It’s mixed feelings galore for fans of the 9-1-1 franchise.
There’s so much happening right now that our collective heads are spinning. For some asinine reason, Athena is moonlighting on Doctor Odyssey, 9-1-1: Lone Star literally went down in flames (and radiation), and we discovered that instead of wowing us with something new, the latest spinoff will take place in Nashville.
Yee-haw, hee-haw, and all that fun stuff, but while the mother series appears to be doing well enough and even thriving to the point of needing to lend a hand to that sinking ship that is Doctor Odyssey, the latter two points remain a frustrating point of contention.
We’re Already Wary of 9-1-1: Nashville’s Location
We’ve barely buried 9-1-1: Lone Star after they delivered one of a series’s most disappointing, unsatisfying final seasons in quite some time.
Fans can’t even collectively mourn the series, let alone the potential of what could have been, before they thrust another spinoff at us as if we should be content with the exact same formula in a brand-new city to ease our weary hearts.
We already expressed our wariness over the latest location.
Yes, Nashville is a totally different city than Austin, Texas, with its own vibes.
But let’s be honest: if they wanted to distance themselves from their most recent spinoff so soon after its frustrating demise, the best route would’ve been to switch things up to a totally different climate and vibe.
No shade to the Music City or anything, but do you know what would’ve been thrilling? 9-1-1: Denver, or Boston, Detroit, Portland, hell, Juno, I don’t know!
It would’ve been a refreshing change of pace after visiting another Southern state with a similar climate that invites almost the exact same type of emergency calls and situations.
Chris O’Donnell’s Casting Is Equal Parts Exciting and Uninspired
Are they allergic to the East Coast or colder climates? Inquiring minds would love to know.
But despite the constant reassurances that 9-1-1: Nashville is its own entity and something entirely different from Lone Star, everything we see and hear — all of it feels like more of the same.
The latest casting news has trickled in, and with it, we have a description of 9-1-1: Nashville’s lead character.
Diehard fans of NCIS: LA are ecstatic over the news that veteran actor Chris O’Donnell will step into his first leading role on television again since he signed off as the enigmatic G. Callen.
And, hey, there’s nothing wrong with Chris O’Donnell. As a fan of the man’s work, I believe he’s a solid choice for a series like this, and it’ll be great to see him onscreen again!
On paper, the casting choice works for what it’s supposed to do. But when it comes down to trying to distinguish this new series from the late 9-1-1: Lone Star, it’s also a bit uninspired.
As a vote of confidence, it may have been nice if the series had opted for a female captain instead to further distinguish itself from the other two shows in the franchise.
A conventionally attractive middle-aged white guy with secrets as a lead is essentially comfort food for series like this and a staple for every show in the franchise now.
9-1-1: Nashville Is Already Playing It Too Close to 9-1-1: Lone Star Rubbing Salt in the Wound
But it’s not particularly groundbreaking, and it does not help differentiate this series from either Lone Star or the original, which is frustrating on its own.
I say that with the utmost respect and love for Chris O’Donnell, who will crush this role and is certainly a high point in all of this.
It’s the safe choice, buoying a series with a talented, well-known, reputable, and established star like him. It’s how the business works, meaning they can take some liberties with the rest of the ensemble.
As a result, one would’ve hoped they’d play around with the character a bit, but from what we know of Captain Don Sharpe, 9-1-1: Nashville is pulling a bit too much from other shows in the franchise.
He’s a rodeo rider, which is exciting but also somewhat reminiscent of Judd Ryder, right up there with being a “devoted husband and family man.”
Given how things ended with Judd Ryder, it’s a sore spot to introduce the next big couple to center the franchise in a way similar to what the Ryders used to be before Grace Ryder departed in that abominable way.
And what little doesn’t feel like it’s borrowed from Judd is also pulled from Owen.
The Father-Son Ripoff Is Particularly Egregious
Don Sharpe will also be running the busiest firehouse in Nashville with his son.
Again, father-son dynamics appear to be a staple for the franchise, as the original 9-1-1 often plays around with that type of relationship with Bobby and Buck, to our utter delight.
But coming off the back-and-forth, up-and-down nature in which 9-1-1: Lone Star handled the Strand men on the series, why exactly will 9-1-1: Nashville immediately dive into another father/son dynamic at the center of its storytelling?
We keep getting reassurances that this new spinoff isn’t simply a different adaptation of the old one that will be ABC-ready, but then we get too many instances of this upcoming version aligning with Lone Star.
If they absolutely must have insisted on a father-child dynamic at the center of the new spinoff, where Don would be running a firehouse along with his kid, wouldn’t it have been better if they had switched up the genders at least?
Why not a father/daughter dynamic instead, so we don’t instantly draw parallels between the Sharpes and the Strands (goodness, even the names seem too similar)?
Are They Just Reheating 9-1-1: Lone Star and Dousing It in Nashville Hot Sauce?
Will 9-1-1: Nashville just put all the same archetypes from the last spinoff into a blender to produce something “new,” or is there a chance, with time, they’ll really carve out their own unique thing?
We know there’s very little go off of, and we could be jumping the gun.
At the end of the day, we won’t know what it’ll be like until we see the final product in action.
But given that many viewers are still reeling over the loss of 9-1-1: Lone Star and weren’t given any time to deal with that before a new spinoff with few distinguishing features thus far was thrust into their faces, it’s going to take a minute for this to settle.
Right now, it just feels like we traded in trusty, reliable 9-1-1: Lone Star for a younger and possibly flashier version of the exact same thing.
Dangling Chris O’Donnell, who has amassed quite a loyal and devoted fanbase, in front of us to distract us from our 9-1-1: Lone Star frustrations, though?
Well played. Genius. I peep your game! You got me there.
Over to you, 9-1-1: Lone Star Fanatics. How are you feeling about the new spinoff news and developments?
Let’s hear your thoughts.
Watch 9-1-1: Lone Star Online
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