The premiere episode of the season dropped the sad news that Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila) is also leaving the show. Although her departure isn’t anywhere near as tragic, it’s still a bittersweet moment for Bode. She tells him that she is leaving Edgewater because she has accepted a new job as a traveling recruiter for Cal Fire. The two then have an emotional conversation where it’s implied that this isn’t a permanent sendoff.
In an interview with Deadline, Tia Napolitano, Fire Country’s executive producer and showrunner, confirmed how the aptly titled episode, Goodbye For Now, isn’t the last time viewers will see Gabriela. When asked if this was just one last look at their relationship, Napolitano said that it was supposed to serve more as a tribute to their love story than a permanent farewell, because the title clearly implied that her absence wouldn’t last.
It felt like Bode and Gabriela’s journey was always rooted initially in longing and a forbidden love. He was incarcerated, there’s a lot of angst and longing, and it’s beautiful, but we wanted to see them literally hang out in their pajamas together, like we saw, we wanted to give them some domestic bliss where they just get to be. And yes, Vince died, but she’s feeding him, and they’re falling asleep on the couch. It really was a love letter to Gabriela and to Bode. We just wanted to enjoy them a little bit before we said the name of the episode, “Goodbye for Now.” It’s not goodbye forever for Gabriela.
