Fire Country Season 5 Episode 14 Review: Bode Has Another Love Interest Who Needs Saving

Critic’s Rating: 2 / 5.0

2

No matter how Fire Country tries to cut this, it’s just weird.

There is no escaping the fact that Chloe’s son’s actions led to the death of one of the characters who meant something to everyone in this show.

No amount of rationalization or obfuscation can hide how bizarre it is for Bode to be dating Chloe, who will always serve as a reminder of how Vince died.

So, Fire Country Season 5 Episode 14, “Why Not Now,” plays out like the most ridiculous thing ever.

The high of the crossover with Sheriff Country is over, and were back to the same old station and the same old people.

The weeks that have passed between Bode inviting Chloe and her son to live in Jake’s apartment have been tense.

Bode is living his high school fantasy as a grown man, and Sharon is trying her best to stomach the idea of a baby boy making yet another stupid decision.

Bode’s Show Adds Another Character

Vince’s death was poised to change the balance that had existed in this show because he was the only one capable of calling out stupidity and ridiculousness whenever he saw it.

Without him, everyone is worshipping at the altar of Saint Bode, saying just enough to show their discomfort but trying to not to upset this fragile being.

Sharon has been Bode’s worst enabler, and it becomes clear at this hour when she does a complete 180 and joins the lets-pile-on-Landon club.

She needs to understand that Bode is a grown man. I nearly screamed into a pillow when she compared him to the little boys she was treating.

Sharon, that boy, is a child. Bode is a grown man who should face the consequences of his actions, and the fact that you never challenge him on anything is doing him a disservice.

Once again, you’ve validated his decision to ingratiate himself into yet another person’s life because he thinks they need saving, and who else, if not Bode, will save them?

A pattern in Bode’s love interests is emerging here: they are all women seeking calm in their chaotic lives.

Gabriela Perez was struggling with being trapped in Edgewater after he career crashed, Audrey James was trying to turn her life around, and Chloe MacKenzie is trying to escape a volatile relationship while raising a hormonal son.

Bode presents himself as the solution, only to add to the chaos in their lives.

This relationship won’t last. Once Bode fulfills his desire to kiss the pretty girl from high school, he never thought that he had a chance with her, he’ll get bored and seek another project.

That is, if the complicated history doesn’t sink them first.

Fire Country has a good thing with Audrey because she wasn’t afraid to call Bode out, but all Chloe does is giggle and smile.

And I understand why she doesn’t have the bandwidth to parent a grown man — she’s already parenting someone else.

Jake Is Overinvested Once Again

Meanwhile, love is in the air at this hour.

For some reason, Jake and his girlfriend, whose name I definitely know, are planning on moving in together.

When did things escalate so quickly?

Like many characters, Jake’s life plays out in the background because we need those Bode hero moments, so most episodes are just exposition before he disappears again.

I truly do not care for this ship because I barely know them.

Also, Jake tends to latch on to people instead of letting relationships grow organically, so this feels like one of those instances.

As someone who has never had strong relationships, he is familiar with the feeling of people leaving, so he holds on too strongly.

Case in point: his interference with her job search.

It’s interesting to see how he crashes out once this relationship ends, because if she’s smart, she’ll choose the job over him.

Manny’s Meet-Cute

Last but not least, Manny is dipping his feet into the dating pool again, and you know what, good for him.

If finding someone will make him less uptight, I’ll take it, because he’s been unbearable this season.

The meeting between Dr. Camille and Manny is a bit tropey as they go from mild enemies to romantic prospects.

I feel like it would have been better to have Manny go on dates before pushing a love interest on him because that man’s image needs rehabilitation, and we can return to his side once he’s rehabbed by the realities of online dating.

Let’s hope his personality doesn’t scare her away.

Gut Check

“Why Not Now” is no improvement over the atrocity that was Fire Country Season 5, Episode 12. It still has everything unlikable about this show, where logic and rationale are abandoned to support our lord and savior, Bode Leone.

Even the emergency is not that engaging. A first responder procedural can’t do horses like Marshals does.

Intrusive Thoughts

• Natalie Zea as Dr. Cammille. Who knew Nurse Jackie from Chicago Med could level up?

• Bode should have jumped in and saved Buck after he fell off the bull, carrying him on one shoulder like the superhero he is.

• Spencer Neville can pull off a cowboy like no one’s business. Whew!!

Over to you, Fire Country fanatics. Don’t be shy — what do you think of Bode’s new romance? Is anyone buying that Landon is responsible for the fire, even when he did not set it?

Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.

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