Gabriela’s story in Fire Country season 3 was characterized by major upheavals, and Stephanie Arcila’s exit in Fire Country season 4 highlights even more how much her season 3 story betrayed Gabriela. Facing off with Finn in Fire Country season 3’s finale put Gabriela in a very difficult situation, but even that hurdle didn’t clarify what would prompt Gabriela’s departure.
The announcement that Stephanie Arcila wouldn’t be returning as Gabriela in Fire Country season 4 coming from Fire Country’s showrunner Tia Napolitano in an interview ensured that Gabriela’s exit had yet to be explained narratively. However, Gabriela’s departure from Edgewater after her storyline in season 3 makes one huge mistake with how Fire Country season 3 treated Gabriela more evident.
Gabriela’s Fire Country Season 3 Story Leaves Her At Her Lowest Point
Gabriela Got Only Marginally Better After Reaching Rock Bottom In Fire Country Season 3
If previous Fire Country seasons saw Gabriela face challenges and overcome them, Fire Country season 3 was the first to show Gabriela definitely struggling. Choosing to leave Diego in Fire Country season 3’s premiere at the wedding materially impacted Gabriela, as it left her with debts to pay, and the associated stress also affected Gabriela’s mental health negatively.
Manny risking time in prison and eventually getting a better deal by being sentenced to one year at Three Rock weighed heavily on Gabriela, pushing her to isolate herself from her father too, after the wedding fiasco had already stopped her from wanting to spend time with her friends. Not connecting with her loved ones left Gabriela feeling completely alone.
Given the downward spiral that Gabriela went through in Fire Country season 3, a proper send-off for her character would have to explain how the ordeal with Finn left Gabriela, instead of having what drew her to leave remain unexplained. Even if Manny were to tell others why Gabriela left in Fire Country season 4, her perspective couldn’t be shown.
The absence of Gabriela’s perspective regarding her departure is particularly important because even during her problems, Fire Country season 3 showed her acting unlike herself, but it never went deep enough to investigate why or what feelings were driving Gabriela.
Even if Manny were to tell others why Gabriela left in Fire Country season 4, her perspective couldn’t be shown.
Were Gabriela to wrap up her storyline by reappearing for a short arc in Fire Country season 4, it wouldn’t be enough to truly show how everything that had happened left her. In addition to her always being saved by others, the absence of her perspective thus risks removing Gabriela’s agency entirely from the conversation.
Gabriela returning in season 4 also looks unlikely based on the words of Fire Country’s EPs during an interview with Deadline. There, they admitted their wish to bring Gabriela back to continue telling Bode and Gabriela’s story, but they also underlined how the two need a reset, hinting at time needing to pass before Gabriela can reappear on Fire Country.
Gabriela’s Exit Proves Fire Country Never Saw Her As More Than Bode’s Love Interest
The Reasoning For Her Exit Shows Gabriela Isn’t Seen As A Character In Her Own Right
Such an approach highlights how little interest there is in exploring what drives Gabriela, instead being only interested in what she brings to her relationship with Bode. This was already noticeable in how the deep dives into Gabriela’s past served to justify her actions, like her hesitancy to move in with Jake due to homelessness in her and Manny’s past.
