Sheriff Country will feature two sheriffs in Season 2, Morena Baccarin confirmed, after CBS announced Ben McKenzie would guest in the Oct. 9 premiere and Baccarin revealed he will return for additional episodes. The casting shifts the show’s leadership dynamic on-screen, with McKenzie’s Sheriff Jim Wade joining Baccarin’s Mickey Fox as a recurring ally and foil.
At a press event on the Toronto set for the new season, Baccarin said, "He's here now, he comes back, spoiler alert." CBS initially listed McKenzie for two episodes, and Baccarin’s comments signal those appearances are likely to expand beyond the premiere. "I was giddy actually, it was really fun to work together," she added, and noted the role reversal compared with their earlier work: "I like saying that last time we worked together, he was the boss, and now I'm the boss, so it's better. But it does make me very happy."
Showrunner Matt Lopez provided context for the characters’ relationship, explaining that Mickey and Wade "came up together" and are similar in age, but Wade has been sheriff for about 10 years while Mickey has held the post for only a couple. Lopez said Wade has seniority Mickey leans on for advice, and that the season will reveal a deep shared history. "We'll find out that they share a long personal history, that's not to say romantic because it's not, but he was instrumental... He's [Mickey's daughter] Skye's godfather," Lopez said, adding their paths have diverged in recent years but Season 2 will throw work and life back into each other's lives.
Baccarin framed Mickey as cautious about romance this season, saying, "Well, given that my last boyfriend didn't work out so good for us, I think Mickey's feeling a little burned at the moment, it's all about getting her life back on track." She acknowledged plans for a future love interest but suggested it is not immediate. Separately, Fire Country star Max Thieriot and Baccarin teased interseries developments, with Thieriot hinting at "crossover love" that will play out this season, though he did not name the characters involved.
The immediate takeaway is the show will leverage McKenzie’s recurring presence to deepen Mickey’s backstory and to expand ties between Sheriff Country and Fire Country. Viewers will see how Wade’s secrets and his history with Mickey reshape Season 2 when the premiere airs Oct. 9 and in the episodes that follow.
