I'm More Baffled About Fire Country Getting Rid Of Gabriela After An Update On Stephanie Arcila's Future In The CBS Show

Following Fire Country season 3, two cast members are leaving, including Stephanie Arcila. But after learning the writers' plans for her character, her exit confuses and frustrates me. Arcila has starred as Gabriela Perez in the CBS action drama since the beginning. Gabriela has always played an important role in Fire Country and its story, especially when it comes to her relationship with Max Thieriot's Bode Leone. Despite her significance, Gabriela won't be around for much longer — at least, on a regular basis.

During the Fire Country season 3 finale, Gabriela came face-to-face with her stalker, Finn. Luckily for her, Audrey James was by her side and helped take Finn down by grabbing a gun and putting a bullet in his chest. Elsewhere, the firefighters responded to the Zabel Ridge fire. Bode and the others (including his parents, Vince and Sharon Leone) went to the Buena Vista memory care facility, where his grandfather (Walter Leone) resided. They helped evacuate the burning building. But, at the hour's end, the roof collapsed with Vince, Sharon, and Walter inside, leaving their fates unknown heading into season 4.

Fire Country's Reason For Writing Out Gabriela Has Been Unclear

The Fire Country Season 3 Finale Didn't Set Up Gabriela's Exit

Given that Fire Country season 3 didn't end with Gabriela in mortal danger, we don't know what will drive her to leave the show ahead of season 4. She probably won't die. On the other hand, it's not looking good for Vince, whose portrayer, Billy Burke, is also saying goodbye to the CBS action drama. As for Gabriela, though, her future is uncertain.

The Fire Country season 3 finale didn't allude to Gabriela's departure from the series. She wasn't inside any burning building when its roof collapsed, and she and Audrey ultimately defeated Finn. Overall, Fire Country hasn't set up Gabriela's upcoming absence. So, it's unclear how the writers plan on writing Stephanie Arcila's character out of Fire Country come season 4.

CBS' Plans To Bring Back Gabriela As A Guest Star Moving Forward Makes Her Exit More Confusing

It Doesn't Make Sense Why Gabriela Would Leave Just To Come Back

Even though the way in which Gabriela leaves is unknown, the writers have made it clear that she is a part of their plans for the show. Yes, Stephanie Arcila is still exiting Fire Country alongside Billy Burke. However, the Powers That Be admitted that they want to bring Arcila's character back, possibly as a guest star. During an interview with Deadline, co-creator/executive producer Tony Phelan and executive producer/showrunner Tia Napolitano commented on Gabriela's goodbye. Phelan said:

"We love Stephanie, and we are committed to saying that the Bode-Gabriela story does not end here, it goes on. We're hoping that we can bring that character back, because we think that they have such great chemistry, and the audience is really invested in the two of them."

Napolitano added:

"We hope to see her back very soon, to give her a proper not goodbye, but see you later. In the epic love story of Bode and Gabriela, sometimes it's very useful for a longing, to miss her, to miss them, to really crave seeing them on screen together, whatever they mean to each other."

Phelan and Napolitano's statements are simply puzzling. If they want Gabriela to return to Fire Country following her departure, it doesn't make sense why they would get rid of her in the first place. On the surface, it sounds like the producers are writing Arcila's character out of the show for creative reasons. But if the goal is to get Gabriela back, those creative reasons don't matter all that much. Ultimately, I find the decision to boot Gabriela from the CBS show more baffling as time goes on.

How Fire Country Might Write Gabriela Out

Gabriela Won't Die

Given how much Gabriela has been through over the course of Fire Country's three seasons, perhaps Gabriela wants a change of scenery, resulting in her exit. As mentioned above, it's quite unlikely that Gabriela will die. The writers plan on bringing her back, after all, and Fire Country isn't the kind of show to feature ghosts. Gabriela could always return via flashbacks, but that possibility is much more improbable than her simply moving out of Edgewater, California. Something probably causes Gabriela to leave town, and then, for some (unnecessary) reason, something else drives her to return in future Fire Country episodes.