Fire Country Wont Stop Failing One Crucial Character

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As a long-time fan of “Fire Country,” I must admit that I am growing increasingly frustrated with the character development (or lack thereof) of Gabriela Perez. It seems like every episode, she makes one reckless decision after another, putting herself and her colleagues in danger.

Contains spoilers for “Fire Country” Season 3, Episode 8 — “Promise Me” 

In the series “Promise Me,” Bode Leone (Max Thieriot) and his fellow firefighters experience a great deal of turmoil, yet it’s Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila) who faces the deepest lows. Over time, viewers have witnessed her struggle under the strain of a cancelled wedding, a disastrous friends-with-benefits relationship with Bode, and a regrettable one-night stand with Jake (Jordan Calloway). Her reckless behavior, once limited to risky activities like cliff diving, now extends to her professional duties in Season 3, Episode 8, placing her in grave danger.

In much the same way as Bode and his companion Audrey James (Leven Rambin) defy commands to drain gas from a truck’s tank to aid a homeless woman and her child, Gabriela does the same. Although she argues that she understands the girl’s plight, Jake still scolds her, citing his recent hardships and stating that he’s managed to carry on despite them. He also mentions that her cancelled wedding pales in comparison to dealing with his daughter relocating to another town. In response, Gabriela removes her equipment, storms off from Jake, and subsequently walks into a wildfire, putting herself in danger and causing another predicament for her team members.

Viewers are deeply frustrated and drained with the character of Gabriela now. It seems like “Fire Country” is intentionally mishandling its main Season 3 storyline involving Gabriela, constantly doing things that viewers dislike, such as creating a love triangle between Bode, Audrey, and Jake, or portraying her struggle with alcoholism. It’s clear that the show isn’t doing justice to the character, as she keeps making poor decision after poor decision, leading viewers to either hope for an end to her firefighting aspirations or, more dramatically, for the show to write off Gabriela’s character.

Fan continue to be done with Gabriela

Supporters on the “Fire Country” subreddit are now expressing their frustration with character Gabriela, as one user put it, “I hope Gabby gets burned.” Accompanying this statement was a crossed fingers emoji. Another user questioned, “Why would a firefighter abandon duty in the heat of the moment because she’s upset? Does that happen in real life? Frankly, she seems like a pampered child.” Other fans are advocating for Gabriela to be swiftly taken off the team due to her unprofessional behavior.

Instead of continually allowing Bode to provide a plausible reason for his repeated absences from Gabriela, potentially leading to another reconciliation and their ongoing status as “Fire Country’s” most frustrating pair, it would be beneficial if she learns self-rescue skills, preventing the audience from losing interest in her character due to her perceived lack of independence.

The unsettling prospect remains that Manny (Kevin Alejandro) may save his daughter, leading to his potential death on duty or a more severe punishment. In doing so, “Fire Country” risks further alienating viewers with its portrayal of Gabriela; should Manny’s fate be impacted by her actions, the show would have let her down once more.

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2024-12-17 00:30