Fire Country Has Officially Learned Its Gabriela Lesson

CBS Published Nov 14, 2026, 8:45 AM EST Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Throughout Fire Country's run there have been characters that have defined the series, and though Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila) was one of those series-defining characters, it appears the CBS series has finally learned a lesson after her departure. The first three seasons of Fire Country saw Gabriela as a huge part of the show's story. Despite the fact that she had a storyline running concurrently with Bode Leone (Max Thieriot) that intertwined with the main character in many ways, Gabriela often stood on her own when it came to her story in Edgewater, bringing her own plots into the mix. Gabriela's character arrived with an interesting backstory, having failed as an Olympic diver and returned to Edgewater only to find herself a part of Cal Fire shortly thereafter, and the way she moved through town made it clear that she was hoping to find herself. Unfortunately, one of the ways Gabriela found herself at the time was through a series of difficult relationships. Whether it be with Bode, Jake Crawford (Jordan Calloway), Diego Moreno (Rafael de la Fuente), or Finn (Blake Lee), Gabriela's romances were a huge part of her time on the show, sometimes overshadowing her larger plots because of their drama. While Gabriela's fun, flirty side was a great part of her character, it often felt like she was too steeped in relationships to have other impactful stories. Thankfully, after her departure, Fire Country seems to have finally taken the many mistakes they made with Gabriela to heart in the way they've crafted their next female lead, CJ Ryan (Olivia Thirlby). CJ Has Virtually Taken Gabriela’s Place On Fire Country CBS Throughout the run of Fire Country, the show has almost always had a female lead in the Cal Fire station, but last season's transition left things feeling sparse. Fire Country season 5 welcomed Olivia Thirlby as CJ Ryan, a newcomer to Edgewater who quickly found herself wrapped up in Cal Fire despite not wanting to be. Originally from Philadelphia, CJ's time as a city firefighter has made transitioning to Cal Fire somewhat more difficult, but she's brought her own brand of intensity to the job, challenging Bode and Jake as they build a rapport. Leading the new volunteer team, CJ has been fun to get to know. While CJ isn't a direct copy-and-paste for Gabriela by any means, she's taking up the space that Gabriela used to hold within the team at the Edgewater fire department. As a newcomer, Bode and Jake have been getting to know CJ while working alongside her, and her addition to the squad has been great thus far. A strong female character who doesn't have trouble challenging the authority of the long-time firefighters or stepping up to the plate when she's needed, CJ has been a refreshing part of Fire Country season 5 so far. CJ’s Complicated Story Stands Firm In Ways Gabriela’s Couldn’t CBS As characters, CJ and Gabriela definitely have a fair amount in common, especially in the fact that they're both strong-minded and upfront about what they're thinking and feeling. Gabriela's romantic relationships, however, became such a huge part of her time on Fire Country that they often eclipsed her character. Rather than roping CJ into that same boat, at least at this point in her journey on the show, Fire Country has seen her establish boundaries and stand her ground, instead. Gabriela was quick to forgive in some circumstances, and from what Fire Country has shown of CJ, she's definitely the opposite. While Fire Country season 5 is still just establishing CJ's relationship with Mason Ellis (Jay Hayden), the pair was quick to connect and seemed like they were on a great path. When CJ discovered, however, that Mason was behind the new data center in Edgewater and appeared to be resistant to shutting it down after realizing the strain it was creating on the power grid, she chose to break things off with him, ignoring the fact that she was still incredibly interested. While this may not be a forever break up, CJ's reluctance to remain in a romance with someone she has fundamental disagreement with is a step forward for Fire Country. Release Date October 7, 2022 Network CBS Showrunner Tia Napolitano, Eric Guggenheim Cast Max Thieriot Bode Donovan Directors Bill Purple, Dermott Downs, Eagle Egilsson, Gonzalo Amat, Kevin Alejandro, Max Thieriot, Sarah Wayne Callies, Marie Jamora, Kantu Lentz, Antonio Negret, Laura Nisbet Peters, Lisa Demaine, Nicole Rubio, James Strong, Anton Cropper, Erica A. Watson, Joy T. Lane, Jacquie Gould, Chi-Yoon Chung Writers Tia Napolitano, David Gould, Natalia Fernandez, Barbara Kaye Friend, Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, Dwain Worrell, Julia Fontana, Sara Casey, Manuel Herrera, Jen Klein, Anupam Nigam, Tonya Kong