Station 19 showrunners reveal the intent of the flashforwards in the recently aired series finale. Initially premiering in 2018, this ABC action-drama series, which serves as the second spinoff of the famous Grey’s Anatomy, follows the daily lives of the various firefighters at Seattle Fire Station 19. The show successfully ran for an extensive period, producing six seasons over the course of 6 years. In early 2023, ABC announced that the show had been renewed for a seventh season, which the studio confirmed months later to also be its final season.
Now, shortly after the Station 19 series finale aired, showrunners Zoanne Clack and Peter Paige spoke to TVInsider, clarifying what the flashforwards in the final episode of the show meant. The duo explain that the flashforwards are not exactly set in stone, neither are they the truths nor what happens to the characters in the future. They are simply supposed to paint a picture of what characters are living for, what they value, as well as what they envision their respective futures to look like. Read their full quote below:
Zoanne Clack : We had some thoughts about what we could do that wouldn’t mess up their universe, and part of what we were going with was that these flash-forwards are not set in stone. They are what the characters are living for, what they dream about would be their future, and helping them to push on and move forward throughout their obstacles of almost losing their lives. We tried to go in on times of stress and near loss, and that was what was pushing the flash-forwards. They aren’t necessarily the truth here, but they are the futures that these characters believe and help them push forward.
Peter Paige : It’s about what they value and what it is they’re trying to create in their lives.
Why Is Station 19 Ending With Season 7?
When ABC announced that Station 19 had been renewed for season 7 in early 2023, many did not envision that the new season was going to close the curtains on the beloved procedural series. The show’s cancelation came as a surprise to many, especially because it largely received positive reviews from critics and consistently ranked as one of ABC’s top shows. In fact, the show averaged over six million viewers over the course of its previous six seasons, coming only second to Grey’s Anatomy, as ABC’s top drama series.
It was reported that ABC decided to end Station 19 with season 7 because some executives in the studio felt that the show had run its course and was nearing its natural conclusion.
Aside from fans who were taken aback by the show’s cancelation, Shonda Rhimes, the show’s executive producer, along with a couple of cast members and showrunners Clack and Paige were also surprised that ABC decided to pull the plug, with the latter expressing their displeasure in a recent interview. While ABC never put out an official reason as to why Station 19 is ending with season 7, reports suggest that the decision was influenced by the studio wanting to save money in a push for an economical schedule that balances scripted fare with reality and live sports.
Additionally, it was reported that ABC decided to end Station 19 with season 7 because some executives in the studio felt that the show had run its course and was nearing its natural conclusion. While many viewers might have an opposing view about the decision, the silver lining here is that the show’s cancelation was announced fairly early enough, which gave the showrunners ample time to come up with a befitting conclusion for this beloved series.
