tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post1030534100594833434..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Rescue Me, "Torch": A burning in his loinsAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-39620257714770408812009-07-08T09:35:10.216-04:002009-07-08T09:35:10.216-04:00That opening scene with Tommy gathering the remain...That opening scene with Tommy gathering the remains of the little girl was fantastic, and a terrific example of how it's not necessary (in scenes involving either sex or violence) to use special effects to add to the realism of a moment. Very powerful.<br /><br />I think the actress playing Sheila does a terrific job - even that her character is annoying means she's effective. This episode allowed her to shine a bit.<br /><br />The opening scene, for me, connected many dots: Tommy can't feel, and that's what he wants more than anything right now. It explains his narcissistic behavior in many ways.Tonihttp://twitter.com/frageelaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-81384347858768393992009-07-07T21:14:35.250-04:002009-07-07T21:14:35.250-04:00Dan said...
Anyone know what the song at the end w...Dan said...<br />Anyone know what the song at the end was<br /><br />Cat Power - New York<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3vhh5sHNOgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-32102761399208292652009-07-04T02:45:39.381-04:002009-07-04T02:45:39.381-04:00I get that Leary is the star/producer of the show....I get that Leary is the star/producer of the show. However, as many times the show's reminded us of the "brotherhod" of firefighters, Tommy as the super hero is just ridiculous. As for Lou, something is up with Candy. Last week she wants to sleep with Lou, this week-"let's take it slow." Terminal illness?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75132989412008400552009-07-02T09:44:47.827-04:002009-07-02T09:44:47.827-04:00Liked the Sean musical scene for its shout-out to ...Liked the Sean musical scene for its shout-out to Singin' in the Rain, but otherwise, agreed that enough is enough.<br /><br />Otherwise... ehh. To me, it didn't seem much different from any other episode, other than the ghosts, whose tone seemed different, more sad. (I didn't see it as taunting Tommy, myself.) I can't take Uncle Teddy and Maggie anymore (not that I ever really could) and do wonder why I'm sticking to this show... and yet I am. Strange.<br /><br />P.S. I think Lou's getting shafted again.Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53943555383359031762009-07-02T03:08:02.172-04:002009-07-02T03:08:02.172-04:00The scene with Lou and Candy in the apartment afte...The scene with Lou and Candy in the apartment after she cleaned it made me jumpy. The camera kept ending up on Lou's back as he spoke to Candy, and I kept anticipating that she'd be gone with the coin collection and chess set by the time he turned around.<br /><br />I wonder if it's going to be like that for a while. It's effective. Nobody trusts her, and I kind of hope the camera work continues like this until it's safe to trust her again.mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13067880072261707462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-86650594415205153702009-07-02T01:44:45.142-04:002009-07-02T01:44:45.142-04:00Meh. I usually agree with you Alan, but with the ...Meh. I usually agree with you Alan, but with the exception of the scene of Tommy wrapping up the body of the dead child, I thought the episode was pretty weak. Almost at the "that's it for me" point with Rescue Me.<br /><br />When the show started and Tommy would have the hallucinations of Jimmy, generally they were pretty tolerable -- they drove the story, were part of the central theme, and the writers played a lot with the tension of whether stuff was really happening, or was a hallucination. But now, a couple of seasons into its run, the show has relied on that device too heavily for my tastes. Instead of really working to give us quality scenes like the opener in this episode, where the actors' actions and body language convey all the emotion and tell a very powerful story with little if any dialogue, the hallucination scenes now seem like a cop-out of lazy writers. The ghosts show up ad nauseam and tell us what Tommy is supposed to be feeling and why. Might as well use voice-over or a narrator to tell us what the character is feeling instead. And there's no subtlety to it at all: hey, Tommy's alone and drinking, in a dimly lit room, so it must be time for a few ghosts to show up and berate him. The torch scene would have been a lot more powerful if we just watched Tommy toy with the idea, and then burn himself, knowing that he is driven by "inner demons" and guilt, rather than being told why he's doing it. IMHO. <br /><br />Plus, I can't take another musical number for Sean... and have fast forwarded through the last two.Gern Blanstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12024220871037407100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-42079307275042859682009-07-02T01:16:42.738-04:002009-07-02T01:16:42.738-04:00I liked the Garrity scenes more than others here, ...I liked the Garrity scenes more than others here, especially when he wanted Teddy to kill him rather than have to see Maggie again.<br /><br />The scene with Tommy wrapping up the kid was incredibly powerful. I kept waiting for her to pop up in the shadows the way the other victims used to haunt him. She might yet.deznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-28357849482547257742009-07-01T18:38:25.693-04:002009-07-01T18:38:25.693-04:00Striking that a 9/11-inspired series concludes a p...Striking that a 9/11-inspired series concludes a particularly powerful episode with the image of a firefighter (as opposed to the President of the U.S.)reading to a roomful of kids who actually need and respond to the attention. Don't know if this was done on purpose; if not, it's a happy accident.Jincyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412373553041236286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88526498316722493822009-07-01T14:31:55.580-04:002009-07-01T14:31:55.580-04:00I felt this was a strong episode. The utilization...I felt this was a strong episode. The utilization of music in most Rescue Me episodes is representative and poignant. The music supervisor of the show gets A from me. I know that Steven Pasquale has a wonderful voice due to his recent release of his album but the scenes are getting tiresome. <br />Alan, you brought up the use of the static shot. I thought that it was brilliantly done. It lent to the pain and coldness Tommy himself feels. The torch scene was disturbing but Sheila was right on about self-injurious behavior. Those who feel that they cannot feel pain and need an outlet, often lean towards self mutilation in some way. The leg did look very real, kudos to the special effects department. <br />Sean's scenes were welcome in this episode which was mostly dark. His exchange with his brother, played by Kevin Chapman, are very funny. The Maggie and Teddy segments were of no use to me. I felt them to be completely out of place. <br />Tommy's continued destination to seek some type of relief for pain he has bottled up is at times, very real. He goes about things in such a matter of fact manner, most of the time, that it was nice to see him try and seek some relief besides drinking away his nightmares. However, this behavior is not condoned by me. <br />Lou and Candy, where is this going? I can only think that Lou is going to wind up hurt again but I champion him for trying to attempt some type of happiness. John Scurti is wonderful in this show. He deserves some type of recognition for his performance.<br />As far as the ending was concerned, I too, thought perhaps Tommy is making a breakthrough by going into pediatric cancer children's playroom and reaching out. But we all know that it won't last long. I thought the song more than fitting for the ending. It wasn't the best episode this season but it was up there in the top five.JanieJonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-60773699259782542342009-07-01T08:46:56.833-04:002009-07-01T08:46:56.833-04:00It was good, but not my favorite of the season. S...It was good, but not my favorite of the season. Still, unified with strong moments. I kept waiting for Tommy to do the sign of the cross after he wrapped up that kid. And I definitely thought he was going to burn down the bar--I'm happy it didn't go that way.<br /><br />Candy is a distraction to me as well, and I wish they hadn't gone in that direction.<br /><br />I still feel like 22 episodes is too long for this season. They could've tightened up everything a lot more.<br /><br />I liked what Sheila said about Tommy's leg wound being so gross and thinking it wouldn't be able to heal if they had sex together. It was so obviously a parallel to Tommy in general, and how being with Sheila just opens up his messy wounds without them healing properly every time they're together. They are incapable of anything healthy and at some point should realize they need to stay the hell away from each other.<br /><br />Solid episode. The horrific scene with the little girl was definitely one of the best directed on this show.erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16186483042206438665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31322176423829941882009-07-01T08:28:17.821-04:002009-07-01T08:28:17.821-04:00I kept thinking he was goingto "accidentally&...I kept thinking he was goingto "accidentally" burn the bar down, I couldn't believe (and I could barely watch) when he put that torch on his own leg...gross!!!! But great too, in terms of the ghosts leading up to it and what happened with Sheila, and then with the pediatric cancer ward afterwards.<br /><br />And sorry, but I'm still rolloing my eyes at Lou and Candy...he can say goodbye to his coin collection (which she noted seemed valuable) and his civil war chess set...clearly, she has thoroughly cased the joint...LOL. But seriously, I find teh whole storyline distracting b/c I don't trust her and I keep waiting for her to screw Lou over again.Sonianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-44589398841882316582009-07-01T08:06:35.158-04:002009-07-01T08:06:35.158-04:00The answer you seek is cleverly hidden somewhere i...The answer you seek is cleverly hidden somewhere inside the post you have just commented on.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66893297232932602342009-07-01T07:52:54.904-04:002009-07-01T07:52:54.904-04:00Anyone know what the song at the end was?Anyone know what the song at the end was?Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14307757475136787621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-33673813254302976382009-07-01T07:52:12.487-04:002009-07-01T07:52:12.487-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14307757475136787621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-44996341154239294132009-07-01T06:26:40.829-04:002009-07-01T06:26:40.829-04:00Wow, what a haunting episode. I kept waking up in ...Wow, what a haunting episode. I kept waking up in the middle of the night thinking of Tommy using the blowtorch on himself, and the scene immediately after with Sheila ("Don't go doing S.I.D.'s on me...self-inflicted damage, I saw it on <i>Intervention</i>. What? It's a good show!") was effectively messed up. And the most haunting was Tommy putting on his "happy face" showing us just how strong he is / how badly he wants and needs to feel something again. I agree with you that this was the series' most effective "ghost" seen in a while, if not ever. Where the first episode this season felt very interesting but a little stilted and awkward (the ep where Tommy was talking to Jimmy, his dad, his brother and Conner at the bar), this one felt powerful and extremely relevent.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11495053235877038408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-86533264658201573392009-07-01T05:15:07.657-04:002009-07-01T05:15:07.657-04:00I actually didn't think it was all that great....I actually didn't think it was all that great. Not to say it was bad, but best of the season? I much prefer "Jimmy" or "Sheila," which opened with that apocalyptic dream, closed with the Sheila monologue, and featured Garrity learning he has cancer in one of the show's best long shots.<br /><br />I take the point about the show feeling unified for a change, but I still can't get past the Tommy self-aggrandizement, as you put it. In the early part of the season, it wasn't so overwhelming, and many of the other characters got strong scenes to play. <br /><br />Lately, we've returned to how it used to be: Tommy is a god--a volatile, destructive one, but a god nonetheless. I generally enjoy the closing montage that has become a staple of this show, but how much slo-mo Tommy admiration do we need? (Cat Power was a perfect fit, though.) Of course, he is the central character, and Leary is almost always up to the task, but Tommy getting drunk and talking to ghosts and violently lashing out? I've seen this twelve too many times.<br /><br />Then there's the Lou-Candy subplot. For some reason, I actually believe the writers have something new to play. I hope I'm not just falling for it again.<br /><br />Again, I liked the episode, but I'm not convinced it's a major break from the gradual downturn the season has taken these past few weeks.Brandonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-62061430934035139072009-07-01T03:03:34.840-04:002009-07-01T03:03:34.840-04:00I saw the final scene with Tommy as a kind of evid...I saw the final scene with Tommy as a kind of evidence of a breakthrough... I don't think the empty/unfeeling Tommy that was able to pick up the burnt kid could summon the compassion to 'put on a happy face' for the kids. Finding a way to feel again, even through such horror-filled methods, led to that moment.<br /><br />And if he can make it there (the kids' cancer ward) he can make it anywhere (to pull Cat Power's re-imagined "New York" into context). <br /><br />Of course, it won't last -- just like that coin collection and Civil War chess set... which begs the question, who's going to get burned more here, Tommy or Lou?Shawn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703481653646144923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-24792692949878608812009-07-01T02:23:55.469-04:002009-07-01T02:23:55.469-04:00Did Leary utter a complete sentence at any time du...Did Leary utter a complete sentence at any time during the episode?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14407887156360161904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-70503390092229580322009-07-01T01:00:31.814-04:002009-07-01T01:00:31.814-04:00Yeah, I keep wondering when the other shoe's g...Yeah, I keep wondering when the other shoe's going to drop with Candy. But since she robbed him blind the first time around, there's not much more to take. I hope it works out...but I fear it won't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-2200120542949152042009-07-01T00:29:43.265-04:002009-07-01T00:29:43.265-04:00Strong, strong episode that was relatively light o...Strong, strong episode that was relatively light on the comedy. Speaking of comedy, first, the musical bits are starting to get a bit tired for me. I can't get enough of watching the Garrity brothers fight, but the song and dance numbers have worn out their welcome. Speaking of Sean's brother, played by Kevin Chapman - they really do look like they have a family resemblance, and Chapman's role as Garrity's brother is a nice departure from his strong work on "Brotherhood" as mobster "Freddie Cork." As Freddie, he did a great job as a menacing mob boss, and his role as Garrity's brother is a nice change of pace that shows his range.<br /><br />You were dead on about the outstanding scenes in this episode. The way these scenes were shot really stood out from past episodes of Rescue Me in a good way. <br /><br />Unlike you, Candy doesn't bother me. Lou's always been my favorite in the house, and him having a shot at happiness makes me very happy.UnwantedTouchinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14459449971542271695noreply@blogger.com