Bode (Max Thieriot) had one hell of a season premiere.
The second season of Fire Country begins six months after Bode returned to prison in the first season premiere (fans will remember that he lied about the drug deal to spare his pal Freddy). But it's not long before we see Bode back at the Three Rock Con camp, after a brief but intense showdown with Sleeper (Grant Harvey), which was interrupted by a revelation from Jake (Jordan Calloway): Bode is Cara's father (Sabina Gadecki). Daughter Genevieve.
A lot changed while Bode was in prison. At the fire station, Jake is now a Cal Fire captain; Manny (Kevin Alejandro) works there after being relieved of his role as head of Three Rock; Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) completes paramedic training with new trainer Diego (Rafael de la Fuente); and Sharon (Diane Farr) returns from her absence and announces that she no longer wants to be department head. Manny's successor at Three Rock is Eve (Jules Latimer), who is under intense pressure to run a tough company following the drug investigation that cost Manny his job and sent Bode to prison.
Bode hasn't been back in Three Rock long when he's hit with another bombshell: his ex Gabriela is engaged to Diego, which he finds out by chance when she comes by to tell Eve.
We spoke with Thieriot about these two massive bombings, how Bode is adjusting to them, and what else is in store for Fire Country this season.
Max Thieriot.
Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you react to Bode finding out about Gabriela's engagement?
MAX THIERIOT: Honestly, I was probably just as overwhelmed as the fans when they see it. It's perfect. It's such a good moment to end the episode. Now we want to know what the five minutes afterwards look like.
What can you say about what happens next or what their dynamic is like this season?
At first they were at odds about their feelings for each other, and now we get to see a different version of that. She was dating Jake when she started developing feelings for Bode, but now she's engaged and there's a lot more at stake. It would be a bit too easy for her to suddenly see Bode and be over Diego, so let's really play around with how complicated this all is. What is Bode ultimately ready for? Because of his history and nature, he is a people pleaser and puts everyone's well-being above his own. So it will be really fun to see him fight for the first time.
So many characters are in different places, which means we get a new dynamic. Is there anything you're particularly excited for viewers to see?
With Vince and Sharon we see a completely different power dynamic. She was always the senior boss and was in charge. This season is fun because they're so dynamic on screen together and he's now higher up the food chain than her, which she's obviously not used to.
It's also interesting to see Eve at Three Rock. Manny and Bode can get along well considering what they both went through while incarcerated. They have had many similar experiences and that is the strong connection between the two, while Eve and Bode have been friends since childhood. This changes the dynamic at Three Rock. Now he takes orders from one of his best friends, who is also having trouble learning her new job.
What do you think Bode will struggle with most after he gets out of prison?
He will have a hard time adjusting to his new perspective. When he first came to Three Rock, he was always reactive and reacted impulsively to all of these incidents because he constantly felt like he had to save the day. Now he has a different attitude because he understands the game that needs to be played. Bode really needs to assert himself if he actually wants to implement this program.
Bode also had a completely different reason to fight for his freedom now that he knows Genevieve is his daughter. That will be a big focus for him this season. Many decisions must be made regarding Genevieve and the possibility of becoming a father. Once it finally kicks in, it will give him real meaning, whereas before he did things out of love or for his family and never did it for himself.
Jordan Calloway as Jake Crawford, Kevin Alejandro as Manny Perez, Diane Farr as Sharon Leone.
Eric Milner/CBS
Speaking of Genevieve: What does Bode look like as a father?
Through his mother and family, we got to know the emotional side of Bode in just a few moments, but now we see his softer side. He comes out of prison and tries to put everything he just went through behind him. Letting go of the fear and stress and trying to readjust to life outside is really difficult. Through Genevieve, we reveal much of the vulnerability that Bode is capable of.
In the premiere, we see that Vince is the one who wants to help Bode while Sharon is mad at him, which is a change from last season. What awaits Bode and his mother?
Yes, we saw the epitome of a mother being a mother and taking care of her child. She was willing to do anything and now Sharon is at a point where she had to take a step back, look at herself and ask herself if she is being helpful with all of this. Bode's life is no better, he went to prison and encouraging him to change by always holding his hand didn't work. She is conflicted because she is the same person deep down, but she has to fight against her nature. He knows she didn't visit him and she was strong when he wasn't there, but we see her break down a little when she actually sees her son.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Fire Country airs Fridays at 9pm ET/PT on CBS.
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