911: Lone Star Season 4 Finale Review: Death, Grief and Joy
The fourth season of 911: Lone Star has come to an end, and for the fans of this show, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. Although the season finale saw TK and Carlos getting married, it was not without its fair share of drama. Death played a significant role in the episode, with Gabriel meeting an untimely demise before the wedding. In this review, we will analyze the use of death as a vehicle for a character’s growth and exploration and the portrayal of grief and joy in the finale.
Death as a means of exploration
Over the past three seasons, Lone Star has used death as a means to explore characters’ depths. In season two, Charles passed away due to an aneurysm, while Gwyn died suddenly in the middle of season three. In the season four finale, Gabriel met his unfortunate demise, leaving behind a trail of grief. However, killing off parental figures in three consecutive seasons is starting to feel lazy.
Exploration of characters through death
The show creators should find many other ways to delve into characters’ backgrounds and mechanisms of their interpersonal relationships. Characters contain multitudes, and the ways characters relate to each other are crucial not only in death but also in life. Lone Star’s approach always indicates that tragedy is imminent whenever the show spends considerable screen time with an individual character.
Carlos and things left unsaid
The fourth season was crucial for Carlos’s character, as we learned more about him during his four-episode arc. Carlos’s abduction provided excellent, angsty drama, but when the arc was over, that’s all there was. Additionally, the fight between TK and Carlos about Iris and Carlos’s subsequent secret got swept up in life and death stakes during the hostage situation. These issues were dropped as soon as Carlos was saved.
Tarlos moments off-screen
The only acknowledgement of Tarlos’s relationship was during the saving of Carlos. It is frustrating to see the show miss an opportunity to take the time to build up their relationship and take us along on that journey. The groundwork is essential as it provides the audience with a pathway to feel the emotional impact of high stakes drama that’s down the line. Carlos’s issues with his father were only briefly mentioned throughout the season, but they come to a head when Gabriel dies in Carlos’s arms.
A dark path ahead
In the episode “In Sickness and in Health,” Carlos finds himself on a dark path for revenge over his father’s untimely death. It might be too dark but Carlos avenging his father and revealing corruption in law enforcement was too big of a plotline for a single episode.
Grief and joy co-existing
Grief and joy exist together, and they’re not mutually exclusive. In a single day, people can experience various emotions, even while experiencing profound grief. The episode needs to give adequate time to acknowledge each emotion, so it doesn’t seem oversimplified in its portrayal. While Carlos expresses immense joy at marrying TK, he understates the emotions he feels about his father’s death in the same breath. The episode moves too quickly at times, minimizing the emotional moments and leaving the audience feeling unfulfilled.
The importance of pacing
In a show’s 45 minutes episode, it is vital to manage the pacing of the episode to ensure that intense moments are given time to play out and let the audience feel the emotions that come with it fully. Carlos’s grief spiral that leads him to point a gun at an unsuspecting informant is something that needed to be addressed more. While Owen managed to talk Carlos off the ledge, the scene’s emotional energy didn’t match the joy of the wedding.
Conclusion
The season finale of Lone Star had good moments and some areas that fell short of what fans had hoped for. The characters in the show have depth, and their interpersonal relationships are complicated, which is why it is essential to find ways to explore them effectively without relying on death as a means to do so. With a good balance between humor and drama, this show has the potential to be a must-watch for viewers.
FAQs
1) Will there be another season of 911: Lone Star?
Yes, FOX has renewed 911: Lone Star for a fifth season.
2) How many episodes will there be in season 5?
The exact number of episodes has not been announced yet, but it is expected to have around 18 episodes.
3) Is Rob Lowe returning to 911: Lone Star in season 5?
Yes, Rob Lowe will reprise his role as Owen Strand in season 5 of 911: Lone Star.
4) Are any new characters joining the show in season 5?
FOX has not announced any new additions to the cast, but as in previous seasons, there may be new faces.
5) What is the release date for season 5?
The release date for season 5 of 911: Lone Star has not been announced yet.
