TVSquad

DEAD OR ALIVE?
I am suspect about Tommy's Dad's death after their last or First? "bonding moment". Dunno their dynamic (1st season I watched every week). What's their father son history? Good segue, regardless.
Older Folks Nod off when bored as was discussed moments earlier.
I mean, this other jerk in the crowd shouts, "call your sponsor" yet has a beer in his hand. Who needs to call who? A contradiction. Or denial humor.
It would be like "HOUSE" advising..."Suck it up and think happy thoughts" to somebody in excruciating pain while chewing a dozen vicodin.
Moments earlier I heard an allusion made to baseball being adrenaline pumping moments mixed with total boredom - at which time you take a nap....THERE'S THE OUT which leaves me questioning whether Tommy's old man is really room temperature or not.
He did not get his ticket punched at the "big leagues".
Dead or alive?
Seems Tommy would freak just from FD instict unless the old guy was sick n suffering. Or he hated Dad's guts.
DEAD OR ALIVE
What do you think? .......Gus

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I've heard from a few different places that there will be a season 5. One of them was in an interview with Leary who briefly mentioned something they were going to do in the 5th season. Another is from someone on a Rescue Me forum who said he was on the set and heard from a "reliable source". Who knows if the guy was credible at all, or if Leary was just hoping for a 5th season. At least there is reason to hope...

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I thought this episode was on par with The Sopranos finale: It sucked. Writing off a "boring" season with a metaphor about life and baseball? Weak.

I have to say, though, I loved the scene with Gina Gershon in the kitchen. Classic stuff.

As for this being the last season ... I kind of hope it is, but I seem to recall Leary getting an extension last year for two or three more seasons. Am I wrong?

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As a doubter - nay, complainer - all season long, I think Leary and Tolan finally pulled it out of the dumper. They may have actually un-jumped the shark.

Tommy seemed strong, sure of himself and his life, and ready to move on - hopefully to a 5th season. The other characters seemed much more stable as well, now that their anchor (Tommy) is more stable. I think even Sheila's breakdown was a healthy one.

On another specific note -- I've always thought Tommy appearing as Jimmy Keefe was his way of scaring his colleagues back to sobriety, getting them to take their jobs seriously again, as well as keeping the 9/11 memory alive.

Here's hoping the 5th season is not as painful to watch as most of the 4th season was. Here's hoping Rescue Me can rescue itself.

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I really liked this episode and it sort of saved the season for me as well.

Remember, this is the network that renewed "Dirt" and "The Riches". Dirt was terrible and while i stopped watching the Riches (although it was fine), neither is as good as Rescue Me. Unless the show gets insanely expensive, i cant imagine this is the last episode.

I liked how Franco helped Richie get married, that was nice.

But the best (saddest) part was Shelia. Great acting.

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It was an odd season. But this last episode helped to explain a little, I guess. So much for the coma theory. Its still a great show on many levels. It needs to come back for at least one more season.

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Worst season yet, easily. Uneven and dull storylines. It's quite clear that Leary and Tolan are really running out of gas. Their flair for the dramatic just seems to have hit a wall. I'll keep watching because it's still better than most shows and still has its moments, but I hope this ends after next season.

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I don't know guys.... I don't think Franco's was an act of kindness, but of spite.

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I WAS A FIREMAN FOR 30 YEARS AND SOME OF THE SCENES ARE SO RECKLESSLY EXAGERATED THAT IT GALLS ME,BUT JUST LIKE "ROME" ON HBO, I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THESE 2 SHOWS TO COME ON EACH WEEK. THE EPISODES FLY BY SO QUICKLY. THANKFULLY WE HAVE THESE TYPES OF ALTERNATIVES TO REGULAR NETWORK PROGRAMS. HELL, YES ONE MORE YEAR!!!!

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The entire season was a drag and the finale did little to change my mind. I too read the interview with denis leary where he talked about next season and the firehouse challenge of 9/11 memorials. Wow, sounds like great stuff. I bet someone will die, someone will do something "crazy" and one of the main characters will have to deal with some structure of theirs catching fire. I just hope that Tommy's sister dies in a fire, Mike finally comes out, Uncle Teddy walks into a bus while screaming at someone, Sean actually becomes a raging alcoholic jerk to rival Tommy, Franco gets the crap beat out of him by the window licker, Black Sean knocks up Colleen, and Lou starts banging Sheila. Now, that is a season I might return for.

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I thought Franco letting Richie get married was out of spite too. I laughed my ass off at that, the rest I agree was sorta blah. Hopefully they do get another season and end the show in the greatness it can be. It shouldn't go out like this, it should get more.

... And Dirt was renewed?

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***Highland - LOL.......Hilarious

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I just watched the Closer finale and the Rescue Me finale back to back...I think I have just seen the face of God.

As far as the season in general, yes, it was incredibly uneven. But there were still several moments of brilliance sprinkled throughout every episode, and maybe I have low standards, but that is enough for me. This finale was almost boring, as it was just one long moment of brilliance.

I don't know about the Richie wedding thing. I hope it was not a spiteful thing, but if he really was serious in his ubermature moment, he is going to have a hell of a lot of explaining to do when his significant other gets back. Especially if Richie runs off with his new bride, as he said he was going to do after he married her.

I don't know if it needs a whole nother season. Maybe they could just give it 5 or 6 episodes, if that will appease the FX brass more than agreeing to a whole 13 episode block for a show that gets such low ratings. Just enough episodes to resolved the major plotlines.

Oh, and I can tell one definite thing that was out of spite in this episode. Tommy's kid's little picnic with Black Sean. That was a little discordant note in the otherwise harmonious presentation, but I guess she is still a kid, and bound to make mistakes. Considering the fact that her parents are still figuring out the "life" thing, I think she's got some time.

And I really, really don't think that Tommy and Janet are done. Are you kidding me??! That scene with the two of them nuzzling had to be the hottest scene I have seen on television in a long time. (Kind of shows that FX doesn't need to show off hard-core action on every show, every episode and still show passion. But I digress...) There is no way that he is giving that up. Neither of them were willing or able to commit at that point, but they are so going to get together for good. At least, I fervently hope so, in the next season that MUST be made, after this finale.

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This season was like a baseball game... Long, boring stretches interrupted by bursts of excitement.

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This is the first year i have been watching rescue me because i recently got satellite and first saw the show and loved, although to other older episodes i watched while waiting for this season, i did notice that the other seasons seemed a little better, but still a good season with a slightly boring finale. I hope they come back for another season or two because theres plenty more material for them to show, the elevator thing was awesome though.

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i thought the finale was solid.

they needed to take a break from the dramatic shock endings, and they did just that.
i thought the metaphor for baseball wasn't just for life itself but for tommy's life throughout the run of the show.
throughout the series, tommy has missed every "home run" because of the booze or the anger or as lou puts it, the "naps".
think about it. his sons death, the end of his marriage, etc.
i thought it was fitting that he was with his old man when he passed away. his "home run" if you will.
the fact that he was finally sober and in control of his life also allowed him to except his dad's death without anger.

if leary doesn't win tonight, which he most likely won't, then the emmy voters have their heads shoved to far up their own asses, it will be impossible to breathe again.

the look on tommy's face alone at the end of this season was enough to make the eyes water.

although this season was slow moving and what some would consider boring, i think it matched the changes taking place in tommy gavin's life.

afterall, normality and life are as lou puts it....achingly long and boring.

i hope season 5 happens and this story is told the way it was supposed to be.

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Jason, it wasn't so much that I minded the slow pacing of certain episodes, it was the stupidity of certain characters that irked me. What used to be quick and sharp dialogue in the firehouse was replaced with what I felt were caricatures of themselves. Especially the characters Sean (and Tommy's sister) and Probie. I also felt they missed a huge emotional punch with Jerry. He kills himself and it seemed as if the firehouse just moved on. Maybe that is a lot like life, your own life is too busy to dwell on the passing of a co-worker-friend-brother in arms.
I loved S1 and S2 and I am hoping that S5 will bring back the same dynamic that made the first two seasons such a powerful, new and fresh series.
If Mr. Leary needs a writer to help him out, I'm available.

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I disagree...the shark is 100% fully jumped. This season was awful and pointless...I'll pass on season five. Go back and watch season one and two if you don't believe me...there is no comparison. it's over.

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I think Highland should write Season 5. I'd watch.
If not, I'm passing.

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Unconfirmed report from close source of Denis Leary state that FX will pull the plug on Rescue Me, and it will not return for a 5th season. I am searching for confirmation of this, so hold off panic buttons until it is confirmed. This could be just a rumor.

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