After 75 Episodes, Fire Country Still Hasn’t Learned From Repeated Bode Mistake

Published Oct 25, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Fire Country has long had a Bode Leone (Max Thieriot) problem, but after 75 episodes, the CBS series still hasn't learned from the fundamental mistakes that have come with the leading character. Throughout the run of Fire Country, viewers have come to understand that Bode is the central figure of the series, even when there are bigger overarching storylines happening within a season. As the main character, it's expected that Bode will have storylines that surround him, and that he'll often be the voice of reason on screen, even when there are higher ups at Cal Fire that know more. While it's not a problem that Bode has a clear head on his shoulders and understands what he's doing with the rest of Edgewater's firefighters, Fire Country has had a long-standing problem with their main character. Throughout the series, Bode finds himself stepping in to speak up as a leader, even when he isn't one. While that quality does make him a great leader in moments where he's qualified to do so, it also makes it clear that there are many times when he isn't. The mechanics of the show often allow Bode to be right, even when the richer story would be the opposite. After 75 episodes of Fire Country, the series has yet to figure out that putting Bode at the center of nearly every issue and allowing him to be the one to resolve problems hasn't made the character grow, but has held him back from significant change. Fire Country's Bode-Centric Stories Have Always Cost The Show Credibility MovieStillsDB Throughout Fire Country season 5, the series has taken every opportunity possible to build Bode-centric stories. While Bode is the main character of the series, putting him at the center of every story has become a tired, but predictable part of Fire Country – one that costs the show more than it realizes. With Bode's determination to help Edgewater at all costs being a key part of his character, it's never surprising to see him spring into action. The issue, unfortunately, is that Fire Country fails to put him in positions where he may find himself in the wrong, and when it does, somehow Bode still comes out on top. Bode's desire to help has become completely inseparable from his need to prove himself, which has put a lot of Fire Country's biggest stories in jeopardy. The cyclical storytelling behind his character has made Bode feel predictable and stagnant, leaving him without space to grow into himself as he continues to move forward. While he's dealt with his fair bit of struggle personally, Bode's lack of change has been a surprising part of Fire Country's run. Bode's change throughout the show has mostly been through his circumstances finally reaching his perception of himself, which has far less of an impact. The Edgewater Universe Has So Much More To Offer Than Bode's Hero Complex CBS Bode's intense need to be a hero has often cost Fire Country moments where other characters can step in and shine. While there are other leaders within the world of Edgewater, many of Fire Country's stories give Bode the chance to prove himself, which he doesn't need to do at this point. As a trusted part of Cal Fire and a legacy firefighter, Bode's constant heroism has turned him into a caricature rather than allowing him to be a character. Fire Country would be better off to push other narratives in order to build its ensemble up, and potentially give Bode some healthy competition. Fire Country season 5 has several stories that would make sense to amplify over Bode's week-to-week heroism that could complicate his character, as well. While he's already involved in CJ Ryan's (Olivia Thirlby) overseeing the volunteer fire department, continuing to dive into her character would make for a great extension of the series. This season's Three Rock story would also be great to dig further into, and while the show has been doing so, taking some of the time spent needlessly with Bode would allow Fire Country to dig into more complex storylines and resolve its longest-standing issue. Release Date October 7, 2022 Network CBS Showrunner Tia Napolitano, Eric Guggenheim Cast Max Thieriot Bode Donovan Directors Bill Purple, Dermott Downs, Eagle Egilsson, Gonzalo Amat, Kevin Alejandro, Max Thieriot, Sarah Wayne Callies, Marie Jamora, Kantu Lentz, Antonio Negret, Laura Nisbet Peters, Lisa Demaine, Nicole Rubio, James Strong, Anton Cropper, Erica A. Watson, Joy T. Lane, Jacquie Gould, Chi-Yoon Chung Writers Tia Napolitano, David Gould, Natalia Fernandez, Barbara Kaye Friend, Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, Dwain Worrell, Julia Fontana, Sara Casey, Manuel Herrera, Jen Klein, Anupam Nigam, Tonya Kong