Luke Leone Could Fill the Void Left by Vince’s Exit
Thus far, all viewers know is that series regular Burke is leaving the show after Season 3. It’s unknown if the plan is to kill off Vince or seriously injure him, causing an early retirement to give the character a less chaotic exit. Either way, Burke will no longer be part of the main cast. Burke’s exit is a huge blow to Fire Country, as he’s easily one of the best performers in the main cast. Vince not only has tremendous chemistry with his fellow cast members, but his relationship with Sharon stands out as one of the best romantic pairings on television. Fire Country without Vince will take some getting used to, so the show needs to transition into this new reality by bringing back Vince’s little brother, Luke. In his last appearance in Season 3, “My Team,” Luke prepares to leave Edgewater for a new job training firefighters in Japan. The death or severe injury of his older brother would provide a simple narrative means to draw Luke back to Edgewater.
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Luke’s Return to Edgewater Could Be a Great Source of Dramatic Tension
Luke repeatedly served as an adversarial presence in Season 2, even though his intentions were not malicious. It was Luke who recommended that the California governor’s office shut down Three Rock Conversation Camp in Season 2, causing acrimony with Manny Perez (Kevin Alejandro). Luke typically comes off as the type of office bureaucrat who makes unpopular decisions with the general workers, so having him around in a leadership role once again will provide a great source of tension with the rest of the cast. Additionally, Luke has some issues with Sharon, stemming from the first season, when he attempted to kiss her. Later, Luke served as a kidney donor for Sharon, helping to save her life. Luke’s return potentially offers an interesting dynamic of a family mourning a great tragedy and trying to get back to work while still grieving a terrible loss. It might be understandably difficult for the Leones to work together in Cal Fire after their losses.
Luke’s Return Could Revisit Unfulfilled Potential in Season 3
Season 4 could revisit Napolitano’s comments, provided Vince perishes in the fire. It could present a chance to review the Leones’ trading roles. Or perhaps, Cal Fire is unhappy that Vince granted Jake the role as the Interim Chief during a crisis, refusing to let him have the role long-term. Luke’s hypothetical return in Season 4 could shake up the status quo and help viewers transition to the new one. It would prove intriguing if Cal Fire stepped in to review how the Leones engaged in nepotism throughout the first three seasons.
We won’t know the ultimate fate of Vince Leone until Fire Country returns for its fourth season later this fall on CBS. Hopefully, Season 4 will herald the return of Luke Leone, since Trucco is a tremendous performer who always makes the most out of his guest appearances.
