(S03E10) This show is just ridiculous, and that's the good "ridiculous." Not the bad one. Honestly, it's starting to make everything else on TV look terrible by comparison. Really. Can you name one bad thing about this show right now? Or even this episode? I sure can't, but I've got plenty of good things to say in case you hadn't picked up on that yet.
What this season (and this episode) have really been focusing on is the downfall of Tommy. Everything and everyone around him. It started last season as things started to look up for him and Janet, but it's been downhill ever since Connor's death. Starting next week with the final three episodes of the season, we'll start getting all the answers.
The past few weeks have presented a really interesting metaphor for Tommy, in relation to his well-being. His buddy Stack. He's the same as Tommy. Probie school together. Family and kids. And then he went down in a fire and was placed on life-support. Now we've watched Stack erode. His legs were amputated and the doctors are saying that his hands will have to go too. The episode ended with Tommy talking Stack down. To just give in and go. This wasn't a battle he was going to win. It was heart-breaking. How do you tell a friend that they need to give up? After he said what he had to say, Stack flat-lined. With his death comes the death of Tommy's confidence too. His confidence to be a firefighter. Because Stack was just like him.
What we have now though is a chance for Tommy to start a new life. Sheila wants to move away and after five-years of telling Tommy to stay away from his wife, Jimmy has finally come around and just wants Sheila to be happy. So maybe Tommy will bite. The crew still looks like it's breaking up anyway. Mike made his final decision to transfer (although, that might not be as easy as he thought), and Lou seems pretty gung-ho about working on his cousin's fishing charter. So who knows what's next.
Other Happenings:
- Tommy met with Janet and she doesn't care who the father is. She wants the baby. Then Johnny walked in on them in a compromising situation, but it wasn't what it looked like. Cue Tommy and Johnny throwing punches for the millionth time. So Tommy went on a drinking binge. He killed a bottle of whiskey and then called Mick drunk. It's all about the downfall right now.
- Jerry went dancing with the Jamaican nurse from his wife's rest home. Good for him, he deserves a good time.
- Franco screwed it up with Natalie after he took Richard for the day (tour around the fire-house) and ended up losing him. Although, that's what you get for putting the care of you're girlfriend's mentally-challenged brother in the hands of Sean and Mike.
Best Quotes:
Mr. Gavin (referring to the idiot that stole Tommy's Cadillac and then got caught): "Jesus Christ, nobody knows how to drink and drive anymore."
Lou (asking about Natalie's brother): "Like Rain Man retarded or Paris Hilton retarded?"
Tommy (pushing away some skanky woman at the bar): "Sweetheart, believe me, this is way way more bad boy than you're ever gonna be able to handle."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-09-2006 @ 10:24AM
Jefferson said...
Loved it. But you forgot to finish Tommy's quote: "Go blow a drummer."
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8-09-2006 @ 10:45AM
MrsEldubya said...
I don't think the brother is retarded. I think it's an act, he's got it good with his sister taking care of him and he's not going to let anyone get in the way. Maybe he is challenged but not as bad as he puts on though. Something about the guy just seems wrong and could be they are just trying to show he's manipulative and slow.
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8-09-2006 @ 10:55AM
zeke said...
this show is like the new six feet under for me - top notch.
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8-09-2006 @ 11:15AM
cdawg said...
mrs eldubya - that was an episode of Just Shoot Me... lol.
i think this was the BEST episode ever - it had the best scene ever - Tommy's soliloquy in the bar, and then the funniest scene ever (well after the Ambien induced sleepwalking this season also) where Richie said to Probie "and people think I'm retarded!"
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8-09-2006 @ 11:26AM
Justin said...
I have a feeling the thing with the Jamaican nurse will end badly...I know I know, understatement when it comes to this show.
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8-09-2006 @ 11:48AM
kel said...
It was good seeing Franco grow up a little when it comes to relationships. I hope that thing with Natalie isn't over. I can see them leaving the question open as a cliffhanger as to who stays and who goes.
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8-09-2006 @ 11:59AM
Michael said...
This season only gets better and better..the scene between Tommy and Janet was amazing.
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8-09-2006 @ 12:07PM
ColinInLA said...
This show's always been terrific, but this year's moved it into the great category next to series such as 'Homicide, Life on the Streets' and 'Six Feet Under.' More consistent in its all-around quality than anything else currently offered. Thanks to F/X for this one and Nip/Tuck, two 'must-sees.'
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8-09-2006 @ 1:51PM
jeff smith said...
This show is just awesome. You actually feel like they are real people and not some lame actor spewing lines like 99% of shows on network TV. HBO, FX, and Showtime are just on a whole new level when it comes to quality shows. Id like to see an article rating the top channels out there right now.
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8-09-2006 @ 2:00PM
SJ said...
What a brilliant episode. As a Muslim myself I found the whole 77 (NO! 72!) virgins 'conversation' really funny and a bit disturbing at the same time. People look into that virgins thing a bit too much, when it's actually 72 angels...but what the heck.
Tommy: I'd rather have 3,000 whores and Babe Ruth in Hell!
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8-09-2006 @ 8:37PM
Francis said...
I have watched this show since it's inception, and I have loved every minute. Last week's episode made me cry when Tommy gave his litte speach at the bar. He is so many people we all know. The scene between him and Janet was VERY well acted and they are not done yet. I am sad that there are only 3 more episodes. I love this show, the writing is great. I just hope that Uncle Teddy breaks out of prison and we never hear from him again!
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8-10-2006 @ 1:17PM
Alma said...
I can name one bad thing about this show--namely, the writers' refusal or inability to flesh out the female characters of the show. Sure, all of the characters are pretty despicable in their own ways, which adds to the reality of the show. But the male characters are written with sympathy and pathos (I'm thinking of the tragicomic near suicide scene by the tracks) while the women characters come off as capricious, crazy, needy and oblivious. Watching Sheila's interactions with Tommy is embarassing and awkward--the viewer rarely if ever gets a glimpse of what she or Janet do or feel or experience in the absence of a male presence. I think the show overall is one of the strongest on television, but it's just hard to get behind it when it can't escape such phallocentric narcissim.
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8-11-2006 @ 11:56PM
Krista said...
When Tommy was in the bar talking about him knowing 60 people that died at ground zero and the people in the bar not knowing even one of them..does anyone know that whole quote?
i absolutly loved it
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8-14-2006 @ 11:27AM
Chrissy said...
I'm also trying to find the quote with Tommy at the bar talking about the death of the people he knew at ground zero and no one knowing any of them, so if anyone could help me out that would be great!!
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8-15-2006 @ 1:00PM
Antny said...
almost every line of script is a gem. i soo wish that i was a part of the writing team.
... and they call me retarded.
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8-26-2006 @ 10:58AM
John said...
Does anyone know what song played at the beginning on the most recent episode (this being Tommy's funeral). If anyone does, please leave me a message on aim - Terrence911.
Thanks!
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8-28-2006 @ 11:50PM
alex said...
Does anyone know what the name of the song was to the biginning of last weeks episode? the on they played while tommys brother died. if so please email it to me. Dick38@msn.com
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8-28-2006 @ 11:50PM
alex said...
Its called "Hell is around the corner" By Tricky!!!! Yes i can sleep now!
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