Rescue Me – Drinking in the shadow of Ground Zero

“Sometimes surviving can be its own death sentence.”  – Colonel Saul Tigh, Battlestar Galactica

I’m often reminded of the above quote when I watch Rescue Me. Especially this season. The memories of 9/11 still haunt the characters in profound ways. The sadness, rage and frustration boils deep within their souls. Nothing can quiet the storm or heal the wounds from that fateful day. Sex, booze and pills provide only temporary relief from the nightmarish pain that consumes them. Escaping self-constructed prisons seems like an impossible feat. So they press on day to day, concealing their bitterness and fear, because that’s all they know how to do. They live, but are they really living? Or are they just waiting for the welcome relief that comes with death?

Franco has turned to conspiracy theories to help dull his pain. He needs answers to questions and the only answers he can find come from voices of dissent. He passes it off as freedom of speech and has no problem defending his position (even if it means throwing hands). But Franco appears lost at this point in the season. I think he needs to believe there were “bombs in the buildings” in order to sleep at night. It’s his way of coping with the anger that still plagues him.

Sheila has always been a character I could do without. She springs up at inopportune times and doesn’t bring much to the table. However, in last week’s episode, she delivered the goods when she finally admitted she wished Tommy, not her husband Jimmy, had died on 9/11. Listening to her describe how she’ll never be able to talk to or touch the love of her life ever again was poignant, to say the least. Her involvement with Tommy was an attempt to recapture the closeness she felt to Jimmy. She’s starting to become more than just a punchline lately, and I like that. She also was awarded the best line from last night’s episode: “Don’t turn my husband’s death into a hobby.” Her response to Franco’s conspiracy babble.

Then there is Tommy. His ego often runs amok, but it went Tasmanian Devil last night. First he trashed Janet for sending Katy away to boarding school. Next, he belittled Lou’s attempts to bag Genevieve. Tommy is doing what Tommy does best: pushing away those he cares about to deal with his own inadequacies. Rather than feel good about achieving his one-year sobriety chip, he launches into a non-stop narcissistic rage. Tommy Gavin doesn’t do happy.

He tries to sell Genevieve with his “no regrets” speech, but even he can’t maintain the pitch. He had finally come to terms with Jimmy’s death only to find out Jimmy was still alive when the first tower collapsed. If he had known, maybe he could have saved him. The truth is, Tommy can’t get past Jimmy. Much of his pent-up aggression and guilt is linked to Jimmy’s death.  He needs to know what really happened to him in order to move on. Which is probably why he downed that drink at Ground Zero. Jimmy’s ghost only appears when Tommy is drinking. I get the feeling Tommy wants to have one last discussion with his cousin so he can bury him once and for all.

There are plenty of topics I haven’t even broached, like Garrity’s cancer diagnosis and Needles’ lack of respect within the firehouse. I’ll leave those for another week. Last night was all about gaining “Perspective.” The last two episodes have been the best of the season and they look to be laying the groundwork for high drama in the near future. The three of you that are watching along with me get where I’m coming from. As for the masses? You’re missing out on some truly great television.

Clacked by Scott Tunstall
on May 13, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT