For fans of CBS dramas, the line between the battlefield and the fire line just got a little thinner. Max Thieriot, the star, co-creator, and executive producer of Fire Country, has finally opened up about the tactical precision required to pull off the show’s most talked-about guest appearance: the arrival of Alona Tal.
To SEAL Team loyalists, Thieriot and Tal are legendary as Clay Spenser and Stella Baxter—a couple whose journey was cut tragically short. Now, they are reuniting in the rugged hills of Edgewater, but with a whole new dynamic. Max Thieriot recently shared that this “SEAL Team reunion” wasn’t just a happy accident; it was a deliberate move fueled by creative passion and a bit of “light-bulb” inspiration during the casting process.
The Story Behind the Reunion
According to showrunner Tia Napolitano, the character of Chloe Mackenzie—a warm yet fierce high school teacher and Bode’s former peer tutor—existed in the script before the casting was finalized. However, when it came time to find someone who could match Thieriot’s intensity and share an immediate, “lived-in” history, Max had a sudden realization.
“Max just went, ‘Wait a minute, what if Alona could do it?'” Napolitano recalled. “And CBS was so excited about it, and Alona was so excited… acting with Max again was like riding a bike.”
Thieriot explained that having a familiar face on set was more than just a nod to his past; it was about the shorthand they already shared as actors. After years of playing husband and wife on SEAL Team, the transition into playing high school crushes with “unrealized feelings” felt effortless. This history allows the show to bypass the usual awkwardness of a new romance and jump straight into the “sizzling chemistry” that has fans buzzing.
The Next Reunion on the Horizon?
While the reunion with Alona Tal has been a massive success, Max isn’t stopping there. He has teased that his goal for Fire Country is to create a home for the “CBS/Paramount family.” When asked about who he hopes to bring to Edgewater next, the name at the top of many fan lists—and reportedly Max’s as well—is AJ Buckley (Sonny Quinn from SEAL Team).
Buckley and Thieriot share a deep real-life friendship, and fans have been clamoring to see “Sonny and Clay” reunite in a new setting. Max has hinted that he is always “pushing” for his former co-stars to make cameos, suggesting that the door is wide open for more familiar faces to join the Cal Fire ranks.
Why This Matters for Bode’s Future
This reunion isn’t just fan service; it’s a narrative reset. With characters like Gabriela and Audrey moving on, Chloe Mackenzie represents a “clean slate” for Bode. She knew him before his life derailed—before the prison time and the trauma. Through Chloe (and her troubled son Tyler, who reminds Bode of his younger self), the show is exploring whether Bode can return to the person he was meant to be before the “Fire Country” changed him.
As we head into the 2026 season, the “SEAL Team” energy is breathing new life into the series. Whether it’s a romantic spark with Alona Tal or a potential future bromance with AJ Buckley, Max Thieriot is proving that you can always bring a little bit of your past into a very bright future.
