The devastation from the Zebel Ridge fire will blaze on when Fire Country returns on Friday, Oct. 17, at 8/7c.
In case you need a refresher, Season 3 ended on an explosive cliffhanger: After the Zebel Ridge catastrophe engulfed the Buena Vista center, chaos ensued as 42 scrambled to rescue those inside the burning care facility. In the episode’s final moments, the building collapsed with Sharon, Walter and Vince all still inside, leaving all of their fates up in the air.
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Though the cliffhanger left viewers guessing who may have died in the fire, the Season 4 trailer has already confirmed that Vince did not survive. (Sharon and Walter will make it out OK.) Though Vince’s death will be an emotional loss, it doesn’t come as a total surprise, since it was reported in April that Burke would exit the CBS drama. Stephanie Arcila is also done as a series regular, though she will appear in the premiere before parting ways with Bode.
Though we already know the outcome of the Zebel Ridge fire, Vince’s death brings about more unknowns: How will our Edgewater heroes face this loss? Who will replace him as chief? Read on to find out everything showrunner Tia Napolitano is teasing about what’s to come in Season 4.
TVLINE | How much time has passed since the events of the season finale?
We’re doing a direct pickup.
TVLINE | How long into the 42-minute premiere will you leave us guessing who died in the Zabel Ridge fire? [Note: The Season 4 trailer has since revealed who dies.]
We will do a time jump, mid-episode, that will propel us past the events of that evening.
TVLINE | If Season 3 was largely about Bode chasing his legacy as a firefighter and seizing it, what is the new season about?
We have themes of rising from the ashes. We, of course, always have our theme of redemption. And deeper into the season, we’re going to be dealing with themes of vengeance versus forgiveness.
TVLINE | The Three Rock fire camp was ashes when last we tuned in. Will Eve have a fire in her belly to rebuild it?
Yes, Eve does have a fire in her belly about the fate of Three Rock moving into this season. She feels deeply responsible for the fact that it burned down. It’s very emotional. It means so much to everyone on our show, especially Eve, especially Bode, especially Manny, given their histories, and it’s such an important part to the DNA of our show. We are deeply invested in seeing how that entire world of Three Rock is able to come back and rejoin our show. It’ll be an interesting ride this season to get there, and an unexpected journey. The obstacles in Eve’s way to get Three Rock back up and running will surprise you.
TVLINE | Will Eve and Francine be able to make their relationship work? Their clash over wanting a family got interrupted by the fire.
How can I say this…? Due to the exciting events in our premiere, Francine and Eve are able to put a pin in that crossroads that they came to at the end of the finale. Meanwhile, they fall deeper and deeper in love and we’re really rooting for them as a couple because they are so compatible. It’ll be an interesting, twisted, soapy journey for them.
TVLINE | Arguably the biggest question coming out of your finale and the news about Stephanie Arcila’s exit that surrounded it is: How in the world does Gabriella exit this show? Stephanie appears in the premiere. Is it a happy exit storyline?
Gabriella’s exit will be surprising but hopefully earned. We really wanted to write in some beautiful “fan candy” for our Gabriella fans, for our “Bodiella” fans, and really service that character. It is a storyline that is a love letter to Gabriella in a way that we’re very proud of. I hope that Stephanie was very happy with it, and I hope the fans see some scenes that we haven’t seen before of her on our show. I’m a fangirl and I love those scenes, so we’ll see.
TVLINE | What’s the status of Bode and Audrey?
You know, they both are dealing with a lot going into the premiere. Obviously, Audrey shot a man, and as a person who is so fiercely protective of her progress of being a good person and being a firefighter, it’s going to screw with her head. Bode has a lot on his own plate, they’re both individuals dealing with larger issues, so they are going to struggle in their relationships, but they’re going to fight for the success of their coupledom. We will be on the edge of our seat to see how they get through these things, and we will end up rooting for them as well.
TVLINE | Jake was poised to leave Station 42 and take another job, but he wound up being large and in charge of the Zable Ridge fire. Watching those scenes — and unaware that Billy Burke would be leaving — I felt like Jake was realizing that he’d rather stay put and bide his time until promotion.
Without giving away anything specific, because of the way we jumpstart our premiere, the teaser is very shocking. Everything changes for everybody. It kind of makes everyone, and especially Jake, re-examine choices about their future, choices about their lives, about their careers, about their romance. Everything’s kind of up for grabs.
TVLINE | And what about Manny? What’s going on with him?
Manny wants to get back in uniform. We’ve taken Manny through a car wash on this show. Like, he’s been incarcerated again, Oxalta nearly killed him, and we really are interested in the theme of rising from the ashes — of the rise of Manny. I can tease a future where you’re going to get back that old version of Manny, “leader Manny” from Season 1. He is back to someone who’s an authority, who’s on the rise, who’s fighting to get back into that Cal Fire blue. We’re watching him claw his way to redemption once more, because if you knock Manny down, he’s going to get up.
TVLINE | Lastly, are there any new characters we’re going to be meeting?
Tons, tons, tons…
TVLINE | And you will tell me nothing about any of them.
I don’t think I can tease anybody. But new faces are going to show up in Edgewater this season — a revolving door of big, splashy, bold characters roll through, piss people off, disrupt our world.
Are you fired up for Fire Country Season 4? Hit the comments with your thoughts!
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