
(S04E06) "The hunt begins." - Lou
There's been a lot of talk about how this season of Rescue Me hasn't been that good. People have been disappointed with the lack of continuous plot, the way Tommy has evolved, and lousy way they got rid of Jerry. It's not that I disagree with everyone out there, but I've still loved every episode this season. The show has reached a point where it's starting to evolve. Episodes have much more hidden meaning, there's less of a connection with on-going plots, and often times the ending of an episode doesn't exactly feel like an ending. It feels less like a show and more like a look into the actual life of Tommy Gavin. I agree that it's been tough to watch at times, but I do feel like the show is becoming richer in many other ways.
This episode was a perfect example. Did anything huge happen? Not really. The humor still exists just as it always has (Tommy trying to look at Feinberg while they were in the bathroom, Sean setting Mike's house on fire), but the dramatic elements are much more subtle. It's less in your face than it's been in past seasons.
The way Janet has slowly slipped into post-partum depression has been saddening to watch, especially when you know how lively a character she really is. The same goes for Mike as we've watched him cope with his mother's death or Sean deal with Maggie's alcoholism. Rather than explosive confrontations, everything is just simmering. Stuff never simmers on this show and that just leads me to believe that it's building up for one hell of a season ender.
New conflict has arrived with Bart ("Sean"). Tommy for whatever reason has rejected him. It's interesting to watch. It's almost as if Tommy is jealous, but not quite. Angry, but not really. He's being challenged by Bart in more ways than one. From joining the basketball team to questioning Tommy's faith. It's just great to watch those two play off of each other. What happens when Bart's faith is revealed though? Tommy wants Bart to do what all Probies do so that he gains trust. But if push comes to shove, can Bart trust Tommy? Or should I say "Stretch?"
To make up for the fact that Tommy's ghost parade has been far and few between this season (where was his black specter this episode), we've got some returning characters to stir the pot. Lou's Cousin Mike (Artie Lange) is back in the fold and next week marks the return of Alicia (Susan Sarandon). I can only hope that since Tommy has realized that Janet really isn't well, that we get some of Johnny's ghost soon. Next week would make sense especially since Tommy will be questioning Sheila's offer more seriously.
So after all that, there really is no serious plot... still. But look at all the questions that are just sitting dormant, waiting to pop. How will Alicia affect Natalie's feelings for Franco? Will Tommy find peace as his family falls apart for the hundredth time? Where'd Maggie run off to? Will Lou forgive Theresa? What happens when Mike find out it was Sean who lit the fire?
Stuff like that is what I'm talking about though. It's slow now, but look at the big picture and try and imagine how it's all going to play out. Leary knows what he's doing. He's earned my trust.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-26-2007 @ 12:36PM
Bladev1 said...
As a former firemen I can completely understand why Tommy is so pissed at Bart, Franco, and Lou. Bart came in and acted like he was king of the hill and completely spat on the tradition of the firehouse. If your a probi your the bottom of the heap, you have to put in the time and do the sh%t work that alll the other guys before you did, you have to earn the respect and trust of your fellow firemen. Tommy was dead right to be pissed, hell I was pissed just watching it happen, its a good story line though.
Reply
7-26-2007 @ 12:36PM
khamel said...
yeah, another lackluster episode. i still like the show, but its nothing like the first half dozen episodes of last season. now thats a way to start a season. this... eh. the best scene was ruined by being in the preview (with the psychiatrist) and the ppd is a boring cliche. the next episode looks like it has potential, but potential is always around the corner for a show on the way down.
Reply
7-29-2007 @ 8:58PM
BobBaft said...
Last night's episode was too predictable....Sean lighting the closet with his Zippo; Arti banging the nun; and so on. You're right in saying Leary's earned our trust...he never lets us down!
Reply
7-29-2007 @ 8:59PM
Sam said...
Tru facts about the Daniel Sunjata we don't know. He did this to my beautiful sister and I'm telling to share to the fans who the real Sunjata is. A not nice man, a liar, cheater. The rest is a fake public image.
Repeat: NO RUMOR BOUT DANIEL
To all the innocent girls who come on these sites looking
for the truth when they got hurt or used or stolen from because they
got themselves involved with Daniel Sunjata. This
is for you. He did this to me and my family and this is this is what's up.
- Everyone of a certain age in Evanston, IL knows Danny Condon
as the man who abandoned his two daughters. Who are only 6 months
apart by two different women. He had to be sued many times to pay his
child support. They live on welfare.
-Daniel Sunjata has a cocaine habit and that is what makes him broke.
He spends his money on drugs.
- Daniel Sunjata tells the women and men he picks up that he is a nice,
political, religious man. It is also part of a fake public image. Would
a honest good man lie or cheat on his girlfriend or to hundreds of women?
Would they abandon their own kids? Or not see their grankid because of a wanting to be a sexy lead man. Answer f*cking Hellll No.
-Daniel the worst kind of dog and player and is goes around sleeping with men on
the DL and many women. He seduces women by letting them
think he's dating them and tells them he loves them until gets what he
wants - sex.
- He has a girlfriend for five years named Rosalba Sierra whose an old lady emigrant
from Venezuela. Shes Daniel's doormat , the only one he takes
to events. He tells the other women he dates behind their back to his friends their his "h**s". He don't love Ro. She don't got class to be a wife. Dan cheats on her constantly and dates other women. She is the dumbest woman alive and when the girls come and tell Rosalba that Dan has been their boyfriend Dan tells them they are fake people. Right. This is not nice or good or decent
He has one apartment with her in Harlem, but he has another house where
he takes the girls and boys he is dating so he thinks hes single.
- Don't ever leave anything at Daniel's house when he invited you ther
to f**ck him. He will steal it. Many women come to his fan site looking
for him, if you want to meet the others or hear their stories just ask on his fan site and get the truth. They come To get their things back because once he gets the sex he never speaks to them again.He changes his numbers and he peaces out so no one can tell him they art hurt or he stole from them.
He go on all the fan sites posting as fans saying he is hot sexy and the most talented. go ask moderators his IP is on aall the sites
69.147.64.105
Check yourself he is a psycho you will see
Reply
7-29-2007 @ 9:00PM
eric f said...
Yeah, some of the plot is predictable, but it's still hilarious? Sean is such an idiot that it's still highly entertaining, even if you know it's going to happen.
I've enjoyed every ep this season.
Reply
7-29-2007 @ 9:00PM
Jabes54 said...
I'm afraid I have only one word for this last episode: ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Who is writing this junk? Some unimaginative high school geek in his basement? I, too, trusted Leary -- back when he was writing biting dialog and unbelievably creative storylines.
Anything that looked like it might develop into something ended with a thud -- like the thud Lou made landing on the floor after finding his girlfriend and cousin going at it.
I just hope I can stay awake during future episodes.
Reply
7-29-2007 @ 9:01PM
BigTed said...
It would be obvious to anyone who saw her for two seconds that Janet has is seriously depressed... Even if neither she nor Tommy had ever been counseled about postpartum depression, it makes no sense that they're acting as if nothing is really wrong. Tommy can see that the baby is being neglected, but he doesn't do a thing about it? And how come no one has taken the baby to see a pediatrician, who would immediately realize what's going on? None of this is the way real people would act.
And now it looks as if the only way Tommy can think of handling the situation is to give the baby away to a crazy person (even if he doesn't know yet exactly how crazy she is). It's a ridiculous plot line, and it takes away everything we know about Tommy being a strong (though highly flawed) character. Not to mention that this will be the second time someone on this show gave a child away to a random, unrelated person just because she had more money.
In the past, this show has always had some grounding in (a highly warped version of) reality. But this is soap opera at its worst, where people behave in completely unrealistic ways just so they can crank up the drama.
Reply
7-29-2007 @ 9:02PM
J. Shell said...
Real? I think it's all real enough. As last season was winding down, Tommy was considering retirement - it felt like too many things were changing. And while they didn't change in the way they were headed, a lot of change has happened which. When combined with Johnny's death, the baby that won't bond to Janet, Tommy's never being around at home, the doubt Tommy still has about the beach house fire, and the fact that the firehouse still changed even though Lou and Franco stayed (new chiefs, new probie who flaunts the long-held rules, etc) - Tommy's worn down. So is Janet.
I'm not surprised to see a lot of the fight taken out of Tommy's step.
How real people would react? Hell, sometimes very real people would put the kid in a bucket of ice until it stopped screaming. That happened just a few blocks away from me. Surreal? Yes. But very realistic. Is that what I would do? No. Does that make me more or less real than the people who put their kid in a bucket of ice?
I like this season. I think people are behaving in undramatic ways that are achingly real, and some people miss the more fanciful drama.
Reply
7-29-2007 @ 11:18PM
publius said...
to borrow from spinal tap: "the review for 'shark sandwich was merely a two word review which simply read ''shit sandwich'."
read "this season of rescue me" for "shark sandwich" and there you have it.
but hey, at least it looks like damages, fx's new show will be good. i'd watch the pilot episode 5 times in a row before i'd bother with any episode from this season of "shit sandwich"...
Reply
7-30-2007 @ 7:02AM
Cody said...
@4
whoah!
Reply
8-04-2007 @ 9:17PM
Jeff said...
Does anyone know what the song at the end of this episode was?
Reply
8-17-2007 @ 10:30AM
Kim Foreman said...
I knew Daniel when he was young and going to school in Louisiana. I don't think he is the monster that the blog says he is and I think that whoever wrote that is jealous and just looking to bad mouth Danny because he is now a famous actor. He is all over the place and deserves it. He is a good actor because so many people are attracted to him and it seems that someone is hurt or jealous. I remember sitting on the corner of the University on St. Mary Street and Johnston with Danny. My friend approached me later and said that he was the most beautiful man she had seen. That day I felt sorry for Daniel because so many misunderstandings could be made due to his features. I wasn't his best friend by far like the hilarious Tsimi. And Mr. Jackson please forgive me if I misspelled your name. But I was his friend with the smallest part in a play with him, eating gumbo in Gueydan on one occasion. Good luck Danny!
Reply