Sheriff Country Enlists Ben McKenzie To Guest-Star Opposite

A new sheriff is coming to Edgewater: Ben McKenzie ("Gotham") is set to guest-star in "Sheriff Country" Season 2 opposite his real-life wife and series star Morena Baccarin. McKenzie joins the CBS spin-off in the Season 2 premiere, which airs on Friday, October 9 at 8/7c , as Sheriff Wade, a neighboring sheriff who is called in to assist Mickey (Baccarin).

The episode titled "Cyclone" sees Sheriff Mickey Fox struggling to process the news that her mother is not dead as she previously thought. As the Season 1 finale revealed , DEA Deputy Director Eva Santos (Rachel Ticotin) is the Fox family matriarch — and she's alive and well.

Alongside her personal drama, the episode sees Mickey racing "to save a troubled young woman whose descent into a dangerous criminal operation uncovers a growing threat to all of Edgewater," per the official synopsis. For related coverage, explore our detailed analysis on Technology and Digital Systems.

Key Analysis and Detailed Timeline

The couple previously worked together on Fox's "Gotham," where Baccarin recurred alongside McKenzie, who starred as James Gordon in all five seasons of the superhero drama from 2014 to 2019. McKenzie also notably starred as Ryan Atwood in all four seasons of Fox's teen drama "The O.C." from 2003 to 2007.

His film credits include "I Want You Back," "88 Minutes," and Some Kind of Beautiful." "Sheriff Country," a spin-off of "Fire Country," stars Morena Baccarin as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire's division chief Sharon Leone.

She investigates criminal activity while she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater, contending with her ex-con father, Wes (W. Earl Brown), who is an off-the-grid marijuana grower. Season 1 ended on a major cliffhanger : Mickey's estranged mother has resurfaced, and she's the Deputy Director of the DEA.

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In the final moments of the Season 1 finale, Mickey and her father both realize that the Fox family matriarch who was previously believed to be dead is, in fact, alive. The woman even proposes that three of them team up to take down a violent cartel beginning to gain traction in Edgewater.

Mickey and Wes have yet to react to the proposition.

Broader Impact and Sector Outlook

In addition to Baccarin and Brown, the Season 2 cast features Matt Lauria as Nathan Boone, Christopher Gorham as Travis Fraley, and Michele Weaver as Cassidy Campbell. Amanda Arcuri, who plays Mickey's daughter Skye, and Ian Quinlan, who plays deputy Hank, have also been promoted to series regulars .

The series was renewed for Season 2 in December 2025 , just six episodes into its freshman run.

Are you looking forward to seeing Ben McKenzie visit Edgewater? Sound off in the comments with your thoughts!