The TV boom might be leveling off, but we are still in the golden age of spinoffs.
Networks have decided to go all in on expanding the worlds of their popular shows, with some being upfront about it while others find a way to rebrand the approach.
Starz is all in on spinoffs — the Power universe specifically — that have a four-season ceiling, while CBS refers to it as “long-term development.”
What that means is that the executives crunch the numbers, find a character with the potential of a massive return on investment, and give them a show.
The character’s popularity may be primarily influenced by the actor portraying them, as they finally capitalize on the image they’ve been cultivating for years.
This is the case with Camden from Fire Country.
He was unknown in the show’s universe, but Jared Padalecki did not play the same character on Supernatural for fifteen seasons for nothing.
He also played Cordell Walker in the Walker, Texas Ranger reboot titled Walker.
Walker started his relationship with CBS studios while Supernatural gave him the star power to lead a show.
Yet after seeing Camden in Fire Country Season 3, he doesn’t deserve a spinoff.
Camden Is a Stranger
For them to succeed, spinoffs should be centered around a popular character.
There are occasional exceptions where the premise can be rearranged in another setting, but fighting fires in a small town does not offer anything different.
It would be a new show with everything new, and that’s a recipe for disaster.
When Camden’s unlikability enters the picture, the show is almost guaranteed to fail.
Like Fire Country’s Lead Character, Camden Is Annoying
One of the most aggravating things about Fire Country is Bode’s behavior.
That man has the unique ability to make everything about him while absolving himself of all the blame, even when it’s warranted — and it mostly is.
He’s always the hero in all circumstances, which often rubs people the wrong way, including viewers and other characters.
Camden arrived in Edgewater to oversee Bode’s final training before he joined the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Given his personality, Bode was always meant to fail.
Many people apply to become firefighters, but not all succeed. You have to be incredibly hardworking and respect authority.
Given his numerous antics, Bode would never have made the cut.
So, the writers introduced a character who would excuse Bode’s bad behavior by portraying him as special.
While everyone was trying to change Bode, Camden encouraged his worst instincts and did so bullishly.
He constantly clashed with Vince, who had been on the job for a long time and knew that playing the hero was one way to get yourself and the people next to you killed.
If he were to get his own spinoff, I doubt the writers would try to fix him and make Camden more calming to watch.
He would be an older version of Bode.
Also coming from Walker, I didn’t see a considerable difference between Camden and Cordell.
I’m not sure if it’s Padalecki’s acting or the characters he chooses, but they often come across as unlikable, even when they seem fine on paper.
If a considerable portion of the audience feels about Bode the way I do, they would opt to skip the spinoff because no one is willing to scream at their TV for two hours.
Imagine watching Fire Country and getting worked up because he’s pulled another stunt, only to tune in to Surfside (as it is rumored to be called) and see the same thing from Camden, who should know better.
If CBS is truly thinking of another spinoff, why not one centered on Gabriela, wherever she ends up?
Agree? Disagree?
Let us know in the comments, or share this article with someone who will want to argue about it with you. That’s what makes it fun.
