It hurts to have enemies in high places.
Season 7 of 9-1-1 ended with Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Karen (Tracie Thoms) losing their foster care licenses and giving up custody of their adopted daughter Mara (Askyler Bell) — all because of a feud. Councilwoman Ortiz (Verónica Falcón) blamed Hen for the death of her son, Kyle, who died in season 7 after being injured while driving under the influence.
In this exclusive sneak peek of episode 4 of season 8 from Entertainment Weekly, Hen confronts Councilwoman Ortiz, begging her to let Mara come home.
“Please don’t punish her because you can’t forgive me,” Hen begs the councilwoman after showing her a video of Mara, who was temporarily held by Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Chimney (Kenneth Choi). “Mara needs her family back. We’re all she has.”
“Kyle is all I have,” Councilman Ortiz responded, “and I’m expected to go on without him. Maybe young Mara will have to learn to do that.”
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And as if having a councilwoman against you wasn’t enough, 9-1-1 co-creator Tim Minear previously told EW that Ortiz, whom he calls “Cruella,” is aiming for a higher position: “She’s running for mayor,” he teased before ominously adding, “and things are going to happen.”
Well, apparently, not bringing Mara back quickly is one of those things. Another thing is the family—and tension—that’s building as Chimney and Maddie take care of Mara in Hen and Karen’s absence. “One thing I started doing last year was really showing Buckley-Hans and Hen and Karen as an extended family beyond the fire station,” Minear told EW ahead of the season 8 premiere. “I’m bringing Maddie more into Hen’s world and Hen into Maddie’s world, so Mara isn’t so far away from Hen and Karen. I imagine they’re going there every day and spending a lot of time as a blended family. So it’s great for them… until it’s not.”
