Have you ever ever learn or watched a narrative and thought a personality appeared just a bit too conveniently excellent for the obstacles and struggles they face? Effectively, when you’ve been maintaining with Hearth Nation, you definitely have.
In literary phrases, this type of character is known as a “Mary Sue” after they’re a feminine character and a Gary, Larry, Marty Sue/Stu when male. Both approach, their presence denotes an absence of high quality writing.
Within the case of Hearth Nation, virtually each character can fall into this bracket of characterization. Nonetheless, nobody else is the poster youngster for this trope like Max Theriot’s (SEAL Crew) Bode.
Earlier than we get into this, let me preface this enjoyable article by saying I like Hearth Nation and I truly discover Bode to be an important character plenty of the time.
That stated, let’s name a spade a spade.
Not like Us Mere Mortals, Hearth Nation’s Bode Is So Wonderful That He Can Get Over Issues That Different Individuals Spend a Lifetime Making an attempt to Battle
In case you’re unfamiliar with the time period Gary Sue, they’re principally a personality that has only a few flaws. Additionally they appear to select up new abilities with out earlier coaching, they’re desired by many suitors, they arrive from a distinguished lineage, and they’re heroic to a fault. Sound acquainted?
The listing goes on and on, however suffice it to say, it’s the character that every thing at all times works out for it doesn’t matter what circumstances they place themselves in.
Hearth Nation Season 1 was blatantly responsible of regularly having Bode save the day by not listening to the chain of command.
It doesn’t matter what the disaster, Bode at all times knew higher than his superiors, and the episodes often ended with Bode being thanked for not following protocol. As a result of that’s precisely what occurs in the actual world, proper?
Additionally, didn’t Bode have points with medication and booze? Isn’t that one of many issues that led to his incarceration? How has that by no means come up once more? Is Bode so superb that his addictions simply vanished into skinny air?
If Bode Ought to Fall, One other Character Should Fall More durable And Longer
Have you learnt what would have made Hearth Nation a world of excellent? Some flashbacks to Bode struggling along with his dependancy.
There was that one shot in Hearth Nation Season 1 Episode 19 of Sleeper giving Bode one thing for the withdrawals, however that was it.
There was by no means a scene of him in any form of counseling or group remedy to take care of the trauma of dropping Riley, nor what instruments he used to beat his dependancy. He simply got here out of jail clear as a whistle and able to save the day.
For no matter cause, the collection determined to provide the principle character a risky backstory with none actual follow-through on inner struggles — actual struggles.
Bode’s solely subject has been getting out of his personal strategy to grow to be a firefighter, however each catastrophe is written, so he has to suppose exterior the field.
Then it appeared just like the writers have been making an attempt to course-correct Bode in Hearth Nation Season 2 by having everybody solely see him as a screwup.
In fact, the present couldn’t let Bode be the most important mess, so Gabriela’s ongoing self-destruction was kicked up just a few notches.
Regardless of What Hearth Nation Needs Viewers to Suppose, At all times Eager to Save The Day Is Not a Actual Flaw
I’ve given the Hearth Nation writers plenty of grief for the way in which Gabriela has been developed, however it all ties again to Bode and his hero’s journey.
Bode was continuously pushing Gabriela away to maintain her out of the messes he created, and he acted like he was her white knight, treating her like a damsel. It’s no surprise Gabriela nearly misplaced her rattling thoughts.
Fortunately, Hearth Nation Season 3 is giving Gabriela again her due justice whereas Bode slips additional into his “Gary Sue” standing.
The one distinction now’s that the collection is making an attempt to color Bode’s heroics as an dependancy as a result of desirous to at all times save the day is poisonous, proper?
Yeah, the writers are struggling to provide Bode actual growth as a result of they’ve constructed him up into the “Hometown Hero” a lot that if he strays from the savior path, it should devastate each different character.
Critically although, sufficient is sufficient.
He virtually received Audrey killed in Hearth Nation Season 3 Episode 9 as a result of he refused to observe his orders after promising a resident that he would save their home. There’s noble, after which there’s simply plain silly.
One factor I’ll say about Bode is that he has a superb coronary heart, and his character is hellbent on serving to these round him. It could simply be good if he was extra relatable as a human who made real, lasting errors.
Eager to do no matter it takes to avoid wasting the day isn’t an actual flaw. At greatest, it’s a cry for assist. However no Leone man can be caught useless asking for assist — simply ask Walter.
Hopefully, as CBS‘s Hearth Nation Season 3 continues, the arms behind the present will give Bode an actual impediment apart from discovering a shirt that matches correctly.
These buttons can be screaming if they might speak.
He may simply go shirtless, which might be high-quality with me. The character could also be as boring as watching paint dry, however he’s not too arduous on the previous peepers.
Do you suppose Bode is simply too excellent as a personality?
What do you suppose must occur to make the character extra relatable?
Drop a remark under to let me know what you suppose, and be a part of me once more after I carry you extra enjoyable questions and opinions about Hearth Nation!
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