Diane Farr talks about Vince and Sharon & Bode and Gabriela’s relationship

(Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Fireland Season 3 Episode 3 “Welcome to the Cult.”)

Bode (Max Thieriot) faces his next obstacle as a cadet in the latest Fireland: exercises. And Diane Farr, who directed the episode, admits that “it was the scariest day.”

These rehearsals are also the scene of some family drama, with Vince’s (Billy Burke) father (Jeff Fahey) giving Bode a tip he doesn’t want. And speaking of drama, Bode and Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) admit the mistake they made during the helicopter rescue that interrupted her wedding, then go their separate ways, taking a moment to talk about their relationship. It’s always a little dangerous with them, she points out, even though he insists he can be boring. He offers to wait for her, but as she puts it, they keep playing with fire and they need to stop before they burn their lives down.

Below, Farr takes us inside and directs some memorable scenes from the episode and teases what’s to come.

Talk about leading the exercises. They were intense.

Diane Farr: It was the scariest day. Thanks for noticing. Okay, so that was my fire day. It was all inside this brick building that was really small. You couldn’t even fit all the crew members in there one at a time. And we had to light it on fire all day. And what I worried about the most was an actress wearing so much gear because it’s literally jarring. I did it at her age and I’ve done it at my age and all I kept doing was trying to redesign the image so I could get that gear from her over and over again. And the other instructors kept telling me, fire is like another day. It’s actually not harder than it seems. It’s like one more element. I didn’t believe them at all and I still don’t think it’s quite right because it’s hot and you have to be careful and we design a shot and then someone would come in and say it’s unsafe and we would regret it. It was scary and I was so scared to waste their time when it was heavy and it was hot, but we got through it on the day we were supposed to. So I guess that means check, I did the job.

It looks good on the screen.

The shot when Bode is standing there and the fire rolls over his head? It felt kind of good.

I love the moments we got of Sharon and Vince at Smokey’s – the scene with the hug from behind and then that near the end. What was your approach to the quieter moments that really highlight their relationship?

He and I have always had something in common when they physically meet. We block a scene like normal people. And in Season 2, I feel like what used to happen, we’d finish blocking and then I’d be like, oh wait, but they’ve got to do their Vince-Sharon thing because they’re physical tied to each other so that we have a habit of blocking the stage for what we say and then figuring out where we come together physically. So I think originally that scene probably started as a hug, but it just felt like you could see more of his expression if I got behind him and we could really see his face. That was the genesis of it.

Then comes the final scene with Bode and Gabriela in the car – and fantastic job directing it. What can you say about what comes up there and does their decision make it easier or harder for Sharon? Given Manny (Kevin Alejandro) asked her to keep them apart…

Manny has asked Sharon to keep them apart, and I don’t know that Sharon agrees. I don’t know if people would have wanted Vince and I to get together when we started. That scene in the car was so exciting to me. It was like seeing Bode in ordinary clothes. He had his head outside the window for a second. He has won everything. He must become a cadet. He has to pick up the girl. He just wants a normal life for a moment and all I could really sit on in the end is the melancholy of two people who love each other and keep not working. It was my greatest feeling to sit there. And also if I can just be honest, I wouldn’t go back to 31 if my life depended on it. You are so dying, should I breed? Should I get married? Should I do what my parents did? Should I get a house in the suburbs? Everything is so loaded on top of a relationship. That was the feeling in there. Can we do everything or do nothing?

I really enjoy the Sharon and Eve (Jules Latimer) scenes we get this season because I love seeing two women at the top of their jobs, both doing well, but then the moments where they can actually talk to each other.

Yes, it’s so funny. They have really found Eva’s flow this season. We get to meet her whole family and she’s not just a boss. She is like a perfect person in an all man’s world. I actually think you’re right, the two characters do the same thing in different places, but then can meet because, hey, here’s how it feels in my male-dominated world, which she and I kind of do in real life. (Laughing)

There is talk of how Jared Padalecki’s character Camden might bring out the dangerous side of Bode and has an unconventional tactic when it comes to firefighting. How does Sharon feel about that?

I think you already know how Sharon feels about that. They don’t become fast friends. Well, we’ll see if they ever get there, but it’s not a home run right off the top.

We’ll see Mickey (Morena Baccarin) again sooner Sheriff Country launches and I’m excited for it because Mickey and Sharon’s relationship is better now. So what do you hope to see there from the sisters?

I’m excited to see them argue. My favorite thing is that there is no syrup between them. They are not emotionally clingy sisters. They are not hugged and kissed. I love the little sparring between them. Morena is so much fun to work with. She’s so smart and prepared and knows exactly what she wants, and she’s another woman with a very powerful job on top of that. I’m excited for the scenes in the car. She is so funny. It’s nonstop like someone is pushing you on your game all the time.

And it’s a completely different side that we hadn’t seen of Sharon before, which I like.

Me too, that she has someone where she can be a little bit vulnerable to, where she’s not in charge at all, where she’s not loved, where she’s made so many mistakes. It really is a pleasure to play.

What else is up with Sharon? Will we see you in the middle of any major rescues coming up?

In the very next episode, there’s a rescue going on that’s really wild and kind of Stanley Kubrick-esque. Our next instructor did something really interesting. It will probably be the most beautiful save of the season.

Is that the elevator rescue you’re talking about?

That’s it. It’s like in a shaft. Most of the episode takes place in the shaft. It looks fantastic. Nicole Rubio is the director of it.

I’ve talked to Tia Napolitano about redemption for Luke (Michael Trucco) this season. We are starting to see that. What can you say about what’s coming up there and what does Sharon think of Luke now because it’s been back and forth?

The back and forth continues. Sometimes I say things to him that are so sarcastic. I say, guys, remember he gave me the kidney. I feel bad as an actress. Come now. He and I never stop sparring at any point. The whole family is there, everyone is in one room, and he says something slightly unpleasant to me, and I repeat it back to him like I’m five years old. They are right next to each other. It’s the most brother-sister relationship I have on the show, and it continues.

Will you be directing again this season?

No, I have a day job. Other people need jobs, so definitely not. I hope to be asked back next year.

FirelandFridays, 9/8c, CBS