Watching Fire Country, we find ourselves having a need to protect these characters and find ourselves rooting for all of them. The truth is, we didn’t expect to love this show as much we do, but the reality is, we do. The writing, the acting, the casting, the setting, the storylines… we could go on.
While the show has advanced quickly, one thing that that we have appreciated is that no matter what is happening, the premise of the show remains faithful to the original idea and we’re seeing some well written character arcs, no matter the character.
And you have to admire a show that, no matter it’s popularity, wants to remain true to giving you characters that you can relate to and that you can see hope and growth in. It’s a beautiful thing, because you see a show that you can be invested in for the long haul.
There are a lot of things going on in this episode – a fair, a “breakup”, a learning experience, panic attacks – but the way that it is handled is with class and a great story that well, even makes me want to like Jake.
The biggest growth in this story came from Gabriela. The girl has been through a lot. She’s trained for the Olympics and watched another diver get injured in front of her, she’s lost her first patient, and the trauma that she’s dealing with is a lot.
She’s made a lot of the decisions in her life based on the trauma that she’s experienced. But I don’ think that necessarily is something that she knows how to break out of. It’s happened since she was a child.
Bode is also trying to overcome his trauma and trying to be a better man. His Mom’s illness has taken a toll on him and he knows one thing – he wants to be the son that she needs and be there for her. And part of that means that he will be following all the rules.
Which also means no more Rebecca. He had his fun and so did she, but him cutting things off hurt her. He thought that she would be fine with it, because it was casual. But she’s hurting and she’s letting it show and he’s not seeing it for all that it is.
And then there is Jake. Jake who has his first date with Cara. Jake who seems to have changed a bit, because Jake is being cautious of peoples feelings. He’s not allowing himself to be defined by his past, but is looking forward to his future. While I will love it if Jake continues to grow, I have to admit that he’s a little shocked that his date is Cara, I am kinda glad it is, because it means that we’re not getting a love triangle, we’re getting storylines.
All of their lives intersect at the fair. When you live in a small town – which I have – fairs are the biggest things. They are something that everyone looks forward to.
And it’s at the fair that I start to like Jake. Why? Because he seems that he’s growing. He’s treating Cara with such respect and she’s reminding him that he’s not his past. She wants to get to know him, not the person who was Bode’s best friend. Somehow Jake has to remember that he’s not the guy with questionable dating practices. He’s not the guy who I was constantly rolling my eyes out.
He’s the guy who wants to learn who he is, while becoming the man that he was meant to be.
It’s when Cara and him are going on a ride, that they realize that it’s gone out of control. Cara and Jake step in to try and help the young kid running the ride, but also to save everyone that was on the ride. Hell, everyone in Cal Fire and from the camp do.
And Bode jumps in to also help find a child that went missing. He’s able to put everything aside and make sure to focus, while cleaning up the craziness of his life. Rebecca is having a breakdown, even stealing some alcohol to put herself out of her misery.
Bode doesn’t want her to do something she’s going to continue to regret and so he keeps her close.
Rebecca is jealous. She’s jealous of him and Gabriela. She’s lonely. Bode was her one release.
Vince and Jake manage to shut down the ride. Gabriela ignores Sharons orders to return to triage when she goes to get Cara to help. Instead she acts as thought she hasn’t been given order and stays to help get people off the ride.
Yet, she’s going to have to return to the tent. She does with a patient in cardiac arrest and herself in a panic attack. Sharon has Cara step in and then tells Gabriela that she needs find a way to get her panic attacks under control – find what works for her.
What I love about Sharon is she could be cruel. She could be angry. But she’s firm, understanding and supportive.
Gabriela has to step in and find her way when Rebecca comes to get her, as Rebecca and Bode have found the young boy. She’s reminded by Bode and Sharon that she can do it. She pulls her shit together, but I don’t feel like it’s because of either one of them. I feel like it is because of her own strength.
What I also need to mention is all of the things that happen between Cap and Eve. I think that Eve doesn’t get enough credit and I also feel like the way he treats her during this whole thing is deplorable. Eve isn’t gonna put up with shit though, she’s going to find a way to make him see how great she is. I can totally get behind that. She has every reason to be taken seriously and honestly, Cap’s being an ass.
I do think that a lot of what he’s being an ass about is himself, but he has to get out of his own way. I am glad that Eve forces him to do just that. She needs to save him from himself.
Saving everyone and saving the boy are a high note, but the episode ends better when we find out that Sharon is going to get her transplant. Do we think that she’ll get it from Jake? I am thinking somehow she’ll get it from Bode.
Not sure.
But I do hope that no matter what happens next, Fire Country keeps giving us the amazing storytelling that it has been.
Fire Country airs Fridays on CBS.
