(S04E12) "Where's Mark David Chapman when you need him?" - Tommy
One down and one to go. This season has gone by fast, huh? The horrible thing about it is that other than Jerry's suicide, I don't feel like all that much has happened. The stuff that has developed sort of just sputters along, offering no real resolution. Some of it is damn funny, but often that's not enough to salvage it. Here's to hoping that next week's finale puts a good spin on what has officially become my least favorite season of Rescue Me.
It's not that I don't like the show anymore. I still love it but I think it needs a fresh direction. That and it needs to be wrapped up in two more seasons at the most. Any longer and it definitely has the potential to become pretty stale. Look at this episode though. Natalie coming back to ask Franco for a favor. A new feud between Black Sean and Mike. Garrity putting on the beer goggles and hopping in bed with some ugly chick. Lou is sleeping with Latrina. I could go on but my point is this: do you really care? That's the problem. I don't. I just want to see what stupid crap Tommy is going to pull next.
More than any other season, this one really has been about Tommy and his road to recovery/search for meaning. The negative result of that focus on him is that the other characters have suffered greatly and received no real in-depth stories. There's nothing of substance going on with any of them. Gone are the "Lou gets duped by Candy the prostitute" and "Franco attempts to raise his daughter" stories. The show has lost a lot of what made it good in the first place.
Rather than giving the supporting cast something with episodic longevity, it seems like they've each got something different going on each week. As I've already said, it makes it hard to care when it changes so frequently. You can't attach yourself to anything.
What did I like? Well I suppose that's the irony. Plenty. Tommy putting on Jimmy's old jacket? Brilliant. It's almost as if he wants everyone to feel how he feels, constantly questioning if they're crazy or not. I was actually surprised that Jimmy didn't appear to Tommy during one of those fires. I was definitely expecting the "What the hell do you have my jacket on for?" scene.
I love how Feinberg and Tommy are officially at odds. I think it's hilarious that Needles had to be the voice of reason and point out to Feinberg that Tommy feels up girls. It's what he does. You sent him on the date so why be angry? Valid points, but I still like that it puts Tommy and management on opposite sides of the ring. Coincidentally, it seems like Sydney doesn't care for Needles much either. He made that remark about Needles and how he wouldn't be wearing white if the towers hadn't fell. I understand the as a result of all the deaths, promotions were probably handed out with some leniency, but does this mean Needles is inexperienced and undeserving of his rank? If so, I'd love to see that explored next season.
Also enjoyable? The fact that some definition was finally given to what Mike is going through. Figures that we get it now. Black Sean put his finger on it. Mike hates Tommy but he still wants to be just like him. He's depressed. He drinks on the job now. He's going to get himself killed is what will happen.
So with all that in mind, some questions as we wait for next week's finale:
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Who's Tommy going to end up with? Beth? No way. Valerie? Possibly. Sheila? Possibly. My vote goes with Janet. He's always held a torch for her and she might be in better spirits now that Sheila has Wyatt/Elvis for good.
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Is Colleen going to pull the crazy ex-girlfriend move and try to go after Tony and his new fiancé? She is a Gavin after all...
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It didn't happen this episode, but is Jimmy going to show himself to Tommy again? Mick said all of it was a sign from God and Tommy has been trying to understand that stuff. Then again... he could just be crazy. "Section 8" as the guy from the day shift called it.
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Are Maggie and Sean going to make up? Although, that falls under one of my "I'm not sure I care" story lines.
The biggest question? The one that tests the whole season? Will Tommy drink? I could be wrong, but I believe this is the first season where he hasn't had a drop. He came close when he was up on the roof with Mike, but then we found out the vodka bottle was filled with water. I guess we'll find out in one week if this season was worth it or not.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-06-2007 @ 10:37AM
Amy said...
Does anyone know who sings the last song that played on last night's episode?
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9-06-2007 @ 10:37AM
mel said...
Well after last night, it seems like Lou is on to him.
I like seeing some depth to Mike.
I understand that Franco cares for Richie but I would've told Natalie where to go.
The simultaneous post-bar bedroom scenes with Sean & Franco were well done.
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9-06-2007 @ 10:39AM
Tim said...
Easy there Smiley. I never understand why people get so abrasive in these comments toward the writers/reviewers.
This season has seemed to be a bit of a let-down but I don't think it is without any shiny moments. I liked Lou and his sex-crazed nun (wish that ran on longer).
I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop as Tommy keeps going into these fires without anyone knowing. This has to bite him in his ass sooner or later.
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9-06-2007 @ 10:39AM
Borat said...
^ Jeez someone's got anger issues.
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9-06-2007 @ 10:40AM
Smiley said...
I'll take it as a sign of the existance of God if you never review a Rescue Me episode again.
For crying out loud, how could you miss it? The conversation Tommy had with his cousin DID pay off in this episode. They talked about "seeing the light." Mick said, "p.s. speilberg ripped off God with the bright light thing." Later, when Tommy was saving the drunk chick, he saw the bright light through the window and knew to hit the floor avoiding an explosion. He saw the sign and it saved his life.
Tons of stuff is going on. After years of being angry with God, Tommy is allowing himself to be saved. This might be hard for an atheist to understand, but most Christians would consider that an significant development.
Did you ever consider the title "Rescue Me" might have a double meaning?
HINT: It's not just about someone being SAVED from a fire.
Do you understand metaphor or does the concept make your brain hurt?
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9-06-2007 @ 12:30PM
Dara said...
Amy: "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap. That be the song.
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9-06-2007 @ 2:00PM
tommy said...
Come on people, next week looks intense. Finally, we might get some answers.
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9-06-2007 @ 2:00PM
Cuzzy said...
Has anyone else noticed Tommy's love for us Canadian folk?
B.C. Lions gear in two shows, now a Toronto Maple Leafs shirt.........
thanks for the shout out Tommy
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9-06-2007 @ 2:20PM
Stu said...
Cuzzy: He likes hockey: Canada's only contribution to the world.....oh, and a place to send America's hippies.
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9-06-2007 @ 2:58PM
Rodney said...
Can somebody explain the organization of the house? Before, it seemed pretty clear that Chief Perolli was over Jerry. Now, athough Feinberg "replaced" Jerry, Needles did too, and that very talkative guy from last season (?) seemed to have replaced both Chief Perolli and Jerry. I just don't get the structure.
And is Probie Mike on a different shift now, with all the drinkers?
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9-06-2007 @ 5:22PM
Lauren said...
Does anyone know who sings the song that's playing at the end of the last episode (Keefe)? Also what the title might be?
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9-06-2007 @ 5:31PM
Donna said...
This is definitely the worst, least interesting season. Since none of the inter-personal relationships are interesting any longer I wish they'd do more about the firehouse/fires...
The one outstanding situation this season (that was reminiscent of the excellence of past seasons) was a few episodes ago when they were working so hard pulling the kids out of the apartment fire and how devastated they all were to find that the children had all died...and then to be crucified by the public/media anyway (not to mention Tommy being disregarded by a self absorbed Janet)..It's scenes like that that made this show great...and they are way to sparse this season. Yawn.
In the meantime, more and better wisecracks from Lou and more Tommy-Lou interaction might help.....
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9-06-2007 @ 5:31PM
Stu said...
Anybody notice how surreal that chick was acting in that last fire scene? Why is Probie and Lou going on calls w/o Gavin? Why has so many un-Tommy-like things happened this season (Playing for NYPD hockey team, afraid of heights, letting chicks push him around, not caring when his truck got towed). Hmmmmmmm?
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9-07-2007 @ 10:13AM
Gowan said...
Tommy played with the NYPD team because the game was a tribute to his brother Johnny, a cop.
The heights thing is yet another mind game for Tommy. Sheila messed with his head about the whole impotence thing and his dad messed with his head when he brought up that Tom used to be afraid of heights.
He let his truck be towed because he was trying to simplify his life. That's why he took the crappiest apartment he could find, too.
As for being pushed around by the women in his life, how is that new? All of the women in Tommy Gavin's life push him around. Janet, Sheila, Colleen, Valerie, even the volly girl. Man, I wanted to see more of her. rowr. Oh, I got sidetracked, dammit.
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9-07-2007 @ 10:13AM
Jim said...
Damages and Mad Men are running laps around this show.
Toomey, to answer your question re: Colleen: Did you not get the telegraph that Black Sean has designs on her?
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9-07-2007 @ 10:21AM
Jon said...
Who was the chick who hooked up with Franco in "keefe." Smokin... IMDB.com doesn't have it.
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9-07-2007 @ 10:21AM
Jose said...
The reason this season is so poor is that Tommy is a total pansy. He is completely unsure of himself, he spends the entire episodes getting pushed around by women. It's pathetic. He's pathetic.
What happened to the kick ass take names Tommy Gavin we know and love.
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9-07-2007 @ 10:29AM
Jonathan Toomey said...
Jim --
Yeah I did pick up on Black Sean liking Colleen. It was pretty obvious. What I don't get it is this. You said it answered my question about Colleen.
My question: "Is Colleen going to pull the crazy ex-girlfriend move and try to go after Tony and his new fiance? She is a Gavin after all..."
How does Black Sean liking her answer that? It doesn't at all. Did you even read the post?
I swear Jim, sometimes I think you just write comments for the sake of hearing your own voice. You're one of the most negative readers this site has. Your comments rarely add to the overall discussion and usually end up being sarcastic jabs with no real relevance.
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9-07-2007 @ 11:21AM
Jim said...
Toomey: I could be wrong, but I anticipate seeing Colleen falling for Black Sean. That would answer your question: She wouldn't go after her fiancee (who we have probably/hopefully seen for the last time); she would go after Black Sean to get back at her dad.
I make no apologies for being saracastic. Your posts are usually so pedestrian (for reference, see everything you've ever written about Damages), it makes it easy. So yeah, given the choice of hearing my voice or yours, I will take mine every day of the week -- or at least the days after the shows you review come on.
This site could use more writers like Jay Black.
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9-07-2007 @ 1:01PM
Stu said...
Anybody heard the coma theory with Tommy this year? Sounds conceivable to me. Too many surreal things happening with Tommy this year (even for this show).
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