Big changes are on the horizon for Fire Country when Season 4 premieres, as the show has promised to “keep pushing the envelope.” Some of those changes are expected to unravel through the show’s efforts to address the departure of two key cast members — Stephanie Arcila, as Gabriela Perez, and Billy Burke, as Chief Vince Leone. Gabriela’s romance with Bode (Max Thieriot) was essential to the show’s emotional core. Despite their romance being fraught with setbacks, audiences constantly rooted for the pair, hoping Season 3 would reunite them as a couple. Alas, with Gabriela set to leave Edgewater, their future as a couple seems bleak. In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Arcila reflected on Gabriela and Bode’s complex connection.
Given how their attempts to move on with other people always fell apart, it seemed like the show was building towards an inevitable reunion for Gabriela and Bode. Consequently, Arcila’s departure was shocking. The pair have proven to be inseparable, so much so that the decision to part them in the end feels like a letdown. Admitting their undying feelings towards each other, Arcila explained that distance might prove beneficial for the pair. “I think that they’ll always have love for each other,” she told the outlet. “It is healthy to not rush into things. It is healthy to explore other avenues as well and explore yourself. They’ve had so many changes and shifts in their lives that they already have to navigate, and I think in finding themselves and knowing who they are in these new dynamics and having that breather is also a good thing.”
Is Stephanie Arcila’s Departure Really The End For Bode and Gabriela?
To answer that simply, yes, it does feel like it. With Gabriela no longer set to appear frequently on the show, it effectively dashes hopes of them being a stable couple. Or might Gabriela return somewhere in the future, where they’ll both get to ride off into the sunset together? There’s no telling for certain. However, the creators have teased that they intend to bring Gabriela back and continue exploring her romantic connection with Bode.
In a statement addressing Arcila’s exit, co-creator Tony Phelan explained that, “It was really a decision that came out of the dynamic between Bode and Gabriela.” Adding, “we felt like those two characters needed a reset. We love Stephanie, and we are committed to saying that the Bode-Gabriela story does not end here, it goes on. We’re hoping that we can bring that character back, because we think that they have such great chemistry, and the audience is really invested in the two of them. But we felt, with everything that’s happening in the finale and moving on into the next season, that it was time for that character to discover what’s next for her.”
So Gabriela returns at a later time when she and Bode can finally realise that they belong nowhere else but at each other’s side? We’ll see. Fire Country Season 4 premieres in the next TV season. Stay tuned for future updates.
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