Dear Fire Country, You Make It So Difficult To Root For Bode Because Of A Repeated Annoying Trope

Warning! SPOILERS about Fire Country season 3, episode 15 ahead.

Bode’s quest for freedom and to build the life he wanted has always been at the center of Fire Country , but season 3, episode 15’s twist ending reveal brought back an annoying trope that makes it exceptionally difficult to root for him. Ever since Fire Country season 1 introduced Bode’s story, it also presented his struggle to be reaccepted into Edgewater’s community and his immediate family, along with his dedication to remain sober and become a firefighter. Some characters attempted to weaken his resolve through the years, but Fire Country has yet to present a serious challenge to Bode’s progress.

Bode earning his extraordinary conduct credit at the end of Fire Country season 2 gave him a fresh start as season 3 began, as it finally freed him from Three Rock and the threat of returning to prison. However, Fire Country season 3 put Bode in front of increasingly more difficult circumstances, starting from Bode’s firefighting differences with Captain Casey that almost cost him his graduation and including also his first losses as a firefighter and his grandfather’s illness. Bode’s future still seemed saved in Fire Country season 3, but season 3, episode 15’s ending introduced another entirely unexpected threat.

Bode's Parole Officer's Visit Threatens His Freedom Again In Fire Country Season 3

Bode Overcame So Much In Season 3, And He Is Once Again In Danger Out Of Nowhere

The last time Bode’s parole officer was featured in Fire Country was right after Bode left Three Rock, when he explained how important those first 48 hours out were to create a new routine that would have made it easier for Bode to preserve his freedom. His arrival and questions about Bode associating with a known criminal come as an unpleasant surprise to audiences, as Bode was only ever seen making the right choices throughout Fire Country season 3, with his stern tone implying potential negative repercussions for Bode.

Life has been particularly challenging for Bode since becoming a Cal Fire firefighter, with his first loss, Rafael, hitting him hard after Bode and Jake tried everything to save him, only for Bode to be with Rafael as he died. Between thinking back to Riley while extricating Rafael and having difficult and vulnerable conversations with Coach Kimbro, Bode could have been tempted to stray plenty, even more so after Kimbro gifted Bode strong painkillers, threatening his sobriety. Bode’s evasiveness about his hand injury could explain his parole officer’s words, but it still massively clashed with Bode’s behavior that audiences saw.

Fire Country Doing This Every Year Makes It Difficult To Root For Bode

Bode's Freedom Or Wellbeing Have Been At Risk At The End Of Each Fire Country Season

The arrival of Bode’s parole officer is a new type of threat ever presented by Fire Country season 3, but the pattern it followed and its timing matched the other times Bode’s new normal was threatened. Indeed, Fire Country season 1’s last episodes were marred by Bode and Sleeper fighting within Three Rock, and the season 1 finale delivered Bode’s drug test coming back positive. Bode even returned to prison in Fire Country season 1’s ending, but his sobriety was never really questioned except by some characters, as audiences knew Bode only wanted to keep Freddy out of prison.

Fire Country season 2’s ending presented a similar pattern, even as Bode was a free man by the season finale. With everyone emphasizing the importance of the first 48 hours out of the fire camp, Bode and Rick reconnecting after the latter offered the former a job was described as a major danger by many of Bode’s loved ones, only based on Rick’s bad reputation from when he was a teenager. The portrayal of Rick as a potential threat was nonetheless dismantled as quickly as it took for everyone to worry about his return, never really threatening Bode’s steps forward.

Fire Country Cannot Continue To Subject Bode To Fake Danger Every Season

Threats To Bode Can Only Work If The Risk To Him Can Be Believed

Fire Country season 3, episode 15 ending with the surprise arrival of Bode’s parole officer creates a perfect cliffhanger ahead of the hiatus, but the firefighting drama risks becoming unbelievable in the way it always seemingly puts Bode in danger without following through. This is especially annoying as all seasons of Fire Country showed Bode’s slow but steady progress, only for something unexpected and perceived as extremely threatening to come up in each season’s last episodes to potentially endanger Bode.

If Bode’s sobriety or well-being is being described as in danger every season, it will be difficult for audiences to worry about his progress being destroyed, as Bode’s success has become expected, especially as no story arc in Fire Country has yet threatened Bode truly. Were Fire Country to leave Bode in peace for a prolonged period, it would be far more meaningful and scarier to endanger Bode’s life or progress, delivering a more impactful storyline and reaping greater rewards story-wise.

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