Fire Country Season 2 Episode 9 Review: No Future, No Consequences

Fire Country Season 2 Episode 9, “No Future, No Consequences,” masterfully executes the season’s final push, elegantly wrapping up storylines and setting up an extravagant finale.

“No Future, No Consequences” is a thrilling culmination of suspense and anticipation, a true testament to the power of what a penultimate episode should be.

Instead of waiting for the finale, and with less than 45 minutes of airtime to play with, Fire Country takes no time diving right into the action and addressing fans’ burning questions, like the fate of Three Rock, Manny’s continued employment, when Gabriela and Bode will finally reconnect, and when Vince will make his heart condition known.

These questions are answered in a thrilling and unexpected way, setting the stage for the final episode and leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.

An Impromtu Reconnection

Bode and Gabriela’s reconnection has been a long time coming, and its fruition in the episode’s final moments is exhilarating.

As Three Rock continues to help fight the Lazarus Fire over a 44-day timeframe, the two continue to work closely alongside one another, growing closer the more they are in each other’s presence.

Vince’s medical condition is one factor disguised as an issue for the two, but it’s actually the reason they reconnect. Instead of making their journey to one another easy, there are complications they have to overcome, and it feels like the correct choice because, throughout Season 1, we see them consistently going through different troubles and overcoming them in the end.

These complications add depth to the storyline and keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

We know that Bode is incredibly hurt and lashing out at Gabriela because not only is it someone he loves on the line, but the betrayal is also coming from someone he loves. Even though she doesn’t outright lie to him, Bode takes her passiveness and silence as a stab in the back.

Gabriela: “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I make a tough decision without consulting you? A decision that changed your life?”
Bode: “I would give anything to go back and change it, but I can’t.” 

Even with the tension between the two, it hasn’t been a question of if they’ll make up, but when. Half of their interactions throughout include Gabriela giving Bode seductive looks.

It’s been a minute since Fire Country has displayed a scene so massively anticipated that it prompts cheers from the audience.

Gabriela: “Another bad decision.”
Bode: “I really disagree.”

Even though the moment ends with Gabriela walking away in shame, we’ll still likely witness a significant divide between her and Diego in the finale. This divide could potentially be the season’s most dramatic cliffhanger, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating the next season.

Free at Last

The announcement of Bode’s release has been eagerly anticipated, and it couldn’t come at a greater moment or during a more excellent episode.

Bode has been working diligently to ensure the safety of everyone’s lives on every call he’s been on while at Three Rock, working to better himself as he serves out the rest of his sentence. That has always been an evident trait of his, which leaves his braveness and willingness to risk it all to save Vince comes as no surprise.

Even with the good news, though, there is a sense of weariness to celebrate fully. The audience has witnessed first-hand the number of times Bode has acted on decisions that seemed reasonable at the moment but were actually forms of self-sabotage.

With one episode left in the season, there’s still time for Bode to make some spontaneous decision that lands him right back to where he started.

Besides, what will he do after prison? Three Rock has become a home to him, and with the announcement of their continued operation, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to stay away.

While Station 42 may work closely alongside Three Rock in many situations, it isn’t far off to envision Bode trying to continue his stay at Three Rock in a new capacity with Eve.

Manny On the Run?

In a state of distress and waiting for his fate at Station 42 to be revealed, Manny makes some questionable choices on “No Future, No Consequences.”

However, the constant flack he receives from those around him is unwarranted to a degree. Should his interactions with Luke on Fire Country Season 2 Episode 8, “It’s Not Over,” transpired like they did? No. Did Luke deserve to be punched? Absolutely.

Manny briefly mentions how he’s lost the respect of the Three Rock crew, but in actuality, it should be the other way around. They should thank Manny for sticking up for them and exposing the truth. Otherwise, everyone would have been under the guise that Luke fought to keep Three Rock running when he was the one cutting it down at the root.

It comes as no surprise that Manny isn’t simply getting a slap on the wrist for punching Luke. The disciplinary committee might not move forward with repercussions for his actions, but to think that Luke would back down that easily is laughable.

It’s fitting for Luke to press charges against Manny because he knows it would likely ruin his career, therefore claiming Luke as the winner in their ongoing feud and allowing him to get the last laugh.

The big question now is: what will Manny do? In the final moments, we see Manny walking with a duffel bag along a stretch of road after getting the news about his warrant as Gabriela searches for him back at Station 42.

Could Manny’s days of firefighting be over? It’s looking like a real possibility.

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“No Future, No Consequences” is an episode that fans will be coming back to re-watch time and time again in the inevitably long hiatus between seasons for many reasons.

One reason for me revisiting the episode is how beautifully shot it is. From the beginning moments of the Station 42 crew saying goodbye to loved ones, the aerial views of the Lazarus fire as they arrive, all the way to Bode and Jake’s heroic save in the end, there are so many magnificently well-shot scenes. 

Sarah Wayne Callies delivers as the director of “No Future, No Consequences” with scenes that are considerably the best of the season.

The aerial views of the Lazarus fire, for instance, capture the sheer scale and intensity of the blaze, while Bode and Jake’s heroic save is a heart-pounding sequence that showcases their bravery and resourcefulness in the face of death.

Fire Country never slacks on bringing the entrancing effects of the fires or leaving us longing for more. The finale will surely be memorable as we come down to the wire on the fates of Manny, Bode, and Gabriela’s relationship with Diego.

What did you think of this episode of Fire Country? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Fire Country airs Fridays at 10/9c on CBS.

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