Fire Country: Why Killing Vince Leone Only Works If THIS Character Returns

Fire Country Season 4 will bring multiple changes to the popular CBS drama series. The series will look very different, as original cast members Billy Burke, who portrays Vince Leone, and Stephanie Arcila, as Gabriela Perez, will exit the show after Season 3. The fate of Vince, the Leone family patriarch and father of series protagonist Bode Leone (Max Thieriot), is not clear. The Season 3 finale, “I’d Do It Again,” ended in a cliffhanger, with Vince, Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), and Vince’s father, Walter (Jeff Fahey), trapped in a burning building. It collapses at the very end as Bode and Jake Crawford (Jordan Calloway) helplessly watch. Although Vince’s fate is still unknown, his exit from the show leaves a huge void, so it would be a good idea for another important character, Luke Leone (Michael Trucco), to return to the series in Vince’s absence.

Luke Leone Could Fill the Void Left by Vince’s Exit

Thus far, all viewers know is that series regular Burke is leaving the show after Season 3. It’s unknown if the plan is to kill off Vince or seriously injure him, causing an early retirement to give the character a less chaotic exit. Either way, Burke will no longer be part of the main cast. Burke’s exit is a huge blow to Fire Country, as he’s easily one of the best performers in the main cast. Vince not only has tremendous chemistry with his fellow cast members, but his relationship with Sharon stands out as one of the best romantic pairings on television. Fire Country without Vince will take some getting used to, so the show needs to transition into this new reality by bringing back Vince’s little brother, Luke. In his last appearance in Season 3, “My Team,” Luke prepares to leave Edgewater for a new job training firefighters in Japan. The death or severe injury of his older brother would provide a simple narrative means to draw Luke back to Edgewater.

With Burke leaving, Fire Country needs a great actor such as Trucco to help as the family deals with the trauma of Vince’s potential demise. Considering Luke’s experience as a firefighter, the Division Chief, and the Cal Fire Comms Director, his expertise will likely help manage the aftermath of the Zabel Ridge fire. It will be great to see a familiar face with the Leones, who will likely be in mourning. Fire Country viewers will need to see a recognizable character to ease the transition to the show’s new status quo in Season 4, and Luke will provide great dramatic tension for the main cast.

Luke’s Return to Edgewater Could Be a Great Source of Dramatic Tension

Vince’s likely death will create a huge leadership void in Battalion 1508. During the Season 3 finale, Vince makes Jake the new Interim Chief. It was an ironic outcome for Jake, who sought a promotion throughout the season. Vince leaving Fire Country suggests that Jake will be next to finally fulfill his dream of becoming the Battalion Chief of 1508. In an eerie bit of foreshadowing before the end of the season, Vince told Jake, “I’m not dead yet.” However, Vince’s potential death should not necessarily mean an automatic promotion for Jake. Cal Fire might offer that role to Luke instead due to his experience and seniority, having previously served as the Division Chief and the Comms Director. What if Luke were to get the job once held by Vince? If Luke gets the job as Battalion Chief, the same job seemingly destined for Jake, that could create an interesting conflict between Luke and Jake.

Luke repeatedly served as an adversarial presence in Season 2, even though his intentions were not malicious. It was Luke who recommended that the California governor’s office shut down Three Rock Conversation Camp in Season 2, causing acrimony with Manny Perez (Kevin Alejandro). Luke typically comes off as the type of office bureaucrat who makes unpopular decisions with the general workers, so having him around in a leadership role once again will provide a great source of tension with the rest of the cast. Additionally, Luke has some issues with Sharon, stemming from the first season, when he attempted to kiss her. Later, Luke served as a kidney donor for Sharon, helping to save her life. Luke’s return potentially offers an interesting dynamic of a family mourning a great tragedy and trying to get back to work while still grieving a terrible loss. It might be understandably difficult for the Leones to work together in Cal Fire after their losses.

Luke’s Return Could Revisit Unfulfilled Potential in Season 3

The Season 2 finale of Fire Country featured Sharon informing her brother-in-law, Luke, that she has every intention of taking back her old job as Division Chief. The moment suggested that a potential conflict between Sharon and Luke over her role, something that series showrunner Tia Napolitano teased during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, would take place later in Season 3. Napolitano stated that Cal Fire would “take notice of these people trading jobs and positions as they see fit.” However, this subplot never materialized in Season 3. Sharon easily resumed her old position, and Luke moved aside, opting to take his new job in Japan.

Season 4 could revisit Napolitano’s comments, provided Vince perishes in the fire. It could present a chance to review the Leones’ trading roles. Or perhaps, Cal Fire is unhappy that Vince granted Jake the role as the Interim Chief during a crisis, refusing to let him have the role long-term. Luke’s hypothetical return in Season 4 could shake up the status quo and help viewers transition to the new one. It would prove intriguing if Cal Fire stepped in to review how the Leones engaged in nepotism throughout the first three seasons.

We won’t know the ultimate fate of Vince Leone until Fire Country returns for its fourth season later this fall on CBS. Hopefully, Season 4 will herald the return of Luke Leone, since Trucco is a tremendous performer who always makes the most out of his guest appearances.