Review: Rescue Me, S7, E4 - Brownies - Your Entertainment Corner

Airdate: Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 10:00 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

Rescue Me is known for taking a hard look at firefighters with some very dramatic scenes. But the opening sequence of “Brownies” has one of the most powerful openings I’ve seen in a long time. What starts out with Tommy (Denis Leary) and the guys watching the video tape of the 9/11 Memorial – specifically Tommy’s interview – turns into a free-for-all which ends up as a personal battle between Tommy and Franco (Daniel Sunjata). I was a bit surprised because I thought Tommy did a good job of keeping himself in check during the interview – until the end that is – but Franco has his own agenda in mind.

Black Shawn (Larenz Tate), Tommy (Denis Leary) and Lou (John Scurti) discussing Tommy's interview

On the other hand, Janet (Andrea Roth) and Sheila (Callie Thorne) call Tommy to congratulate him on a job well-done. Even daughters Colleen (Natalie Distler) and Katy (Olivia Crocicchia) agree. I guess they don’t mind all the profanity Tommy uses when Pamela Keppler (Geneva Karr), the reporter, turns the interview about Jimmy (James McCaffrey-unseen) into a witch hunt on sex abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse, and racism in the FDNY. Then again, why didn’t Chief “Needles” Nelson (Adam Ferrara) keep his promise to keep Keppler on track?

Kelly (Maura Tierney) also calls to congratulate Tommy. I got a kick out of her comparing Keppler to Sarah Palin. “That moron makes Sarah Palin look like Madeline Albright.” I know Tommy is a poonhound but I just don’t get his reason for continuing the relationship with Kelly. He’s already dealing with a pregnant wife, a girlfriend and angry daughters. Perhaps Lou (John Scourti) explains it best.

“I’ll tell you what I think. Your wife has a vagina. Sheila has a vagina. Kelly has a vagina. Your daughters have vaginas. You are surrounded by vaginas on all sides, which is probably the reason why I believe you’ve grown one all your own. Because you’re no longer thinking with your cock, you’re thinking with your vag. It’s the only reason that makes sense because otherwise, you’d be banging beautiful Miss Kelly instead of heading into another one of these emotional affairs with her just like last year.”

Needles (Adam Ferrara) on his way to one of the most harrowing fires yet

Tommy Gavin, you are such a douche bag! What starts out as a tirade by Kelly about burning the pot brownies she’s making for the guy whose apartment she’s staying in, turns into a diatribe about her experience with cancer now that the doctor has declared her cancer-free, which, when subsided, turns into a kiss between Tommy and Kelly. But it doesn’t quite have the ending Tommy was hoping for. Serves him right, if you ask me.

Sean’s (Steven Pasquale) date with Emily (Cody Horn) goes well. It’s about time he has a “normal” relationship with someone after his fiasco of a marriage to Maggie (Tatum O’Neill) last year. It’s really cute how Emily pulls Sean into the cab with her. What I don’t understand is why Sean gags after having sex, especially since it’s “intergalactic, avatar caliber sex.” And I don’t think running to the Lucky Dog bar to talk it over with Mike (Michael Lombardi) will be useful. Mike does come up with a reason for the gagging but of course, it proves to be wrong. Despite their efforts, writers Leary, Evan Reilly, and Zach Robbins infuse the conversation with so much comedy, it’s difficult to take them seriously.

Some additional thoughts and great lines:

I love Lou’s impression of Marlon Brando in The Godfather. Had I closed my eyes, I would have sworn Brando was in my living room.

Sean, trying to explain the bad odor in Emily’s apartment to Mike: “The odor has more of an ass essence to it, y’know? An ‘assence,’ if you will.”

Sean explaining to Mike why the odor doesn’t emanate from him: “No bro, no way – not a chance. First off, I never fart with a new chick until like the fourth date…third date maybe. And second off, I have never in my life farted the smell of a rotting corpse bro. I tell you, I would have to eat a dead guy who just ate Indian food and then shit his pants in order to fart a smell that bad. That’s how bad it was.”

Engine 99 at the ready

I know there are many shows that use a great deal of product placement these days as a means of helping to finance their shows (think Chuck), but I absolutely cracked up when I saw “FX Publicity” on a window behind where Chief Feinberg (Jerry Adler) is assuring Franco of his help in getting him a top assignment should Franco ace his lieutanant’s exam. Way to toot your own horn, FX! And way to begin wrapping up storylines for this final season.

Rescue Me is heating up (pun intended) as it gets ready for the second half of its final season. While I’m sad the show is coming to its conclusion, I can’t wait to find out what happens to everyone.

Tune in to Rescue Me, Wednesdays at 10:00 pm ET/PT only on FX.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!