Fire Country Season 3 Episodes 1 Recap: 8 Biggest Moments & Reveals
Fire Country season 3 returned with a bang, finally resolving the cliffhanger ending of season 2, while also providing an update on Bode’s new dream of joining Cal Fire. Bode’s personal journey in Fire Country season 2 finally got him to a place where he stopped chasing specific outcomes because of how worthy he felt as a result and realized that what Bode wished to do with his life was firefighting, leading him to advocate for his dream with Luke. Another key event was Gabriela’s indecision at the altar, whose resolution Fire Country season 3, episode 1 brought.
Between Jake stressing over Genevieve being blocked by the helicopter crash debris at Smokey’s and Diego, Bode and Gabriela tending to the pilot, Fire Country season 3’s premiere had plenty of high-intensity moments. The dangerous situations nevertheless let the love triangle discuss honestly what had transpired, with Gabriela finally explaining why marrying Diego would have been a bad choice for her in Fire Country season 3. However, theirs wasn’t the only major development, as Sharon freed Manny so that he could help, making his problems with the law bigger when the police arrived at the scene and found him unrestrained.
8. Bode’s Determination To Fight Fire Finally Lets Him Claim His Leone Legacy
Bode Won’t Stop At Anything To Become A Firefighter
Fire Country season 2’s finale confirmed to Bode that firefighting was his future. While everyone reminded Bode of how important it was to preserve the structure he had at Three Rock, it was the fire at the construction site that confirmed to Bode how firefighting fundamentally made him happy. Coupled with Gabriela’s impending nuptials and his focus on the future, which only became more important when Manny stopped him from crashing Gabriela’s wedding, Bode’s wish to throw himself into firefighting became even more time-sensitive.
Fire Country season 3’s premiere cemented Bode’s wish to become part of Cal Fire, and his speech to his uncle Luke proved that. Not only did Bode remind Luke of his recent attempts to close down Three Rock but also of his reputation, which led many not to appreciate him. While the remarks could have been seen as fruitless because of their seemingly insulting nature, it was clear that Bode only wanted to motivate Luke to help him, pushing him to pull the strings or even “a rope” to make Bode’s path to firefighting easier.
7. Gabriela Jumps To The Rescue Because She Can’t Marry Diego
Gabriela’s Hesitancy Goes On For Too Long Not To Be Noticed Before The Crash
Fire Country season 3, episode 1 even managed to resolve season 2’s major cliffhanger ending. Gabriela’s hesitancy at the altar seemed to contrast with her happiness before walking down the aisle, although it entirely mirrored Gabriela’s uncertainty the night before when she confessed to Eve how she and Bode had kissed at the Lazarus fire. Gabriela made the sensible decision and chose Diego instead of exploring her persisting feelings for Bode. However, doing so only made Gabriela more confused, leading to the awkward silence at the altar.
While the helicopter crash was only the latest absurd tragedy to hit Edgewater, it also proved fortuitous for Gabriela, as it gave her a chance to do something to help other people and put off her decision about the wedding. Realizing Bode had left the church also didn’t help with the confusion, as it convinced her even more how he was hiding something from her. Still, marrying Diego was proven the wrong choice because of her evident feelings for Bode, making the distraction the helicopter crash caused the best moment for Gabriela to put a stop to the wedding.
6. Sharon Freeing Manny Can Make The Circumstances Surrounding His Arrest Worse
Vince & Manny’s Reasoning Checks Out But Sharon Keeps Taking Risks For Manny
Sharon had already interceded in Fire Country season 2’s finale when she pushed for the police officers to wait so that Manny could accompany Gabriela down the aisle before arresting him. With this, not only did Vince let Manny know about the police looking for him in Fire Country season 2, but Sharon also played her part, and that became even more evident with what Manny asked Sharon to do in Fire Country season 3, episode 1.
The helicopter crash being an emergency meant all those who could help would be needed, and Vince and Sharon even let Bode take care of the spot fires, despite knowing fully well how he wasn’t a trained firefighter. Manny being unhurt while the police officers who arrested him were made him ask Sharon to free him momentarily, thus committing a felony as Manny should have remained cuffed. Between the police officers being angry to find Manny uncuffed and Vince and Sharon having broken the law to free Manny, they essentially had gone above and beyond to help their friend.
5. Manny Being Against Bode & Gabriela Can Be Their Biggest Challenge In Season 3
Manny Only Wants The Best For Them & Never Opposed Their Relationship Before
Despite being surprised by Bode and Gabriela’s budding relationship in Fire Country season 1, Manny never opposed them. However, Fire Country season 3, episode 1 showed Manny sure of his request to Sharon to oppose their romance, underlying how volatile Gabriela and Bode were when together and how they both needed calm, instead of embarking on a relationship that led them to be fast and loose with the rules. While Sharon seemed unconvinced, wanting to help Bode might eventually force her to oppose Bode and Gabriela, especially if she saw them bring out the worst in each other.
It’s unclear whether Manny is right in wanting Bode and Gabriela to stay apart in Fire Country season 3, especially in this crucial moment of their lives. Still, Manny’s evaluation that how Bode and Gabriela behaved mirrored his and Roberta’s relationship wasn’t entirely out of character, as Bode and Gabriela were capable of overcoming unbelievable hurdles together, but often did so in extreme situations that had the power of making or breaking them, like saving the helicopter pilot proved. If Sharon and Vince also saw what Manny did, they could be onboard keeping Bode and Gabriela apart for their sake.
4. Bode & Gabriela’s Talk Lets The Truth Come Out At Last
Gabriela & Bode Had Hid Their Feelings Throughout Fire Country Season 2
Gabriela never letting Bode off the hook in Fire Country season 3, episode 1 finally let the two talk about their feelings. Indeed, while Gabriela spent the majority of Fire Country season 2 avoiding talking with Bode about what she felt when he shut her out, she couldn’t delay for too long her decision about the wedding. Bode stopped refusing to acknowledge her questions once he learned she didn’t marry Diego, showing Gabriela that he cared about what she chose, even if he didn’t make it explicit with words.
Similarly, Gabriela finally admitted how she had felt all along in Fire Country season 2, also revealing to Bode the truth about what their kiss made her feel, something she avoided acknowledging in Fire Country season 2’s finale but was ready to face once she felt relief after having to leave her own wedding ceremony. It’s unclear whether Bode and Gabriela will act on their feelings, but at least now they both know where they stand and how they feel the same about each other.
3. Sharon & Luke’s Talk All But Confirms Bode Will Get His Wish To Be A Firefighter
Sharon’s Suggestion Shows She Wants Luke To Fast Track Bode’s Application
Luke’s opinion didn’t change after Bode earned his freedom, and he continued to maintain that it was almost impossible for inmate firefighters to be accepted to train as Cal Fire firefighters after their release. Bode’s entire speech in Fire Country season 2’s finale aimed to convince Luke to help him, pushing him to pull some strings so that the transition from inmate firefighter to Cal Fire firefighter could be faster for Bode. While Luke didn’t see the reason for that before, Fire Country season 3, episode 1 showed him how badly Bode needs to become a firefighter.
Luke seeing Bode’s restraint in refusing to stop the wedding despite his feelings and thinking back to his definition of firefighting as his “healthy addiction” eventually changed his mind. While it’s unknown how he will manage to fast-track Bode’s application, Luke’s talk with Sharon about Bode heavily hinted at Bode training to be a firefighter in Fire Country season 3. Between Sharon thinking it could do Bode good and seeing how any Leone came alive in the field, Luke and Sharon both couldn’t deny that training within Cal Fire could let Bode finally flourish.
2. Rick Being Involved With Jake & Gen Can Help Them Feel Closer To Cara
Rick Being Friends With Cara Can Keep Her Memory Alive
Rick’s bombshell revelation that his return to Edgewater was due to learning about Cara’s death and how he thought Genevieve could be his daughter rightfully shocked Jake, especially after he spent Fire Country season 2 fighting everyone so that he could take care of Gen. However, the events of Fire Country season 3, episode 1 showed that Rick’s involvement with Jake and Gen can actually help them keep the memory of Cara alive, as Rick had a close friendship with her when Jake and Gen didn’t know her.
While everyone in Edgewater was taken aback by Rick’s return because of how much of a bad influence he had been in high school with Bode, Rick’s reasons for returning were meaningful. Jake becoming Gen’s guardian in Fire Country season 2 was the most sensible choice even if Gen had been Bode’s biological daughter, and Rick’s arrival won’t change that. Still, given Rick’s unexpected wisdom and his knowledge of how Cara was, his return to Edgewater can help Gen and Jake learn about another side of Cara, one they never had the chance to get to know.
1. Diego Finally Knowing The Truth Highlights How Much Hurt Gabriela’s Lies Caused
In Refusing To Discuss Her Bode Feelings, Gabriela Tricked Diego & Herself
Gabriela and Diego’s quick courtship and engagement perfectly set him up as Bode’s rival, but that didn’t cancel out how Gabriela’s behavior hurt him. While his manners could sometimes feel possessive because of his jealousy, Diego’s heartbreaking revelations showed how Gabriela’s indecision hurt him too. That he noticed what was going on between Gabriela and Bode made everything sadder, as it meant Gabriela coming clean about her feelings could have helped him not to feel betrayed.
Gabriela specifying how she wanted Diego’s future put an emphasis on her different aspirations now, cementing how their wedding ceremony won’t ever be resumed. Still, much hurt could have been avoided had Gabriela been forthcoming instead of putting her head in the sand about Bode’s feelings only because he hurt her by shutting her out, leaving a huge mayhem for Fire Country season 3 to untangle.
