Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Fire Country Season 4, Episode 5.The firefighters of Edgewater have been through a lot this season on Fire Country. After losing Billy Burke‘s Vince Leone to the devastating Zabel Ridge fire, nothing has been the same. Shawn Hatosy came rocking up as Brett Richards as a temporary battalion chief, and it set everyone on edge, but now that he’s gone, naming

Kevin Alejandro‘s Manny as Vince’s replacement, it doesn’t feel like we’re on any more solid ground than before. In the show’s most recent episode, “Happy First Day, Manny,” we see Manny immediately struggling with the burden of leadership when he comes up against Diane Farr‘s Sharon Leone.

Sharon hasn’t had a great season so far. Struggling with the painful grief of losing her husband, her journey to finding equilibrium hasn’t been easy. In Season 4, Episode 5, we see her struggle with Manny stepping into Vince’s shoes before Bode (

Max Thieriot) reveals to her that the note found in Vince’s guitar case wasn’t actually a letter from a scorned lover, but her own mother.

We spoke with Diane Farr about these plot twists, and the actor gave us some clues as to where Sharon is heading next. She teased the upcoming turmoil between Sharon and Manny, which is not fully resolved after the most recent episode. She also discussed working closely with Alejandro to find the balance between the two characters and their new relationship. Teasing more appearances in

Sheriff Country, she also breaks down the relationship between Sharon and her sister Mickey (Morena Baccarin). Finally, she gives us a look into what life will be like for Sharon when her mother (

Christine Lahti) reappears in her life, and how her relationship with Vince’s dad, Walter (Jeff Fahey), will play out later this season.

Diane Farr Reveals What It’s Been Like Shooting ‘Fire Country’ Since Billy Burke’s Exit

“I’m getting to do more grief than I imagined, which is wonderful.”

COLLIDER: I’m excited to talk to you about this show, because it’s one of my favorites, and you have had a great performance this season. What has it been like being on 

Fire Country after Billy Burke’s departure and navigating Sharon’s story this season?

 

DIANE FARR: Being on the show without Billy is different than I thought at first. I was sad, afraid. Losing Vince is like losing half of Sharon, and we have so few chances to see couples in the middle of a relationship. You know, all of our love stories are about finding a relationship, so it was really fun to honor what it looks like when you fight with your partner and you’re disappointed and you’re controlling and you’re the problem, and sometimes you’re not the problem. I really wasn’t sure how it would go, and

the writers have given me some beautiful things to explore. I’m getting to do more grief than I imagined, which is wonderful. I feel like we don’t talk enough about grief and sadness and how long it goes on, and how fine people can seem and where relief work is, and then suddenly you’re crying in the bathroom by yourself.

So that’s been a pleasure, and I work with different people this year than I did before. Kevin Alejandro has become like my sibling who I fight with, that was such a joy. It didn’t occur to me till I started to see his work in Season 4, what a trap he could have walked into, Vince is such a beloved character and was such a specific and honest seeming leader of a firehouse. To then have to become that, to have to become the next leader — it must have been really hard for him in his preparation, and he’s made such a different choice. And I was also worried that he would become my surrogate husband at work, and he’s really not.

Sharon has become so much more flawed in her relationship with Manny. It’s so fun to play.

Farr Discusses Sharon and Manny’s Surprisingly Rocky Relationship and the Troubles Ahead for Both Characters in Season 4

“…I was like, bless you, Tia Napolitano, bless you. This is so ridiculous.