Fire Country Adds Rafael de la Fuente for Season 2 — Should Bode Be Worried? (Exclusive)

A new arrival on Fire Country just might give voluntarily imprisoned Bode (played by Max Thieriot) yet another thing to worry about.

TVLine has learned exclusively that Dynasty reboot alum Rafael de la Fuente has joined Season 2 of the CBS hit in the role of Diego, a charming and motivated paramedic/firefighter and combat vet who served in Afghanistan.

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Notably, Diego will be training Gabriela (played by Stephanie Arcila) for her paramedic certification, pushing Bode’s estranged girlfriend to go beyond her limits. Diego and Gaby will enjoy an “easy camaraderie,” I am told — but could that blossom into something more?

After all, Gaby was left shellshocked by the events of the Season 1 finale, when Bode confessed to running drugs at Third Rock (to ensure that his best bud Freddy made parole and was able to wed baby mama Cookie).

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Bode of course was lying, though he insisted to Gaby that he was in fact a no-goodnik.

“I’m pretty sure she’s not [convinced],” Arcila told TVLine after Fire Country‘s freshman finale aired. “I think she’s just really confused and heartbroken right now.”

As for whether Gabriela — coldly cast aside as she was by Bode — might eventually find her head turned by a new fella, Arcila way back in May, “I think what she will do right now is take some space. I don’t think she would jump into something right away. Even in a moment in her life where she has no control over everything that’s happening, she will do her best.”

Fire Country will premiere its second season on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at 9/8c, once again hammocked between S.W.A.T. and Blue Bloods (both of which are entering their final seasons).

De la Fuente — whose TV credits also include Empire, When We Rise and the recent Hallmark flick Letters to Santa — is thus far set to guest star in three early-season episodes, and maybe more.

Want scoop on Fire Country, or for any other TV show ? Email InsideLine@tvline.com, and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line!

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