With Bode now away from Gabs for an unknown and extended period, it will finally be possible for him to move beyond the romantic shackles that have driven his every move on-and-off since he first returned to Edgewater. Ever since Bode first laid eyes on Gabriela, back when she was still serious with Jake (Jordan Calloway) — and long before that terrible hook-up they had in Season 3 — he had been fascinated with her. Now, to be fair to Bode, he’s been forced to move past a lot of that in the back half of Season 3, but since their bad romance is still very clearly on the producer’s mind, it’s worth noting that Bode is almost always at his best when Gabriela is not involved. The second half of Season 3 has proven as much.
With Gabriela exiting the show for a while, we’ll be able to spend more time with that Bode, the version who acts more like a well-balanced adult than an impulsive teen. While the producers want this time apart between them to stir Bode’s heart to further levels of adoration for Gabriela, here’s hoping it will actually do the opposite. If the rumors about Vince’s impending death are true, Bode is going to have a lot to deal with, between grieving this major loss and helping Audrey with her newfound legal predicament. There’s no telling what is in store for Bode in this fourth season, but the possibilities are exciting to think about. Most of Fire Country’s romantic plotlines have gotten stale in the past year, so maybe a solid break would do the entire series some good.
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Of course, if Bode really got what he needed, then Fire Country would pivot to his relationship with Audrey as the show’s “end all, be all.” After Bode and Audrey became a thing during Season 3 (growing from enemies to partners to friends to more), they’re the far better long-term option, due to their shared experience, complementary temperaments, and the fact that (unlike Bode and Gabriela) they actually make each other better. Bode has helped inspire Audrey to be a better firefighter and expanded her circle beyond just herself, while Audrey has pushed Bode to consider the chain of command and find happiness apart from Gabriela and the life he always assumed he’d have for himself. They push each other to greater success both personally and professionally, and it’s hard not to see that as infinitely more valuable than anything we’ve seen from Bode and Gabriela together.
If Fire Country wants to retain its audience and convince newcomers that the show is more than just a melodramatic firefighting soap, then it should embrace the change that comes with new characters and stories. Sometimes, people don’t end up with the person they first think they’re going to end up with. Sometimes, Bodes need to leave Gabrielas behind (and vice versa) for the sake of the Audreys that step into their lives, those who can learn to know them better and support them selflessly the whole way. Here’s hoping that Fire Country learns this lesson before it’s too late.
