After tonight, there are only two episodes of "Rescue Me" left in the season. Unfortunately, I'm going to be on vacation for both of those Tuesdays. I'm working on getting review screeners of both, but I don't know if I'll be able to watch and/or write about them until after the finale has aired and I'm back in the office. And, also unfortunately, I didn't much care for "Zippo," which was too heavy on Tommy's romantic life, even if one part of that life currently involves Maura Tierney. So I don't have much to say, but wanted to let everybody else weigh in. What did you all think?
I predict that Season 5 of RESCUE ME will end up on future "I Can't Believe I Watched the Whole Thing" lists.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to watch this show since it turned into geriatric softcore porn.
ReplyDeleteIf I could ask Peter Tolan and Leary a few questions....
ReplyDeleteWhy is it you two idiots think that everyone wants to see Leary, with his pants off in every episode?
Has it been written into Leary contract... that none of the actual hot guys on the show... get to drop their pants?
Is there any real reason for Janet to still be the angry entitled bitchy creature? Why have you not killed her off yet. Since you obviously have no issues with killing off the decent male characters.
As much as I like Sheila... I really wish that there was a little thought into writing for her character. Tho I am grateful that you toned down the extreme crazy behavior for her.
I actually could go on forever. But if you would simply make Leary keep his pants on... I would let the other sh*t slide.
I love Leary with all my heart but even I am tired of every female becoming a horny idiot when he walks in the room. The one bright spot was Maura Tierney's character who, while still expressing the obligational lust for Tommy, told him to leave. It's about time someone said "get out."
ReplyDeleteBless you HautieTx...very funny. Matty and Derek were spot on too. This is a show living on a handful of great episodes that has been mostly garbage since. Leary is in his 50s but thinks he's a 25-year-old Brad Pitt lookalike, that's the whole show. Fails.
ReplyDeleteAgree, agree, agree. Someone wrote a comment in the Mad Men review that they're getting tired of every woman being immediately attracted to Don Draper...but at least that's in the realm of possibility.
ReplyDeleteI have about 5 episodes sitting on the DVR that my wife will force me to watch with her (I'm the one that got her into the show.) I would love to fast forward through most of them. As the other commenters have noted, the women on this show have been turned into sex-crazed Tommy-lovers. I do not enjoy watching the sad demise of a once great show.
ReplyDeleteThis was definitely one of the worst episodes in a while. Did anything of consequence happen?
ReplyDeleteThe initial Janet/Sheila throwdown was interesting, but since then the show is just spinning its wheels as Tommy fails to make a decision. And Janet is possibly one of the most ridiculous characters on television. Do any of her motivations or demands make any sense to anyone? She keeps using Katy as a threat, but it's totally unrealistic since a) if she cared about her daughter as much as she claims, she wouldn't keep her from her father and b) Tommy knows Katy would prefer to live with him if given the choice, so why is he acting as if he believes Janet can turn her against him? Finally, what exactly does Janet get out of all of this?
I'm enjoying Maura Tierney, but she's just another in a long line of hot women who are inexplicably drawn to Tommy and will inevitably disappear without a trace. The most ridiculous part, though, was when she discovered that Tommy had a wife AND a girlfriend as was still interested. What woman would possibly react that way?
Speaking of ridiculous reactions, the entire scene in the restaurant seemed to take place in some kind of alternate universe. Were we supposed to sympathize with Tommy as he destroyed the place? And were we actually supposed to believe that everyone in the place sat idly by as he did it? And that Tommy then sat down for a calm conversation with Janet knowing the police were coming? And that the police were so charmed by Janet that they didn't arrest him on the spot? Huh??
As campy as it was, the opening in the grocery store made me laugh a couple of times. After that, I should have just turned this off.
ReplyDeleteITA about Tommy not getting arrested for the scene in the restaurant. Even worse, when the cops showed up you could see hear the restaurant employee describing the incident *with the cigarette* as if the entire thing hadn't escalated past that. WTH?
Sheila started out the season so strong, it's disappointing that she's back to her old tricks. As annoying as Janet is, Sheila is unwatchable.
Agree with Alan and others on the ongoing theory that this show is suffering more than gaining from the extended season. Some of the longer scenes are nice, but waaaay too much time spent on Tommy and his emotionally unstable women.
I have to agree with all the comments already stated. I'm disappointed, to say the least, with season 5 of Rescue Me. It started out with promise and has been on a downward slide.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am tired of Leary and his endless parade of women. I get it-*it's supposed to be partially about the male ego*-the id is working overtime on this show.
The restaurant scene was not believable. Tommy would have been arrested and charged with destruction of property.
I'm surprised that FX ordered another 18 episodes for next season.
This season should have been tight and compact-12-14 eps.
The storylines are both dwindling and drawn out.
I can't believe what has happened to this show.
HautieTx-Leary and Tolan did a live chat some time ago (actually Tolan wasn't there) and the mod's did not allow many questions to be asked about the show. It centered around hockey questions and such.
@alan: you have to be considering giving this one the "that's it for me!" treatment, yes?
ReplyDeleteyour blogs this season scream disinterest.
No, because some weeks (like last week, for instance), I've really liked it. Other weeks have really bored me. It's incredibly uneven, but the good stuff has, so far, been worth sticking around for.
ReplyDeleteThat SHEILA SCENE was SO unbelievably annoying, fake and contrived. REALLY PISSED ME OFFED
ReplyDeleteWhere is this show going? It seems like the writers have no idea and just keep coming up with random stuff. I guess they just decided to come up with the whole Jimmy cheating storyline so they could stretch it for a few episodes.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been interesting if Janet was the one he cheated with and which we would later find out is the reason Sheila slept with Tommy and why she is so angry at Janet.
For a show that was touted as being about the aftermath of 9/11 too bad they've actually left 9/11 related plotlines on the back burner in favor of the "everyone sleeps with Tommy". Too many rescue workers in real life have had to face Garrity's predicament. Why not more on that? Or even some of what was being hinted at with Jimmy on the day of 9/11 in the French journalist's footage. Forget all that the writers obviously place more importance on showing Leary's pasty white Irish a** (and I say that as a pasty white Irish American myself).
ReplyDeletethis is a sometimes very good show, sometimes very funny show that has some HUGE weaknesses and bad habits
ReplyDeleteBoth the Tommy-Janet relationship and the Tommy-Sheila relationship jumped the shark long ago
Tommy's family used to be a strength of the show and now its a weakness...his brother and his father were interesting characters for the first two seasons, but his uncle and his sister never were...naturally, we're stuck with the lesser for these latter seasons
There were any number of interesting ways to take the plot of this show, and too often they've chosen to repeat themselves or do things that were dramatic only in the moment, and led to less drama over the years.
As the years have passed, it seems the characters live in a smaller and smaller world and big, interesting characters have been replaced by small, less significant ones.
But hey, I still enjoy the show...just don't think it has fulfilled its promise...at the start of it, I just enjoyed it more and on more levels...and I agree with Alan that this season, we've had some big highs...
The resurrection of the 9/11 theme and that French journalist already feel like a long time ago. Almost a previous season. They intro'd it, only to drop it like a hot potato. And I agree...Garrity's predicament was another interesting angle that got short shrift.
ReplyDeleteRemember that Denis Leary is 52 years old and has been married to the same woman since his mid twenties. I believe his need to put himself in every sexual scene stems from a mid-life crisis and denial that is totally understandable for a man or woman in his situation. Although it can be argued that he is in good shape for his age he would have done himself (Tommy) more justice to limit his sexual conquests and bring more realism to the role. But hey, when you create, write and produce and are guaranteed another season you can fulfill your fantasies to your heart's desire. But here's the thing....I can forgive Denis Leary's massive ego and self-indulgent behaviour but could someone, anyone, please tell Tolan and Leary that it takes more than 5 seconds of penetration to make a woman climax....now this delusional portrayal I just can't forgive.
ReplyDeleteFinally, what exactly does Janet get out of all of this?
ReplyDeleteSex with Tommy, of course! It's what every woman wants! :-p
I, too, would rather have a shortened season so they could focus on actual plot and characterization vs. Leary's ego-stroking. This ep was hard to get through. Ugh.
The scenes with the guys in the squad are usually great -- good dialogue, good chemistry and often very funny.
ReplyDeleteI'm REALLY tired of the carousel of Tommy Gavin's women. As much as I like the actresses playing them... I've had enough of that part of the show.
The first two seasons of Rescue Me were stellar. After that it's been...meh. But I always get a kick out of the Man Talk in the firehouse.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the posters that I am tired of all the women throwing themselves at Tommy....I don't see the attraction AT all. They could have done a lot more with Sean, now that was a good (and realistic) story-and his family life is a riot.
ReplyDeleteThe first scene of all the guys in the supermarket was so funny.... the quick & nimble shoplifter, the supermarket getting trashed, Mike getting stuck in the grocery cart..
The grocery store scene was great... if only the episode would have ended there.
ReplyDeleteI thought the point of this blog was to analyze these shows, not to be a showcase for viewers to log the same complaints over and over. I have loved the show since the beginning, and still do. I don't understand why so many commenters are still watching if they are so bothered. The premise of the show is that Tommy is an emotionally damaged firefighter with many weaknesses - he always gets the girl because screwed up women are often drawn to emotionally damaged men ("I can make him happy and fix him,") as well as firefighters (and let's face it, there is something appealing about the power and the danger). Also, Tommy is bright and has a great wit. Many women like that. Period. So if you can't stand the show, stop watching.
ReplyDelete