SPOILER ALERT: The story includes details about the Season 4 premiere of CBS’ Fire Country “Goodbye For Now.”
Season 4 of CBS’ Fire Country picked up moments after the Season 3 finale ended when the roof of the Edgewater memory care facility caved in amid the massive fire with Vince (Billy Burke), his father Walter (Jeff Fahey) and his wife Sharon (Diane Farr) inside. Walter and Sharon found themselves separated from Vince, and Walter had to carry Sharon out kicking and screaming as she was determined to stay and search for Vince at the cost of her own life.
Outside, Bode (Max Thieriot) had to be locked in by Jake (Jordan Calloway) and other fellow firefighters to prevent him from running into the burning building. When Bode was later told that his father didn’t make it, he was devastated.
In an emotional speech at Vince’s funeral, Bode promised to “spend the rest of my career protecting my father’s town, my father’s station, my father’s mission.” At the reception that followed, he and Jake got into a fight over who should succeed Vince as Station 42 battalion chief, with Bode calling it his “birthright.” Division Chief Sharon suspended 42 from active duty, and an old foe of Vince, Brett Richards, played by Shawn Hatosy, showed up. By the end of the episode, he was named interim battalion chief and promised to “reinvent” the station.
Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) helped Bode through his grief, taking care of him for eight weeks before he found out about her new job as a traveling recruiter for the fire department.
“I don’t want to say goodbye to you,” Bode said, speaking for all fans. After the two parted ways telling each other, “Goodbye, for now” — which also is the title of the episode — Bode was seen going for the bag of pills in his locker.
Sharon was stoic during the funeral and kept it together in the weeks after until she broke down when Walter came to her house.
There were some positive developments for Audrey (Leven Rambin), as Gabriela mentioned that the stalker Audrey had shot pulled through, effectively taking attempted murder charges against her off the table.
During the suspension, Bode led 42 in helping the firefighters filling in for them in a mill fire. There was a precarious situation involving massive logs that trapped a firefighter, with Gabriela risking her life to save him on her last day. Gabriela’s father Manny (Kevin Alejandro) was reinstated and Eve was back at 42. She has her work cut out for her, with bureaucracy making the restoration of Three Rock a tedious prospect.
In an interview with Deadline, Fire Country executive producer/showrunner Tia Napolitano addressed Gabriela and Bode’s “goodbye for now” and if there is a plan for Arcila to return this season. She explained whether Vince’s death was a foregone conclusion and its impact on Bode and Sharon. Napolitano discussed the Jake-Bode face-off to replace Vince as battalion chief, Brett’s appointment, his plan is for 42, and how long can we expect Hatosy to stay on the show. She revealed the theme for Season 4 and Audrey’s status, teased Three Rock 2.0 as well as how many crossovers with spinoff Sheriff Country we can expect.
‘Fire Country’ (L-R): Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela Perez and Kevin Alejandro as Manny Perez in “Goodbye for Now”
Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Gabriela’s Goodbye
DEADLINE: Gabriela and Bode spent eight weeks together which, as Bode noted, felt like old times. Was this a gift to fans to get one more glimpse at their love story before the twist with her leaving?
NAPOLITANO: It felt like Bode and Gabriela’s journey was always rooted initially in longing and a forbidden love. He was incarcerated, there’s a lot of angst and longing, and it’s beautiful, but we wanted to see them literally hang out in their pajamas together, like we saw, we wanted to give them some domestic bliss where they just get to be. And yes, Vince died, but she’s feeding him, and they’re falling asleep on the couch. It really was a love letter to Gabriela and to Bode. We just wanted to enjoy them a little bit before we said the name of the episode, “Goodbye for Now.” It’s not goodbye forever for Gabriela.
DEADLINE: That begs the question, when will we see her back? Is there a plan for this season?
NAPOLITANO: Nothing I can tease yet.
DEADLINE: Right after he saw Gabriela off, Bode went for the pills. That was another cruel twist — she helped him after Vince’s death but then her departure pushed him to the brink. Is he relapsing?
NAPOLITANO: We will play with the danger of those pills as we move into the next few episodes. Given that he’s been dealt this significant loss, we’re just reminded of Bode’s addiction issues. He’s a recovering addict, that’s work, and that work is made harder right now by the death of his dad.
Vince’s Death Reveal & Funeral
DEADLINE: You wanted to keep Vince’s death a surprise and did not confirm it after the finale. Why did you decide to reveal it in the Season 4 trailer?
NAPOLITANO: We wanted to give the audience a little bit of red meat, to let them know what was in store. Also, if you look at the episode, it is hard to tease anything without giving away who died in that fire. It felt like it would have been a very vague promo into the season, and we wanted to really give the viewers something that they can lean into and look forward to watching.
DEADLINE: Since you did not confirm in May who died in the fire, when you went back to the writers room for Season 4, was there a thought, maybe we should take it back? Did you reconsider Vince’s death at any point?
NAPOLITANO: So many conversations and so much thought and care went into making the decision, I’m a decisive girl, Nellie, so there was no take backsies.
DEADLINE: How was it filming the funeral, crafting Bode’s speech and watching Max’s delivery?
NAPOLITANO: It was very sad, there were a lot of tears on set. Everyone was very sad to lose Vince, the character, and to lose Billy Burke, the wonderful actor. We wanted Bode’s speech about his dad to feel really off-the-cuff and not scripted, and the emotion that Max brought to it was just beautiful. I think it really, in many ways, felt like an actual funeral, and you see it in the episode; it’s just heartbreaking, you feel the pain from everybody.
DEADLINE: Why didn’t Sharon speak at the funeral?
NAPOLITANO: To me, Sharon’s grief is very personal. She and Vince were so specific. They have this home life that we’ve been privy to, but it was private and distinct to them, and I think her grief isn’t something that is very public. She also speaks in that premiere about her survivor’s guilt, and you feel that she’s uncomfortable with the pity stares, and I don’t think she associates the spotlight or public speaking with her grief of her husband.
‘Fire Country’
CBS
Bode & Sharon’s Grief
DEADLINE: Bode reaction to his father’s death at the scene of the fire.
NAPOLITANO: It’s so visceral. He’s right there, and there’s no denying it.
DEADLINE: In May, you spoke about the image you were going for with Jake and Bode at the fire as two lions roaring at each other. Was it intentional that Jake ordered Bode locked in a truck they call a cage to keep him safe?
NAPOLITANO: Yeah, I think it’s a metaphor. The implication is he needed to be locked up for his own safety, because he would go in there to save his parents to his death.
DEADLINE: Meanwhile, we first see Sharon after Vince’s death at the funeral. Talk about that scene with the flag.
NAPOLITANO: It just felt like a different, horrible, like this is real. It felt like a nightmare before and now, she’s actually accepting the flag from Luke, and alone in this space. It just felt so painful and like the next step of grief for that family.
DEADLINE: Sharon held it together and was stoic at the funeral and the reception, even after she was triggered by Shawn Hatosy’s character, but when Walter came to her house, we saw her literally falling apart.
NAPOLITANO: I think up until that point, Sharon had kept it pretty internal. She carries the survivor’s guilt with her, and he is the embodiment and why she walked out of that fire, and I think she cannot keep it together in his presence. I don’t think they’ve seen each other since the funeral; she’s been avoiding him, she’s been avoiding the topic, she’s barely coming out of her room, barely eating, and he just is such a reminder of that deep pain for her.
DEADLINE: How long will the effect of Vince’s death be felt by Bode and Sharon? Is it something that they will continue to deal with throughout the season?
NAPOLITANO: They will continue to deal with it throughout the season. The entire series, in small ways, we are still recovering from the death of Riley, and that was years ago. Now we’ve lost Vince, who is much more on screen in our lives. It’s a huge loss. That being said, the season does not wallow in grief there. There are consequences for the death of Vince, both emotional and action wise, but Fire Country, as you know and love it, will return to your screen this season. It’s just we both honor the death and are able to, life moves on.
‘Fire Country’: (L-R): Jules Latimer as Eve Edwards, Max Thieriot as Bode Leone, Jordan Calloway as Jake Crawford, Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela Perez, and Kevin Alejandro as Manny Perez in “Goodbye for Now”
Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Battalion Chief Battle & Shawn Hatosy Arrival
DEADLINE: Part of life moving on is appointing a new battalion chief, which was shaping up to be quite a fight, with Bode and Jake going at each other at the funeral. And then Brett got it. How is that going to play out this season?
NAPOLITANO: It’s Jake’s assumption, and I think it’s the audience assumption that Jake will inherit the throne, and that’s just not the case. He wants it so badly, and Jake has had so much loss, I think we sort of want it for him. And then here comes Shawn Hatosy who we already know Vince didn’t like, Sharon doesn’t like, just flipping the script on the whole thing, and so I think that race or power struggle for chief will continue over a few episodes and to have more twists and turns to come.
DEADLINE: Will we find out soon why Vince didn’t like him, what his deal is, and what is in store for 42?
NAPOLITANO: Yeah, we will get into why Vince didn’t like him. They all worked together at the Academy, so think of how much a human changes from, you’re in your 20s and you’re in the Academy to we’re all battalion chiefs and division chiefs and grown-ups now. We’ll learn about that, and Sharon will really remark how much Richards has changed, how much everyone has changed. It’s an old grudge, we will get into that and come to get to know more about him while he spends time with us.
DEADLINE: Will the shakeup at 42 under his leadership be pretty big?
NAPOLITANO: It’s pretty significant. He really studies our people and holds up a big mirror and points out some dysfunction, some issues. 42 feels like a family. Is that the best way to run a fire station? I’m not sure, and I think Richards is very much not sure. We feel like, Oh, my God, this outsider is going to come in and unweave this beautiful family that Vince has put together so carefully.
DEADLINE: Shawn is a busy actor. He’s currently recurring. Is there any possibility for him to stay full time?
NAPOLITANO: Never say never, we love Shawn Hatosy. He definitely spends significant time with us this season, and he just sparkles on screen. We’re so lucky to have him.
DEADLINE: Throughout the premiere, Jake seemed very hesitant and Bode looked like Vince’s successor; he was decisive, springing into action when help was needed at the mill. Are you building him into this leader? Was he inspired by his father’s death, to carry his legacy, and he started right away on Day One?
NAPOLITANO: I think he is inspired by his father’s death to carry his legacy, and starting right away on Day One, I think that’s exactly it, that emotionally, it feels like, there’s a kingdom to inherit, and he can work to get it, and he’s gonna pursue that.
‘Fire Country’: Jules Latimer as Eve Edwards in “Goodbye for Now”
Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Audrey’s Status & Eve’s Fight
DEADLINE: Bode is still with Audrey. We saw her very briefly in the premiere. Is she staying on the show and if yes, is Leven Ramblin becoming a series regular or staying as a recurring?
NAPOLITANO: She’s going to stay as a recurring. You’ll see her back very quickly. She is the woman in Bode’s life. What we love about bringing her back into his life quickly, he’s in crisis. His father has just died. He has struggles, and we see her fight for the good of his soul, for the betterment of Bode and for the survival of all the things that are good about him. She’s really in his corner, having a deep understanding of where he’s been. They share addiction in their past, they share incarceration in their past, and she’s specifically very understanding of how hard it is to go through a hard time when you have addiction knocking on your door at all times.
DEADLINE: There was a brief mention in the premiere that Gabriela saved the stalker, so it seems that he lived, which would change Audrey’s fate. Is that confirmed that he survived?
NAPOLITANO: He survives, which changes her fate. And she’s still waiting on the official ruling.
DEADLINE: Eve is back at 42 with Three Rock out of commission after the fire. Is that relatively permanent? There was mention that she will keep fighting but it seems like it’s going to be a long time before Three Rock is back.
NAPOLITANO: Eve is going to have a fight, an uphill battle to get Three Rock back. It has many twists and turns and devastations, it’s a lot of her arc at the beginning of the season. We are intending to bring some version of fire camp back. It’s part of the DNA of the show, we certainly wouldn’t want to lose that. It will feel fresh, and I can tease we’re planning on rolling out Three Rock 2.0, whatever that may look like. But Eve finds her way back to fire camp, it’s just going to be a long road.
‘Fire Country’ (L-R): Morena Baccarin as Sheriff Mickey Fox, Max Thieriot as Bode Leone, and W. Earl Brown as Wes Fox
CBS
Season 4 Theme & ‘Sheriff Country’ Crossovers
DEADLINE: What is the theme of the new season? Season 3’s was legacy.
NAPOLITANO: The theme of this season is rising from the ashes, or how we rise. We are starting in such an emotionally deep and dark place, we really want to make sure a flower grows out of that so that we can bring back some of the joy and happiness and comfort that Fire Country brings into America’s living rooms.
DEADLINE: You mentioned in the Season 3 finale Q&A that there will be humor this season. We didn’t see an ounce of humor in the premiere, so I assume that’s going to come later this season?
NAPOLITANO: Yeah, it wasn’t in the funeral episode, you’re right, but yeah, humor comes back to Fire Country for sure.
DEADLINE: How integrated are the Fire Country and Sheriff Country universes going to be? How many crossovers can we expect throughout the season?
NAPOLITANO: A lot. We’re expanding the universe, we’re really excited about making one world and sending characters back and forth in big ways and small.
DEADLINE: What else can you tease about the season? Any other storylines that you were teeing off in the premiere?
NAPOLITANO: I think it will be impressive how much Bode grows up, how much he evolves. He really seems like a fresh, very adult version of himself, despite where the season started, he really rises to the challenge. You’ll see his professional aspirations grow, you’ll see him really graduate out of identifying as a person who was recently incarcerated and identify as a firefighter with aspirations and goals. We’ll get a lot of the friend group, Eve, Jake and Bode and Audrey hang out together.
Miscellaneous
DEADLINE: I think it was Eve who noted that no one in their right mind should be standing under those precariously hanging heavy logs at the mill. So why were firefighters there as the logs fell?
NAPOLITANO: Oh, my goodness, because that’s where the work was. Sometimes the work is very dangerous, and the work was very dangerous today.
DEADLINE: Any plans for a Jared Padalecki return this season?
NAPOLITANO: I don’t have any Padalecki updates for you. I’m sorry.
