Like Breathing Again – The episode starts out with Sharon Leone (Diane Farr) blaring through town on her new motorcycle. After several near-fatal accidents and a race with an old American muscle car, she returns home to find Vince Leone (Billy Burke), awaiting her return. Despite the late hour and reports about Sharon carelessly blowing through red lights, Vince appears more concerned than angry.
At the Fire camp, Bode Donovan (Max Thieriot) gets a surprise visit from Jake Crawford (Jordan Calloway) and Cara (Sabina Gadecki). He’s not only surprised by the absence of Genevieve (Alix West Lefler) but learning that he may not be the father appears to be too much for him. Jake doesn’t waste any time defending his decision to mislead Bode, claiming that it likely saved his life. The reunion ends with Cara assuring Bode that she isn’t going to add to Genevieve’s traumas by making her meet her father in orange.
Bode later shares his concerns with Cole (Tye White). He also learns that Three Rock is a much different camp under the leadership of Eve Edwards (Jules Latimer) while Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila) celebrates her engagement with Diego’s (Rafael De L Fuente) family. Although Manny Perez (Kevin Alejandro) joins them, he and Gabriela are almost instantly called to Devil’s Peak to deal with a group of partying teens building bonfires. On their way out, Manny calls Gabriela out on her claims about their mother being too busy to make the wedding. She responds by pointing out that she doesn’t want someone at her wedding that she hates.
Despite the uncooperative teens, Vince doesn’t waste time taking control and issuing orders after arriving at Devil’s Peak. He also immediately calls in assistance with debris clearance from Three Rock. As they race to Devil’s Peak, Eve shares her concerns about the approaching Northern winds with her team.
After quickly dispensing orders to her team, both Eve and Vince are surprised by Genevieve’s appearance. Genevieve claims to have been dragged to the party by her babysitter, Ally (Sophia Chapdelaine), who is supposedly trapped in a nearby cave with Taylor (Elle McKinnon). Over the radio, Vince assigns Manny and Sharon the task of getting eyes in the cave before sharing his discovery with Jake. While working cleanup, Bode spots Genevieve and attempts to introduce himself. He’s interrupted by an unruly teen who throws an accelerant on a bonfire.
Olson (Nikki Chohan) and Jake work to get the accelerant fire under control while Vince briefs Sharon and Manny on what little he knows about the cave. Despite the excitement, Bode tries to reassure Genevieve while introducing himself at the same time. It is the arrival of Uncle Jack that interrupts him this time. In the cave Manny and Sharon not only discover the first cavern empty but the proceeding water channel appears to be hampered by a recent collapse. Sharon clearly disagrees with Vince’s decision to pump out the channel and try to enlarge it. As Chief, he overrides her.
Bode continues to express his disappointment over Genevieve while he and Cole set up the pump for the cave. Both his and Sharon’s situation gets worse when they encounter each other outside the cave. She practically ignores his attempts to explain why he lied to her in prison. When she and Manny return to the cave to pump the water channel, they discover a blood trail that leads them to the unconscious Taylor. After pulling her out, CPR proves effective and Taylor is stretchered out.
Bode’s night continues to get worse after a heated encounter with Gabriela. Once safely outside and before lapsing back into unconsciousness, Taylor says she and Ally made it to the second cavern, but she attempted to get back out once it got hard to breathe. Although the bonfires are now extinguished, the discovery of restricted air adds urgency to the rescue attempt. Vince calls Bode over the radio to ask about rumors of a back entrance to the second cavern. He admits to hearing the rumors but never seeing proof.
When Sharon’s frustration with Bode starts to affect her ability to do her job, Vince is forced to send her home. After doing so, he joins Manny, Jake, Eve, and Genevieve at an impromptu tent where they are studying maps of the area. Much to everyone’s surprise, it is a TikTok video from Genevieve that suggests the back entrance might be located off Route 96. The mention of Route 96 also draws the attention of a nearby Bode, who claims there is a small outcropping by the northern wall. Although he’s familiar with the cave and the outcropping, Vince’s denial to let him help leads to him and Cole to take matters into their own hands.
Vince and Cole’s disappearance couldn’t have come at a worse time thanks to two kids who sneak back in and not only restart one of the bonfires but do so with lighter fluid and fire dye. The potent mixture with the sudden change in wind forces Vince to pull the team out. Despite his decision, Gabriela convinces Vince to let her go in after Ally. Things go from bad to worse when Jake’s team holding back the fire starts to run low on water. At nearly the same time Gabriela arrives at the second cavern to find Ally unconscious. After some very close timing, Gabriela manages to Ally out safely. Jake appears to impress Vince with his out-of-the-box decision to use the water from the forestry pump to help put out the fire.
The next day, things start to look up for Bode when he not only learns that Cara’s going to go ahead with the paternity test, but he receives a visit from surprise visit from Sharon. Sharon is happy to hear that Bode vows to do his time as honorable and quickly as possible but reminds him that it will only matter if he does it for himself, not her or even Gabriela. After an emotional reunion, she and Vince also attempt to work out their issues.
Elsewhere, Manny and Gabriela bond over a meal at a restaurant. Much to her surprise he also encourages her to reach out to her mother with news of her marriage. Bode is called into Eve’s office which starts as a butt-chewing for his rogue actions at the fire but ends in an eventful reunion. Interestingly enough, during the conversation he cites a penal code of heroism that can undo his entire sentence.
Vince and Sharon’s celebrations are cut short when Vince goes to the bar to get shots and Liam (Jason O’Mara) approaches Sharon with an offer. It becomes clear that the two of them have a past just as a shocked Vince returns.
Fire Country Review
Not a horrible episode, although the series is turning out to be more of a melodrama than anything else. I guess that’s probably what it’s slated to be, but I’d love less of the sleeping around and more of the action. Jerry Bruckheimer’s High Town has a much more authentic feel to it, although it certainly isn’t short on the romantic entanglements either.
I do find the fire camp inmate program extremely intriguing and the fire/rescue scenarios appear to be well-researched. They might not be portrayed the best, but they do appear to be realistically designed. Kudos for that, and I’d base my 5 out of 10 solely on that.
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