How Fire Country Ruined Gabriela (And How The Series Could Bring Stephanie Arcila Back)

by

This article contains spoilers for “Fire Country” Season 3, Episode 19 (“A Change in the Wind”), and Season 3, Episode 20 (“I’d Do It Again”). We’re also getting into potential spoilers for Season 4.

In the climax of Season 3, Gabriela Perez’s storyline took an unexpected turn, culminating in a lackluster arc for Stephanie Arcila‘s character. After her wedding fiasco, Gabi spirals out of control and finds herself pursued by Finn (Blake Lee), leading to a distressing narrative. Her friend Audrey (Leven Rambin) and father Manny (Kevin Alejandro) become entangled in this stalking ordeal, which climaxes when Audrey shoots Finn to protect themselves. With limited medical resources, they attempt basic surgery on him before having to navigate the Zabel Ridge wildfire to reach safety. The season concludes with Gabi witnessing Audrey being arrested for violating her parole as she stands by helplessly.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but notice how the writers seem to be undermining Gabi’s character in a rather disappointing way. Instead of maintaining her as a strong, spirited woman, they’ve transformed her into a recurring damsel in distress, leaving her in a state of constant helplessness. At first, it appeared this was intended to create opportunities for Bode Leone (Max Thieriot) to swoop in and save the day. However, as we progressed into Season 3, it’s Manny who steps up to be her knight in shining armor. It’s disheartening to see a character my age, supposedly mature and independent, reliant on being rescued by their father – a clear sign of stagnant growth.

It can’t be denied that Gabi consistently makes regrettable decisions which leave her resembling a faded flower, and the approaching end of her character in the series is almost welcomed because it seems like a much-needed respite. Although there were no hints in “I’d Do It Again,” it has been confirmed that Arcila will be departing from the show since she joined it for its first episode. The specific details about how and why this departure will occur are yet to be revealed, but one thing is certain — Gabriela has suffered due to poor writing for quite some time now.

Gabi became a damsel in distress

In the series “Fire Country,” Gabriela Perez initially comes across as a shrewd woman, but she carries a heavy load of past experiences. She was once Edgewater’s beacon at the Olympics, but her illustrious career as a champion diver was cut short when she finished 14th at the Tokyo games. Upon returning home to revel in her remaining fame, life throws a fire incident into her path, where she discovers a renewed sense of purpose in upholding the Perez legacy. It’s here that she encounters Bode — a turning point where Gabi shifts from being an intriguing character to appearing somewhat weak.

Gabi and Bode share a tumultuous relationship marked by periods of on-again, off-again dynamics. She often tries to maintain her principles by urging Bode to halt his dangerous firefighting activities, but he remains steadfast in his pursuit. When he distances himself from her, she finds solace in another man’s arms. This pattern underscores Gabi’s dependence on romance, as she has rarely been single for a substantial period during the show’s run.

In a twist of events in “Fire Country,” Gabriela nearly ties the knot with Diego (Rafael de la Fuente), but finds herself drawn back towards Bode, causing their wedding to be halted by a helicopter crash, which ultimately makes Diego understand that she’s still hung up on her ex. This indecisiveness is quite concerning given her immediate pursuit of Bode post-wedding. Their relationship falters because they desire different aspects of love, and the series seems to have mishandled this major plotline in Season 3, portraying Bode and Gabi as an irritating couple who should remain apart. Consequently, Gabriela’s behavior becomes reckless, culminating in a dangerous act where she discards her gear and walks into a fire, jeopardizing the lives of her entire team. Essentially, she’s spiraled into chaos, relying heavily on others, making it challenging to support her character.

How Gabi could return to Fire Country

It’s quite evident that Gabi requires some time to recharge and learn true self-reliance, which might come from her temporary separation from Edgewater. A possible scenario could involve her taking responsibility for Audrey’s actions and serving a short prison sentence. This experience would give her an insight into what her father and Bode have gone through, and even teach her how to stand on her own feet.

Until Gabi can become a self-sufficient individual, it might be frustrating or even detrimental for the show if she were to return to “Fire Country.” Instead, a more appealing option could be for her to establish her own youth program, one that leverages her passion for firefighting and demonstrates her ability to make decisions independently. Such growth-inducing developments would certainly be enjoyable to witness, and it seems that Stephanie Arcila feels the same way.

Arcila shared with Deadline that she believes the character, whether as a firefighter or EMT, will never cease learning and evolving. However, there remains unresolved business between Bode and Gabi according to series co-executive producer and co-creator Tony Phelan. He told Deadline that the decision for Gabi’s absence was based on the dynamic between Bode and Gabriela, feeling they needed a fresh start. They are hoping to bring her back due to their belief in their strong chemistry with the audience, but with the events of the finale and upcoming season, it seems time for Gabi to explore what lies ahead for her character. Perhaps this reset will make Gabi a more whole and competent individual.

Read More

2025-04-29 14:30