Fire Country season 3 episode 5, "Edgewater's About to Get Real Cozy," was a packed episode. It featured the debut of Jared Padalecki as Camden Casey, Bode Leone and Audrey James' new trainer for phase 3 of the cadet program. There was also a plane crash that left nearly 200 people stranded in town and in need of shelter--Station 42 and Smokey's Tavern served as temporary housing until the next flights out.
The episode had firefighting drama with Camden breaking protocol by letting Bode put out a fire in the plane's cockpit while standing on top of said plane, romantic tension with Gabriela acting out and trying to use Bode as a distraction, a family reconciliation between Eve and her brother Elijah, and an answer about whether Sharon's body is rejecting her transplant (it's not!).
"Edgewater's About to Get Real Cozy" even had a musical performance, one I've personally been waiting for since Leven Rambin was cast as Audrey and the character's description spoke of her musical talents. During the episode, Camden mentioned that the cadet had majored in Music, and we got to see her gift on full display in the last few minutes as Audrey took to the stage to sing "Vice" by Miranda Lambert. She was accompanied by Vince Leone on guitar and backing vocals.
Fingers crossed Billy Burke and Rambin get to perform together again because their cover of this country music song was excellent. Check out the extended version below:
"Vice" is a lament and an acknowledgement of one's own destructive behavior and not being able to escape making the same choice over and over again. It's obvious why the song would resonate with Audrey. The same goes for Bode who winds up missing a text from Gabriela asking him to come over to the Airstream instead of accepting his invitation for her to join him at Smokey's.
Like Audrey, Bode is trying to stay on a better path for himself. He's working on not being reckless and to make good decisions. It was difficult this episode considering Diego's friends wanted to fight him because Gabriela's ex left town over her inability to let Bode go. But Camden stepped in to help. The cadet trainer, however, also pushed him to take risks on the job, touting his own tragedy of losing his whole crew as a means of supporting his argument that the one's in charge aren't always right about what risks are worth taking.
Then Gabriela, in the midst of the crisis they were all trying to manage by getting the airplane crash survivor's settled at Station 42 and Smokey's, attempted to entice Bode back to the Airstream because she was benched and wanted to blow off steam. Bode, trying to keep his head on straight and navigating his situationship with Gabriela, seemed torn in different directions. But listening to Audrey and Vince sing was a moment of calm, one we all can enjoy before another crisis hits Edgwater as it's wont to do.
Stay tuned to One Chicago Center for more Fire Country coverage!