Bode’s return to Edgewater highlighted early in Fire Country how he had to patch things up with many of his loved ones, but one relationship kept seesawing throughout the firefighting drama – however, Fire Country season 3, episode 4 finally fixed it. Fire Country season 1 heavily focused on Bode’s past and how becoming an inmate firefighter was an important step forward for him, also showing how he would have rather been in any other fire camp than Three Rock. Fire Country showed Bode’s relationships with his family and friends were so strained he went by the surname of Donovan.
By Fire Country season 1’s ending, all had welcomed back Bode. Indeed, while Sharon tried from the moment she saw Bode to establish again a connection with him, Vince needed more time, still blaming Bode for Riley’s death, after Bode’s younger sister died in the car he was driving when they crashed. Like Sharon, Eve quickly focused on the positives of having Bode back in town. However, Bode and Jake’s first meeting after years apart was a physical altercation, even if Bode saved Jake’s life. Jake and Bode’s friendship kept going to the worst ups and downs throughout Fire Country.
Jake & Bode Clashed On Various Issues Throughout Fire Country
They Disagreed On Riley, Gen & The Cal Fire Training
Starting from Fire Country’s series premiere, Bode and Jake’s relationship was conflictual, as Bode faulted Jake for Riley’s death, after her trying to open the car door as he drove distracted him enough to cause the crash. Riley was distraught coming back from her birthday dinner because Jake broke her heart, making everything more difficult once Bode returned to Edgewater, as that was the first time he saw Jake after the car crash. While Bode and Jake eventually overcame their anger, it was difficult to believe they were ever friends, as Fire Country often put them one against the other.
Gabriela developing feelings for Bode while she was in a relationship with Jake could have caused yet another conflict between the two, but they oddly never fought over that. However, a bigger problem arose in Fire Country season 2. If Jake saved Bode’s future by telling him Genevieve might have been his daughter, he also made his own life difficult, as Bode made convincing Cara to let him meet Genevieve his goal once he returned to Three Rock. Cara’s Fire Country season 2 death only worsened things, as it put Bode and Jake one against the other for Genevieve’s custody.
Fire Country Season 3, Episode 4 Finally Shows Why Bode & Jake Are Friends
Bode & Jake’s Friendship Had More Fights Than Bonding Moments
Fire Country season 3, episode 2 showed a unique bonding moment including Bode, Eve and Jake singing along in Sharon and Vince’s living room, but Bode potentially joining the Cal Fire training for ex-inmate firefighters in phase two set Jake and Bode again one against the other. This was especially true after Jake found Gilmore’s medical alert necklace in Bode’s locker, making things difficult because Jake had to decide how to deal with the crisis. The conflict didn’t disappear after it, as Jake wished not to play favorites with cadet Bode, making him be particularly harsh with Bode.
Jake asking for advice with Genevieve finally settled Bode and Jake back in the role of friends, not trainer and trainee in Fire Country season 3.
Fire Country season 3 easily established how tough Jake had been with any trainee, but not being able to trust Bode made Jake always call him out on any little moment that could have hinted at Bode second-guessing him. Jake finally trusting Bode during the elevator save in Fire Country season 3, episode 4 not only saved his life but also made his and Bode’s friendship balanced again, as that call was Bode’s final one in phase two. Jake asking for advice with Genevieve finally settled Bode and Jake back in the role of friends, not trainer and trainee.
Fire Country Season 3 Should Focus On Bode & Jake’s Bond More
Most Of Bode & Jake’s Bonding Moments Seem To Happen Off Screen
Jake proposing Bode should have gone with him to give Gen the good news she could be homeschooled with Rick’s kids showed Fire Country viewers a different type of bond between the two friends. Indeed, Fire Country kept saying how Bode and Jake had always been friends, but apart from one flashback of Riley’s birthday in Fire Country season 1, episode 2, the two were almost solely shown fighting. Bode and Jake reminiscing about how natural it was for them and Gen to watch Top Gun together finally puts their friendship to the forefront and makes it feel as such.
While their friendship was assumed to be okay after Bode accepted Jake should have custody of Gen, the firefighting drama never showed the two friends bonding. While in scenes with Eve they seemed friendly enough, Fire Country season 3 should focus more on Bode and Jake’s own personal bond as friends, as establishing their friendship by showing it makes it all the more impactful. This can also stir more drama whenever Bode and Jake fight again, as a threat to their friendship could seem more believable after seeing them truly behave like friends on Fire Country season 3.