Fire Country Season 4 Episode 20 Review: Try Not to Drown

Fire Country Season 4 Episode 20, “Try Not to Drown,” wraps up storylines with a positive twist in hopes of starting anew, but ends in a underwhelming, predictable conclusion.

Picking up right where we left off in the penultimate episode, Jake and Bode find themselves trapped inside Danny Marks’ home, Manny is desperately working to keep Roberta safe from the flood, and Eve works to get Three Rock back on track after Ace’s departure.

A lot is going on in this final hour, but it almost doesn’t feel as worthwhile with how predictable the end moments are.

With no firefighting actually taking place, “Try Not to Drown” is also one of the calmer outings of the season. Even amid the massive flood that swept away dozens of lives, we never see that narrative in motion; it’s only briefly mentioned.

No More Jail Time for Bode

One of the major lingering questions for fans entering the episode is what’s to come of Bode’s situation with Danny Marks. Will Danny change his mind about Bode after being saved, or will he continue to hold his grudge?

We see tensions clash between him, Bode, and Jake as the three work to stay alive. Through a series of coercions and constant pushing, Danny finally gets over his frustrations and ends up allowing them to help him to safety.

It provides Bode and Danny with the opportunity to discuss the impact of Bode’s decisions a decade prior, giving him a deeper understanding of why Danny holds a grudge all these years later.

Through Danny’s predicament, the series highlights the importance of staying true to oneself and of not allowing others to influence one’s actions.

Danny blames Bode’s break-in ten years ago for his wife leaving him and his entire life going up in flames. Would a situation like that cause someone to develop PTSD, anxiety, or even depression? Absolutely.

However, Danny chose to direct his anger and hurt toward his family rather than work through his issues. That’s not something he can blame anyone else for, which he slowly realizes as Bode discusses how hard it was for him to come back from his mistakes.

At the end of it all, Jake comes out as the hero, risking his life and swimming on his own to find a boat for them to use, and Danny decides not to force Bode to turn himself in.

Sure, there are moments of adrenaline and genuine teamwork that are entertaining to watch, but ultimately, the conclusion is a bit of a letdown.

On one hand, we are finally past the ridiculous potential storyline of Bode going back to prison, which is downright boring and overplayed. On the other hand, there’s no major cliffhanger to keep fans lingering and yearning for what’s to come.

Mike O’Malley is a powerhouse entertainer and brings a fresh vibe to any series he is a part of, so it feels like a missed opportunity if he isn’t in season five somehow. 

Last Line of Defense

As fire stations across the area form search-and-rescue crews, there is no support for the Pineville hospital.

The result? Three Rock is the only line of defense left, as they are deemed firefighters of Station 42 for the evening. If I’m being honest, Three Rock is the most captivating part of the entire situation.

Working through his childlike attitude and jealousy over Ace’s departure, Hartman eventually finds himself being the voice of reason. His positive affirmations lift the spirits of the boys of Three Rock enough for them to move an entire generator, essentially saving everyone still inside the hospital.

Hartman: Okay, boys. You guys want to be firefighters? You guys want to get on hoses and roofs? You want to fight wildfires? ‘Cause tonight, we are firefighters. We’re 42, not prisoners. And there’s a lot of people in this hospital that are counting on us. So, are we gonna let them down tonight? So you say it with me then! One, two, Three Rock!”

Not only that, but Three Rock is the ones who install the water barriers that effectively curb the flood waters. All while Eve and Manny bark orders.

Going into this season, the fate of Three Rock was up in the air until it took a drastic turn toward youth rehabilitation. Now, it’s found stable footing, and the boys have found themselves working like a true team. It’s certainly been a dynamic change, but one that has grown on me.

Not only does the addition of the teens this season add new depth to the series, but it also directly impacts the growth of Eve’s character. She wasn’t sure she could handle a gaggle of teens, but she’s proven that as long as she puts her mind to it, there’s nothing she can’t do. 

I genuinely look forward to seeing what the showrunners do with Eve’s storyline next season and how we’ll see Three Rock continue to grow.

A Life on the Line

As anticipated, Roberta’s diagnosis takes a turn when her aneurysm bursts, causing Camille and other doctors to rush her into surgery.

Honestly, it’s one of the weaker aspects of this outing. Instead of having Manny do anything important pertaining to the flood, all he does is work to keep Roberta safe.

Not only does it feel like a slight to the character development Manny has had this season, but it also begs the question: Who really cares if she dies?

Roberta has had so little influence throughout the series as a whole. Despite this season’s attempt to redeem her character for future arcs, her death wouldn’t affect things much, other than destroy Manny emotionally. 

Additionally, as I’ve said in previous reviews, the whole scenario is a direct slap in the face to Gabriela.

We spend four seasons with Gabriela, with Roberta making one appearance, only for her to show up out of the blue after Gabriela is written off the show? And to mention Gabriela in this final outing without giving her a quick cameo? It’s utterly pathetic.

In what world would Jake get married and Gabriela not offer some sort of congratulations while she’s in town?

It’s clear why the series mentions Gabriela; had they not, they would’ve gotten flak for not doing so. And I hate to criticize the decision to include her, but if that’s the route the series wanted to take, then they should have done it properly.

We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, but given that Stephanie Arcila’s departure wasn’t voluntary, it’s hard to believe she wouldn’t return for a cameo if asked.

A Rocky Beginning to Married Life

As expected, when everything is said and done, we find ourselves front and center at the wedding for Violet and Jake. While it’s a nice way to wrap a bow on a positive season-ending, it doesn’t come without its own issues.

To begin, there is absolutely no communication between Jake and Violet about the issue that led them to potentially postpone the wedding in the first place.

Despite rushing past the issue, Malcolm’s hiring at Station 42 remains a major point of conflict. In the grand scheme of things, it poses a serious risk for everyone working alongside him.

A firefighter who can’t pass the required testing is unreliable and can’t be trusted with someone’s life. Based on his actions on Fire Country Season 4 Episode 19, “Rain Check for Tomorrow,” it’s clear he is nowhere near up to par to be at Station 42.

Violet and Jake’s relationship already feels so brand-new, and marrying without working out their issues about Malcolm beforehand feels like a foreshadowing of failure to come in season five.

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Fire Country will return with Season 5 near the end of 2026 on CBS. 

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