Fire Country Season 4 Episode 4 Review: Like a Wounded Wildebeest

Fire Country Season 4 Episode 4 “Like a Wounded Wildebeest,” says goodbye to two firefighters and hello to a new battalion chief.

When Station 42 responds to a call for a rescue at a grain silo, heads butt as Manny and Jake have differing approaches, and Bode must work alongside Audrey after her supposed betrayal.

As each week passes, Fire Country continues to improve. “Like a Wounded Wildebeest” exemplifies what makes the series so beloved: the familial aspect.

Station 42 is a family through and through, and what they need is time to heal together after Vince’s death. That means Richards’ time at Station 42 has naturally come to an end.

However, in a shocking twist, he names Manny as his successor rather than Jake. It’s a decision he doesn’t take lightly, and is undoubtedly one that will brew drama in the future.

Meanwhile, Eve comes to the aid of another camp of inmates. It means she’s missing in action for most of the hour, but it only further proves she knows where she belongs: in charge of those who need someone looking out for them.

The Right Decision

While the series has been teasing a new era under Jake’s command, I’m happy to see the pivot. Manny has been with Station 42 longer than most, knows the ins and outs of the job, and genuinely cares for his teammates.

That’s not to say that Jake doesn’t care for Station 42 in the same manner. He certainly does, but Manny’s experience with addiction gives him another insight that doesn’t come naturally to Jake.

We see that sentiment proven when Jake learns of Bode’s potential relapse. Rather than taking the time to talk to him, figure out where his mindset is, and work toward a path of recovery, he wants Bode gone.

Addiction is a tricky situation to navigate, but whoever leads Station 42 has to be able to keep that in mind. While Bode might be the one actively fighting an addiction, the dangerous nature of the job and the possibility of injury mean that anyone is subject to potentially developing an addiction problem.

Despite how close Jake and Bode have been over the years, he isn’t able to look past the trivial aspects of his recovery, which is a defining factor in his not being chosen as the new battalion chief.

Manny will work wonders as the new leader, making what’s to come that much more exciting.

Goodbye for Now

Audrey and Bode experience their own ups and downs throughout the hour, culminating in their separation.

Instead of looking at the situation from her perspective, Bode takes to blaming Audrey for ratting him out to Manny. He feels betrayed because rather than taking her decision as one made out of concern, he sees it as a betrayal.

As the two bicker while working to free the man from the grain in the silo, it becomes more apparent that being this close to one another isn’t the best decision for either of their sobriety.

Audrey: “Staying clean feels so fragile right now. And I’m just scared that being fragile together would sink us. So, I think we got to get through this apart.”

Leven Rambin has been a stellar addition to this ensemble cast. I hope this doesn’t mark the last we’ve seen of Audrey.

It’s understood that this season is preparing Bode to be on his own rather than relying on a significant other as a crutch. But with Gabriela and Audrey’s departures, there needs to be real progress made towards his recovery this season.

Stephanie Arcilla and Leven Rambin are already being disrespected by having their characters written off, all for the sake of shaking up Bode’s storyline. The least the series could do is ensure that something positive comes of the decision.

The Fight Continues

The absence of Three Rock sticks out like a sore thumb. Not only are the inmates we’ve come to know and love missing, but Eve is being actively stifled as well.

While she may not love the occasional decisions that come with the job, Eve thrives in a position of power. It’s because she genuinely cares for those under her and wants to see them succeed.

Inmates at Three Rock were not just another statistic to Eve. Pushing them toward their goals —getting out of prison and reconciling with their families — became her lifelong mission.

We see this in full action on “Like a Wounded Wildebeest,” when she and Sharon help another station’s inmate program.

Despite the crew clearly needing medical attention and being close to exhaustion, their leader doesn’t have their back. He’s a yes man who listens to orders, no matter the consequences that could come from it.

Eve, on the other hand, is not. Without them even being under her care, she doesn’t think twice about finding a way to keep the inmates safe and at rest, even if it means lying to higher-ups.

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From beginning to end, this is another solid outing for Fire Country.

One of my favorite things about this series is its ability to forge an emotional connection between the audience and the most screwed up characters. I wasn’t expecting to end Richards’ arc this season with feeling empathy for him.

Hopefully, we’ll get a moment toward the end for Sharon and him to reconnect, allowing them to bond over their personal growth after losing their partners.

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Fire Country airs Fridays at 9/8c on CBS.

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