9-1-1’s Aisha Hinds and Tracie Thoms are looking for some fun in season 8

9-1-1 stars Aisha Hinds again Tracie Thoms loved the life their characters, Hen and Karen, built together — and now they’re ready to let loose and have a little fun.

“I mean, I just want to get hot, you know? I want to go to Disneyland,” Thoms, 49, told himself Us Weekly on Thursday, October 17, while discussing season 8 of the hit ABC series. “Let’s have some time with these children where we will do normal family things. Besides always fighting for the right to be together, you know what I mean? We have overcome so much, trying to have this family. We were at every step of the journey.”

Thoms and Hinds, 48, have portrayed Karen and Hen, respectively, since the series began in 2018. The two have faced infertility, infidelity, family tragedy and a few dangerous encounters. The struggle, in many ways, has felt endless for the on-screen couple – and both are ready for brighter days.

“All the time trying to do IVF, trying to have a baby naturally and that [not working]how hard it was, and we had our one little daughter [Nia] that we had to wait for him to return to his mother, it’s as painful as that,” explained Thoms. “Every step of the way [it’s been hard]. I just want them to be able to just breathe and exist and be a loving family together.”

Warning: Spoilers below for episode 4 of 9-1-1 season 8.

Thoms, it looks like he might get his wish. In the latest installment of the 9-1-1aired Thursday, Hen and Karen fight to get their adoption license back and custody of their adopted daughter, Mara (Ashley Bell), as Councilwoman Olivia Ortiz (Veronica Falcon) – who blamed Hen for his son’s death – continued his plan to destroy their lives. While Veronica thought she had done well for the two (and broke Station 118 in the process), a last-minute twist revealed her true intentions and returned Mara to Hen and Karen’s care.

With Ortiz gone – and Gerrard (Brian Thompson) to find a job The Hotshots for Bobby to return to his rightful place as captain of the 118 – there would be a clear path for Hen and Karen. As for the details of what they’d like it to look like, Thoms pointed to the season 6 episode “Tomorrow,” which highlights Hen and Karen’s love story before they have children, as an example. The two also have a bone to pick with the famous karaoke scene from the season 7 bachelor party episode.

“I feel like we’ve been robbed of karaoke sessions that we should have,” Thoms said with a laugh, recalling how the couple left the bash early. “So I think that would be really fun. I just love whenever Karen and Hen come over, like, let me off the hook a little bit because it’s rare that they do it.”

When Us suggested a late-night party with Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark) for a possible “Henren” story, Hinds and Thoms both admitted that they would “love” to see the trio on the town together — especially if it’s sung.

“I’ve been behind the scenes advocating for Traci to let go of those belts on the show,” Hinds said, referring to Thoms’ famous chops. “This is a missed opportunity and it is not hidden. I’m like, ‘Why wasn’t Traci booked to sing on this show?!’ I need it to happen right now.”

Thoms, for his part, joked that it would be fun to discover that Karen had “hidden talents” that the audience never knew about.

“Like, ‘Oh, wait, you’re a rocket scientist, and you can sing a little!'” he said with a laugh. “I mean, I’m down for anything. But, yes, Aisha is not very smart in her representation of singing in the show. He’s just yelling.”

Hen running for city council to replace Ortiz — and the much-desired “Karen Begins” episode — were also ideas thrown on the table. “I like that. I like that. bring it,” Hinds said before adding an invitation to take the runner’s step Tim Minear: “Do you hear us, Tim? Are you listening?”

Although the cast is hopeful for good times ahead, Hinds said Us there were many aspects about the scenes of Hen and Councilwoman Ortiz that filled the play, especially the direct confrontation with Falcón, 58.

“Veronica Falcón was a strong enemy for us,” he said. “He is an amazing actor. And when she came in, it was very hard to hate her for the woman she is, but then the evil she operated on and led in punishing us, and punishing Mara for something that wasn’t entirely the hen’s fault. through the passing of his son, [changed things].”

“It was really hard to go in when I begged him for mercy and I see him not even being able to reach some part of his being to meet us where we needed to be met to bring our family back together,” Hinds continued. “And we are thankful that we had a community that was willing to stand behind us and make it happen, too [that] I felt amazing at the end.”

Hinds noted that when it came to giving Hen’s many speeches and requests during episode 4, he focused on getting into the “real emotions of the character” and remembering the on-screen family he and Thoms built.

“Traci and I were friends before the show, so when we found out we had the opportunity to play partners and parents to these kids, we jumped through every layer of emotion involved,” he explained. “And for the people who have been watching from the beginning, they have seen the journey that we have taken from being parents raising children and taking [son] Denny is also trying all kinds of other ways to build our family, [plus] to face the depths and disappointments we have to go through in that journey. So at that point, I think the whole trip just kind of swelled up for me. “

Hinds added that there was “a sense of desperation” in Hen’s pleas on and off the court, as he was well aware that viewers saw themselves in the mood for 9-1-1and feels responsible for giving birth.

“A lot of people talk to me about how they watch this show as a family, and I think it’s always stuck in my head that we have families watching, many generations sitting together watching television, which is a lost art. in this day and age when kids are on their phones, their tablets, and their friends,” she said. “So knowing that there are still families listening, I think that always sticks with me.”

Like the 118 members, Hinds and Thoms, the mantra is simple: “Family above all,” they say.

9-1-1 airs on ABC Thursdays at 8 pm ET.