What is the takeaway from the Tarlos wedding storyline?
The Tarlos wedding storyline showcased the power of love and support from family and friends. It elevated LGBTQ+ love stories, which is essential for adding more representation of these stories on television.
5. Is 911: Lone Star worth watching?
Despite its flaws, 911: Lone Star is an entertaining show that mixes drama, comedy, and action. It has a great cast, and the show has moments of emotional depth that can be quite affecting.
