(S05E18) "Dude, I swear to God, you'd be a goddamn millionaire if you just cut that thing off and sold it to science." - Franco
This was easily the most polarizing episode thus far in Rescue Me's fifth season. There was a lot to love and, in my opinion, a lot to hate. It was extremely uneven, featuring a pointless dream sequence and played out gags. However, it ended with what will ultimately, I believe, go down as the best scene of the season and easily one of the best in the series to date, which can only mean one thing - Callie Thorne has done it again.
Sheila's final monologue, as Tommy stared on droopy-lipped, sipping coffee, was, in a word, perfect. It encompasses everything that makes Sheila tic and Thorne played it flawlessly, completely blowing away her own benchmark set earlier this season with her excellent 9/11 monologue.
To essentially play out the passion that the two of them share, through just words alone, was a feat in itself, because let's be honest - Tommy and Sheila don't do much else other than screw. But to be fair, it's remiss of me to even use that word, "screw," because the way Sheila described what Tommy would miss out on should he choose Janet instead of her was damn near transcendent.
The feud that's developed between Janet and Sheila has quickly become the focal point of the show and I have to say, if it keeps leading to moments like this, then I hope Tommy never picks.
On the flip side, I was less than thrilled with Janet's plea to Tommy - "because I come with your kids." It's not that I don't find that as a compelling reason to choose Janet, but she's slanting the truth as we learned from Colleen. Katy can't stand her mother, blames her for breaking up the family, and is weirded out by the baby born as a result of the affair with Johnny.
If Tommy wises up, he'd see that Janet's threats are simply coming from her fear of losing Katy and that she'd truly never be able to keep Katy away from Tommy, nor would she be able to make him hate her. With the truth of her motives out in the open, it sort of makes me dislike Janet and I don't think I've felt that away about her as a character before.
OK, so what didn't I like? Let's start a list...
- The opening dream sequence was arguably one of the worst dream sequences to date on Rescue Me. To sum it up: tell me something I don't know. It was essentially a long refresher on Tommy's worries - the women in his life, the damage he may or may not be doing to family members, and his guilt over not being there for Jimmy on 9/11. It kept going and going and I kept waiting for the surprise and it never came.
- The extremely long scene with Sean's orange penis went downhill fast for me. Usually, I'm all about the gags on this show and despite the fact the whole scene felt like the Lost Rescue Me Minisode, I still had high hopes for where it might go. Needless to say, I was disappointed when the payoff turned out to be Sean's masturbatory faux pas by reaching for the tanning lotion instead of the hand cream. Is it wrong that I wanted it to be related to his cancer? That would have been a sad, but good, twist.
- Maura Tierney's character (we haven't gotten her name yet) is completely weird, and right now the weird is unfortunately outweighing the mystery surrounding her. I mean, c'mon, she was actually willing to take out anyone from the firehouse?
That's all I got, but one final point - both Sheila and Janet each made one really good argument for picking them. Sheila said that Janet would find someone else but Janet made the point that her and Tommy took the vows, for better or for worse. Who do you agree with more?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-07-2009 @ 12:04AM
gallens said...
Who sang the blues song in the opening dream sequence ; I'm so messed up?
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8-06-2009 @ 2:15PM
Alex said...
It's called "I got messed up" by RL Burnside
8-05-2009 @ 10:50AM
Steve said...
Cmon, the carrot thing was laugh out loud funny.
It was much needed comic relief from the constant battle between Shiela & Janet over Tommy.
"Wait, which Jurjens did you use?" hahahaha
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8-05-2009 @ 10:51AM
Jables said...
The Orange Carrot scene was probably the funniest scene this season! I laughed out loud (which is a rarity when watching television for me) multiple times and it just kept getting better. I miss Garrity's idiot woes from previous seasons and when they cut away with him trying to wipe off the tanner from his hand...classic Garrity.
Black Sean (Shawn?) has been getting better lines lately as well. His argument with Tommy about moving day not counting towards his weekly quota and him being Black Irish was solid.
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8-05-2009 @ 10:51AM
ac said...
Honestly if it wasn't for the final scene with Shiela the episode would of been a waste of time.
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8-05-2009 @ 10:51AM
kickit said...
I was pretty mixed on this episode also. I feel like the season has stalled a bit, with not much really happening. I still love the show and am enjoying watching it, but I find myself not really caring as much about the major plots that are going on right now.
One thing that has been bothering me is that the whole "Sheila date raping Tommy and making him think he had an alcohol relapse and start a fire" thing has by all appearances been forgotten. By the writers and the characters themselves. I know that in real life things don't always get resolved, and secrets often remain secrets; but the fact that we are suppose to just accept that Sheila and Tommy are sleeping together again like nothing bizarre ever happened bugs me. And what ever happened to all that money Sheila gave Tommy when he "gave" her the baby? Or did she take it back when the baby was returned to Janet? I know a lot of people didn't like the previous season, but that doesn't mean we should just forget what occurred.
I sound like I'm complaining - I do really enjoy the show, but these are just some things I've noticed. I love the gags and I actually thought the "carrot" scene was pretty funny, even if it ran a bit long and some of the guys seemed to act out of character. Although it did add to the nothing really happening aspect of the episode.
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8-05-2009 @ 11:12AM
Jane said...
Hey Jonathan,
I've been following your blog for a while now and as you may remember I work for the visual effects company that works on Rescue Me. Last night's episode provided for some really cool technical work that I've completely broken down on our blog. Themoleculevfx.blogspot.com
I think one of the coolest things that we've yet to talk about is the Matte Paintings used as background composites throughout the show. I put one up that is really great. Let me know what you think.
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8-05-2009 @ 11:30AM
kickit said...
The beginning dream sequence was visually stunning, really cool. Whoever worked on that did a great job.
8-05-2009 @ 9:45PM
dkaarma said...
The orange hand was laugh so so hard it hurt funny!
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8-05-2009 @ 1:28PM
Nathan D said...
So...aside from this episode, I looked ahead at the synopses of the upcoming episodes (thanks to wikipedia), and in Episode 20's preview of "Zippo", it says, 'Tragedy strikes 62 Truck'. Who's gonna die this time? It can't be Damien, Lou, or Franco, because they're mentioned in the next episode after that, "Jump". Judging from the title (which was a nickname for Garrity last season when he burnt down Mikey's mom's house), I'm going to say Garrity's gonna get it. And that would suck!! Garrity's one of my favourite Rescue Me characters!!!! :(
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8-05-2009 @ 2:46PM
Brian said...
I actually don't think it will be Garrity. Although from the looks of next week's preview, Garrity is back at work again because he's seen standing with his FDNY uniform/shirt on.Whether or not he's gonna go into a fire at this point remains unseen. I'm thinking Needles.I can see Needles running into a fire to prove to the guy's that he still "has it". Another scenerio is that he has to save them all after they become trapped,sacrificing himself for the team. His whole storyline this season has been about him trying to find self worth and prove himself as a leader.
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8-05-2009 @ 3:24PM
Nathan D said...
That's a good possibility, but how do you explain the significance of the title? (Zippo)
8-05-2009 @ 3:25PM
dgm103 said...
Did anyone else realize the locker room scene is based on a joke involving an orange d**k and Cheetos? Knowing this made the whole scene funnier. I couldn't stop laughing.
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8-05-2009 @ 4:38PM
Brian said...
Nathan,
That's the only thing that I didn't take into account. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I just remember in interviews that Pasquale was saying that Garrity makes it through the season.
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Rescue-Me-Garrity-1005803.aspx
I guess we'll find out soon enough....
Black Shawn could be another possiblity, in fact he was the one who said the "Zippo" line in season 4. Tate still isn't a starring cast member, so that could be something...
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8-06-2009 @ 2:15PM
Danielle said...
The orange/carrot scene was the best! I was LOL the entire time. I think its a little twisted that you were hoping it was cancer related..wow! Love the self tanning lotion...then when he showed his hand...I was cracking up! Too funny! Loved that scene!
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8-07-2009 @ 2:14PM
Linda said...
Anyone got a link for the scene with Sheila? I'd like to have that speech.
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8-10-2009 @ 10:33AM
David Holtzinger said...
Hands down, Sheila is the right pick. I mean come on, Janet screwed Tommy's brother, got pregnant by him and continues to lie to Tommy. It's simply a no-brainer
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8-10-2009 @ 4:47PM
MM said...
I was thinking the yellow/orange was JAUNDICE, which is a related complication of Kidney failure.
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8-11-2009 @ 1:04PM
Essay said...
Get your head out of your arse. The carrot scene was the best. You probably don't like "Sunny" either.
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