Over eight-plus seasons at 9-1-1, Hen and Karen Wilson experienced their fair share of struggles.
In 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode 4, they are locked in a life-or-death fight as corrupt Congresswoman Ortiz does her best to keep them apart as they fight to bring their daughter, Marla, home.
As usual, the couple stood strong and stood together as usual, and finally, Marla finally returned to their home.
The talented, lovable and refreshing Aisha Hinds and Tracie Thoms as Hen and Karen Wilson, respectively, kindly spent Take some time to talk about this emotional moment.
It was a joy to talk to two women who had one of the greatest relationships on television. Their banter and love for the show and characters come through during this conversation, which also touches on the journey of bringing Mara home and what they hope to see from the characters in the future.
Hint, hint: Elsa is ready for Trish to sing!
Check out this graphic chat, 9-1-1 fanatics!
I want to ask you two questions first. Throughout the series, Hen and Karen go through many different life events, but they always come out stronger on the other side.
How important is it for both of you to show your dynamic in this marriage and this beautiful family (that’s the OG 911 relationship)?
Elsa: Correct.
Trish: Correct.
Elsa: It’s an honor and a blessing to be able to do this, right? First, to have this unit reflected on television and see them being able to lean on each other, rely on each other, and overcome any and all obstacles that come their way, just for the fact that they are: leaning on each other.
It speaks volumes to us and to the audience about our power and what we can do as a united front, as two beautiful black queer women, as parents, as professionals in the fields of work that we participate in. I love what it puts out into the world and the message it sends.
Trish: No, listen. This is a gift. I’m happy to be here. I think she pretty much has that covered. We have a great opportunity here to tell a very unique story that I don’t think I’ve seen on any other show.
The audience really loved it and they were so invested in our family. This is such a blessing for me.
Elsa, we see Maddie and Yannie step in to help raise Mara during this time. In this episode, Hen goes to talk to Bobby. 118 Appear in court for Hen and Karen. Talk to me about 118 and that family and its importance to Hen and her family.
Elsa: Considering the climate of the industry and the world, we are extremely honored to be able to host this show for a long time. We’ve been able to continue doing this show. Viewers continue to follow us and connect with us. It tells us the work to do and give back to them.
That leaves only the number of pairs you talked about: 118, Maddie and Chim, Cap. Community is at the center of it all. Our ability to rely on each other when we need each other is a beautiful part of encapsulating and integrating these characters and their journeys.
I’m grateful to see how this Hail Mary materializes when we thought we were about to lose Mara, and we were on the edge of our own skin in the ideas we could come up with and the efforts we could make to save the world.
Chim and Maddie arrive, trying to figure out how to keep her in the house. It’s like the family we have off-screen; the fact that we’ve been able to do this show for so many years means the family we have on-screen.
This is what you see. When one person is down, another person steps in, picks up the ball and keeps it rolling.
It was wonderful to be in this big courtroom filled with people, but the people who knew her were right behind her. In the end, that’s what it’s all about, you know? family.
Marla finally comes home at the end of the episode, which is a great moment, especially when they all get back home and Maddie and Chimney are there. Tell me about your vision for the future of the Wilson family.
Now that their families are reunited and they’re hopefully starting to put some of Ortiz’s stuff and everything behind them, what do you want them to see?
Trish: Make them more grateful to be together; they have to work really hard for it. I think going forward, they’re going to really, really enjoy their family unit and really try to raise these kids and create a normal life for them, especially for Mara.
Danny has excelled over the years as he has been there for all the foster children and their trials and tribulations. But we’ve been working hard to create a safe space for Mara and fight for her in a way that others haven’t been.
I think they’re really going to use this opportunity to be as strong a family unit as possible.
Fighting Ortiz is not easy at all. Hen and Karen were very compassionate, but it was very challenging.
Considering what happened with Kyle and his death, how do you think they were able to handle everything and get through the whole situation, especially the hens?
Elsa: girl. Ortiz comes to bite our necks.
Trish: She did it. She did it. I had a little scene with her last season. I was like, “I feel like I’m getting a cut in my side.”
Elsa: I mean, ruthless. I’m reading the page. Sometimes I’ll read these scenes and say, “Guys. Does she have a heart in her? What? But, in her case, I do feel a real sense of guilt. I really have to see it from her perspective.” Look at this question. This woman is grieving.
From their own perspective, their positions are all valid. But I think once Hen and Karen decided, “Listen. We’re going to, we’re just going to ask, we’re going to beg. At one point we decided to beg her.
When we dropped all our guard and everything else and we begged her, she still looked us straight in the eye and was like, “Yeah. No. She doesn’t even care that she’s punishing us, but she’s also punishing a little girl.” , an innocent little girl. I was like, “Wow. Wow. Wow. She’s heartless.”
Trish: I know.
Elsa: But that just adds to the drama. The viciousness she had shown just now made the victory that much sweeter.
Trish: It’s a weird thing because where it still works is they just…everyone comes from an emotional place at the end of the day. There’s empathy somewhere, like, “Okay. This woman lost her son.
A grieving mother, we are mothers too. I mean, have a little bit of sympathy for her. However, I think the fact that she can channel grief into something so devastating to us makes us feel disoriented for many, many episodes.
It’s like, “Wait. How did she do this? She’s a mother. How does she have so much power? How is she still going out of her way to make us miserable? But the sadness is really intense. Sadness and We’re stronger together, and we’ve been feeling the brunt of that for a long time, and it all came to a head in this episode.
Eight seasons in, you’ve done a lot of different things with the Wilson family and gone through a lot of different storylines. Is there anything else you guys would like to do with your characters that you haven’t done yet?
Trish: Uh-oh.
Elsa: Musical.
Trish: Oh, this question keeps coming up.
Elsa: I mean, Whitney, I don’t know if you know this, but we have one of the most important voices among us.
Trish: Oh, stop talking.
Elsa: Embedded in Tracy Thomas’s lungs. I just think that if we don’t find and figure out some creative ways to put this into practice, we’re missing an opportunity. Because people love her. But maybe people also like her voice.
I just thought, “Listen. Can we celebrate family reunions, and can she lead that?”
Trish: Do you want to sing loudly? A brand new day for “The Wiz”?
A musical would be a great idea. This will be fun.
Elsa: I think so too.
***This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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