TVSquad

I had a hard time watching that scene. That's one messed up family. Did Tommy do it to get back at his brother? Or does Tommy still love and want Janet? As the scene ended it really seemed like Janet wanted it, the look on her face was just as satisfied as Tommy's smirk.

Now looking at the storylines, Johnny is going to find out at some point. But my first thought is Janet gets pregnant from that with a son; playing off the theme of Tommy's dad wanting a male Gavin to carry on the name and Tommy freezing his "boys" for future use.

Then the previews come on, and Damian's teacher is arrested for rape. And she gave the boys an STD. Do the math on that and that could leave Janet very pissed off. And Johnny as well if they don't find out soon enough.

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I was shocked by Tommy's behavior, but when am I not. From my seat it was obvious it's too painful for them to be together, allthough she seemed to have enjoyed herself and played it off very well when his brother came home. She wasn't weeping as if she was violated, she is just as twisted as he is. They deserve each other. God I love this show!!!

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Ok, so some people are not going to watch the show anymore. Boo-hoo. Don't watch it then. What's with all the complaints about how it portrays women? Sheila is pretty much the same character since season 1, janet is the same...why complain now?

I'll admit I was shocked too by the whole thing, but in life people sometimes go too far. I'll still be watching the show.

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Well to me it dident really look like a rape.. just vary rough sex! But it was quite a shocker.. I thought they where gonna argue about when the thing with his brother started!..
And i can just say.. i enjoy the whole probie thing.. its seriously far out!! :D

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It was rape. Period. And I think what disgusted me most was when Tommy drove off with a smug grin on his face. FX took a great and entertaining program and just had to push the envelope..."just how far will our viewers let us go?"

FX, you've crossed the line.

I throughly enjoyed Rescue Me until now. I have deleted Rescue Me from my TIVO recording line-up.

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Hey, I've got a question that hopefully someone can help me out with. Why does Jerry's wife's brother hate him so much? Was there a big falling out or does he just not approve of Jerry being a firefighter? Does he also hate his sister? I saw the episode where Jerry asks him for money to help with her care, but someone asked me about this and I just can't remember. A

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Its well-established that the Gavin family settles disputes with their fists. Anyone who thinks this was a first time incident between these characters are the type of people who read and move their lips at the same time. Get over it. Its part of their established antics.

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I saw your rape scene last week.

I hope your network rots in hell; I hope your
show is cancelled.

It was uncalled for, graphic,
set a poor example for boys/men and all time low for poor taste. Sure, stuff like that happens in real life - but don't glorify and acknowlegde it with him walking away smirking.
It's not even as if you were making some profound statement for women's rights or against criminal behavior.

I hope your network goes down the tubes quicker than
a popsicle melts in the sun. I know that I will not watch
FX anymore and will be sure to let all of my friends and
family to know that you don't deserve our time or
attention.

I would hope that you would AT LEAST PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE
to all of those you've offended. I hope that your creators experience
a rape like that (or worse) in their life times at least once or twice
- perhaps you won't see it as entertainment.

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My husband is a highly decorated firefighter in our community and regularly watches the show Rescue Me. He normally records an episode on our Tivo box, then on nights when I go to sleep early, he'll watch the episode in our bedroom on our Tivo box.

He was watching Episode #304 "Sparks" and near the end of the episode I was awakened from sleep to a violent episode of a rape occurring. I was deeply disturbed by depicting a firefighter (or any person) raping another person on my TV. Not only have you lost my husband as a viewer of Rescue Me, you have lost an entire household from watching any show on the FX Network. We have blocked out the FX channel with a parental control and will never be an FX viewer again.

Very poor taste. I too hope your mothers and daughters experience the same fate for depicting such a vicious act.

Former FX fan,
Brenda

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I find it interesting, that you can take the stance that the show was horrible for depicting a rape (simulated) and then wish on people who had no part in that decision that they be raped (actual). That goes somewhere beyond the hyocritical and I'm not certain if it's evil or just incredibly stupid.

In terms of the show, this is definitively a cross the line encounter... but then again Tom assaulting his brother (including ramming his head through a car window) was a cross the line as well. I'm not sure i understand why one would be okay with a brutal physical assault, not okay with the borderline rape and then call the SHOW sexist. Either both are okay, or neither is okay, and if you didn't stop watching it before than stopping now demeans you, not them.

I think it was a rape. She may not have said no but she certainly was resisting him, and even though she stopped resisting post insertion, there was no consent (or implied consent) prior to that, so it's rape.

What does it mean for Tommy? Almost nothing. Tommyis in a downward spiral and has in the most recent span of episodes: Orchestrated a murder, assault & battered his brother, and raped his estranged wife. The problem for the show is that these effects don't seem to have any efect on Tom, either internlly or externally. He doesn't see them as a need for change, and the world doesn't come down on him.

If there's any reason to stop watching the show, it would be if they just proceed with business as normal, and there's no pay-of or resolution to the hole that Tommy has put himself in morally.

Of course, what a lot of people need to realize is that Tommy isn't the hero of this show at all. Tommy is the villain, the antagonist and we watch the effect that he has on various other peoples lives and how the negatie backwash on being near him drags others down as well. We watch, and we hope that people will escape his pull, persevere and shine... but we don't care what happens to Tom anymore.

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Your Rescue Me "Sparks" episode was very disturbing the rape seen was not entertaing. Shame on you for throwing that up on our screens. This is a hidious example that you are modeling to men.

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I think everyone is totally getting it all wrong. It is all about their relationship. Every thing is based on intense feeling. Hate and Love. It has nothing to do with rape. She was in a rage for a long time. She was doing everything to ride him. To get back at him for their sons death. She is doing his brother just to mess with his mind. Tommy takes everything she has to give because of his guilt and when it all comes to a head. Just more of their dysfunctional hate/love stuff. A women who is raped does not ask if he will call. Tommy's smirk was not about raping her. It was about getting back on familiar ground.

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Bravo for people exercising their right to watch or not to watch. FX crosses the line, time and again, and usually, it ends up with good television. People are confusing the showing of a rape scene with condoning it. FX doesn't condone violence with its television shows. It tells a story - be it good or bad.

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Regarding the rape scene, I was very shocked that FX went that far. The show is edgy and surprising and thats why I like it, but this scene was socially irresponsible. How could the message of the outcome of that scene be anything but damaging? I'll continue to watch the show, but it has lost much much credibility and esteem.

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It is true that any scene that makes light or entertainment of a horrible circumstance such as rape is disgusting.

BUT it is equally disgusting to wish something so horrible and vicious on people you don't know because of what one person WROTE and two people ACTED out.

It's obscene to wish harm on anyone; but to do it because you saw something on TV that offended you? What a sorry world we live in!

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I have never watched the show, but I saw the article and felt compelled to write in on the subject... Without having seen anything other than a video clip of this scene, and without knowing anything more than the basics about the series, this is what I have to say:

The whole argument over whether or not this was a rape scene was exactly the point of the scene. Clearly, the show is depicting a seriously disturbing and effed up relationship with this couple. Clearly Tom has a history of violent behavior and negativity. The purpose of the scene is to further highlight the person he is becoming, and the mental state he is in. Was it rape or not? That's the whole point! It was meant to make the audience question what was going on in the characters' minds, to examine their feelings about these characters, and (better yet, I believe) to question their own personal feelings about the subject of rape. Though neither character explicitly says so, one could interpret their expressions and body language after the act to mean that they themselves aren't sure if it was rape or not. Tom's ex wife seems somewhat detached, perhaps numb.... is she thinking to herself, "Oh my god, he just raped me." or is she thinking about how much she enjoyed their (rough) sex? We'll never know.

The writers for the series created a disturbing and yet brilliant depiction of a real grey area in our society today. We have problems today with women who cry rape when it truthfully never happened (or where the sex was consensual) -- just to get a settlement (or attention). There are couples who enact "rape fantasies" as part of their healthy, consensual sex lives. There are grey areas in this subject that most people don't want to talk about because it is seemingly taboo. Where does the line exist between real rape and consensual, albeit rough or violent, sex? I believe that the writers for this show were intending for their audience to ask themselves that very question. It seems they got their wish! The buzz about this scene will likely rake in just as many new viewers to more than replace all of the pissed-off viewers who have decided to boycott the show, or the FX channel, etc.

It's a shame that most people will decide to boycott the show because they need to act self-righteous and morally outraged by it, in a sense, sweeping the entire question and issues raised under the rug. Some of them have said "shame on FX for setting such a poor example for boys/men" -- I say, shame on them for *not* setting an example for people around you by talking about the scene and for pretending that it doesn't exist. One of the reasons why rapes still occur on this planet is because people remain silent. Victims stay silent because they are afraid to come out. Rapists remain silent because they are afraid of judgement and that they cannot get help. I imagine that there may be women who are victims of spousal rape who, upon seeing this scene, might feel compelled to talk to someone. In that case, couldn't you argue that perhaps the scene has done some *good* for the world?

To those who have wished rape and similar violence upon the writers/staff/actors/etc. of the show: shame on you for being so hypocritical. And shame on you for wishing violence on *anyone* -- and in retribution for what? Not a real act of violence, but a fictional depiction of violence? And how ridiculous is it that those who were previously fans of the show were perfectly fine with physical violence and assault in general in the show, but once it became rape (or possible rape), suddenly it's not OK to depict it? It's a great show that you'll watch religiously if they are kicking the crap out of some guy, but it's horrible and you'll decide to boycott it when they show a scene that could have been a rape? How enlightened you all are .

The fact is, aside from the scene being a means of delving into just how messed up these characters are, the scene is meant to raise questions. People *should* be talking about this scene and how it made them feel. Violence is perpetuated in our society not because of violent TV, or video games, etc. It is perpetuated because people don't talk about it -- and *especially* because they don't talk about it with their children. If you keep something in the dark, then it can never be resolved.

If this scene disturbed you, go talk about it!! Talk about why.. If you thought it *was* rape, or *wasn't* rape, go talk about it! People having discussions on these subjects is what promotes understanding of these sorts of issues in our society. For some people, it will mean that they find the courage to speak up about the violence done to them. So long as people want to censor and shut-up those who would raise questions such as these, then there will never be resolution or healing.

Way to go FX, for going where most networks would not tread. Kudos to you for raising the questions and issues that most of us are afraid to look at, and kudos to you for driving your viewers to not only *think* about the scene you showed, but to *think* about how it relates to them and their own lives. Hopefully, most viewers will do just that.

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What I find disturbing about this whole debate is not wheather people should watch FX/Resuce Me or not, but the debate over if the scene was rape or not. Let me clarify...
1. Rape; is sex involving a person who does not or cannot consent to the act.
2.The act WAS NOT rough sex
3. There was no consent to sex in this scene
4. This scene was very clearly RAPE.

I am very disturbed that some people believed this scene to be anything other then rape.

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I think the episode 'Sparks' was fantastic. Yes, it pushed the envelope, but it was done well. It showed confusion and pain and excitement in the (admittedly messed up) relationship. If you are going to constitute it as rape, then let's acknowledge that rape does in fact exist. Most rape exists between persons who know each other. The show depicted a highly probable scene. Yes, it was difficult to watch, but it least it was realistic. Bravo, Dennis Leary and everyone at FX. As a woman, I think you did the right thing. I will continue to watch my favorite show and expect the best.

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Fine, call it rape - it does not matter. It is a very good show that involves twisted people in a twisted relationship. It certainly does not encourage people to go and rape people. If you are offended by this then fine, go watch CBS or ABC. I however, will continue to watch great television on FX.

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Wow I have been to a lot of "Rescue Me" message boards and this is the first one where so many missed so much.
If you watch the show then you know Tommy has anger issues. You know he and Janet have an explosive relantionship.
I would never condone rape and if Janet had put up an honest fight I sincerely believe Tommy would of stopped.
But he had just talked to his brother who is now seeing her. He learned his brother has had feelings for her since jr. high. Tommy wasn't just angry, he was hurt and because this involved Janet his emotions and heart were deeply involved. In the first season he told her boyfriend, Roger Mills that he might be the one doing her now (and I played that line down) but he owned her life.
As Janet sat there talking about distrubting furniture Tommy was seething. Then when she said, and as an avid viewer I knew trouble was coming, that she would let him have the dinning room suite, which was already his, he snapped. The thought yeah just like you are and I can have you too and he did.
Denis Leary mentioned in his interview on CNN that some people will get it and some won't and that was okay but for the ones who didn't they shouldn't be watching the show, they should be watching another show.
To the poster who said there was no consent, wasn't watching the same show I was. Janet never said no, never made an honest effort to stop him. And in the end enjoyed it. Yeah, she hit him, asked him if it made him feel more like a man, but that simple little two letter word NO was never said, she never asked him to stop.
From years of viewing the show, the sex looked like the kind Tommy generally has and almost always had with Janet. Plus, I can't imagine a woman being raped and not feeling violated when it was over, Janet certainly didn't appear then to or since.
Although to me the scene was so Tommy and Janet, I too hate they included it because not only did so many not get it, too many made too much of it. Sad thing is, when Probie, a man, actually was raped no one seemed to care.

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