The Romance in ‘Fire Country’ Has Become Very Stale — but Here’s How the Show Can Fix It

Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for ‘Fire Country’ Season 3, Episode 17.

Now, Fire Country is nearing the end of its third season, and here is where the show’s romances stand: Vince (Billy Burke) and Sharon (Diane Farr) are still happily married (obviously). Eve (Jules Latimer) is back together with her ex-girlfriend, Francine (Katie Findlay). Bode is in a relationship with Audrey (Leven Rambin). Meanwhile, Jake (Jordan Calloway) and Gabriela have both been dating people whom they met on calls: Violet (Nesta Cooper) and Finn (Blake Lee), respectively. When it comes to Bode, Audrey, and Jake’s new relationships, though, it’s time to face the fact that the romance in Fire Country has gotten very stale.

‘Fire Country’s Focus on Bode and Audrey is Uninteresting

Leven Rambin bandaging Max Thieriot's hand.
Image via CBS

From the moment that Bode and Audrey became friends during their training, it was clear that Fire Country was planning to go in a romantic direction with their characters. There was hope that the show would just let them be friends instead, but sure enough, they have now been dating for several episodes. In spite of telling Gabriela that he would stick around at the start of the season, the moment she pushed him away while struggling with depression, Bode let go of her and immediately moved on with Audrey.

‘Fire Country’ Made the Right Choice with Gabriela and Finn’s Romance

Gabriela Perez accepting a bag from Finn in Fire Country Season 3.
Image via CBS

There is nothing special about Gabriela’s relationship with Finn. They met on a call and were very flirty for a while. For the last few episodes, Fire Country has been hinting at Finn’s creepiness and unsettling nature. Gabriela first met him when he was breaking into the house of Estelle, a woman (Brenda Matthews) he claimed to know. Then he showed up at the fire station multiple times to see Gabriela. He also randomly appeared at Smokey’s at one point, and he even bought Gabriela a brand-new phone before they ever kissed. In the most recent episode of Fire Country, Finn accompanies Gabriela to work to take photos of 42 in action. However, he makes a weird comment about their wedding after their first kiss, then sends her a number of controlling texts afterward. Gabriela is definitely done with Finn after this, but he will likely become a villain for the remainder of Season 3.

‘Fire Country’s Jake and Violet Relationship Feels Forced

Jake Crawford on a date with Violet in Fire Country Season 3.
Image via CBS

Violet was introduced on a call as someone whom Jake had chemistry with, and then they became serious very quickly, but their relationship just doesn’t feel very exciting. She was involved in the Three Rock storyline due to her job with Oxalta, but that seems to have already been resolved as of last week’s episode. Violet put her job on the line to do what was right and for Jake, but their relationship and her character both feel forced. This feels like Fire Country‘s way of just trying to push past Jake’s grief over Cara (Sabina Gadecki), and as a result, this relationship doesn’t feel earned.

 Morena Baccarin as Sheriff Mickey Fox, Max Thieriot as Bode Leone, and W. Earl Brown as Wes Fox fire-country-season-3-episode-16

Related

Bode and Gabriela Can Save the Romance of ‘Fire Country’

Now that Bode is out of prison, and Gabriela is doing better, the only thing keeping them apart is the fact that Bode is with Audrey. That relationship is not built to last, nor is it particularly interesting to watch. Bode and Gabriela will likely get back together at the end of the season, and while this could lead to an excellent reconciliation scene, the waiting is becoming very frustrating. As it stands, Bode and Gabriela’s connection is so strong, that keeping them apart is just hurting Fire Country. In the meantime, maybe the show can develop a proper romance for Jake and not kill his love interest off this time.

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