Fire Country Season 4 Episode 12 Review: Life of a Firefighter

Bode interrogates Tyler, getting him to open up on Fire Country Season 4 Episode 12, “Life of a Firefighter.”

After taking one episode to regain his focus and comprehend Tyler’s betrayal, Bode pushes through to confront the issue head-on.

Meanwhile, Eve is tasked with mediating heated exchanges between Ace and Hartman at Three Rock. On the night of a full moon and relentless calls, Manny questions whether he deserves his ranking.

Laying It All On the Table

While I wish the confrontation between Tyler and Bode had happened during last week’s episode, it’s well worth the wait.

Based on Tyler’s demeanor and his actions on display while around Bode, the thought of him maliciously setting the fire never crossed my mind. And while the frustration from his lying is warranted, it’s hard to feel anger toward the kid.

In his confession, he reveals that he set his clothes on fire after Landon threatened to do so if he ever wore them out in public again. He never even considered the possibility that the fire in the trash can might reignite.

Was burning his clothes a stupid move? Yes. But it wasn’t malicious arson with intent to harm others. Tyler may have been the one to light the match, but Landon is certainly the one who pushed him to do so.

Family dynamics can be a real pain in the ass when they involve step-parents, especially ones who are verbally and emotionally abusive.

Moving forward, Sharon’s actions since the big reveal of Tyler being the arsonist make it pretty clear that all hell is likely to break loose when she finds out Bode is housing him and Chloe.

Throughout the seasons, we’ve seen the relationship between Sharon and Bode take quite the rollercoaster ride. But this time around, Bode’s actions might crash it altogether.

For Sharon, nothing else matters other than the fact that Tyler killed Vince, and there’s nothing he can do to change that. To say it will be hard for Bode to get her to understand his stance is an understatement, and that’s a little terrifying.

With Vince gone, we don’t need any more fighting between Sharon and Bode.

Emotions Boiling Over

Three Rock 2.0 has officially found its stride, with the campgrounds looking livelier than ever, and the boys working well in unison to fight fires. However, despite evolving into more mature teenagers over the last few weeks, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re still kids.

Emotions are bound to heat past their boiling point in a group of more than a dozen guys. That’s exactly what happens when Hartman finds out that Ace is up for early parole thanks to a new lawyer.

Considering the two got sentenced for the same charge, Hartman feels betrayed, rather than happy for his friend.

As much as Eve says she doesn’t want to have children, she’d make an excellent parent. Her work with the boys is a prime example of that. Without her, the two likely would have come to blows, with serious consequences to follow.

Instead of letting the tension escalate, though, she sets the two down and forces them to talk. In the end, it makes them realize their squabble is childish, and they move on almost as if it never happened.

Aside from the children, Eve is still contemplating whether to tell her family about her father’s condition.

It’s a tough dilemma, as it would better prepare everyone and mean more support for him. But on the other hand, it would also be breaking the trust the two share. Plus, how will Eve’s family feel when they find out she’s known the status of his condition the entire time?

An Anticipated Breakdown

With Manny’s panic attacks seemingly getting worse and his stress levels already at a high, “Life of a Firefighter” forces him to face his buried emotions head-on.

Three other firehouses in the area are ordered to help with a fire in Sonoma, leaving Station 42 and one other to cover the whole battalion.

Making matters even worse, the calls are on a constant cycle thanks to a full moon. And trust me, if you’ve ever worked in any medical capacity, you know how the myth of the full moon reigns all too true.

That’s not all. In addition to Station 42 having its hands full, Chief Brett Richards makes his return to Edgewater under the guise of helping out. His ulterior motive? Schmooze his way into a spot at Station 42.

After Manny almost blows himself up by attempting to do something himself, rather than delegating it to one of his men, as a Chief should do, he finally breaks down, sharing the truth about his feelings and what’s been happening in his life.

It’s a moment easily anticipated, but Richards being the one he opens up to is quite the curveball.

We see Richards’ naturally cocky bravado on partial display throughout the hour, but what comes as a shock is his vulnerability. Not only does he coach Manny through his self-doubt and insecurities, but he also helps him open his eyes to the great leader that he is.

That’s not the only emotional nugget we’re thrown, either. Richards reveals to Sharon that he wants to return to Edgewater so he can be closer to his daughter. After his wife died, the two went their separate ways, and now he’s trying to reconnect.

Richards finding a permanent place at Station 42 would certainly elicit a range of emotions from the crew. But, because of this outing, I’m actually on board to see more of Richards.

Not only is Shawn Hatosy a phenomenal actor and a treat to have as a guest star, but I also love watching new character arcs unfold.

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

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