The CBS dramaFire Countryfollows convict Bode Donovan, played byMax Thieriot, who is also the series' co-creator, as he battles both his past mistakes and fires in a prison-release program in his hometown. Like fellow convicts working alongside him, Bode aims to redeem himself and start fresh, made all the more difficult by the fact that his father is the fire chief. The series premiered in 2022, and after its success, it was renewed for a second season,which premiered in February 2024.
Over the course of its first season,Fire Countryproved to be a compelling drama, mixing the life-and-death situations of fires and other rescue missions with the personal drama of Bode’s family. At its best, with the most high-rankingepisodes on IMDb, the series presents incidents with high stakes for both civilians and the members of Cal Fire alike,while also putting its characters at the center of its storytelling,whether they’re making major mistakes or doing their best to better themselves and move forward.
Fire Country
A young convict joins a firefighting program looking for redemption and a shortened prison sentence. He and other inmates work alongside elite firefighters to extinguish massive blazes across the region.
22’I Know It Feels Impossible' (Ep. 22)
IMDb Rating: 4.5
A mudslide threatens Edgewater in the season finale “I Know It Feels Impossible,” with Freddy’s (W. Tré Davis) visiting family, including his baby daughter, among those in danger. Bode was finally up for parole, and after testing positive for drugs, he was determined to convince everyone Sleeper (Grant Harvey) had set him up. Meanwhile, Eve (Jules Latimer) hooks up with someone working with the state attorney’s office in an investigation into Three Rock.
“I Know It Feels Impossible” was an exciting conclusion toFire Country’s first season, and it wrapped up some of the season’s biggest storylines. But it also ended on a cliffhanger, much to fans’ disappointment, resulting in the lowest-rated episode. It was difficult to watch Bode take the fall for someone else and end up back in prison, but it was also in line with his character, despite his flaws and mistakes, he was always putting others first.
21’The Fresh Prince of Edgewater' (Ep. 2)
IMDb Rating: 7.5
In “The Fresh Prince of Edgewater,” Bode asked to be transferred due to his ties to Edgewater. His father, Vince (Billy Burke), who was also the fire chief, wanted Bode sent back to jail, as he considered Bode to be a liability and was bothered by his rogue behavior and struggle with obeying commands. Meanwhile, the crew worked to protect the town from a lightning storm, and flashbacks showed the dynamic between Bode and his late sister, Riley (Jade Pettyjohn).
When Bode’s fellow convicts learned of his ties to Cal Fire, they called him “The Fresh Prince of Edgewater,” hence the episode title. While not one of the strongest episodes of the season, it was still a good one,with hints about Bode’s past and a look at the dynamics between him and his family. The episode also proved Bode’s dedication to working in the program, just not in Edgewater.
20’Watch Your Step' (Ep. 19)
An underground fire for a coal walk got out of control at a wellness retreat in “Watch Your Step,” and a new inmate firefighter joined the team; a drug dealer named Sleeper, Bode’s former roommate in prison. Sleeper’s dealing caused problems for the crew, just as Bode feared would happen, especially when Troy (Riley Davis), who had been clean up to that point, relapsed and overdosed. Meanwhile, Eve was diagnosed with PTSD.
Bode’s concerns about Sleeper in “Watch Your Step” were understandable, and he ended up being right, but not before making some mistakes along the way, and not before Sleeper was able to do plenty of damage.But those weren’t the only missteps in the episode, as Gabriela’s feelings for Bode got in the way of her judgment and led to her lying to her father. And although it seemed Freddie was making a mistake in trusting Sleeper, it turned out he was keeping an eye on him.
19’Where There’s Smoke…' (Ep. 3)
IMDb Rating: 7.6
In “Where There’s Smoke…” the crew responded to a call in a remote forest, where they encountered a man willing to go to extreme, violent lengths to protect his illegal weed operation. Two teenagers fell victim to him, followed by Vince and Jake (Jordan Calloway), who he held hostage. Manny (Kevin Alejandro) and Bode set out to save them, which helped to repair the rift between Bode and Vince, and Bode revealed information about Riley before her death.
“Where There’s Smoke…” went deeper into Bode’s feelings about Riley’s death as he blamed himself, and, as a result, continually replays the night in his head.The episode also showed more of the family dynamics, with Vince and Sharon at odds over whether Bode can even make a positive change in his life. In contrast, Manny had faith in Bode and pushed him to move past his mistakes, and despite Bode’s flaws, his actions proved he’s really caring at heart.
18’Get Your Hopes Up' (Ep. 10)
The station itself was in danger in “Get Your Hopes Up” after a box truck crashed into it, causing a power outage and fire. Charlie (Tom Pickett), who was set to be paroled and applied to work at Cal Fire, was pinned underneath a fire truck. Meanwhile, Gabriela admits to Jake that she had feelings for Bode, Sharon (Diane Farr) became eligible for a kidney transplant and Vince convinces Meg’s (Hilary Jardine) family to drop their lawsuit.
“Get Your Hopes Up” was a harrowing episode for the whole station. With the episode centered on the station, it provided a great opportunity to examine each character, showing how they handled a crisis with their own people in their own territory. Fire Country as a whole is a show about second chances, and that theme was demonstrated best in this episode with Charlie in particular, while Jake, despite largely being presented as more of a villain, showed his softer side.
17’You Know Your Dragon Best' (Ep. 13)
In “You Know Your Dragon Best,” a forest fire threatened a group of environmentalists protesting the construction of a housing development, while Cal Fire tried to contain it. Bode also celebrated his 30th birthday, while Jake learned that if Bode donated his kidney to Sharon, he would be sent back to prison to recover and would be unlikely to be able to return to Cal Fire, leading him to reveal he was also a match.
Despite the tension between Bode and Jake throughout the series, and their feelings for Gabriela, “You Know Your Dragon Best” forced Bode to accept that Jake was one of Sharon’s best options for her transplant.It was also a great redeeming moment for Jake. Despite his issues with Bode and his initial choice not to reveal he was a match, his honesty was helpful to both Sharon and Bode, even if Bode didn’t like it.
16’Work, Don’t Worry' (Ep. 4)
IMDb Rating: 7.7
After a sky bridge collapsed during a wedding, the crew participated in the search and rescue mission in “Work, Don’t Worry,” leading to Vince getting trapped in the rubble. As a result, Sharon was forced to choose whether to save him or other trapped people, and she chose the others, forcing her and Bode to consider the very real possibility of losing him. The episode ends on the cliffhanger of Sharon collapsing.
The collapse presented a chaotic circumstance in “Work, Don’t Worry,”with personal stakes for more than one member of Cal Fire. Sharon being faced with the choice of whom to save first was harrowing and heartbreaking, but it was easy to understand why she put other victims’ lives, especially a large group of them, ahead of Vince’s, proving how capable she was at her job in the face of personal tragedy.
15’Pilot' (Ep. 1)
The pilot episode of Fire Country introduced audiences to convict Bode, who was serving prison time for robbing a man at gunpoint. In search of redemption and a shorter prison sentence, Bode joined a fire department’s prison-release firefighting program, which pairs experienced firefighters with people in similar situations as Bode, but was troubled to find the program was based in his hometown of Edgewater in Northern California, a place he wasn’t eager to return to.
The pilot of Fire Country introduced the series’ compelling plot and interesting characters, especially Bode, with his troubled past and desire to move forward with his life, and despite that past,Bode was presented as a likable character who was easy to root for. His trepidation at arriving back in Edgewater set the stage for conflict involving his past, but that wasn’t the only source of drama, as the department struggled with concerns over the budget and paying for much-needed new equipment.
14’Happy to Help' (Ep. 7)
In the aftermath of a cleanup, an elderly homeowner insisted that the convicts not be allowed to touch her things in “Happy to Help,” but it wasn’t up to her. She accused Bode’s crew of stealing an expensive designer watch in “Happy to Help,” and the culprit was ultimately revealed to be Manny, who took it to help with financial trouble. The Cal Fire crew also handled a carbon monoxide leak.
“Happy to Help” dealt with the way people perceive each other,notably, how the convicts of Cal Fire were viewed by others around them. It was no surprise that after an expensive piece went missing, they were the prime suspects. And although Bode himself was tempted to take the watch and other expensive items, he demonstrated his willingness to move forward and do the right thing by not only resisting, but by confronting Manny.
13’At the End of My Rope' (Ep. 20)
An explosion at an abandoned mine required the help of Cal Fire in “At the End of My Rope,” and Bode was forced to make a difficult decision. With Bode’s parole looming, Freddie encourages him to stay out of Sleeper’s affairs. In prison, Bode served as Sleeper’s right-hand man for some time, and Sleeper was out for revenge against Bode for ending that arrangement. Meanwhile, Vince and Luke’s (Michael Trucco) father, Walter (Jeff Fahey), visits.
Fire Countryis as much about Bode and his past as it is firefighting jobs, and as the first season came closer to its end, one of those figures from his past, Sleeper, became a larger problem. He proved to be ruthless,and he also gave the audience a glimpse of what Bode used to be like. “He taught me everything I know,” Bode said of Sleeper, hinting at the kind of person Bode was before turning his life around.
