S03.E01: What The Bride Said

[Danielg342]

Via SpoilerTV:

Quote

In the midst of Gabriela and Diego’s wedding, a helicopter crash ignites chaos and the team immediately jumps into action to stop fires and help victims

 

[Danielg342]

"You have to keep Bode and Gabriella apart...they will ruin each other!"

Yawn. Sure Manny...they'll ruin each other...until it's time for the final scene of this entire series where Gabriella walks down the aisle and marries Bodie and everyone lives happily ever after.

Because that's how these things work.

Somewhere, I'm sure, in the FC writers' room there is at least one writer- maybe more than one- that thinks "Bodella" is one of the greatest love stories of all time.

You know what, maybe they're right, even though "bad guy falls for the good girl" is an overdone story and a well-worn trope.

However, "Bodella" isn't a story...it's just a series of incidents that the writers are awkwardly putting together and claiming it's some kind of narrative.

All while insulting our intelligence because this show's unspoken- and sometimes spoken- endgame is Bode+Gabriella in some form or another.

Which is why all this drama really falls flat...because it's really just window dressing for a love story the writers have no idea what to tell.

The only thing it accomplishes is that it takes away from the strengths of this show and that's the show's obvious camaraderie that the characters have built amongst each other.

Fire Country is also capable of being able to tell good stories because their writers at least understand that the characters need meaningful depth to have any kind of resonance.

...and when they don't force those characters into awkward situations, they can tell those beautiful stories.

I mean, the look on Jake's face when he realizes the potential reality of his situation with Genevieve says everything. He's not her real father but he's practically her father...so he should keep custody of Genevieve...but how can he stand in the way of her bio father, who's cleaned up his life and is worthy of fatherhood?

I was worried the show would use the helicopter crash as an excuse to kill of Genevieve and/or Rick, but thanfully the show didn't go there.

Now we'll see where this story goes, and this is one that I'm actually intrigued in.

Unlike the one storyline the show is trying too hard for me to get behind.

[possibilities]

I agree that the Gabriela-Bode story is the worst part of the show. It could be a decent fire and rescue series if they would just drop the gloppy nonsense that makes Gabriela look terrible and reduces Bode to a moping bore.

I don't know why it took so long for the FD to arrive at the scene, though. I live in a much less populated area and we get response times much faster than that.

[Dowel Jones]

I also want to know how large this town is that, when the helicopter (who tows a banner behind a tail rotor, anyway?) crashes across the street from the church, the heroes rush out in broad daylight but don't get there until dark.

To me this whole episode was strangely un-dramatic and uninteresting.  Full of will they or won't they and who the fuck cares?

What was Manny's arrest for, again?

[Danielg342]

2 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

What was Manny's arrest for, again?

Punching Luke at the "save Three Rock" fundraising gala from last season. Despite the fact Luke was not interested in pressing charges, the District Attorney decided to file charges anyway, so Manny got arrested for it.

It might sound odd, but this is one of those cases where the show actually got the legal technicalities right. In decisions concerning the different kinds of criminal assault, the decision to charge rests solely with the prosecutor. Now, in many cases, if the prosecutor doesn't get the victim's co-operation (which sadly happens a lot in these instances) the prosecutor may decide not to file charges since the prosecutor may feel without the victim's involvement and testimony the charges won't stick.

However, there is no ironclad rule that says the prosecutor cannot pursue charges without the victim's consent. In Manny's and Luke's case, Manny's punch occurred at a party with lots of other witnesses and it may have even been recorded too (since the Governor was at that gala as were the Three Rock inmates). I suppose, since this is going to be a pretty big story going forward, we're going to get more details and likely a trial too for Manny, so we'll see exactly why the prosecutor pursued charges despite Luke not wanting to do so.

[tv echo]

After skipping a lot of the first season, I decided to give this show another shot by watching this new season premiere. If the goal was to make Gabriella unlikeable, they succeeded. Poor Diego. He should just dump her and move one. If the goal was to promote the Bode and Gabriella ship, I still don't see any chemistry between those two, so mission fail. And Bode is still as mopey as ever.

Watching Gabriella running around the crash site in her wedding dress and veil was unintentional comedy.

However, I find that I am interested in the other (supporting?) characters and their stories.

Edited October 19 by tv echo

[Artsda]

Team Diego! I rather keep him than Gabriella.

[DanaK]

I found this to be an enjoyable episode even with Gabby not finishing her wedding stuff. I’m glad Brodie is out of prison and looking to get back to fighting fires

[Dowel Jones]

5 hours ago, Danielg342 said:

Punching Luke at the "save Three Rock" fundraising gala from last season.

I remember that now.  You would think, though, that a misdemeanor assault charge would have resulted in Manny being taken to the jail immediately, and bailed out after the arraignment, rather than having him arrested days down the road.

[possibilities]

If convicted, what is the penalty for a punch like that? I get that it wasn't a good thing to do, and I'm not advocating for it to be treated as nothing, but I've seen so many people get slugged without anybody going to jail, that I'm confused about why it's being treated like a major felony.

 

[Sake614]

Didn’t Manny’s arrest have something to do with a sheriff’s deputy? Why would he be on the run from the law just because he punched Luke?

It’s a shame Gabriella didn’t die. Or maybe Body. Or both of them. Or else just let them both leave town. I know, I know, without Body there’s no show. But the supporting cast is 1000x better than him and the show would be so much better if he wasn’t part of it.

[Danielg342]

6 hours ago, possibilities said:

If convicted, what is the penalty for a punch like that?

The California Penal Code says that the penalty is six months in jail or a fine, or both. So, in theory, Manny should escape major punishment.

However, I'm sure this will all be a ploy to put Manny in Three Rock as an inmate so they can have a "role reversal" where Bode volunteers at Three Rock and overseas Manny, in contrast to Season One. In which case maybe something else will stick to Manny too.

[possibilities]

2 hours ago, Sake614 said:

Why would he be on the run from the law just because he punched Luke?

I forgot about that. But now that you mention it, wasn't there some contraband in his locker or something? 

[Danielg342]

2 hours ago, Sake614 said:

Didn’t Manny’s arrest have something to do with a sheriff’s deputy? Why would he be on the run from the law just because he punched Luke?

To my understanding, Manny wasn't on the run right after he punched Luke. The decision to charge him was merely delayed until after Manny was finished with that megafire, only after which Manny was on the run and we had that whole drama of "would he be at Gabriella's wedding or not?" I'm not sure that would have been accurate- assuming the police were called to the gala, they would have arrested Manny in the aftermath of the punch and he'd at least spend the night in jail, after which he'd be out on bail.

For some reason, the show went a different track even though I'm not sure it would have been necessary.

11 minutes ago, possibilities said:

I forgot about that. But now that you mention it, wasn't there some contraband in his locker or something? 

There might have been. I seem to recall something in Manny's locker, now that you mention it. Manny could also face fallout from the drug ring that Bode was accused of running and foolishly admitted to doing just to save Freddy.

It's a bit of a mess but my hope is that we'll get some clarity in the coming weeks.

[sweetandsour]

Bode to Weasely Uncle Leone - "Everyone thinks you're a bad guy!  Prove them wrong!  By using your power for nepotism!  Get me to skip the line in front of hundreds (or more) aspiring firefighters!  It's for the good of the world!  The entire world!!!!  Everyone will think you're a great guy if you would just push a nepo-baby!  Do it for Firefighter Jesus!!!!"

I think we are all used to seeing drawn-out "will they or won't they?" but Gabriella and Bode are so dumb together.  They are incredibly immature people apart and no better together.  Gabriella, you're not the victim here.  I really wish the show would get her to realize this and actually take steps to be a better person.

Who paid for the "congrats" banner to fly during the indoor wedding ceremony?  Where the only people who would want to see it can't see it?  Or was the pilot paid to fly around with the banner for an hour?  What a waste.

I can never get over the constant breaks during firefighting to indulge everyone's personal issues.  How is any sense of urgency real when any two people, at any given time, are stopping to bemoan their ridiculous drama?

[tinderbox]

I’ve gone from loving this show, to liking it, to watching with one eye, to hating it.  I’m done!  Can’t stand Bode, Gabriella, and Bode and Gabriella as a couple.  They have sucked the life out of Fire Country.  Ugh