“Fire Country” thrives on high-stakes emergencies and simmering interpersonal drama, and “Not Without My Birds” delivers both in spades. This week, Edgewater’s beloved eaglets became the latest victims of California’s wildfire epidemic, sending Station 42 and Three Rock scrambling to protect the town’s feathered mascots. But the real heat came from the tangled web of relationships, each threatening to spontaneously combust.
The episode’s central crisis – a raging wildfire endangering a newly hatched eaglet nest – wasn’t exactly reinventing the wheel. We’ve seen Bode (Max Thieriot) tackle perilous rescues before (and will again, no doubt). Still, watching our firefighting crew wrestle with flames while simultaneously worrying about tiny, fluffy birds offered a fresh spin on the usual formula.
Meanwhile, Bode and Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) continued their exhausting dance of will-they-won’t-they, a tedious subplot that’s starting to overstay its welcome. Jealousy, mixed signals, and lingering resentment formed a volatile cocktail, making me yearn for the simpler days when their biggest problem was putting out actual fires. Jake (Jordan Calloway), still mourning Cara’s death, rejected any semblance of emotional support, pushing away both well-meaning advice and potential new connections. His grief is understandable, but the writers risk turning his character into a one-note symphony of sorrow.
Elsewhere, Eve (Jules Latimer) contended with her own brand of chaos. Her inmate crew, Manny (Kevin Alejandro) and Cole (Tye White), engaged in a petty rivalry that threatened to derail their progress. Thankfully, a chance encounter with Eve’s ex-girlfriend, Francine (Katie Findlay), now a park ranger (conveniently placed, of course), provided a welcome distraction. Their rekindled connection felt surprisingly genuine, hinting at a potential romantic reignition.
Casey and Vince butted heads at the fire scene, their leadership styles clashing like flint and steel. Casey, ever the pragmatist, insisted that Bode separate personal feelings from firefighting duties, a lesson that’s been hammered home repeatedly. We get it, show. Firefighting is serious business.
As for the other subplots: Sharon considered the possibility of early menopause (thanks, Audrey, for that cheery thought), while Manny and Cole eventually buried the hatchet, realizing that Eve’s success is their success.
By the end of the episode, the eaglets were safe, the fire was contained, and several relationships were left dangling precariously over the cliff of uncertainty. Bode decided to take a leap of faith with Gabriela, but her noncommittal response suggested rough waters ahead.
“Fire Country” airs Fridays at 9/8c on CBS.
