Warning! SPOILERS about Fire Country season 2, episode 7 ahead.

Summary

• Jake's wishes to adopt Gen in Fire Country season 2, episode 7 subverted Bode's plans, but it can also help him find a real purpose.
• Bode needs to focus on himself instead of becoming Gen's guardian, as he tends to live for others instead of working hard just because it's good for him or the community.
• Jake is the best guardian for Gen in Fire Country, having already acted as her parent when raising her with Cara.

Cara’s death in Fire Country season 2, episode 5 continued to have repercussions on everyone involved with Genevieve’s custodial guardianship, and Jake’s revelation of intent in Fire Country season 2, episode 7 massively affected another character’s life. The possibility of Bode having fathered Genevieve years before gave him a new lease on life after returning to prison at the end of Fire Country season 1 left him feeling hopeless and willing to do whatever he could to square things up with Sleeper. Jake telling Bode about him potentially being a father stopped him from becoming a killer, essentially saving Bode.

Bode’s return to Three Rock in Fire Country season 2, episode 2 didn’t make things easier for him to build a relationship with Genevieve. Between Cara’s lack of certainty about Genevieve’s biological dad and Bode being an inmate, any little thing could threaten Bode and Genevieve getting to know each other. Cara’s death made everything worse by pushing them to find another guardian for Genevieve, and while Fire Country season 2, episode 6 revealed Bode’s paternity test not to be a match, Bode still wanted to become her guardian, having seen himself as Genevieve’s dad since he learned about her.

Jake Adopting Gen In Fire Country Can Give Bode A New Purpose

Bode Needs A New Focus In Fire Country

Jake’s revelation that he intends to adopt Gen in Fire Country season 2, episode 7 subverted Bode’s plans to be Genevieve’s guardian, but it also pinpointed why it wouldn’t be good for Bode to throw himself into said venture without knowing Genevieve. Since Bode first appeared in Fire Country season 1, he could be seen focusing on regaining his parents’ trust first, then on getting out so that he could be with Gabriela before getting himself back inside so that he could save Freddy. Indeed, Bode’s interest in doing the utmost to become Genevieve’s father was only his latest project.

Jake pointing out that Bode kept putting his "reason for living on other people," refusing to count on himself, can finally help Bode get better for the sake of doing so. If Bode was only motivating himself to work hard for other people in Fire Country seasons 1 and 2, knowing his best friend believes him worthy of existing and working hard because it’s good for him could be the spark that finally prompts Bode to find a purpose instead of just a new project. This could give Bode stability even if Jake’s intentions stop him from becoming Gen’s father.

Why Jake Taking Care Of Gen Makes Sense For All Involved In Fire Country Season 2

Jake's Grief Previously Prevented Him From Being Gen's Real Guardian

While Mickey’s observations about Station 42 feeling like a family despite them not being related were true, Jake is the only possible choice as a guardian for Genevieve. Although Sharon and Vince are pillars of the Edgewater community, they never had a close relationship with Cara, not enough to motivate them to take care of Genevieve. Similarly, even if Bode had been Genevieve’s biological father, he wouldn’t have had an opportunity to get to know Gen being an inmate firefighter, making him becoming Gen’s custodial guardian not make sense, especially given Genevieve’s opposition to it.

Jake becoming Genevieve’s guardian works as he was already raising her with Cara, making him the best option, even because Gen wanted Jake to be her guardian.

One of Fire Country season 2, episode 6’s main storylines saw Jake refusing to visit Gen, overwhelmed as he was by losing Cara. However, when he managed to visit Vince and Genevieve, it was clear Jake was the only one truly knowing Genevieve. Bode doesn’t need to be Gen’s guardian to find a purpose and instead needs to work on himself, with this potentially introducing a bigger story for him in Fire Country season 3. However, Jake was already acting as Gen’s parent while he was only Cara’s boyfriend, making him the best choice as Genevieve’s guardian in Fire Country.

Fire Country airs new episodes on Fridays on CBS.