Fire Country Season 3 Episode 2 Review: Bodelia Faces the Firing Squad

Critic’s Rating: 4.15 / 5.0

4.15

Fire Country is back on the right path with its junior season, from the action to the soundtrack. Not to mention some rule-breaking from Gabriela and Bode.

This Fire Country Season 3 Episode 2 review breaks down the good, bad, and WTF that happened during our favorite small-town firefighting show.

Once you’ve read my opinions, share your thoughts. I love it when someone notices something I didn’t. We’re all human, right?

Is Manny’s Future Bright?

If we thought Manny would get it easy after Luke went to bat with him against the cops on Fire Country Season 3 Episode 1, our hopes have been dashed. Man, those cops are rude!

Fire Country likes to play with our feelings.

When the episode started, we had high hopes for Manny’s future. It looked like the judge was going to be forgiving, giving Manny a long probation but no jail time for his (justifiable) assault with probation.

The incident seemed to open old wounds for Gabriela, and she didn’t hold back from telling Manny how she felt about his brash behaviors.

Their candid talk about the past allowed Manny to call Gabriela out for her last-minute decision not to go through with her wedding. I’m with Manny on this. Diego did not deserve that embarrassment.

Not when he offered to delay the wedding until Gabriela could figure her crap out. But she turned him down and wanted to go through with it.

Only to say I don’t instead of her vows. In front of a church packed with spectators, including people they worked with daily. How humiliating for Diego!

It was cold-hearted and cruel.

But later in the episode, we got a massive curveball when we were fully involved in Bode’s fire squad presentation and a rehash of the helicopter crash incident.

Three years in prison if Manny pleads guilty. Or he could take his chances at trial.

Most of us saw that coming. This viewer has been predicting (maybe wishfully thinking) that Manny would do his time at Three Rock. It’s a bit of a role reversal with Bode.

Unfortunately, the DA didn’t seem willing to play ball. WTFH.

At first, Vince thought Manny should take his chances on trial. But then he had a better plan. A massive group of CFD members congregated to confront the DA about letting politics play a role in his punishment decision, except Gabriela.

And just like that, we’re celebrating with another congratulatory cake.

This show has a sweet tooth when it celebrates good news. I mean, Manny getting sent back to prison isn’t good news, but I am dancing a jig that I called it.

Manny will do 12 months of a hard time, and all had served at the Three Rock Prison Camp. Who knew we’d be seeing Freaky Friday on a fire show? At least they stayed in their own bodies, if not their own lives.

Do you agree with Manny that getting sentenced to Three Rock is not the same as going to prison?

Three Rock is Back, Baby

Most of us Fire Country Fanatics threw a major fit when we didn’t see our beloved redemption crew helping with any of the episodes’ emergencies. Rest easy, soldiers. FC heard, and they have repented.

Three Rock had several prominent moments in the episode, keeping us firmly tied to the prison camp without being on campus. We even discovered that Three Rock had been on the emergency scene during the season premiere.

They just didn’t show them in action. How rude!

The show made up for it with flashback scenes in the second episode, showing where Three Rock was while everything else was happening, and giving us plenty of them in action with Eve in command.

Eve has grown into her leadership position with the inmate crew, and I’m starting to love the dynamic. It’s already a massive improvement from Fire Country Season 2.

But she can’t catch a break.

Just as she finds her footing as a leader and gains her crew’s respect, a rude landowner interferes with that. The neighbor is a piece of work about her bushes.

I don’t wish ill will on anyone, but let that lady’s house catch fire and make her eat crow when Eve saves her.

Although Eve’s action plan might work even better, making the neighborhood force the wicked witch to maintain her property to prevent out-of-control fires.

While the rude neighbor was a PITA, she revealed some new information about Eve’s background. Her threat of calling the Sheriff’s Department might hint at another guest visit from Mickey Fox, Sharon’s sister, whom we met in Fire Country Season 2 Episode 6.

Seeing more about Eve’s life outside the fire department would be great.

And we really need to see more of Deputy Fox before she gets her own spinoff, Sheriff Country, coming in 2025.

First Look at the Firing Squad and a New Ex-Con Firefighter

Those who read our Fire Country Season 3 Episode 2 spoilers knew Fire Country Season 3 Episode 2 would revolve around fire training. We speculated on whether Bode would get in — and, if he did — what it would cost those around him.

Well, it looks like he did, and from how Eve and Jake sounded, it might be thanks to a lot of nepotism and pulled strings.

Given that Jake is teaching the class, we have to wonder if there will be some growing pains. We already know how Bode is when it comes to taking orders.

Jake will have his hands doubly full now that he’s got the female version of Bode to teach, too. We have to wonder what he did to piss off the heavenly powers that be to give him two obstinate, cocky, selfish ex-cons turned firefighters.

Two words for you, buddy. Sage smudge.

The new girl has a serious attitude. I hope she checks it before she gets brash with the wrong person. I could totally see Sharon or Eve tearing into her.

Ugh, that cockiness. It’s Fire Country Season 1 Bode all over again.

Show of hands — how many people loved seeing Jake as the instructor? He’s a natural.

I’d also like to know everyone’s thoughts on Bode’s entrance exam to the fire training program.

Is it fair that Bode gets a different Phase 1 test than the other candidates?

Bode’s presentation for the firing squad did not go as smoothly as we’d hoped. He’s new to the rules of emergency response, which didn’t go over well with the head of the Edgewater fire training program.

The new ex-con turned firefighter certainly doesn’t think Bode has the right to be in Phase 2.

It’s a tricky situation. He’s already had actual hands-on training fighting fires, like James. But she still has to go through the entire program, while Bode gets to test ahead of everyone else? Hmmm.

When presenting his case, Bode made a massive error, which ex-con James noticed immediately. Both Jake and the training program boss seemed satisfied.

Until the Q and A.

Gabs was worried Jake would be able to tell when Bode was lying or holding back. But they should have been more concerned about the female version of Bode instead.

James will be a major game-changer this season, keeping Bode on his toes. Could we finally be seeing more of the female side of the prison inmate firefighters? We got a taste during Fire Country Season 1.

But the shortened Fire Country Season 2 focused solely on the men’s Three Rock prison camp.

After Bode presented his case and Gabriela covered for him, Jake had one thing to say to him. “You’re in.”

What Did the Firefighters Say?

During the chaos of Fire Country Season 3 Episode 1, Gabriela horrifyingly admitted she made a mistake in treating the injured helicopter pilot.

We never found out what it was, and it seemed like the issue would dissipate in the air, much like several of Fire Country’s exaggerated plot lines.

Until Bode found out he’s the guy in front of the firing squad.

He’ll only pass his test and move to Phase 2 of the training program by presenting the helicopter crash rescue to Jake, the trainees, and the big boss.

While that seems like nothing, it becomes a problem when Jake advises Bode that he won’t get accepted if he scores too low. Bode could lose points by not mentioning something or admitting mistakes.

Dun-dun-duh.

Check out our Fire Country Season 3 Episode 3 spoilers to learn more about the massive secret Bode and Gabriela are withholding.

Bode is willing to keep crucial information that should have gone into the report to himself to protect Gabriela. Even if it means he could get caught or lose his chance at getting into fire training.

Damn that hero persona.

While James tried to make Bode look bad, she may not have known about Bode and Gabriela’s background.

There was no way Gabriela would let Bode get into trouble for her actions. But as Gabriela said, when she presented the facts that shut James down, the information wasn’t in the report, so it wasn’t for Bode to disclose during the up and down.

The argument James thought would prove Bode was a bad firefighter made both Bode and Gabriela look good to the IC.

Take that, Blondie!

Parental Challenges with Adult Children

I love how Fire Country shows the struggles of parenting.

Especially when it comes to adult children. It’s hard to turn off trying to fix everything for them. Sharon is doing a good job of trying to be hands-off, but it will take more for Vince to be able to step back.

Vince finds himself paternally protective of not only Bode — a grown man of 31 — but also Jake and Eve.

The trio has been tight for years, and they’ve spent plenty of time in the Leone house to classify as his, not to mention the time they’ve spent with Vince in the firehouse, adding to Vince’s protectiveness.

It’s no wonder Jake and Bode find themselves overly protective of those in their orbit.

This episode focused a lot on everyone’s futures, from Bode getting into fire training to Sharon and Vince trying to figure out how to enjoy life without involving parenting or fighting fires.

Have I mentioned in this review how much I love Sharon? If you’ve read any of my previous reviews, you know I say it quite a bit.

I am happy to announce that Sharon still secured her job back from Luke despite getting Luke to pull strings to get Bode into fire training.

How adorable that Sharon bought Smokey’s because she knew losing it to a corporate vegan restaurant would upset Vince. And he bought a fixer-upper AirStream to fulfill Sharon’s dreams of traveling.

Fire Country Season 3 Episode 2 Review Final Thoughts

My favorite part of the episode was the impromptu karaoke concert in Leone’s living room. I never thought I’d see Bode Leone (or Max Thieriot) dancing and singing.

Hootie, my man! You made it to TV! Sorry folks, you might know him as Darius Rucker.

I nearly wanted to take away half the positive ratings I gave the show when I saw the butcher job Bode did to his hair. Those gorgeous blonde locks are no more and this FC fan is distraught with mourning.

And that mustache? No, Bode, no! This isn’t the ’70s, and you aren’t Ron Jeremy.

We found out Gabriela gave Diego his ring back. The couple is officially over. Drat.

That means we might be in store for more Bodelia drama now that Gabs is single and Bode is out of prison. What’s to stop their relationship anymore?

Well, besides Manny’s adamant disapproval of the union. It sucked seeing the episode end with those two still at odds. They’ve had a close relationship after Manny went straight. But his going back to prison is putting a major strain on things.

But we hopefully have a full season with over 20 episodes to explore the dynamic, and it’s nice to see some family drama that isn’t centered on the Leones.

Head to our comments and tell us how you liked Fire Country Season 3 Episode 2.

What was your favorite part of the episode? What was the worst part?

How will the medical alert necklace storyline unfold? He and Gabriela thought they were in the clear by taking it. But Bode never got rid of it. And now Jake has found it. Ah snap, Fire Country Season 3 Episode 3 will be spicy.

Finally, how do you feel about the Rick storyline, which the episode managed to sneak in on the final moments of the show? Is he Gene’s father? And should she know?

Make sure you’re following TV Fanatic on social media, and sign up for our email list to get the latest TV news right to your inbox.

Watch Fire Country Season 3 Online