Fire Country Season 5, Episode 6 “Church and State” is an hour that tells us the reasons why ex-baseball player Mason Ellis (Jay Hayden) came back to Edgewater. Spoiler alert: none of them are good, and now we’re stressed out. He didn’t come to drink beers with old friends Bode and Jake. Or to reconnect with his community after years of being away.
Actually, he’s here to stir trouble, even if it wasn’t his original intention. Mason’s here to operate a data center to bring Edgewater into the future. And we’ve begun to see how he’s doing more harm than good. First, he was able to get through the beginning stages without informing any officials or townspeople of what he and his employer were doing. Consequently, he overwhelmed the town’s power grid. This caused the fuses in Eve’s apartment building to unexpectedly erupt into flames.
While nobody died, Eve lost everything in the fire. And we’re hurting for her even if she found light in the situation. Overall, the episode brought this very real issue of data centers hurting cities and small towns to our screens. And it made for an explosive hour that ended with Jake and Bode on opposite sides of this upcoming war to keep Edgewater tech-free. In addition, we got to see Eve and CJ thinking of their long-term happiness.
MORE: Did you miss the Sheriff Country and Fire Country crossover? Watch, then read our review of “No Way In” and “No Way Out” HERE!
Things Get Real
The hard thing about Jake and Bode’s arguments about supporting the data center in “Church and State” is that both men are thinking of Edgewater. Contrary to Bode, Jake was the only one willing to hear Mason out. He was promised that Edgewater would see profit if the data center went live. So, why wouldn’t Jake want that for his community that he loves? We get why he’s open-minded here. Especially after Station 42 has struggled with funding this season and Mason swore to take his critiques to heart.
Bode, on the other hand, wouldn’t listen because of how much water and power were being used to operate it. He was more willing to throw friendships aside if it meant protecting his community from any harm. Eve and Sharon were eating breakfast when the fire in her building began. So, nobody saw it coming. This means the risk of danger that comes with supporting the center is too high for him to support Mason’s plans. Of course, we agree with Bode that data centers are horrible for supporting AI and using fresh water. We don’t want them anywhere near us or in the fictional towns we love.
Ultimately, that doesn’t mean we don’t see why Jake wants to trust Mason’s good intentions. He gave Jake no reason to believe that he doesn’t care about Edgewater. For example, Mason was going to give Station 42 their volunteer firehouse if Bode didn’t decline. Additionally, Mason was distraught at hearing the news about Eve’s building going down, so he has to care about community safety a little bit.
Bode Is Right
We can see why Jake and Bode are standing their ground for different reasons. It just sucks to see them fight when they both want to see Edgewater safe and thriving. Understandably, it’s no secret that Edgewater is a town built on generations of families who stay and don’t move around. Therefore, it’s not a bizarre thing to say that their community doesn’t care to modernize everyday life. Which makes Mason’s actions feel like a slap in the face because he brought tech to Edgewater without asking what his people wanted. And that recklessness and lack of communication are what almost got Eve’s neighbors Ray and Gladis killed.
Everyone in Eve’s apartment building lost property, life memories, and homes because Mason was inconsiderate. Normally, we’d want procedurals to be an escape from reality. However, it’s nice to see current events on television on occasion. Especially when the storyline sends a powerful message. The combination of rich people ruling technology can ruin people’s lives.
Altogether, Bode doesn’t want to risk another tragedy like Eve’s apartment building catching fire. Most buildings in Edgewater are old. If the data center’s power usage is unpredictable, when will the next tragedy strike? It’s hard to tell, and that’s what’s scary. If we’re honest, we’re siding with Bode after “Church and State.” As much as we love Jake’s heart and belief in goodness, data centers will never be completely ethical. Not when it takes resources away from people.
MORE: Fire Country Season 5, Episode 4 Review: ‘Winners and Losers’ Proves Taking Accountability Matters
Eve and CJ Deserve Joy
Lastly, this hour was important for Eve and CJ because they opened up and made hard choices. In breaking up with Mason, CJ realized she didn’t want to make enemies with the people who have begun to treat her like family. Do we think it hurt her to break up with him? Absolutely. She ran off after turning him down because she couldn’t handle the pain. They had undeniable chemistry and sparks.
But we think she did what was right for her in the end. Before, she fled from a terrible environment in Philadelphia to find a place she could call home, surrounded by good people. Now, she thinks Edgewater is her answer, and that’s why we support her taking a step back from Mason. Protecting that feeling of belonging matters more to CJ right now than a chance at love. In the end, we loved learning more about CJ as a character. She’s a woman who wouldn’t brush morals aside or risk friendships for a man.
Meanwhile, Eve had a problem with uplifting others without thinking of herself in “Church and State.” This led her to believe her life mattered less than those around her. Obviously, that isn’t the truth, and she made the hard choice to reflect on how unhealthy her past behaviors were. Watching Sharon and Manny encourage Eve to believe the opposite was really sweet. Because they’ve been in her shoes before as authority figures. Eve’s dreams and aspirations mattered just as much as buying laptops for Three Rock. So, we’re thrilled we got to learn how she’s dreamt of buying a house with a garden. She may be rooming with Sharon now, but we know she’ll get there someday.
Fire Country airs on Fridays on CBS at 9 pm EST.
