“It Was Shocking”: ‘Fire Country’ Star Reacts to Learning That They Won’t Return for Season 4
While filming Fire Country Season 3, Stephanie Arcila received bittersweet news. The actress learned that the show had been renewed for Season 4, but she would not be a series regular like she'd been the past three seasons. Due to creative changes, her character would be written out in the upcoming season. "It was shocking," the actress told TV Guide about learning the news. However, like anything else, there were upsides. "But it is always nice to have these breaks. For myself personally, I'm getting to do so many things that I haven't been able to do for so long because I have the time now. I can take classes. I can audition for different things. I can see my family more," Arcila said, revealing some of the things she had the opportunity to work on. "There are so many positives, [but] at the same time, I know there's a lot of different mourning aspects to it as well. That's life. That's the industry that I've signed up for."
While the Fire Country Season 3 finale featured several cliffhangers, what will take Gabriela away from Edgewater was not revealed. The show's creative team said, "It really just comes down to what’s the best creatively," while explaining why Gabriela was leaving. "It was really a decision that came out of the dynamic between Bode and Gabriela; we felt like those two characters needed a reset. . . . . We felt, with everything that’s happening in the finale and moving on into the next season, that it was time for that character to discover what’s next for her," executive producer Tony Phelan said. "We love Stephanie . . . . We’re hoping that we can bring that character back," he added.
Stephanie Arcila Wants a Powerful Ending for Her 'Fire Country' Character
Gabriela has been through a lot in her life, and it seems like something new always comes up, robbing her of the little joy she might have developed. Arcila doesn't know what lies ahead for the character, but having played her for three seasons, she wants Gabby to have a happy ending. "I want her to be in bloom," the actress said, adding, "I want her to be in her light. We've seen so much of her falling, so much of her being hurt, so much of her being disappointed. I want her to understand those disappointments with joy and know that they are part of life. I want her to be in her "I don't give a f---" era. I am who I am, and own it."
