The time is here for the annual crossover between Sheriff Country and Fire Country! We’ll be the first to say that neither episode disappointed us. As a matter of fact, their respective hours of Season 2, Episode 5 “No Way In” and Season 5, Episode 5 “No Way Out” left us wanting more. It was so good that the two hours felt like they went by in a blissful blur.
To begin, “No Way In” introduced the emergency of three inmates escaping prison during a wildfire and holding Skye, Eve, and Three Rock inmate Tex hostage at the diner. “No Way Out” concluded the storyline with an explosive and satisfying ending of everyone coming together to eventually save Mickey and Manny from being taken in replacement.
Honestly, we loved this crossover because we saw two groups of characters we love separately come together on screen. But there was more to appreciate overall. Their joint effort in saving lives proved that Edgewater has great first responders to lean on when disaster threatens to strike. We appreciated seeing moments of strain as personalities clashed under pressure because it felt real and raw. And the episodes also showed the bright pockets of joy that come when and after the overall team communicates and trusts each other.
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Mickey and Manny
There was lots to love about Mickey (Morena Baccarin) and Manny’s (Kevin Alejandro) scenes together. What “No Way In” and “No Way Out” gave us was clashing personalities of these two stubborn leaders. And we enjoyed it because they had to learn how to divide their attention between multiple issues at the same time. Manny wanted to focus their people on fighting the fire. While Mickey wanted to put their effort into evacuation wherever the wind blew. They argued, bickered, and fought over where their crews would go to handle the wildfire and hostage situations.
So, in our opinion, their differences in handling objectives were a valid reason to keep them at odds. Their journey in trusting each other’s judgment on the job was a fulfilling one that began with not knowing how to manage the wildfire together. And ended with them protecting each other to fight off the inmates when given the chance.
In “No Way In”, we learned that Mickey and Manny had a horrible first date years ago thanks to Sharon (Diane Farr) trying to set them up. It was a memory that made them cringe because they were both insecure, afraid to be vulnerable, and not ready for relationships. At the time, Mickey felt helpless to compare her and Skye to Manny and Gabriela. She was defensive because she wasn’t as close with her child as Manny was with his.
MORE: ‘Sheriff Country Season 2, Episode 4 Review: “Maria” Had Mickey Being the Mother She Never Had‘
The Terrible First Date
Previously, they were afraid of talking about themselves and hid behind their kids’ failures and successes. If you asked us, that was a perfect platonic reason as to why they’d be hostile now. Here, they could’ve bonded in creating a friendship rooted in overcoming the feeling of failure as a parent.
So, that’s why it felt a little unnecessary to make them have romantic history. Because miscommunication and insecurity were the issues that ruined their date. And now, they’ve put in the work to fix them and have realized how well they mesh together. As a result, it felt wrong to watch them get close because they aren’t friends struggling to be on the same page.
They’re two people who just fixed the issues behind their failed attempt to date. So, now there’s something to explore. Ultimately, we’re side-eyeing them because Manny has a girlfriend in Camille (Natalie Zea) on Fire Country. Mickey just drunkenly confessed that she has feelings for Boone. What are we doing here? Mickey’s lingering stare toward Manny on the sofa in “No Way Out” is also really interesting.
Because she’s intrigued by him now that she can see there’s more about him than being an ex-con. To sum up, we don’t know what’ll come next now that they’re on good terms. But we really hope they remain friends, even if they had this lingering tension that felt impossible to ignore. Sure, they didn’t ask to see each other again once everything settled. But soft glances, being overprotective, and betting on dates can be seen as romantic gestures. Why did Mickey spend five hundred dollars at the bachelor’s auction for a lunch with Manny? If not to make a point that she wants others to see she picked him?
Skye As An Individual
Then, there’s Skye (Amanda Arcuri), who played a big part in propelling the narrative forward in both “No Way In” and “No Way Out.” On a surface level, we could say that Skye motivated Mickey to put herself in danger. But she’s more than the Sheriff’s daughter. And we’re so glad to see some of her individuality blossom in these episodes.
Honestly, we felt like Mickey worrying over Skye possibly relapsing after confessing she felt lost with Fraley Horizons shutting down was both valid and a bit extreme. Of course, we get her being worried that her daughter’s depressed and could spiral. But Skye is strong and actively trying to remind herself daily that she’s worthy of a good life. And Mickey lost sight of her efforts when she worried. However, Three Rock inmate Tex (Elias Kacavas) saw her the entire time. And that’s why we loved their dynamic in this crossover.
She needed to meet someone who knew what it felt like to be your worst critic and enemy. And that person was Tex. They would end up bonding over feeling regretful of past mistakes and letting it define them. Altogether, they were brave because they wanted to protect people. Not because they were told to be. Tex risked injury to attack the inmates to keep Eve and Skye safe. And Skye chose to text her mother for help before giving in her phone even when scared. Lastly, she was even willing to be the only hostage taken if it meant the others could be freed. These two were at their best in “No Way In” and “No Way Out” because they inspired each other to be courageous.
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Different Priorities
We may not want a romance between Manny and Mickey, but we do want to see more of Skye and Tex. Their lingering smiles toward each other were adorable. And we loved how they made each other feel seen. In the end, they’re both good people who are trying to better themselves every day.
Moreover, we can’t forget about Boone (Matt Lauria) and Bode (Max Thieriot) playing baseball and making jokes about being in the bachelor’s auction together. Obviously, they’re on a good page as friends. But similarly to Manny and Mickey, they fought at times due to their differing values. There’s no denying that Boone was right in saying that firefighters and cops aren’t the same. It’s easy to understand why each team wanted to pull each other in opposing directions. They have different responsibilities and objectives.
But they have a common shared goal, and that’s protecting and saving people who are in danger. And that’s what was made clear in the crossover episodes of “No Way In” and “No Way Out.” Which we loved because Bode was right from beginning to end. Station 42 and ESCO couldn’t work separately to save Mickey and Manny. They had to unite as one team, combine efforts without pride, and lean on each other in order to bring them home.
What did you think about Sheriff Country Season 2, Episode 5 “No Way In” and Fire Country Season 5, Episode 5 “No Way Out”? Let us know in the comments below!
Sheriff Country airs on CBS on Fridays at 8 pm EST. Fire Country follows at 9 pm EST.
