It’s no secret that Bode (Max Thieriot) and Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) are the two Tierra del Fuego fights with all her might to mate. After their heated romance in Season 1 and the obvious sexual tension between them in Season 2, all cards are now on the table in Season 3. Gabriela left her fiancé Diego (Rafael de la Fuente), at the altar and jumped into the fire with Bode. But at the end of the third season premiere, “What the Bride Said,” Manny said (Kevin Alejandro) makes a very important comparison that puts the relationship between Bode and Gabriela into perspective – and it’s time for everyone to finally acknowledge the truth.

Bode and Gabriela are way too hot to stay together

Before Manny is taken away by the authorities, he pleads with Sharon (Diane Farr) to keep Bode and Gabriela apart. Manny compares their romantic entanglements to his difficult relationship with Gabriela’s mother Roberta (Paola Nunez). We learned last season that Manny and Roberta are always attracted to each other, which often leads to them neglecting other people or duties. If this isn’t the perfect parallel between Bode and Gabriela, then we don’t know what is. After all, Gabriela and Bode have both disobeyed orders or clearly stated rules in the past just because they wanted to intervene and save the other. It is not an exaggeration to think that this will get them into serious trouble in the future.

In fact, we even see this here in What the Bride Said. After Bode and Gabriela discover the downed helicopter pilot Kenji (Osric Chau), Gabriela has to stabilize him after he is found impaled. When Diego shows up, he offers his professional medical opinion (he wants to move him so he can operate better), but Bode intervenes and helps convince Gabriela that she can stabilize him on her own. Let’s ignore the fact that Diego has more experience and looks at the whole situation logically (and not through rose-colored glasses like Bode), but here Tierra del Fuego tries to turn Bode into a good guy by simply believing in Gabriela’s abilities. Sure, Gabriela is a capable medic, but she allows Bode’s suggestion to prevail over Diego’s suggestion just because she mentally chose him.

Sure, it works, but it feels like it only works because the plot requires it, rather than because it actually would in this context. In any case, this is just another example of Bode and Gabriela throwing caution to the wind because of their mutual interest. Diego made a clear and powerful argument, and yet at Bode’s request, Gabriela chose to risk Kenji’s life. It’s clear that Manny is right about Bode and his daughter: They just don’t think things through when they’re together and instead constantly follow their heart without regard for the people around them.

“Fire Country” needs to end their will

This is why Gabriela broke up with Jake (Jordan Calloway) back in Season 1 and why she’s going to break up with Diego now. Bode also had an affair with Rebecca (Fiona René) in the first season, but couldn’t take things further – even though they were good for each other – because he was constantly attracted to Gabriela. While there’s nothing wrong with choosing one person over another for romantic reasons, It’s hard to root for Bode and Gabriela when they constantly hurt other people in their insecure pursuit of each other. It’s emotionally irresponsible and seems pretty selfish.

Because of this, Manny suggests that Sharon and Vince (Billy Burke) separating these two is so logical.Manny sees the same passionate yet ruthless tendencies in both Bode and Gabriela that he and Roberta let so much of their lives be determined. He’s right that if Bode and Gabriela don’t learn to curb these behaviors, they’ll get each other into more trouble than they would get into on their own. If Tierra del Fuego wants us to care about this couple, then they need to start working on themselves like Bode promised last season. It’s now clear that nothing has changed and that these two are like pouring gasoline on a wildfire. If this doesn’t make things clear to everyone in Ward 42, then perhaps nothing will.

Tierra del Fuego airs Fridays on CBS and is available to stream on Paramount+.

A young convict joins a firefighting program in search of redemption and a reduced sentence. He and other inmates work alongside elite firefighters to put out massive fires throughout the region.

Release date

October 7, 2022

Seasons

3

network

CBS

Watch on Paramount+