When Fire Country Season 1 Episode 22 aired method again in May of 2023, its controversial conclusion left followers divided.
The debut season of the hit CBS drama dragged its protagonists by means of hell and delivered some surprisingly satisfying character arcs — just for the season finale to convey us proper again to the place Bode Leone’s story started:
Bode’s determination to take the autumn for a drug ring landed him again behind bars and left viewers with the sensation that Fire County Season 2 may wind up rehashing the redemption narrative the present already explored in Season 1.
So, after a a lot longer-than-usual hiatus owing to the writers’ and actors’ strikes, did Fire Country Season 2 Episode 1 discover a solution to preserve issues contemporary?
Well, the opening scene whips us round — is Bode a free man already?! Has he earned his father’s approval?! — earlier than revealing that we’re within the well-trodden territory of the dream sequence.
Bode is not a free man, we be taught, and is as an alternative six months into a brand new and undeserved jail sentence.
Thankfully, he is earned a little bit of belief, and former skeptics like Manny Perez now understand that Bode is an efficient man who’s made some dangerous choices (most not too long ago, confessing to a criminal offense he did not commit).
A go to with Manny and Vince tidily supplies some much-needed exposition as we be taught that not solely is Bode again within the slammer, however he is been selecting fights with the purpose of being positioned in Aspen Block, residence of probably the most violent offenders.
His purpose is to get to his nemesis Sleeper earlier than Sleeper will get to him.
From there, we’re reminded of how a lot this present has taken on plot-wise, as Eve Edwards lays the smackdown on a prisoner in her new place of authority, and Jake and Cara focus on the truth that Bode is Genevieve’s dad.
Season premieres are second solely to collection premieres in the case of the unlucky necessity of info-dump scenes, however this episode proved surprisingly deft at bringing us up to the mark with out feeling like a Wikipedia web page.
There’s a satisfying thematic connection between adjoining scenes, as back-to-back conversations remind us that Bode and Jake Crawford have a number of exes in frequent.
Yes, Gabriela Perez has lastly given up on Bode — sarcastically, simply as her dad turned certainly one of his largest supporters.
Wildfires is likely to be notoriously unpredictable, however they don’t have anything on the life and relationships of Bode Leone!
It’s Manny who delivers the episode’s titular line, when he tells the remainder of the crew that “something’s coming” for Bode
Speaking of unpredictable — how about an earthquake to liven issues up? And that is all earlier than the opening title card!
If the writers of Fire Country heard the criticism that Season 1 was a bit too loaded with twists and turns that examined the bounds of credulity, they definitely did not let it have an effect on their strategy.
But the present’s means to maintain characters entrance and heart amid all of the pure disasters and motion sequences has additionally remained in place.
Manny bemoans his place as a demoted captain, and with out spelling it out for us, the scene highlights the methods wherein his personal setbacks have made him extra sympathetic to Bode’s.
That scene results in one with a intelligent callback to the present’s collection premiere, as Eve informs her Three Rock recruits that fires are named for his or her level of origin.
“So gentlemen, welcome to Rancho Sequoia,” she tells her crew.
Eve and Jake each discover their new authority put to the check in numerous methods, as he narrowly saves his staff from a propane explosion, and he or she’s confronted with the likelihood that she did the mistaken factor by sending an in a position firefighter again to jail for a minor offense.
It’s then that the long-awaited return of Sharon Leone — full with new kidney — reminds us why she’s grow to be one of many collection’ most beloved characters.
Her ardour for combating fires stays undiminished, however her love for her son, we be taught, has been dampened by his newest setbacks.
The a number of reassurances that Bode wasn’t harmed within the quake are sarcastically contrasted with scenes wherein he treats his personal stab wound utilizing abilities he discovered — the place else? — from his mother.
With the worst of the quake disaster over, the characters are free to debate their new roles.
Eve feels responsible about taking Manny’s job as captain; Gabriela is psyched about changing into a medic, and Vince and Sharon have traded locations on the subject of Bode.
Again, it is a whole lot of exposition, and lots of people saying precisely what’s on their thoughts in ways in which nobody ever does in actual life.
Fire Country is often a bit of higher at conveying info in a non-clunky vogue, however we’ll give it a go and chalk that awkwardness as much as a foul case of the season premieres.
Ensemble reveals have it robust generally.
The most stunning of all these modifications is likely to be the truth that Gabriela is now in a relationship with newcomer Diego.
“Happy four-month anniversary,” he coos, as if their kiss did not already ship the message that they are pretty critical.
Again, the writers are guiding us by the hand quite a bit, however we’re hoping thatt’s a one-time deal.
It’s then that Bode borrows his charismatic cellmate’s cellphone (a cell cellphone, you may say!) to name Manny, his former harshest critic.
Jake commandeers the decision to inform Bode that he is a dad, and whereas the second feels a bit soapy, maybe that tone was unavoidable underneath such melodramatic circumstances.
Speaking of melodrama, how else might such an eventful episode finish than with a jail knife battle that is interrupted by an aftershock?
When the ceiling collapses on Sleeper, Bode acknowledges the chance to get his redemption arc again on observe, and he saves his enemy’s life in trade for a promise to assist him clear his title.
Yeah, it is one of many present’s most ridiculous deus ex machinas thus far, however it nudges issues in a extra fan-friendly course by serving to transfer Bode again to the hearth camp.
Of course, he is acquired issues on the skin — like an ex who cites his dad and mom as the proper couple in conversations along with her new dude.
Gabriela desires to marry Diego to allow them to be the subsequent Vince and Sharon?
Does she know what Vince and Sharon have been by means of?!
Anyway, Bodie’s triumphant return to Three Rock is greater than a bit undermined by the information of Gabriela’s engagement, however his loss is our achieve, because the stakes could not be a lot larger as we delve deep into Fire Country Season 2.
What did you assume, Fire Country fanatics? Was all of it a bit a lot? Are issues shifting too rapidly? What do you assume damage Bode extra, the knife in his facet or the information about Gabriela?
Hit the feedback under to share your ideas!
Tyler Johnson is an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic and the opposite Mediavine O&O websites. In his spare time, he enjoys studying, cooking, and, after all, watching TV. You can Follow him on X and e mail him right here at TV Fanatic.
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