Fire Country 1×10 “Get Your Hopes Up” Spoilers Ahead
Fire Country Season 1, Episode 10, “Get Your Hopes Up,” is unsurprisingly even more heart-pounding than last week’s “No Good Deed.” At no point is it clear (or, frankly, hopeful), but by the end, thankfully, there are stories yet to be told. Cal Fire and Three Rock are special because they’re home to characters worth saving and protecting. They’re home to people who are always willing to put their best foot forward to help others.
And in every way where it matters, Fire Country’s “Get Your Hopes Up” is an episode that tells its audience what to do—to get our hopes up. No matter how grim it all appears, nothing will change the fact that each of these characters gets to sleep comfortably tonight, and by extension, so do we as the audience. While procedurals like this are tricky and can go to some bleak places in the long run (looking at you, Chicago Fire), right now, we’re in a place where we could hope for a little while longer.
“Get Your Hopes Up”
There is a lot that fans of Fire Country could get their hopes up about, but more so Gabriela and Bode shippers. But before getting into their dynamic, I want to make something abundantly clear. I actually like Jake—his complexities as a character are riveting, and the series should fully dive into exploring them while he’s on his own and not in a relationship. His friendship with Bode and Eve also deserves to be restored, and while in a working space with Gabriela, I don’t want to see the series resort to petty drama where personal lives interfere with the work they need to do. There are myriad possibilities in how the series could flesh him out, and I hope we get there soon.
But that said, after the events of last week and the pattern TV generally tends to follow, it’s surprising that the series is choosing to have Gabriela admit that she has feelings for Bode this early. And this is all great because while it’s hard to imagine that the two will get together right away because they need to grow individually before they dive into something, it’s lovely to think that we’re on a path where there’s no denial. The series continually chooses to move forward, making its character arcs incredibly believable.
But more than anything, Fire Country 1×10″Get Your Hopes Up” is about the light at the end of the tunnel for the Leone family. Bode’s decision to take back his name, as well as shedding the pressures of consistently making his father proud, are a big deal. (This is also an excellent thing for tagging purposes. On behalf of journalists, I thank you, writers.) Bode needed to hear that his father cares for him to truly feel like he’s part of the family he tried running from. He needed to hear that he is a Leone and for his father to insist on him removing the Donovan sticker words in order to allow every word he spoke to Charlie to become a reality he, too, could learn from.His choice to run from Cal Fire landed him back into the heart of it all, and while he’s staying for his mother in more ways than one, he’s staying for the hope of it all.
And speaking of hope, for an episode that brings the theme centerfold, it’s thrilling to know that Sharon is eligible for a kidney transplant. At this point, since there’s a solution, I don’t want to see the series attempt to make us fear for her life like this again. Further, watching her selflessly help someone else while she’s the one who could use further assistance proves why she’s the kind of character who needs to stick around—why Bode is the way that she is, why everyone working under her is just better by virtue of knowing her.
Thus far, the best thing the series does is how it strengthens its dynamics, and the Leone family’s is at the top of its list. The changes coming to their lives with the decisions made in Fire Country 1×10 and the entire team watching Charlie get a second chance in every way is the boldest depiction of hope possible. It’s proof that what’s meant to be will come to pass, no matter whose accidental run-in tries to hinder it. The trajectory every character is on right now is also proof of the agency present for the characters.
Further Thoughts
- I want nothing more than for Manny to take his own advice and let people help him. He’s such a great character, and Kevin Alejandro does such a great job with the character that I don’t want things to get worse than better.
- “He’s precious cargo!” DAMN RIGHT HE IS. I’m so glad Charlie made it.
- Okay, but hear me out…Jake and Cara? I don’t know. It could work. I’d ship it.
- Billy Burke remains aces on this show and in this episode especially…the subtlety. Oof.
- Really loved watching Eve and Bode work together again. Need more of these two. Need Bode to be out on parole officially. Season finale?
Now streaming on Paramount Plus: What are your thoughts on Fire Country 1×10 “Get Your Hopes Up?” Let us know in the comments below.