In a recent conversation with TVLine, Thieriot opened up about how Bode might cope if Vince succumbs to his injuries, and the picture he painted was far from hopeful. “Bode has obviously gone through a lot of hardship in his life,” Thieriot said. “And it seems like every time he feels like he’s coming out the other side, something happens.” If Vince’s death becomes a reality, Thieriot believes it would shatter his character. “So I worry what [Vince’s death] would do to him, and how poorly he would respond.” He went on to suggest that Bode could be heading down a dark path, adding, “We know [Bode has] made leaps and bounds as far as the person he is after being incarcerated, but has he come far enough to deal with something like that or not…? It’s heavy.”

With Burke’s reported exit and Stephanie Arcila’s departure as a series regular, Gabriella Fire Country appears to be heading toward a major reset in Season 4. For Bode, the fallout of losing two important people in his life, one to death, will mark his most intense emotional trial yet. Just as he was beginning to repair his fractured relationship with his father, the possibility of losing Vince before they can fully reconcile is a heartbreak that could send him spiraling. It’s a critical juncture for the series, if Bode backslides too far, it risks undoing the redemptive arc that has defined his journey so far, and could leave viewers questioning whether the emotional investment was worth it.

Surprises can be a good thing, but with fans already reeling from Vince’s potential death, the Fire Country writers will need to deliver something truly compelling to make such a loss feel justified. Fortunately, that challenge isn’t lost on the creative team. Thieriot, who also serves as an executive producer, recently emphasized the show’s commitment to “pushing the envelope”. “There will be some pieces that need to be picked up,” he said, acknowledging the emotional fallout to come. “We’re motivated to continue pushing the show, pushing the envelope, and trying to sort of allow this world to evolve and come up with new ways to surprise the audience and to bring the audience compelling characters and storytelling.” Fingers crossed they hit the nail on the head.

Fire Country returns for Season 4 this fall on CBS. As always, stay tuned for updates.