Something’s Coming – The Season 2 premiere opens with the illusion that Bode Donovan (Max Thieriot) has been released from prison and is back fighting fires. This illusion is revealed when a guard (Osmond Bramble) wakes him with the news of his dad’s, Vince Leone’s (Billy Burke) arrival. A corner caption reveals that Bode is six months into his sentence. It’s also revealed that Vince didn’t come alone and Bode isn’t happy about it. Manny Perez (Kevin Alejandro) doesn’t bother hiding his frustration over Bode’s taking the fall for Freddy Mills (W. Tre Davis). Although Bode keeps the meeting short, it’s revealed that he’s been causing trouble in an attempt to get closer to Sleeper (Grant Harvey).

Six months in and it appears that Bode’s actions continue to affect those closest to him as newly promoted Captain, Eve Edwards (Jules Latimer) has Norm Beck (Jeremy Jones) returned to prison. As he’s hauled away, she receives a Bode 911 text from Vince.

Jake Crawford (Jordan Calloway) is with Cara (Sabina Gadecki) and Genevieve when he receives the same 911. Although Genevieve addresses him as Uncle Jack, he and Cara appear to be an item. She later dotes on his parenting techniques after he coaxes Genevieve into eating breakfast with the latest editions of several of her favorite comics. Jake expresses an interest in revealing the truth to Bode before Cara wishes him luck with his new role as Captain.

Jake surprises Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila) while she works to perfect her diving technique. The conversation is soon soured once Jake brings up the 911 about Bode. Although she appears to be struggling to do so, it seems Gabriela is attempting to follow Bode’s advice of forgetting about him.

Bode’s plan to get moved to A-Block not only works, but he gets to look Sleeper in the eye as he’s being transferred. He remains eerily silent as Sleeper attempts to goad him by asking about his visit with Vince.

The meeting of the 911 recipients at the local bar is interrupted by an earthquake that causes rolling blackouts and several soaring fires in the surrounding forest. Although the crew is already at the station, dressed, and ready to go, Vince makes the time to call and ask Luke Leone (Michael Trucco) to check on Bode.

A quick scene with Bode and hew new cellmate, Cole (Tye White) reveals that he is just fine. Although Cole expresses concern for his family, it is Bode’s family that he uses his cellphone to get information on. Bode is stunned to learn that Cole knows so much about his family. Cole claims to have researched him just in case he was a rat.

As truck 1591 responds to its first call, Manny notices Jake’s newfound concern for Cara and Genevieve and offers some advice. He practically tells him to not let his concern for his family get in the way of saving someone else’s family. Their discussion is brought to an abrupt end when they discover that their only road in and out of the Sequoyah Camp is blocked. Vince notifies dispatch and requests assistance from Three Rock, but as the new Captain, it’s Jakes’s job to decide how to proceed. He decides to lead the team on foot.

It is Three Rock’s new Captain, Eve, and her crew that receives the request. While she conveys the orders to the team through an inspirational pep talk, crew 1591 pulls a man and woman from a burning RV. Her explanation of the origin of the fire reveals the threat of a propane tank. Vince and half the crew hear calls for help while attempting to return to the truck with the RV victims. Jake’s decision to pull the team back from the RV turns out to be the right one when the propane tank blows.

Part of crew 1591 returns to the fire engine at about the same time paramedics arrive. The Three Rock crew is there as well but making slow progress on clearing the road. Manny immediately accuses Eve of making the wrong decision after learning that she had Beck sent back to prison. Diego (Rafael de la Fuente) instructs Gabriela to start recuse efforts with the injured man. He then pulls Vince aside and claims he had his correction officer cousin check on Bode and all is well.

A quick scene at the prison showing Bode getting jumped and shanked by two inmates might change Diego’s claims. The situation could have also been much worse if Cole didn’t intervene.

The burn victim’s condition continues to worsen to the point where he struggles to breathe. Gabriele appears flabbergasted when she and almost unbelieving when he mentions an escharotomy to relieve the constriction. She’s left almost speechless when she learns that he expects her to do it. She surprises even herself when he successfully guides her through the procedure. Meanwhile, Luke has arrived with Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), dressed and ready to assist. Vince is shocked and doesn’t get much time to respond thanks to the announcement that the road is now cleared.

Somewhat safely locked in their cell, Cole encourages Bode to consider asking the warden for protective custody. Bode claims it would only make him look like a snitch. Instead, he removes the shank from his side and sews himself up.

Returning to the fire station, Vince attempts to learn why Sharon has stopped visiting Bode. It doesn’t take long before he becomes frustrated with her attempts to avoid the topic entirely. She does at one point make a statement that makes it seem like she blames herself for his time inside.

With the Station being used as a triage and the RV fire extinguished, firefighters and paramedics are coming and going at Station 42. A quick scene shows Jake requesting a moment of Cara’s time while Gabriela and Diego learn they are being reassigned to Station 42.

Luke encounters Eve and teases her about practically ignoring his offers to celebrate her becoming Captain. She says that it’s hard to be festive when the promotion comes at such high costs to two of her closest friends. He reminds her that he got his position under similar circumstances with Sharon and it sucks, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do something good with their positions.

A quick scene in the Station’s sleeping area reveals that Gabriela and Diego have been dating for the past 4 months. Elsewhere at the Station, Jake tries to convince Cara to share the news of Genevieve with Bode. He claims that it could be the difference between life and death.

At the prison, Bode tells Cole about his plans for dealing with Sleeper before asking to borrow his phone to make a call. Cole tells him that he’s in because he’s got the unlimited plan. Bode’s call goes to Manny who happens to be at the Station. Manny immediately senses that something is wrong and encourages Bode to share it while also secretly getting the attention of Sharon, Vince, and Jake. After Manny turns the call over to Jake, he walks off to an empty room and reveals the truth about Genevieve.  Bode doesn’t get long to stew on this with the unexpected arrival of a CO.

Sharon tells Luke that she doesn’t want to be chief anymore before he attempts to offer some advice about her marriage. Although she makes it clear she’s not interested in discussing the matter, he tells her that Vince struggled without her. This is about the time they both realize that Vince has joined them. Luke excuses himself and Vince and Sharon embrace.

It’s lights out at the prison when a guard arrives at Bode’s cell to tell him that he’s cleared for 30 minutes. Sleeper is the first to emerge from his cell when Bode grabs his shank and joins him. After a bit of insulting from both sides, things turn physical. This is eventually broken up by another earthquake that ripples throughout the town, causing blackouts and all kinds of other hysteria. As the carnage comes to an end at the prison, Sleeper is nowhere to be seen. It doesn’t take Bode long to find him collapsed under rubble. Bode agrees to save him if he’ll take the blame for the drugs in Three Rock and clear his name with the warden. He reluctantly agrees.

The footage then skips ahead a month to a local bar, where Diego and Gabriela dance the night away. When the jig ends, she tells him that she wants a future with him. It becomes clear that he wants the same thing when he gives her the engagement ring and asks for her hand in marriage. While this is happening, Bode is bused with several other inmates to the Three Rock Conservation Camp where Eve greets the newcomers. After a very short reunion with Eve in the office away from prying eyes, Gabriela comes in giddy with the announcement of her engagement. She doesn’t notice Bode until she’s already blabbed. The episode ends with him claiming that he’s happy for her.

 

Fire Country Review

If nothing else, at least it appears that things have changed in Three Rock. The threat of earthquakes, rolling blackouts, marriage proposals, and Bode’s release all appear to be huge focuses this season. There is also Sharon, Vince, and Luke, which very well could turn into another love triangle. At least, Vince might be led to believe this. Either way, it’s nice to see that Bode’s imprisonment won’t overshadow the entire season, although that might have been much more preferable than the shadow the looming marriage will cast.

Since I am just coming into the series this season, I can’t say that I wasn’t a bit taken by intrigue. Although it’s certainly cringe-worthy and infantile at times, I could see myself watching tuning each. That said, the 22, 45-minute episode will probably be a bit much. I’d give this episode a 5.4 out of 10.

Get more Fire Country recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest TV series and movie releases, scams, sports, and much more.