Fire Country Season 3’s Revamped Bode Will Fix The Show’s Most Annoying Problem

Fire Country proved itself a gripping drama in seasons 1 and 2, but one issue plaguing both seems it will likely be resolved in Fire Country season 3. The amazing opportunity provided to Bode in Fire Country’s premiere wasn’t always appreciated as Three Rock meant being home for him, inevitably tangling his wish for giving back to the community he hurt with the difficult work needed to collaborate with the friends and family he abandoned when Bode left Edgewater. Fire Country’s setup thus made its Bode developments exceedingly dramatic, to the point that it left little for Bode to enjoy.

The events of Fire Country seasons 1 and 2 didn’t help Bode settle down at Three Rock peacefully. Between how harshly loved ones like Jake and Vince reacted to his return and Sharon’s health problems, Bode could not catch a break. Fire Country season 1’s finale worsened things with Sleeper’s successful plot to get Bode back to jail, which all contributed to Bode’s approach always bordering on brooding, for which he couldn’t really be faulted considering how heavy some of the developments were. However, hints about Fire Country season 3 reveal that might finally change thanks to Bode’s newfound freedom.

A More Fun Bode Will Fix Fire Country’s Tone In Season 3

His Negative Approach Set The Tone For Seasons 1 & 2

Ahead of Fire Country season 3’s release, showrunner Tia Napolitano revealed how Bode’s mindset will be much different compared to seasons 1 and 2. Indeed, if seasons 1 and 2 focused on “dream-seeking,” season 3 can include a lot of “wish fulfillment,” as Bode being free means he finally has agency. Napolitano teased an “I’m not incarcerated anymore lightness” threaded throughout season 3 (via TVLine), hinting at his character finally being able to experience prolonged joy and fun, something Bode was often robbed of in seasons 1 and 2, which threw problems at him instead of helping him find peace.

Bode being fun and able to enjoy his freedom is a welcome addition to the firefighting drama’s third outing. After all, Freddy had already partially made fun of Bode’s tendency to look miserably absent-minded in Fire Country season 2’s finale, which may have contributed to Bode’s focus shifting from what he lost to his new resolve to become a Cal Fire firefighter. Bode focusing on the positive aspects of his new position can finally show his lighthearted side, one that doesn’t take everything so seriously, instead choosing to rejoice in his freedom to take a walk or go to Smokey’s.

Jared Padalecki’s New Fire Country Season 3 Character Helps Bode Change For The Better

Having Someone Within Cal Fire Believe In Him Can Help His Confidence

Fire Country seasons 1 and 2 established how difficult it is for inmate firefighters to join Cal Fire, with Charlie’s storyline in season 1 and Bode’s at the end of season 2. Jared Padalecki’s new Fire Country season 3 character Camden can bridge the inevitable difficulties Bode will have to become a firefighter and give confidence to Bode. After Bode’s uncle Luke only made excuses for his inability to help Bode pursue his only “healthy addiction,” having a successful SoCal firefighter in his corner can make Bode finally feel sure in his abilities, inspiring him and letting him loosen up.

Described as an influential SoCal firefighter with a surfer swagger, Camden can leave a mark on Fire Country season 3 beyond his firefighting capabilities. Recognizing Bode’s potential can make his dream come true in practice but also vindicate Bode in a way, as many implored him to move on from what happened at Three Rock. Meeting Camden and working closely with him can be the boost of courage Bode needs to face the challenges of joining Cal Fire and simultaneously help him relax after Bode had to check his every move and consequence in Fire Country seasons 1 and 2.

How Being A More Lighthearted Show Will Only Make Fire Country Better

Taking Itself So Seriously Made The Threats Feel Too Big & Conclude Too Soon

One of Fire Country’s worst traits that makes it divisive is the show’s tendency to take itself too seriously. Be it for the overpoweringly dramatic twists and turns or the always-serious characters’ reactions, Fire Country is rarely playful about an episode’s premise, instead treating every development with the same urgency and gravity. This is particularly evident in the attempts to sow discord between Vince and Sharon via another possible suitor for Sharon Leone, which didn’t work in season 1 with Luke’s attempts to kiss Sharon and did even less so with Liam and Sharon’s bond in Fire Country season 2.

While Bode’s inclination to think of the worst possible outcome when incarcerated made sense, especially with the threat of returning to prison being always right around the corner, Bode’s new fun attitude can breathe new life into Fire Country. Fire Country season 3’s lightheartedness can portray a different side of the show’s characters, leaving the drama to the death-defying moments, but letting the characters feel less intensely in all the other developments. A new lightheartedness can only make Fire Country better, finally differentiating between the characters’ private lives that need a laid-back approach and the show’s more serious, dangerous developments.

Fire Country season 3 premieres on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 9 pm ET on CBS.

Source: TVLine