So sad! Fire Country season 3 lost another important character

The Leones and the bonds that link them are as central to Fire Country as Bode’s story, making the loss of one Leone member particularly heartbreaking in Fire Country season 3, no matter how their storyline already hinted at its quick conclusion. Fire Country season 3 began with a clear focus on Bode’s goals after season 2 surprisingly ended with him finally free due to his heroic actions at the Lazarus fire. This gave Vince and Sharon a moment of calm, as they didn’t have to worry about Bode or illnesses, instead focusing on projects like Smokey’s and the airstream.

Bode’s firefighting story easily progressed, with the protagonist finally being trained to become a Cal Fire firefighter in Fire Country season 3. However, Bode’s steps forward were accompanied by Vince’s refusal to see his father Walter’s lapses as a symptom of something bigger, leading Sharon to admit the harsh truth about the Leones in Fire Country season 3, episode 10, “The Leone Way.” This made Fire Country season 3’s second half about the Leones’ problems with Walter, with his brief disappearance ranking high, but Walter’s decision in Fire Country season 3, episode 15 still proved bittersweet for what it entailed.

Walter Leone Moves To A Facility In Fire Country Season 3, Episode 15

1 Young Surfer Patient Makes Walter Realize He Can’t Live With Vince & Sharon

Walter leaving Station 42 with Sharon’s car in Fire Country season 3, episode 14 scared all the firefighters, but especially Vince, Sharon, and Bode. The event cemented in Vince’s mind that Walter’s nurse must have been right when he recommended a facility, as he predicted the worsening of Walter’s symptoms, a warning Vince and Sharon ignored. Walter’s brief escape, along with his confusion about it and refusal to admit that was what had happened made Vince certain that Walter should be moved to a facility, something incredibly difficult to obtain as Walter vehemently opposed that, and Vince similarly didn’t budge.

However, the surfers who arrived at Station 42 as patients proved instrumental in getting Walter to understand why it would have been better for him to move to a facility. Indeed, Walter wanting something to do more than probie tasks prompted Vince to ask him to convince Tommy not to go back out in the storm to surf, something that could have hurt him even more. Tommy’s hardheadedness reminded Walter of his own, and convincing him not to go back out in the storm made Walter understand that he too should have chosen the safest path for him, the facility.

Why Fire Country Season 3 Losing Walter Is Disappointing

Walter Put A Spotlight On Vince’s Problems

The best consequence of Walter’s centrality in Fire Country season 3’s story was the firefighting drama finally tackling the evident problems between him and Vince. Throughout Fire Country seasons 1 and 2, the show alluded to how Vince’s upbringing rattled him, and Vince directly faulted Walter’s roughness for that. The difficult relationship between Vince and Walter was strained enough that Vince didn’t want Walter’s teachings to influence how he parented Bode, thus hinting at a major rift between the two. Having Walter more present on the show forced Vince and Walter to air their grievances instead of avoiding one another.

Walter’s illness added an ulterior layer to the story, as Vince might have despised how Walter brought him up, but he still loved him, and seeing him suffer negatively affected him.

While Fire Country always emphasized the Leone problem of Vince not wanting to become Walter, establishing their rocky relationship, Walter’s illness added an ulterior layer to the story, as Vince might have despised how Walter brought him up, but he still loved him, and seeing him suffer negatively affected him. Between how Walter’s illness brought out conflicting feelings in Vince and reminded him of his own mortality and age, having Walter in Fire Country season 3 proved a trove of intriguing storylines that highlighted Vince’s shadows, while he otherwise always seemed a positive character past his shortcomings in season 1.

Can Walter Still Return In Fire Country Season 3? (How?)

Fire Country Season 3 Emphasized How Walter’s Condition Can Only Get Worse

With Walter accepting at last that it would have been best for him to live in a facility and having the last word by convincing Vince to let him choose whether to go, it seems impossible for Walter to return to be as present as he was throughout Fire Country season 3. However, in saying goodbye to him, Bode reminded him that he would visit Walter to access his firefighting knowledge and expertise, making it possible for Walter to return and contribute to Fire Country season 3, albeit in a certainly smaller capacity than before his move to the facility.

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