Fire Country fans left outraged as TWO fan-favorite characters are 'killed off' in season finale

Daily Mail​

26-04-2025

Fire Country shocked viewers on Friday night during the two-part season three finale.
The latest episode of the CBS drama saw three of its seven main cast members on the brink of being killed off, igniting fury from upset fans who took to the internet to air their grievances.
It was previously teased that Jordan Calloway's character Captain Jake Crawford could exit the show, but it will be Stephanie Arcila's Gabriela Perez and Billy Burke's Vince Leone who don't make it to season four.
The information comes from Deadline, who spoke with sources as well as interviewed co-creators and executive producers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan, and executive producer/showrunner Tia Napolitano.
Rater explained of the character cuts: 'It really just comes down to what's the best creatively.'
Napolitano chimed in, 'That's a reality — there's danger in this sort of job, so we wanted to honor that and really up the stakes.'
One person wrote on the social media platform X, 'Killing Vince and legit losing the anchoring couple of the show is f***ing crazy bruh'
It was added by the showrunner that Fire Country is 'leaning into the authenticity of the real-life heroes that our characters are playing. People die, they leave.'
One person wrote on the social media platform X, 'Killing Vince and legit losing the anchoring couple of the show is f***ing crazy bruh.'
Another disappointed fan said, 'So I guess I'm no longer watching my favorite show. Forcing two of the best cast members to leave because they wanted to "shake things up" and "be creative."'
The person wrote the word 'money' in parenthesis and added, 'What a waste of an absolute hit show.'
Referencing a similar television series, ABC's 9-1-1, one social media user joked, 'Damn, if I had a nickel for every time a firefighter show killed a main character and blamed it on creativity and not the real reason (money) I'd have two nickels.'
Someone else stated plainly, '"What's best creatively." They sound stupid.'
Referencing a similar television series, ABC's 9-1-1, one social media user joked, 'Damn, if I had a nickel for every time a firefighter show killed a main character and blamed it on creativity and not the real reason (money) I'd have two nickels'
Amid the season three finale cliffhanger, the series' executive producers confirmed actress Stephanie's exit, but not Billy's.
They noted that they intent to have her return as guest star in future seasons.
'We love Stephanie, and we are committed to saying that the Bode-Gabriela story does not end here, it goes on,' Phelan said.
'We're hoping that that we can bring that character back, because we think that they have such great chemistry, and the audience is really invested in the two of them,' he added.
Echoing the sentiment, Napolitano shared, 'We hope to see her back very soon to give her a proper, not goodbye, but see you later.
'In the epic love story of Bode and Gabriela, sometimes it's very useful for a longing, to miss her, to miss them, to really crave seeing them on screen together, whatever they mean to each other.'
'Season 1 is the only good season this show has,' an upset viewer wrote online
Burke is understood to be among multiple series regulars who were asked to reduce their episodes for next season earlier this year.
According to Deadline, all the actors declined, subsequently resulting in the official departures.
Rater denied that it had anything to do with the cast members' exits, telling the publication, 'No, it's really coming out of us wanting to be exciting storytellers.
One angry fan lashed out at the statement, complaining that the show has gone downhill.
'Season 1 is the only good season this show has,' the person wrote on X, adding, 'But now the writers want to be "exciting storytellers" by sending two very popular characters packing?? Sure..'