Morena Baccarin as Mickey standing shoulder to shoulder with Matt Lauria as Boone in Sheriff CountryImage via CBS
By
Jeffrey Harris
Published 26 minutes ago
Jeffrey is a freelance features writer at Collider. He is an MPA-accredited entertainment journalist and a Tomatometer-approved critic based in the LA area. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Radio, TV, & Film and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater.
Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapEditor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Sheriff Country Episode 6.The latest episode of Sheriff Country, "Exit Interview," wraps up a subplot involving Edgewater Sheriff's Deputy, Nathan Boone (Matt Lauria), that has been unfolding since the pilot, when he handed his resignation to Sheriff Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin). However, the series threw another curveball to viewers at the end of the fifth episode, "Expecting Trouble." When Mickey tries to get Boone to stay in Edgewater, Boone reveals he's still leaving and introduces a mystery woman, Nora (Susan Misner). After a confused Mickey at first mistakes Nora for Boone's sister, Boone shockingly reveals that Nora is his wife! Well, the next episode explains this shocking plot twist and resolves the conflict about Boone leaving Edgewater to return to Oakland, and the results prove unsatisfactory.
Boone's Marriage Causes Inorganic Drama in 'Sheriff Country'
Morena Baccarin as Sheriff Mickey Fox standing next to Matt Lauria as Boone in Sheriff CountryImage via CBS
One of the major problems with the Boone marriage plot twist is the revelation that came out of nowhere. It's one thing for Mickey's deputy, Cassidy Campbell (Michelle Weaver), to engage in a romantic relationship with Mickey's ex-husband, Travis Fraley (Christopher Gorham), but Boone hiding a wife and stepchild for multiple years does not stand up to scrutiny. How did Boone keep the secret while partnered with Mickey for so long? At least "Exit Interview" somewhat addresses that problem when Mickey confronts Boone about Nora, and Boone points out that Mickey never wants to discuss personal issues on the job.
Additionally, although "Exit Interview" provides an explanation behind Boone's marriage and why he kept it hidden, it is not satisfactory. Nora ultimately reveals that their marriage is based on convenience rather than love and devotion. Boone was a close friend of Nora's late husband, but the two were never legally married. Nora's partner succumbed to depression and substance abuse, but since the two were never officially married, Nora did not have access to his pension or spousal benefits, which made life difficult for her and her son. Boone married Nora to assist with her family’s financial situation. It's obvious that Boone is not actually in love with Nora and does not want to start a life with her, and he married her out of obligation to his late partner.
The explanation of why Boone and Nora are married is insufficient because it doesn't seem like something the straitlaced Boone would do, and the revelation that the marriage is basically a sham cheapens the plot twist. Ultimately, the subplot comes off as a ham-fisted way to cause drama between Boone and Mickey. The series hinted at feelings between Boone and Mickey as early as the first episode, when Mickey playfully remarks that Boone has a "pretty face." That remark could be workplace banter between friends, but it comes off as slightly flirtatious. Moreover, when Mickey meets Nora for the first time and finds out Nora is Boone's wife, Mickey appears not only shocked but also jealous.
Does 'Sheriff Country' Want To Pair Boone With Mickey?
Sheriff Country definitely seems to be setting up Boone and Mickey as a potential long-term romantic angle for the series and possibly an endgame couple. However, the Nora roadblock was not an organic way to create interpersonal drama between the two characters. It comes off like the writers are concocting incredibly contrived methods to cause conflict with Boone and build up to his potential romance with Mickey. The subplot takes the show into unappealing soap opera territory.
The reveal of Boone's marriage was certainly shocking, but it wasn't believable or well-written. Now that everyone knows Boone is in a loveless marriage with Nora, which he only participates in to help her financially, he is free to engage in a guilt-free romance with Mickey, who is currently involved in a burgeoning romance with undercover DEA agent Dawson Raines (Wes Chatham). The last thing Sheriff Country needs is a romantic love triangle, which has already caused problems for the show's sister series, Fire Country, in past seasons.
'Sheriff Country' Is Growing Overly Reliant on Shocking Plot Twists
Cassidy Campbell and Nathan Boone look concerned in Sheriff Country.Image via Christos Kalohoridis/CBS
Ultimately, Sheriff Country is growing too reliant on shock value and surprising plot twists in the first season. It started with the revelation of Travis' relationship with Cassidy, and later, the murder of Skye's boyfriend, Brandon. The discovery of Brandon's murderer was not satisfying because the show did not set up the mystery properly. The murderer turned out to be a minor character whom the show had not yet introduced. This problem continues with the reveal of Boone's secret wife.
The explanation behind Boone's marriage comes off as an illogical narrative choice, an artificial means to create suspense between Boone and Mickey. Sheriff Country continually aims to shock viewers, but it lacks the substance and strong writing to back up its provocative reveals. The series habitually relies on major plot twists, creating unnatural moments of drama and suspense. Hopefully, the writers can balance out these plot twists and not overuse them throughout the rest of the season.
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Sheriff Country
Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Crime Release Date October 17, 2025 Network CBS Showrunner Matt LopezCast
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Morena Baccarin
Mickey Fox
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W. Earl Brown
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