At Comic-Con, series creator Alexi Hawley unveiled plans for the ninth season's opening, disclosing that it will unfold across two episodes rather than a single premiere. The creator characterised the launch as embodying the programme's strongest qualities—significant dramatic tension intertwined with romantic development, comedic moments, and surprising turns. Production began earlier in the week and will continue through to the January premiere date on ABC.

The announcement comes as the cast publicly addressed viewer reactions to the eighth season's controversial ending, which concluded with a marriage proposal immediately followed by both characters' abduction. At Comic-Con, Melissa O'Neil and Eric Winter expressed sympathy for dedicated fans who endured the unresolved cliffhanger. Winter explained that the scene itself was filmed hastily to capture natural sunset conditions, whilst O'Neil acknowledged the emotional difficulty fans experienced during the extended wait for resolution and thanked them for their engagement with the story.