(S04E05) "Wow... looks like the bottom of my Dustbuster." - Sean
Well there you go. Leary and Tolan still have plenty hidden up their sleeves. After last week's extremely sub-par episode, we came back with this one. That was one hell of an opening, huh? From Janet forgetting the baby in the parking lot to the tractor-trailer truck bowling right into it... just another Tommy Gavin nightmare. If anything though, this is just his way of manifesting his very real concerns for the safety of this still unnamed baby. Tommy has been sober for some time and it doesn't take a genius to see that Janet is going downhill fast. Is his new option really worth pursuing though?
Of course I'm talking about Sheila's desire to raise what has turned out to be Johnny's baby. The tot's newly grown black hair seems to point in that direction anyway. Despite Janet's current dislike for the baby, does anyone else actually see her relinquishing her motherhood to Sheila of all people? I don't. But with the way this episode went it certainly seems like Tommy is going to be pushing for this to happen. Just as long as Troy is out of the way. Dressing just like Tommy? That guy is super creepy.
Speaking of Sheila, she finally got caught in her lie and I'm not so sure Tommy even made the connection. Nona said she pulled Tommy from the fire and his soldier was standing at attention. Well that completely contradicts what Sheila said and Nona's info seemed to cure Tommy's brief stint with impotence. It's like he got his masculinity back by knowing he wasn't impotent before. Getting whipped at the NYPD/FDNY hockey game didn't help either, but it seemed like he missed out on what Nona's revelation really means. Sheila lied about the fire. If anything, I suppose it's good that Tommy didn't take the money from her. He already helped her get it. If she gets found out, maybe he can still clear his name. Imagine Sheila in jail. That'd be a good story to tell.
OK, few other things I wanted to address. First up is this feud that supposedly went on between Jack McGee and Leary. At first, when I read about it, I thought it sounded a little gossipy. Perhaps just some sour grapes from McGee since he was being killed off the show. After this episode, it has some weight now in my opinion. That scene where they were picking away at the Chief's cremains? Then Franco even tossed a cigarette butt into the ashes. I have to say, even for this show, that was a bit disrespectful. Almost seemed like it was Leary taking one final stab at McGee. I could be way off here. Just a thought.
Speaking of the chief, how about the new one? Jerry Adler (a.k.a. Hesh Rabkin from The Sopranos) has joined the cast as Chief Sydney Feinberg. One episode in and I love the character. From his in your face Jewishness to his mythical large penis, he's got some complexity. Here's my gripe and it's no knock on Adler - he's a great actor, but maybe a little miscast in this case. He seems a bit old, doesn't he? I mean, the FDNY didn't offer Jerry his old job back because of age and health reasons right? Are we really supposed to believe that Feinberg is the picture of good health? Just seemed a little inconsistent to me. And what about Needles? Is he still going to be around in some sort of Assistant Chief capacity?
My final talking point is Bart. This one is brief, but I think it's important and may play into the rest of the season in terms of conflict big time. Franco and Lou wined and dined him and made an offer. Bart's in. Ignoring his ridiculous request to be called "Sean," what happens when the rest of the house finds out he's Muslim? Unless my ears deceived me, he did leave Franco and Lou with "assalamu 'alaykum." Right? Last time I checked, this was a pretty prideful house with a lot of animosity for those behind 9/11. All I'm saying is this can't be good.
Alright, I lied... one more thing. I think I'm sick of Teddy. He hasn't really been in this season all that much and I don't miss him. They should have just kept him in jail. Tommy's dad hasn't even been in this season and I haven't thought about him once. If they can just forget about Tommy's brother Timo after season one... I say forget about Teddy. Either that or give him something to work with. Getting found by Ellie and sent to rehab isn't cutting it.
Oh man, there's still more. How could I forget?!? Black Tommy! Spirit Tommy! Shadow Tommy! I don't know what the hell to call it but just when I thought we were going to get another episode without any ghosts... we got that. Is it his conscience? "It" told Tommy to go to an AA meeting and then "it" gave him a small prayer book. I don't get it. Is this Tommy's subconscious telling him to get his crap together since Janet is falling apart?
Final thought? Lou is an idiot for telling Theresa that he wants a moratorium on sex. Wow. Wait until the guys get wind of that. Lou's gonna get skewered.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-19-2007 @ 11:13AM
dkny said...
Sorry I have to disagree - the downward turn continues. I found the episode boring and uninspired. Yea let’s give our kid to freakin nut job… good plan. The only really funny thing was Troy’s rant about the pea coat. BTW who wants to see a married Franco? I don’t the boys are no longer the boys and I miss them. The show isn’t dead it just needs to be revived.
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7-19-2007 @ 11:13AM
bd said...
This isn't the first time Franco tried to get engaged.
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7-19-2007 @ 2:02PM
MAK said...
This is the first episode I've really enjoyed since the season premiere. We got to see more of what was going on with everyone in the firehouse gang. Lots of laughs. Tommy - man - his life is never 100% in sync is it ? He's doing well with the sobriety but he's family is disintegrating before his very eyes and his sex life is in the toilet. I have to rant about one thing .... the storyline of the unnamed baby gets more disturbing every week. They still haven't named the baby ... WHY NOT ? And what a lousy OBGYN & pediatrician Janet must have - not to mention lousy friends and family too ... don't any of them even consider she might have postpartum depression ? I don't know if I'll be able to handle it if they hand over the baby to Sheila. You can tell that Tommy is actually considering this, now that he suspects the baby is Johnny's. It's a beautiful baby - if they've cared for it and grown attached to it after all this time - it shouldn't matter at this point who the father is. BUT ... if it really does matter so freaking much ... why hasn't Tommy done a paternity test ? - (sigh .. end of rant).
Jonathan, thank you for pointing out that the basketball guy is Muslim. I didn't catch that. I'm sure this will come up again and it won't be a pretty revelation.
2 things confused me. Why are Jerry's remains in the firehouse ... wouldn't his son want custody of his ashes ? Also, why did Probie not want to let Sean hang out alone at his house ?
Anyway, thanks for the review. I may watch the ep again later this week to see if anything is clearer. Ciao !
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7-19-2007 @ 8:29PM
BartmanDK said...
Goddamm i love this show!! The "intro" alone was enough to keep me going for a week!... One moment i sitting screaming "Oh my god" when the baby got run over by the truck in the dream, and the next moment im laughing my ass off when the whole locker thing was going on!!
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7-20-2007 @ 8:15AM
Michelle said...
That phrase is a common phrase amoung Black American muslims. I think it was clear, at least to me, that he was saying it as a way of bonding with Franco, misunderstanding that Franco isn't black but puerto rican. That is why Franco looked puzzled, and Lou nudging him to go along with it.
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7-20-2007 @ 4:59PM
bwack said...
Yea I have to agree that this was one of the funnier episodes of late. From the whole locker situation and sean's lines about co*ks and his buddies' mothers to the chief feinberg stuff (though I do agree that it's odd he's the chief when they wouldn't let Jerry back ... it's too bad they killed him off). Agree too about Teddy, seems like he's sort of wallowing in a bit roll with the show. They need to kill him off too or give him a more significant/funnier roll. Wouldn't mind seeing them bring back Marissa Tomei either, or seeing Tommy's daughter get nailed.
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7-20-2007 @ 4:59PM
const said...
man this show really sucks now. it's a shell of its former greatness.
even though it happened before the chief uncharacteristically killed himself, that is the jump the shark moment for what was once a truly great show.
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7-20-2007 @ 11:56PM
Borat said...
As someone who has a Muslim background, I can tell you that "Assalamu Alaikum" is a common greeting among Muslims...it basically means "Peace be upon you", though this is the first time I've heard of this being used as a goodbye.
It would really be interesting to see this come into play, since it is clear that Tommy has some animosity towards Muslims (the hilarious confrontation with the Pakistani Muslim taxi driver from last season is proof of that). Also Sean had some comic about Arabs in his locker this episode.
It was another "meh" episode in my opinion...still some funny moments, but it's not firing on all cylinders whether it comes to drama or comedy.
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7-20-2007 @ 11:57PM
CindyFromHolyoke said...
Lots of good comments. One I haven't read is concerning Tommy's rant relating to "Jerry's cowardice". One rescue Tommy talks about is Jerry pulling "two drunken assholes" out of a fire in a cold storage warehouse, who ultimately started the fire in the first place. What Tommy/Denis was referencing was the horrific fire in Worcester, MA that killed six firefighters. The two drunken a-holes got out of the fire, and six guys died. I believe one of the firefighters killed was Denis Leary's cousin. I've got to give Leary props for continuing to remember the reason he started the series in the first place...
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7-21-2007 @ 9:12AM
hevyman59 said...
/what happened to Jack mcgee? did he just get written off, or did this exposure turn into something bigger?
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7-21-2007 @ 9:12AM
hevyman59 said...
best show
since Get Smart
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7-22-2007 @ 12:52PM
George said...
The show is in the pisser. Its like a bad soap opera. Only the only storyline that's developed at all is Denis and it sucks.
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7-22-2007 @ 12:52PM
Cody said...
Why all the hate for Teddy? The scene where he ran out of rehab and talked the other guy out of going in was hilarious!
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7-22-2007 @ 11:54PM
resource said...
This show is garbage now.
It seems people are still afraid to admit it.
Shaun wants a divorce.
Lou wants a break from sex.
Franco is getting married and is nervous.
Tommy isnt aggressive enough.
Uncle Teddy is, who cares.
The new chief has a big penis.
Yawn...
How the fuck did Leary get an Emmy nom over Chiklis?
This show is one note and that note isnt even good anymore.
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7-23-2007 @ 1:29PM
Jabes54 said...
I used to be rivited to every episode -- literally on the edge of my seat -- but now I find little to even keep me in the room. I still watch to see what happens, but the sharpness of the writing and the creativity of the plotlines has really gone down the cr*pp*r. I continue to wonder what happened or what influences Leary and Tolan are now under. Is there some studio executive or advertiser who is pressuring them to tame down the show?
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7-25-2007 @ 8:14AM
gino said...
@MAK
Chief's Ashes
The episode after he killed himself, Tommy mentioned that his son asked that the guys take care of Chief's body (I assume it was because he was on a honeymoon)
Probie's House
Probie has been shown to be a bit of a momma's boy, so I can only assume it is a part of his upbringing with his mother where maybe people couldn't be at his house. Probie has always shown himself to be a little weird emotionally.
This episode was a good one, and I'm happy to be getting a bit of the old Tommy back. After all the trials and tribulations, and the fact that his character centered around his ability to drink and have sex made him almost emasculated without the alcohol or sex (up until Nona), it was nice to see Tommy get some fire back.
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9-13-2007 @ 12:08AM
Ted said...
I am REALLY REALLY Disappointed with this show now. I was so excited in past years but now it turned into more drama then in your face asshole comments that Leary use to say. Its like some woman movement told them what to do now. Tommy (Leary) is such a queer more than a man now. Thats my 2 cents. I don't bother watching it all that much anymore and when i see it advertise i just get more fusterated because i liked the way it use to be. The reason why people started to watch it in the past.
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