Max Thieriot broke his silence on how season 5 of Fire Country will differ following a showrunner shakeup, a possible time jump and more.
The season 4 finale, which aired on Friday, May 22, ended on a surprisingly happy note with everyone celebrating at Jake’s (Jordan Calloway) wedding without any last minute deaths or dangerous emergencies in Edgewater.
“When we started off the year, we weren’t certain if we wanted to leave some things really up in the air or have a hopeful and joyful ending,” Thieriot, 37, exclusively told Us Weekly. “We want to leave somewhere that really feels like next season we get to see that new chapter and all these characters’ lives.”
Thieriot called it the “strongest decision.”
Fire Country has experienced cast — and showrunner — departures amid budget cuts, so which cast members are and aren’t returning for season 5? The CBS series, which premiered in 2022, introduced Us to the town of Edgewater after inmate Bode (Max Thieriot) returned home and began volunteering for the California Conservation Camp Program. By […]
“You want to be left with something but also this will give us a chance to really get to see these characters evolve and get to see them take the next steps in their lives. There is real progression for them,” he hinted. “After losing Vince [played by Billy Burke] at the beginning of the year, a wedding is symbolic of new beginnings.”
He continued: “We want to start next season with new stuff and bring in some new characters and really build out new story lines for each character. It’s a fun and fresh way to end and it gives us a really great fresh start for the next season.”
Looking ahead at season 5, Thieriot promised some surprises, saying, “You don’t want to miss too much, so I think we’re going to pick up shortly after. But we get to find these people in that next phase of their life and then it really builds stories for the season that are new chapters for each character.”
Keep scrolling as Thieriot breaks down that name drop, the showrunner change and more:
Will There Be a Time Jump?
Thieriot noted that season 5 wouldn’t be a “direct pickup” but there wouldn’t be too much time lost, adding, “It is new season, new challenges, new faces — not that we’re exiting people but just allowing the show to evolve and find new fresh things.”
How Will a New Showrunner Evolve the Voice of the Show?
Following Tia Napolitano‘s exit from the show, Fire Country is preparing to usher in Eric Guggenheim as the new showrunner for season 5.
“We’ve done so many episodes and I have so much respect for Tia. What she’s done with the show to get us to this point [is so important]. Eric is new to me, and new to a lot of us and he has his own ideas and he’s very collaborative,” Thieriot told Us. “Having new voices is fun, right? Because you get new ideas, new thoughts and new perspective. It allows us to also stand back and hear different perspective on things.”
Thieriot promised “new possibilities” for the show.
“Eric really brings in a lot of experience with all of his previous work and the shows that he’s been involved with. At the same time, he knows what the show is and respects what’s been built,” he continued. “He’s not trying to totally change what this series is. He’s just bringing in a fresh take and fresh look and fresh perspective. It’s helping explore new avenues for the characters.”
How Will the Show Keep Honoring the Characters Who Left?
“Obviously, Vince and Gabs are huge parts of the show and will always be. You don’t want those characters to just disappear,” he said about Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila’s departures from the show. “They affect and will continue to affect the decisions other characters make going forward.”
Thieriot specifically mentioned Gabriela getting name-dropped in the finale.
“Honestly [keeping their memory alive without them around] was more challenging than everybody expected as we started going into season 4. They’re two very important characters to show and it changes dynamics. It changes how we see certain scenes,” he noted. “It creates its own set of challenges with the writing process. Throughout the season, we started to figure out what that was.”
The actor also pointed out the addition of new faces, adding, “Bringing in some new characters will allow us to have new fresh stories. It’s not just the same people we’re talking about everything with each other. That’s something that I’m looking forward to is getting to see who we’re going to bring in and how they’re going to not only impact our characters but how they’re going to play a part in the series.”
What About Bode’s Love Life?
In addition to Gabriela, Bode said goodbye to girlfriend Audrey (Leven Rambin) in season 4. Now the main character has found love with Chloe (Alona Tal), who will presumably stick around into season 5.
“Their relationship is a more mature relationship in a lot of ways than he’s had,” Thieriot said. “Her outlook on life and the life that she lived at this point is more mature in a lot of ways. It has been easy for him and has kept him a little more stable.”
Could Gabriela Return?
“We try and leave as many doors open as we always can,” Thieriot explained. “Just because they’re not together anymore doesn’t mean that we’ll never see her again.”
When asked if the new spinoff medical series in the works could be a way to bring Gabriela back, Thieriot teased, “We’re actively fleshing out those stories and the development process. What we’re cooking up is really exciting and feels very, very Edgewater. But it is also unique in the landscape of medical TV shows.”
