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A fine finale for ‘Rescue Me’
Hold onto your seats, because tonight’s “Rescue Me” season finale is going to be a bumpy ride. Check it out at 9 p.m. on FX.
As you would expect, there is dark humor and heavy drama. And there will be an ambiguous cliffhanger to keep us wondering until the show returns next summer.
Denis Leary, who stars as New York firefighter Tommy Gavin, might have lost the best actor Emmy on Sunday, but he hasn’t lost his touch with these spectacularly flawed, raw-as-sushi characters.
In case you haven’t been paying attention during the credits, Leary is co-creator (with his business partner Peter Tolan), executive producer and writer on this superb drama. And his twisted, black Irish persona is evident throughout.
During the show’s third season, “Rescue Me” dealt with its usual array of tragedy and tumult. One firefighter has been exploring the possibility that he is gay, another had a heart attack while having sex with his sick wife’s caregiver, another married Tommy’s sister (at the funeral of their brother, no less!) and Tommy may or may not have impregnated his ex-wife while pondering a future with another woman.
Oh, and Leary set off a firestorm a few weeks ago when Tommy raped his ex-wife … but toward the end of the assault, she seemed to enjoy it. What kind of message was being sent? No message, according to Leary; just two wickedly twisted characters acting out their bizarre sexual attraction.
The past few episodes have dealt with the possibility that the close-knit group of firefighters might be breaking up. Tonight’s finale will answer some questions but raise others … like whether a certain someone will live or die in yet another life-and-death situation.
In a touching sequence that few other edgy comedy-dramas could get away with, “Rescue Me” includes a tribute to the firefighters who died in the World Trade Center attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It’s a potentially dangerous moment that comes off with amazing dignity.
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By Susan
August 29, 2006 05:22 PM | Link to this
I am a huge Rescue Me fan and can't wait for tonight's season finale. Too bad we have to wait another 6 months to find out what happens. For those of you who don't watch, you're missing out on a great show. Denis Leary was robbed of a Emmy as were other fine actors. This show and Leary deserve all the praise..