TVSquad

(S03E09) Better and better every week. We still have four episodes left this season, and I already can't wait for season four. It's scary how good this show is and the beginning of this episode was no exception. If you've ever watched any of the commentaries on the DVD's for the first two seasons, Leary always talks about how the writers and producers have meetings with actual firefighters to help come up with fresh (and realistic) storylines. This had to have been one of them.

After responding to an alarm, the crew puts out the fire with ease... but then they start to feel funny. Tommy's fingers are tingly, Lou wants pizza, and Franco can't stop humming Bob Marley in his head. Then Sean finds the stash. The back room of the apartment is a hot-house, loaded with marijuana plants, and they all burned. Really funny scene here. Everyone is high, except the Chief, and no one can stop laughing. Garrity thought the parking meter was taking pictures of him at one point. Great stuff. Oh, and was that John Salley playing the guy who was in the apartment? (What are you growing in there? Uhh... geraniums?)

The remainder of the episode was really a turning point for Tommy. Everything around him is changing and it'll be interesting to see how he reacts in the coming weeks. Lou seems pretty set on moving south and manning a fishing boat with his cousin. The crew found out Mike was gay, but is he still? The "I was confused" storyline makes the most sense now, but it's still up in the air regarding his transfer. Franco is still studying for the lieutenant's exam. And let's not forget that Sean is marrying Maggie. Plus, he took the Gavin name which drove Tommy nuts ("Hey bro!"). The whole crew is falling apart.

What really has Tommy torn up is his buddy Stack. He was the guy Probie pulled from the fire last week. Since then he's had both his legs amputated from the knee down and he still hasn't come out of the coma. The way he described it, Tommy, Jimmy, and Stack were like the Three Musketeers in probie school. Now with Stack like this, Tommy is the only one left and it really has him evaluating his life as a firefighter. Maybe it's time to move on before something happens to him? Sheila wants it. They could move, start a new life. Tommy seemed sort of open to it.

The big shocker (well not really... you had to be expecting this) was Johnny visiting Tommy at the house. Janet's pregnant. Naturally, Johnny thinks it's his but it very well could be Tommy's kid too after everything that's happened. I'm leaning towards it being Johnny's kid though after I heard a few spoilers which I won't get into. Go run a few Google searches. You'll find what I'm talking about if you're that interested to know.

Oh, and random question. At one point in a previous season, wasn't it mentioned that Johnny had kids of his own? Presumably with Angie? How come we never met them?

Other Stuff:

• I like how Franco has found someone he clicks with. Natalie seems great. But the whole "I take care of my mentally-challenged brother" bit? Straight out of There's Something About Mary.
• Uncle Teddy finally got to have his conjugal visits. Too funny. I hope Lenny Clarke is still around to do some season four episodes even though he's signed to play Rob Corddry's dad in The Winner.

Best Quotes:

Mr. Gavin (after giving Sean his blessing to wed Maggie): "Welcome to the family retard."

Uncle Teddy (complaining about the ten-minute check-in calls during conjugal visits): "It's not like I'm gonna climb up inside there and have her smuggle me out."

Sean (to Jerry, about the hot-house filled with marijuana plants): "Chief, it smells like the inside of a bong in here... boooooonnnnnnnnng."