Fire Country: 5 Things We Want to See in Season 2 (and 1 Thing We DON’T!)
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Fire Country was a red-hot freshman hit for CBS, no doubt. Still, we have notes for Season 2 of the firefighter/prison/family drama, which is set to premiere Friday, Feb. 16 at 9/8c.
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Season 1 followed convict Bode Donovan (played by series co-creator Max Thieriot) as he was relocated to a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, unexpectedly situated in the very hometown he had years prior put in the rear view mirror.
Over 22 episodes, Bode patched a deep rift with his father/Cal Fire battalion chief Vince, buoyed his mother/division chief Sharon’s spirits, found a mentor in Three Rock fire camp chief Manny, and literally happened upon romance when a middle-of-the-night excursion crossed his path with that of Manny’s daughter Gabriela.
Alas….
At season’s end, as the result of some chicanery by a prison adversary who had passed through Three Rock, Bode found himself having to “confess” to dealing drugs at camp, lest his best friend Freddy not get released to wed and be with his sweetheart and their newborn child. That selfless declaration, from an ex-addict, devastated both Bode’s parents and Manny, whereas Gabriela seems to suspect something is amiss….
What do we hope to see happen in Season 2, whenever it hits our screens? Read on for our 5 WANTS, and the 1 thing we DO NOT WANT.
WANT: A bit of prison time for Bode
The Season 1 finale twist that landed Bode back behind bars was not popular with many viewers… and yet here we are. So let’s make the most of it and keep Bode in prison for at least a handful of Season 2 episodes before returning him to Three Rock (either by exposing without a doubt Sleeper’s role in the prison camp drug trade/”dirty” tests) or in the wake of more good behavior.
It’d be a nice opportunity to get a sense of the inmate Bode is when actually inside the clink and not cutting line in the great outdoors with a girlfriend within shouting distance.
WANT: Keep the villains coming
While the early stretch of Fire Country Season 1 was entertaining and all, the rat-a-tat-tat introduction of Vince’s handsy brother Luke (played by Michael Trucco), “Shamrock Hotshots” superintendent Knox (Tahmoh Penikett), Nozzle honcho Faye (Rebecca Mader) and — hey, look, it’s an actual sketchy convict! — Sleeper (Grant Harvey) made clear that the good guys we love occasionally need proper adversaries to keep things truly interesting. Plus, Nozzle is just fun to say. Nozzle!!!
WANT: Overdue wins for Eve and Manny
Eve’s Season 1 arc was not fun, consisting as it was of flaky romantic hook-ups, absorbing some blame for Rebecca’s death, and struggling to find a career path. Jules Latimer’s character is officially overdue for some positive developments.
Similarly, Kevin Alejandro’s Manny pretty abruptly went from being a mentor Bode could trust/a father Gaby could believe in to a sad sack loser mired in debt, to a degree that he’d even be accused of stealing some lady’s heirloom watch. Hopefully his snubbing of Nozzle (Nozzle!) — and in turn, selflessly, the other kind of fire that Faye offered him — is a step in the right direction.
WANT: Resolution to the kidney donor storyline, please
Sharon’s diagnosis with chronic kidney disease immediately established high stakes for Bode’s unexpected return to Edgewater and him hopefully making parole, conveyed important messaging, created drama between Bode and frenemy Jake over who’d “save” Sharon, and very briefly (if pretty shamelessly!) teased us with the notion of Sharon/Luke infidelity.
Speaking of that season-ending Luke reveal, raise your hand if frankly you had forgotten that the donor issue was still in play…? Yeah, thought so.
Diane Farr acted the heck out of this storyline, but it is time to wrap it up.
WANT: More of Billy Burke singing
Midway through Season 1, Vince with his guitar took the stage at Smokey’s, and viewers got to hear cast member Billy Burke — who has a couple of albums under his belt — perform the fittingly titled original song, “Burn” (watch music video above). We’re not saying Vince needs a formal residency at Smokey’s or anything, but serving up the occasional ditty (and maybe even a private serenade to wife Sharon?) would allow the oft-intense Battalion Chief some decidedly lighter moments.
DON’T WANT: Leisurely heart-to-hearts during fire/emergency situations!
On at least several occasions during Season 1, smack dab in the middle a fire or other life-threatening crisis (!), characters would pause their rescue efforts to not just comment on a particular personal matter, but have an actual back-and-forth conversation about it. Like, not once did anyone ever say, “I hear you, I do, but let’s get into this later, after the raging wildfire has been contained.”
We “get” the need to keep a personal storyline moving while not pausing the fiery action, especially when two involved characters are in proximity to each other, but at least have them converse while vigorously cutting lines or jogging to or with equipment.
What do YOU want to see happen in Fire Country Season 2? Hit the comments below! (And as always, email InsideLIne@tvline.com if you seek scoop on a favorite TV show!)
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