Fire Country finally remembers Jake exists, and for once, Bode isn’t hogging the oxygen.
The hour shifts the spotlight to Jake’s grief and instincts, resulting in a surprisingly grounded episode that proves the show still has untapped potential.
It’s not flawless, but it’s the kind of shake-up the show desperately needs.
Jake Confronts Loss
For the first time in forever, Bode takes a back seat as Jake Crawford remembers his late father. This is information we weren’t privy to, or I just don’t remember it being mentioned, but was anyone aware that Jake’s dad passed away? We met his mother, and that never came up as far as I can remember.
A fire emergency takes him to a place he used to frequent with his dad, and it brings up some buried feelings. He channels those feelings into saving the place, as we see some Bodeism rear its head, and you know what? I’m not even mad about it.
Bodeism gets on my nerves almost every time, but when Jake does it, I finally understand. I guess it’s because it’s out of character for Jake to succumb to dangerous instincts, something Bode does regularly.
The roles are flipped in Fire Country Season 4 Episode 6, “Your Voice in My Head,” with Bode being the one to pull Jake from the ledge. It’s surprising how much I enjoy this dynamic. They work well together in a bid to extinguish that fire — there are no tantrums and screaming matches.
This unforeseen turn reminds me of something that happened in Fire Country Season 1, when Bode first arrived, and for a moment, he put his act aside to work with Jake in Episode 6 of Season 1 on a daring rescue.
That episode showed what a powerful duo Jake and Bode can be; I thought Fire Country would lean into this more. I’ve been waiting for three seasons now as the writers manufacture some silly drama.
They should tap into this dynamic this season because, to be honest, Fire Country is losing a lot of what made it stand out. The redemption arc is done, Sharon and Vince no longer exist, and Gabriela’s gone.
They’d be wise to lean into this more and use it to ground the show. Jake and Bode share some great moments this hour, but I don’t want to celebrate just yet because we’ve seen this exact script before. I bet they’ll revert to their previous dynamics in the next episode.
Still, it is nice to see Jake get some depth that is not tied to his history with Bode, Gabriela, or Eve.
Eve and Francine Discuss Their Future
Speaking of Eve, I try to be as honest as possible, especially when I’m wrong, and I was wrong about her story this season.
In my Fire Country Season 4 Episode 5 review, I said the writers were saddling her with Three Rock to avoid giving the character a decent personal arc, and I was wrong. We are getting Three Rock and a personal arc.
Francine returns as they go on the cutest date, but it becomes clear there are some fundamental differences in values between Eve and her girlfriend.
Relationships are a lot of work, and everyone has to go the extra mile to make them succeed. However, it doesn’t matter how many extra miles the partners in the relationship go if there is a mismatch of values.
The main rescue mirrors Eve’s current problem as she meets someone who challenges her notions about children.
I’ve long admired procedurals’ ability to mirror cases with the characters’ struggles, but Fire Country has never succeeded in this. They always feel somewhat contrived because the writers push it too far.
What are the chances that you’re struggling with a significant decision about children, and a patient during a rescue realizes you would make a great parent based on a single interaction?
I’m so sorry, sir, but you can barely breathe; you shouldn’t be talking this much.
That whole Gus and Eve affair aside, I’m glad this arc is happening and that Eve and Francine are working this out. Maybe she’ll realize that raising kids is not as bad as she thought, or she’ll decide it is not for her.
It’s interesting how the writers are going to pull this off without sacrificing Eve’s or Francine’s desires.
Who Is Sharon’s Mom, Ruby?
Meanwhile, after the bombshell revelation that Sharon’s mother was extorting Vince, we get a better idea of who Ruby Quinn is through Sharon’s eyes.
But I have to ask: is Fire Country allergic to healthy family relationships? Whenever some family member emerges from the obscurity of the past, there is always some bad blood. Can’t everyone just get along?
Like many mothers and fathers before her, Ruby is painted in broad strokes, revealing a villain who is not above wrecking her daughter’s emotions when she’s grieving her loss. Is this what they call generational trauma, and was Riley lucky to avoid it in some twisted way?
We are expected to believe that Ruby is as bad as they come, but I’m willing to see and hear it for myself. Sometimes one person’s perspective is never enough to capture a whole person. Family members are not reliable judges of each other’s characters.
It’s the same trick they’ve pulled with Bode’s and Vince, Gabriela and her mother, Vince and Walter, and now Sharon. This show seems allergic to depicting healthy bonds.
Bodeisms in Fire Country Season 4 Episode 6
Now it wouldn’t be a Fire Country episode without some Bodeisms. I’m starting a subsection where we keep track of those moments. Every time you read an entry, imagine me rolling my eyes when watching the scene because it happens every time.
- Of course, he is the one to find the accelerant can. How else will he justify his misguided missions without this significant event that makes it feel like a divine ordinance?
- ATF has cordoned off an area, but do they really know what they’re doing? Of course, Bode breaks through aggressively, wanting to be involved in the investigation. Can’t they see the fingerprints on the lighter, or does Bode need to do everything here?
- Isn’t it obvious that the right thing to do is to take the department’s vehicle to confront some guy because Bode is always right? We’re not done babysitting him.
Gut Check
If we insist on recycling family trauma and Bodeisms, the least we can do is give Jake and Eve the arcs they deserve.
“Your Voice In My Head” hints at a stronger show hiding beneath the chaos, one where Jake and Bode’s partnership isn’t just a one-off, and Eve’s personal life isn’t reduced to contrived parallels.
Whether the writers lean into that or retreat to old habits will decide if Fire Country Season 4 is worth the ride.
The emergency is a bit lacklustre, but you can’t win them all.
At this rate, I’m so over everyone’s drama that I just need to meet Ruby and the new Three Rock crew when the fire camp reopens.
Peripheral Observations
- Why is ATF involved in this case at all? Did I miss something? Isn’t the agency usually called in for alcohol, tobacco, and firearms-related cases? Like the name suggests?
- What’s the age difference between Bode, Eve, and Jake? They dress so differently, it’s almost like they’re from different generations. Is that deliberate or a misstep by the wardrobe department?
Bode dresses like a hip boomer dad, Jake like a cool millennial uncle, and Eve like a queer Gen Z sister. Somehow, they all feel odd in those clothes.
Over to you, Fire Country fanatics. What did you think of the episode? Is the consistent reappearance of troublesome family members a weakness for the show?
I’m curious to know what everyone thinks of the new Bode-Jake dynamics. Should the writers lean into that more? Drop a line in the comments section.
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