As Station 19 heads into its final season, Jaina Lee Ortiz is preparing to bid farewell to her iconic role as Captain Andy Herrera after seven years of commanding the Seattle Fire Department. The beloved firefighter drama, which has been a fixture on ABC since its premiere in 2018, is set to wrap up in 2024, and Ortiz reflects on what the show has meant for her both personally and professionally.
In an interview with HELLO!, Ortiz shared her thoughts on the show’s cancellation and the bittersweet emotions surrounding the final episodes. “We’re living by the idea of taking it one day at a time because we have no idea what’s in front of us,” she explains. “The main goal for everyone is to enjoy these moments and go out with a bang because why not?”
Ortiz’s gratitude is evident as she reflects on the show’s impact and her journey. She never anticipated the success of Station 19, and reaching 100 episodes—a milestone that many actors in today’s TV landscape never achieve—fills her with pride. “I’ll be walking out with so much pride and gratitude,” Ortiz says, acknowledging the rarity of such a long-running show in an industry known for its unpredictability. “You can’t really ask for more,” she adds.
As Station 19 heads toward its conclusion, fans are eager to see how Andy’s journey will end. Over the years, Andy has grown from an ambitious firefighter into a strong and compassionate leader, and in the final season, she is now fulfilling her ultimate career goal: becoming Captain of Station 19. Ortiz reflects on how this transformation will affect Andy’s personal and professional life. “Ultimately, I wanted a bigger life for Andy outside of her job,” she says. “But Andy’s main motivation and passion in life was to succeed in her career, and sometimes for women, we don’t always get a happily ever after when it comes to their love life and relationships, so this is Andy’s version of her happily ever after.”
For Ortiz, Andy’s focus on career success is something she feels proud of, as many women, especially those in leadership roles, face societal expectations and challenges in balancing their ambitions with personal relationships. “I think a lot of women look up to and respect having that hunger to live out your dreams,” Ortiz notes, adding that Andy’s journey in the final season represents a victory for women pursuing their career goals.
This season also marks a shift in Andy’s relationship with her colleagues. Now that she is the captain, Andy will need to navigate the complexities of leadership. “Andy has done such a great job at being a friend and being loyal, but now she has to draw the line and set boundaries,” Ortiz explains. As captain, Andy must separate her role as a leader from her personal relationships, and this tension will be explored in the show’s final episodes, particularly in her interactions with her best friend Jack. “Andy will have a rude awakening,” Ortiz adds, acknowledging that the power dynamics at play in leadership roles can be difficult to navigate, especially for someone who values loyalty and personal connection.
Fans can also look forward to a pivotal moment in the 100th episode, which Ortiz describes as “extremely emotional and heartwarming.” The milestone will explore Andy’s journey through flashbacks and reflections on her growth, and Ortiz hopes it will bring pride to the Latinx community. “It’s so rare to see a Hispanic female in a leadership position,” she points out, celebrating the representation that Andy’s character offers to viewers. The 100th episode will also offer a celebratory, full-circle moment for Andy, bringing together her many challenges, triumphs, and personal growth.
As the series wraps up, Ortiz shares what she hopes for Andy in the future. While she acknowledges that Andy’s intense focus on her career may prevent her from finding traditional “happily ever after” love, Ortiz expresses a desire for Andy to eventually find true love and balance her career with family. However, given Andy’s relentless career drive, she admits that a fulfilling career might be the character’s version of a “happily ever after.”
Ortiz is also deeply moved by the fan response to the show’s cancellation. “I feel tremendously grateful for the show and what it has done for me in my career and my personal life,” she says. While she is heartbroken by the end of the series, she understands that this is part of the business, and she remains optimistic about the future. “Am I heartbroken? Yes. But do I understand that this is part of the business? Yes,” she reflects. “I’m just sitting in gratitude and cherishing the moments that we’re able to have together with something that I’ll always hold on to.”
Ortiz has also been touched by the petitions started by fans to save the show. “I try not to get myself swept around that because it’s something out of my control,” she explains, but she encourages fans to celebrate the seven beautiful seasons the show has given them, regardless of its end.
Looking to the future, Ortiz is carrying with her not just memories from her time on Station 19, but also invaluable life lessons. “I’m going to take an understanding of the human condition in a way that I’ve never understood before,” she says. “The impact that these stories and characters have had on people is something that I’ll take with me.”
When asked about physical keepsakes from the show, Ortiz shares that she plans to take her helmet as a memento, but only with approval from Shonda Rhimes. Her father, however, is more enthusiastic about her taking home the shield. “Dad wants me to take the shield, but I keep saying, ‘What am I gonna do with the shield?'” she laughs, adding that she plans to take something special to remember the experience, though not her turnouts, which she humorously admits are her least favorite piece of wardrobe.
As the final season of Station 19 unfolds, Ortiz is embracing the end with a sense of gratitude, pride, and optimism. No matter where her career takes her next, she will always carry the lessons learned and the relationships built during her time on the show. Station 19 may be coming to a close, but Jaina Lee Ortiz’s legacy as Andy Herrera will remain a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of women in leadership roles and the importance of representation on screen.
