9-1-1: Lone Starmay have primarily been a first-responder procedural, but the romance between Carlos Reyes (Rafael L. Silva) and TK Strand (Ronen Rubinstein) ran as an important undercurrent throughout the entire series. Themodern procedural hitwas Ryan Murphy’s second entry in the9-1-1franchise, centering on an ensemble of firefighters, police officers, and dispatch workers in Austin, Texas. News of9-1-1: Lone Star’s sad cancelationcame in September 2024, confirming that the cast of characters viewers had followed since 2020 would have the fifth and final season to wrap up their ongoing storylines.
Although9-1-1: Lone Stargave most main characters the resolution their happy endings, the early cancelation undeniably affected how certain plots played out, giving the narrative a strict time constraint. TK and Carlos may have gotten the9-1-1: Lone Starendingthey deserved, but it was slowly earned throughout 5 seasons. Their relationship had peaks and valleys of its own, butCarlos and TK’s story in9-1-1: Lone Starwas one of the longest-running arcs in the entire series. Though their love story ran the gamut, each season of9-1-1: Lone Starhad big developments for its main couple.
Season 1 Is A Rocky Start For TK And Carlos
They Have An Instant Connection And An Instant Obstacle
9-1-1: Lone Starwastes no time establishing Carlos and TK’s connection. Instead of setting the pair up as a will-they-won’t-they or slow-burn couple, Carlos and TK instead end up having their first romantic encounter before the pilot episode ends. While most of the9-1-1: Lone Starcastwere still finding their footing for the first season, Carlos and TK hit the ground running with a clandestine affair.
Lone Star Is Already Sabotaging 9-1-1’s 2nd Spinoff Before It Even Premieres
9-1-1: Lone Star may have ended, but the next title in the Ryan Murphy first responder franchise is in danger of being overshadowed anyway.
Though Carlos immediately wants to explore more than just sex, TK’s held back by his past. Before he and his father Owen (Rob Lowe) moved to Austin, TK was dumped by his long-time boyfriend, who he planned on proposing to.9-1-1: Lone Starseason 1 introduces TK’s insecurity as a main source of conflictand, though he talks it through with Carlos, TK will return to his commitment issues in the future.
Carlos and TK meet and begin their sexual relationship.
Season 1, Episode 2 (“Yee-Haw”)
TK rejects Carlos when he makes an effort to make their relationship more serious.
Season 1, Episode 10 (“Austin, We Have a Problem”)
Carlos confronts TK about their relationship, and TK hesitantly agrees to take the next step.
After the first of TK’s many near-death experiences in9-1-1: Lone Star, Carlos admits he has stronger feelings for TK than a casual hookup. It takes9-1-1: Lone Star’s first big disaster in the season finale for TK to realize he wants to explore his life in Texas as a firefighter, and he doesn’t want to shy away from Carlos. Though they don’t explicitly confirm their relationship, TK and Carlos end the season with a romantic moment that sets them up for success.
Carlos And TK Establish Their Commitment In Season 2
They Become A Real Couple
9-1-1: Lone Starseason 2 opens by confirming that TK and Carlos have been dating for months, but the couple has less than smooth sailing throughout the procedural’s sophomore year. Though their chemistry cemented them as one of the9-1-1franchise’s best couples, they had their own issues that9-1-1: Lone Starseason 2 brought to light. TK may have struggled to commit in season 1, but9-1-1: Lone Starseason 2 introduces the problems Carlos struggles with.
Characters from9-1-1appeared in9-1-1: Lone Starseason 2, episode 3 (“Hold The Line”), and after TK mistakenly assumes Evan"Buck"Buckley (Oliver Stark) is flirting with him, TK calls Carlos his boyfriend and elaborates that their relationship is serious.
While TK was the one initially against taking their relationship to the next level, Carlos fails to introduce TK as his boyfriend when they run into his parents at the farmer’s market.TK reacts poorly to Carlos calling him a“friend”but ultimately understands that the nonchalance stems from the poor experience Carlos had coming out. TK forgives him, and Carlos promises to work on being more open.
Carlos & TK Relationship Milestone
Season 2, Episode 4 (“Friends With Benefits”)
TK meets Carlos' parents, but Carlos introduces him as a friend.
TK and Carlos move in together.
Season 2, Episode 12 (“The Big Heat”)
Carlos and TK confess their love for each other before escaping a burning building.
Unfortunately, the overarching events of9-1-1: Lone Starbegin to impact the couple as well. After Owen is targeted by a serial arsonist and the 126 firehouse burns down, TK and Carlos become the next victims. The townhouse they shared began to burn while they were trapped on the second floor. The pair escapes and, making the most of their near-death experience, share their first I love yous.
TK And Carlos Go From Exes To Fiancés In Season 3
The Most Dramatic Shift Possible
With such a romantic milestone passed,9-1-1: Lone Starseason 3 pivoted to a shocking regression: between9-1-1: Lone Starseason 2 and 3, TK and Carlos broke up. The reason is initially shrouded in mystery while the teams focus on the snowstorm, one of9-1-1: Lone Star’s most intense rescues. After rescuing a child stuck in an icy lake, TK experiences extreme hypothermia.
TK wakes from his coma and reconciles with Carlos.
Season 3, Episode 13 (“Riddle of the Sphynx”)
Season 3, Episode 18 (“A Bright and Cloudless Morning”)
TK proposes to Carlos.
TK’s paramedic partner, Nancy Gillian (Brianna Baker), tells Carlos to meet them at the hospital but withholds the information that he is in a coma. After having a heart-to-heart with his mother, Andrea (Roxana Brusso),Carlos chooses to stay by TK’s sideuntil he wakes up, realizing he can’t ignore the love and frustration he still has for TK. After TK recovers, the pair move into a loft together.
10 Lessons 9-1-1 Can Learn From Lone Star
With 9-1-1 season 8’s midseason premiere nearing, the ABC procedural has a few notes it can take from its sister series, 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Carlos And TK Finally Marry In Season 4
Through Tragedy, Their Love Was Fortified
AlthoughCarlos and TK’s relationship held strong throughout9-1-1: Lone Starseason 4, the series put the couple through the wringer leading up to the wedding. The first obstacle comes when TK finds a wedding venue for their special day, only for Carlos to admit they can’t get married too soon because he has to divorce someone else. Carlos tells TK he married Iris Blake (Lyndsy Fonseca) so that she would qualify for his health care. Reconnecting with Iris leads to Carlos being kidnapped by a serial killer, but TK finds him in time to save him.
Season 4, Episode 17 (“Best of Men”)
Gabriel is murdered, jeopardizing Carlos and TK’s wedding.
Season 4, Episode 18 (“In Sickness and In Health”)
Carlos and TK marry.
9-1-1: Lone Starthen throws another wrench into the mix during the planning period. Owen took the initiative to help make preparations for the wedding, from changing the cake to a vegan option to forgoing the couple’s simple theme for something more extravagant.TK and Carlos work up the courage to confront Owen about his micromanagement, and the wedding is once again rightly focused on the couple.
Grace Ryder’s (Sierra McClain) final on-screen appearance in9-1-1: Lone Staris during Carlos and TK’s wedding.
Carlos has an emotional conversation with his own father, Gabriel (Benito Martinez), where they air out their past conflicts and turn a new leaf together. Carlos asks Gabriel to officiate their wedding, which the latter eagerly accepts. Suddenly, right before the wedding, Gabriel is murdered. Carlos and TK initially want to postpone the wedding, but Andrea convinces them to honor his memory by celebrating their love. In the9-1-1: Lone Starseason 4 finale,TK and Carlos finally marry to close out the season.
Season 5 Introduces An Addition To Carlos And TK’s Family
The Main Pairing Get Their Happy Ending
Following the whiplash from Gabriel’s murder to their wedding,Carlos and TK’s relationship is strained at the start of9-1-1: Lone Starseason 5. Between seasons, Carlos became a Texas Ranger to follow in his father’s footsteps, but he was consumed by the need to find answers. His absence upsets TK, and the pair end up going to couples counseling to air out their grievances.
All episodes of9-1-1: Lone Starare streaming on Hulu.
The couple celebrate their first anniversary in9-1-1: Lone Starseason 5, but Carlos is quickly wrapped back up in the ongoing investigation into his father’s murder. Yet, Carlos begins to make more of an effort in his marriage, and he helps plan an extravagant party for TK’s birthday, where his step-father Enzo (Henry Ian Cusick) appears. The party gets raided and Enzo is arrested, leaving TK’s half-brother, Jonah, without a guardian.TK floats the idea to Carlos that they should adopt Jonah, but he has a fear of fatherhood that’s only exacerbated by the mystery surrounding Gabriel’s death.
Carlos and TK attend couples counseling.
Season 5, Episode 12 (“Homecoming”)
Carlos and TK are raising Jonah together.
After Carlos finally unmasks Texas Ranger Chief Bridges (Alan Autry) as the murderer and finds closure, he agrees. A social worker warns that they won’t get custody due to their dangerous jobs, but9-1-1: Lone Star’s finale time-jumpshowsTK quit his job to raise Jonah. While Owen returned to the New York Fire Department, TK put down permanent roots in Texas with the love of his life. Carlos and TK’s journey had twists and turns, but their9-1-1: Lone Starlove story paved the way for their happy ending as a family.
