'Fire Country's Bode Needs a Reality Check

Seriously, what the heck, Bode? As usual, it seems like whenever Fire Country protagonist Bode Leone (Max Thieriot) takes two steps forward in his life, he takes another five steps back. His behavior in the latest episode, "Dirty Money," is particularly egregious, including his actions regarding his step-grandfather, Wes Fox (W. Earl Brown), his mother Sharon (Diane Farr), and his parole officer, Carlson (Roger Cross). Bode has always been self-destructive, but in the latest episode, he comes off as an outright jerk. It's time for someone to give Bode a much-needed reality check.

Bode Was Working for Wes Fox on the Side in 'Fire Country'

Earlier in Season 3, Episode 15, "One Last Time," Audrey James (Leven Rambin) noticed a mysterious bandage on Bode's hand. He claimed he was clearing some trees for "an old friend," a side hustle for some extra cash. Bode's explanation appeared somewhat cagey and suspicious. In the latest episode, it's revealed that Bode's side gig consisted of "clearing brush and extra trees" for Wes Fox. Technically, Wes is Bode's relative, but only by marriage, as they share no blood ties. The problem is that Wes lives off the grid, and he's illegally growing marijuana in California. And while it's never been made explicitly clear, the episode heavily implies that Fox has his fingers in the organized crime racket throughout Edgewater. Fox is a charming, gregarious type, but Officer Carlson gave Bode a stern, yet highly reasonable, warning. If Bode continues working for Wes, he will go back to prison.

Carlson's treatment of Bode is justified. Bode is a convicted felon, and as a parolee, he must abide by specific rules. Bode's motivation is admirable, since he desires to help his parents pay their bills after taking Walter Leone (Jeff Fahey) to an assisted living facility. However, Bode's parents would not want him to risk his newfound freedom or burgeoning career as a firefighter just so he could pay their bills. And as Bode's parole officer said, there are "a lot of ways to earn extra cash." Then again, the volatile Bode likes playing with fire, both literally and proverbially. It's here that Bode's martyr complex, once again, asserts itself. Bode believes it's his responsibility to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders and suffer for trying to help everyone. Frankly, it's becoming nauseating.

Bode Has His Blinders on With His Step-Grandfather

Another unlikable trait that emerges from Bode in the latest episode concerns his constant need to justify and defend the actions of his step-grandfather, Wes Fox, especially to Wes' daughter, Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin), Bode's step-aunt. Mickey is going through a lot this week, revealing that her daughter, Skye, recently relapsed from her drug addiction. It's also revealed that Skye had been conversing with her grandfather, Wes, as a shoulder to cry on, which rightfully upsets Mickey. Bode goes too far in calling Wes a "good guy" and saying that Mickey should allow Wes to be part of Skye’s life.

Bode's unsolicited advice is out of line. Despite claiming his own experience as a drug addict, it's extremely preachy for Bode to defend Wes to his own daughter, who is also the town sheriff. Bode, as a recovering drug addict, totally lacks self-awareness. Since Skye recently suffered a relapse, hanging around the literal drug dealer is not a good idea. Mickey is right about not wanting to expose her daughter to someone like Wes, and she acts quite graciously when Bode pleads with her to let Wes be a part of Skye’s life. Wes, a drug dealer and convicted criminal, has ties to organized crime. Wes' own employee, Ozzie (David Cubitt), tries to murder him in this episode.

Skye, in her journey to sobriety, should not be exposed to that type of chaos. Not to mention, Mickey even wanted to make amends and reach a compromise with Wes, but he refused to change his ways because "he's too old to change." Bode has his blinders on and completely loses the plot when it comes to Wes. Wes' dubious criminal activity makes him a liability to the Leones and their extended Fox family members.

Bode Was Unfair in His Treatment of Sharon

Later, in "Dirty Money," Sharon gains a moral victory over Oxalta International Holdings, the greedy corporate entity responsible for poisoning the tap water at Three Rock Conservation Camp, leading to the death of one of the inmate firefighters. Sharon's successful legal negotiations with the shady Oxalta attorney, Bruce Merriweather (J. August Richards), lead to a settlement with Oxalta that saves Three Rock Conservation Camp. Three Rock was on the verge of dissolution before Sharon pulled off a Hail Mary play against Merriweather. Edgewater was ready to shut the camp down again, and Manny Perez (Kevin Alejandro) was almost sent back to prison. Instead, Sharon's action saved Three Rock, got Oxalta to repair the crack in Three Rock's water well, and arranged Manny's early release from prison. Yet, at the end of the episode, Bode verbally attacks his mother, berating her for accepting some type of dirty deal.

Bode's lashing out against Sharon is over the line. Bode never held his Uncle Luke (Michael Trucco) in contempt for recommending the shutdown of Three Rock. Even then, Luke Leone did not make the decision out of malice. Luke made a tough decision about Three Rock due to bureaucratic budget cuts. Sharon similarly makes a tough call here. She could either risk a further, long, debilitating legal battle with Oxalta or save Manny and Three Rock. Three Rock is important, since the camp previously rehabilitated individuals such as Bode, Audrey, and Manny. As the Cal Fire Division Chief, Sharon did right by her division, Three Rock, and the inmate firefighters.

Bode Needs to Drop the Sanctimonious Martyr Act on 'Fire Country'

Bode Leone comes off like a sanctimonious, self-righteous, holier-than-thou grandstander this week, blaming everyone else for doing the wrong thing. He scolds his mother for accepting a settlement with Oxalta and excoriates Mickey Fox for not accepting her criminal drug dealer father, Wes. Bode fails to see the forest for the trees, and he must drop the self-righteous act because he's not a choir boy. Fire Country never depicted Bode going out on a limb to defend the inmates who got sick from Oxalta's chemical poisoning. He was not in the trenches dealing with Oxalta like Sharon. Perhaps Sharon's actions let Oxalta off easily, but the outcome ensured making the best out of a bad situation. Manny is a free man once again, and Three Rock escapes the chopping block.

The long-term fight against Oxalta will likely continue. However, if Bode feels strongly about exposing Oxalta, he should be more proactive in taking up that fight. Otherwise, he should get off his mother's case because she did the best job possible by helping Three Rock and Manny. Sharon would probably make the same decision if Bode had faced the same situation as Manny. That aside, Oxalta will likely return later as an antagonist in Fire Country.