‘Fire Country’ Star Max Thieriot Talks Season 2 Premiere Bombshells

Bode (Max Thieriot) had an incredible season premiere.

fire country Season 2 picks up six months after Bode returned to prison in the Season 1 premiere (fans will remember that he lied about drug dealing to save his friend Freddy). But it’s not long before we see Bode again at Three Rock Con Camp, after a brief but violent confrontation with Sleeper (Grant Harvey) that was interrupted by a revelation from Jake (Jordan Calloway): Bode is the father of Face (Sabina Gadecki). daughter Genoveva.

Many things changed while Bode was in prison. At the firehouse, Jake is now a Cal Fire captain; Manny (Kevin Alejandro) is working there after being relieved of his position running Three Rock; Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) is training as a paramedic with new trainer Diego (Rafael de la Fuente); and Sharon (Diane Farr) returns from time away to announce that she no longer wants to be division head. Manny’s replacement at Three Rock is Eve (Jules Latimer), who is under a lot of pressure to run a tight ship after the drug investigation that cost Manny his job and sent Bode to jail.

Bode doesn’t return to Three Rock long before he receives another bombshell: his ex, Gabriela, is engaged to Diego, which he discovers by accident when she runs in to tell Eve.

We spoke to Thieriot about those two huge bombs, how Bode is adjusting, and what else is in store for us this season. fire country.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was your reaction when you found out how Bode found out about Gabriela’s engagement?

MAX THIERIOT: Honestly, I was probably as impressed as the fans will be when they see it. It is perfect. It’s a good time to end the episode. Now we want to know what the next five minutes are like.

What can you tease about what happens next or what their dynamic is like this season?

At first, they were conflicted about their feelings for each other, and now we’re seeing a different version of that. She was dating Jake when she started having feelings for Bode, but now she’s engaged and the stakes are much higher. It would be too easy if he suddenly sees Bode and overtakes Diego, so we’ll really play with how complicated that all is. Ultimately, what is Bode willing to do? Given his history and nature, he is a people pleaser and will put everyone’s well-being before his own, so seeing him fight for the first time will be really fun.

There are so many characters in different places, which means we get to see new dynamics. Are there any in particular that you’re interested in viewers seeing?

We see a completely different power dynamic with Vince and Sharon. She has always been the highest ranking boss and she had the final say. This season is fun because they are so dynamic together on screen and now he’s higher up the food chain than she is, something she’s clearly not used to.

Seeing Eve at Three Rock is also interesting. Manny and Bode can relate to each other given what they’ve both been through while incarcerated. They have been through many similar experiences and that is the strong connection between the two of them, while Eve and Bode have been friends since they were children. That changes the dynamic at Three Rock. She now receives orders from one of her best friends who is also struggling to learn how to do her new job.

What do you think Bode will have the most difficulty with now that he’s out of prison?

You will find it difficult to adjust to your new perspective. The first time in Three Rock he was always reacting and impulsive in all of these incidents because he felt like he had to save the day all the time. He now has a different perspective because he understands the game that has to be played. Bode really needs to walk the line if he really wants to see this program through.

Bode also had a very different reason to fight for his freedom now that he knows Genevieve is his daughter. That will be a big focus for him this season. There are many decisions to make regarding Genevieve and the possibility of becoming a father. Once she finally settles down, he will give her a real purpose, whereas before she did things for love or for his family, and never did them for himself.

Speaking of Genevieve, what is Bode like as a father?

We’ve been able to see the emotional side of Bode through his mother and family in a few moments, but now we get to see his softer side. He leaves prison and tries to leave behind everything that just happened. Going through anxiety and stress and trying to adapt to life outside is really difficult. We expose a lot of the vulnerability Bode is capable of through Genevieve.

We see in the premiere that Vince is the one who wants to help Bode while Sharon is mad at him, which is a change from last season. What awaits Bode and his mother?

Yes, we saw the epitome of a mother being a mother and taking care of her child. She was willing to do anything, and now Sharon finds herself in a place where she has had to step back, look at herself and ask herself if she is being useful by doing all of this. Bode’s life is no better, she went to jail and encouraging him to change by always holding his hand didn’t work. He is conflicted because deep down he is the same person, but he has to fight against his nature. He knows that she hasn’t visited her and that she has been strong when he wasn’t there, but we can see her break down a little when she actually sees her son.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

fire country airs Fridays at 9 pm ET/PT on CBS.

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