Rescue Me "Yaz" 9/12/2007 Season Finale *spoilers*

[Kamakzie]

Here we go with this season's finale. Okay the dark shadow figure was Tommy wasn't it? Wow Coleen is pretty dumb.. Thats funny if Black Sean and Coleen hookup Tommy will go ballistic!

[dianebrat]

damn disappointing, they had a ton of potential, and crammed it into the last 15 minute montage.

I think we all pegged the Colleen storyline, and they certainly made it clear who the ghost Tommy has been seeing is.

and I knew.. KNEW the ballgame was going to signal the end for someone, just wasn't sure who at the time.

I also still can't understand the logic of splitting our players across the 2 station crews, I'm sure someone thought it was a good idea, but I really think not having all the guys on the same shift took away the wonderful interplay between them.

a disappointing end to a disappointing season, I hope they're able to get a handle on what went wrong this year to see about fixing next season.

Diane

[Kamakzie]

Yeah I was surprised Tommy's Dad die but I had a feeling somebody was going to die.

[dswallow]

There was very little reason to have the 5 tickets spread out in two different locations. It wasn't exactly a sell-out.

Of all the characters we have to continue to endure, I really, really, really wish Sheila would die. And if she could take Maggie with her, I wouldn't complain.

If this weren't a summer series with no competition whatsoever I'd delete the season pass for good. As it is, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel to find enough to entertain me this time of year. :)

[Kamakzie]

I tend to agree Doug, this season has been a complete disappointment for the most part.

[EvilMidniteBombr]

I think Tommy's dad was getting a little long in the tooth (in real life) and decided he didn't want to sign on for a 5th season. Then again, maybe he'll be one of Tommy's ghosts?

Tommy was the mystery ghost. Give me a freakin' break.

I don't understand the moonlighting as Jimmy thing either. Only if it is to make everyone think they are seeing him so that he doesn't appear to be the only one going crazy.

Black Sean and Colleen? I am not so sure that it will set Tommy off. His character mellowed out SO much this season, that I don't think it will matter. Stuff like towing his truck. Leaving his apartment. Credit card the daughter. Giving her a car. Letting her live with the wannabe rock star. Letting the probey get away with doing nothing at all even after a really good speech about why probies are probies. I just don't see Tommy doing anything about it.

I don't know. Maybe if I went back and watched it several episodes at a time, things would click better. But watching it one week at a time, this season just wasn't as fun as the others.

Oh, and it looks like Chief is going to put Tommy in for a Section 8. I wonder, since he found Jimmy's turn out coat, if he figured out that the "ghost" of Jimmy Keefe was Tommy?

[jgerry]

I dunno, maybe the dog was the ghost? :) Frankly the whole last half of the season has been so random and disjointed, I'll believe almost anything.

At least Tommy finally got Gina Gershon to do some crap that HE wanted! That's the only thing that's good about women like that! I called them "special needs" women. They have special needs, and they're always willing to give you something special in return. All you have to do is ask. Be creative. :) :)

[appleye1]

I dunno, maybe the dog was the ghost? :) Frankly the whole last half of the season has been so random and disjointed, I'll believe almost anything.Since they brought the mangy mutt on the show I've had this feeling that he was Jimmy Keefe reincarnated. Sheila saw the note in the jacket so she knows (I think) that Tommy was the "ghost of Keefe", but the way she was hugging that dog just reinforced my feelings about it being Jimmy. Besides the mutt sort of reminds you of him I think.

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

Good way to die tho.

[JohnB1000]

The finale just summed up the season for me. Meandering, pointless, no story. Nothing wrapped up at all (though I'm not sure there was anything to wrap up). The ep was just like the season, a few random things happened but nothing was delivered.

I definitely miss the "guys round the table" stuff and I don't think Franco has appeared with the crew for a few weeks.

It's all been very disappointing to me. Compare it to last season where there were a number of ongoing stories that all wrapped or end satisfactorily in the last couple of eps. This year has no lasting ongoing stories and the finale leaves a ton of stuff hanging for next year but almost none of it running through the rest of this season, all just introduced in the last 15 minutes.

[knownzero]

http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/09/13/rescue-me-yaz-season-finale/

They're positing that this was the series finale and after watching it, it makes sense. It certainly seemed like an episode they could use to wrap the show.

[IndyJones1023]

Okay, I need to ask a question. Is Denis Leary good looking? I think he's ugly, but they always have women fawn all over him.

[JLucPicard]

He's the producer and writer, hence the women.

[IndyJones1023]

He's the producer and writer, hence the women.
Duh. I figured that much. I was trying to see if people attracted to men find him appealing.

[dianebrat]

http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/09/13/rescue-me-yaz-season-finale/

They're positing that this was the series finale and after watching it, it makes sense. It certainly seemed like an episode they could use to wrap the show.

Where in that article did you see them commenting that it was a Series Finale?
I see several mentions that it could make a good finale, but that they were hoping for a 5th season. Even the title line says "Season Finale"

Diane

[dswallow]

Okay, I need to ask a question. Is Denis Leary good looking? I think he's ugly, but they always have women fawn all over him.
Up through about 1994 when Denis Leary was in the movie "The Ref" he was good looking. He's always had a mouth; but back then it was also pretty funny.

[dswallow]

Where in that article did you see them commenting that it was a Series Finale?
I see several mentions that it could make a good finale, but that they were hoping for a 5th season. Even the title line says "Season Finale"
Umm... the first paragraph.

Is this the end? I've only just started hearing about it. Unsubstantiated rumors, chit-chat on message boards... but we may have just seen the final episode of Rescue Me. Period. The argument? Every other season has had news of a renewal around the fifth or sixth episode. John Landgraf has kept quiet during this season of Rescue Me, a season that's seen some of its lowest ratings since the first. Coupled with what many considered to be lackluster plots and I can't say that I blame the FX brass for weighing their options. That being said, nothing is official. This episode (it saved the season if you ask me) was clearly written with a fifth season in mind. Here's to hoping that FX lets Leary finish out his vision.

Of course you did see the word "positing" in his summary of the article, right? :)

[ScubaCat]

Okay, I need to ask a question. Is Denis Leary good looking? I think he's ugly, but they always have women fawn all over him.Yes, yes he is. :up: I'll admit there are some scenes where he doesn't look his best - but put him in a blue shirt with that blonde hair and jeans - yum!

We're just talking physical appearance here. From what little I have heard about him, I'm pretty sure I'm not at all interested in the man behind the sunglasses.

[IndyJones1023]

I took his Keefing as a substitiute for alcohol. Now that he's finally beaten that demon, he needs to fill that void with something. He's an adrenaline junkie.

[jennifer]

Okay, I need to ask a question. Is Denis Leary good looking? I think he's ugly, but they always have women fawn all over him.

I've never, ever thought he was good looking. However, in the scene where he's telling that girl what his needs are, it was kinda sexy :up:**


**says the girl who watched the stairwell scene in Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice a dozen times. :o

[analog4]

Aside from a few good scenes, and some funny things with Richie, I enjoyed Desperate Housewives (I watched the last 7 episodes of the latest season in late-June) more than Rescue Me.

[5thcrewman]

Okay, I need to ask a question. Is Denis Leary good looking? I think he's ugly, but they always have women fawn all over him.
He's 'Wisstuh Handsome' :D

[ALR74]

I took his Keefing as a substitiute for alcohol. Now that he's finally beaten that demon, he needs to fill that void with something. He's an adrenaline junkie.
I agree. Also, I think the way Tommy's life was going, being a fireman was the only thing he really felt he had control of. It's what he knows and what he does best. So he was taking every opportunity to have that control and stability, even if it meant sneaking around on a different shift.

I certainly agree that this season was no where near as entertaining as the previous ones. However, I thought the final episode felt more like a "typical" Rescue Me episode. Some of the questions were answered (Why was Lou with the other crew? Who is the ghost?) and we saw some characters "figure out" there current life situations: Sean's relationship with Maggie, Franco's with Natalie, Tommie's with Valerie and to some extent Janet, Lou and life being like baseball.

I'm hoping we can have one final season like we are used to seeing to wrap up the series next summer.

[windracer]

I still don't get why Tommy is living in the firehouse secretly? I know he had that crappy apartment, but wouldn't it be better than hiding and sleeping in storage areas?

I'm in agreement with the rest of you though ... disappointing end to a disappointing season. Thank god "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is on now! :)

[johnperkins21]

Okay, I need to ask a question. Is Denis Leary good looking? I think he's ugly, but they always have women fawn all over him.

My wife thinks he's ugly. However, that comes from a woman who thinks I'm attractive, so there's no accounting for taste there. :p

[unixadm]

I took his Keefing as a substitiute for alcohol. Now that he's finally beaten that demon, he needs to fill that void with something. He's an adrenaline junkie.

I actually took his "Keefing" as his atonement for his past with an acceptance that he will die at some point while doing it....hence seeing himself as a ghost.

I think with his head clear of alcohol and drugs, he realizes what a jerk he really was...and has taken to a belief in God (reading the religious passages all the time). I think in the back of his mind he figures if he goes and saves a bunch of people without any backup, he will be "rescued" once he dies and go to heaven.

He wears Jimmy's gear because he still feels saddness for Jimmy's death, feels guilt for sleeping with Jimmy's widow rather than be a protector and friend and wants to remind people that Jimmy was a hero.


As far as the season, it was a trainwreck for the most part....I actually found this episode the best of the season...which isn't saying much...still not even close to the worst of the past seasons.

I did see this episode as a turning point for Tommy.....assuming that the series continues. He decided to take charge again...without alcohol or drugs. He put Gina Gershon in her place....made it known to her that there were things he wanted and he wasn't going to stick around if the relationship wasn't a two way street. He teased Janet....coming close to a kiss, but then walking out....leaving thoughts in her head that maybe she still holds a torch for him...but he decided not to go down that road again. He left Jimmy's turnout gear in plain view of being seen by the Chief....basically he is realizing that he may not want to die and actually wants to give up the death wish hero stuff.

Now with his father dying, things could spiral down for him again, back into drugs and alcohol, or he could take it as a sign to continue his quest to live a better life.

Seems like a good place to start for a new season....if they can get the writing back on track, next season could be really good.

[Meinrad]

Seems like a good place to start for a new season....if they can get the writing back on track, next season could be really good.

Gotta agree with you there. The character can really be finalized with one more good season and I hope we see it.

I know a lot of people are getting tired of the music montage, but Rescue me still does them better than anybody. I thought it was a great ending.

[JohnB1000]

. However, that comes from a woman who thinks I'm attractive, so there's no accounting for taste there. :p

Sorry, she just likes you for your personality.








sorry I'm feeling silly today.

Regarding the show I think most of us are willing to cut them some slack because we love the show but on it's own this was a truly awful season with lost plots and meandering, unresolved storylines.

[ScubaCat]

Ok, I have to add my crackpot theory for the "Keefe-ing". After his first time, which was in front of the alternate firehouse crew who were drinking on the job, I thought it was his way of trying to shock them into getting sober. According to a scene on this week's show - it worked. But shortly afterwards he did the same thing in front of "his" crew. I believe there was a scene where he was catching a lot of flak from the new chief about playing the hero. So in this case it is his way of continuing to do what he wants on the fire scene without getting into trouble. I'm sure they would eventually wonder where Tommy went though.

I did enjoy the scene where the group of guys were creeping around the firehouse together looking for Keefe and jumped when the chief yelled at them about the floor pizza. :D

As for his Dad dying, I saw that one coming a mile away.

[GadgetFreak]

I also think Tommy was trying to scare the other crew sober, and perhaps keep an eye on probie.

Anyone catch how Janet looked at her son very strangely -- like she was looking at the birthmark on his ear and realizing it was really Tommy's baby??

[johnperkins21]

I also think Tommy was trying to scare the other crew sober, and perhaps keep an eye on probie.

Anyone catch how Janet looked at her son very strangely -- like she was looking at the birthmark on his ear and realizing it was really Tommy's baby??

She saw an earring.

[JLucPicard]

Was there an earring, or just the hole where there had been one?

[Peter000]

I really enjoyed this episode, though like the majority feel it's been a rather weird and disjointed season.

The theme I see running through the season for the crew is "growing up." Tommy is becoming the head of his family, taking care of everyone (the best that he knows how, anyway), and with his father's death at the end it transferred the patriarchal role to him for good.

Franco grew up emotionally, as witnessed by his last phone call with is ex, and the willingness to take care of her brother, (Their brother-like relationship was one of the more touching and funny this season, IMO)

Mikey's mom died and he had to face living on his own.

Shawn got married and actually became the responsible one in the relationship.

Anyway, I wouldn't mind if it ended here. But I wouldn't mind a final season as well.

[balboa dave]

I also think Tommy was trying to scare the other crew sober, and perhaps keep an eye on probie.

Anyone catch how Janet looked at her son very strangely -- like she was looking at the birthmark on his ear and realizing it was really Tommy's baby??She was noticing the ear piercing hole.

[billboard_NE]

I really enjoyed this episode, though like the majority feel it's been a rather weird and disjointed season.

The theme I see running through the season for the crew is "growing up." Tommy is becoming the head of his family, taking care of everyone (the best that he knows how, anyway), and with his father's death at the end it transferred the patriarchal role to him for good.

Franco grew up emotionally, as witnessed by his last phone call with is ex, and the willingness to take care of her brother, (Their brother-like relationship was one of the more touching and funny this season, IMO)

Mikey's mom died and he had to face living on his own.

Shawn got married and actually became the responsible one in the relationship.

Anyway, I wouldn't mind if it ended here. But I wouldn't mind a final season as well.


Great post, also they have been showing Black Sean doing a lot of probe work. Seems like he has been knocked down a few notches and is part of the team now.

Bill

[ScubaCat]

So you think Franco has grown up due to his phone conversation with Natalie? Are you kidding?

What do you think she will say when she returns and finds out Franco helped her brother get married - which is what he was suppose to prevent. Franco simply had revenge on his mind during that conversation. There was no sincerity whatsoever.

[johnperkins21]

Was there an earring, or just the hole where there had been one?

Well, for the hole to form properly, it needs to stay in his ear for more than a few hours so I'm guess there was an earring. However, I'm sure they didn't actually put an earring on the kid playing the character, she just had the reaction to let us know that the psycho lady went through with it.

[Sir_winealot]

So you think Franco has grown up due to his phone conversation with Natalie? Are you kidding?

What do you think she will say when she returns and finds out Franco helped her brother get married - which is what he was suppose to prevent. Franco simply had revenge on his mind during that conversation. There was no sincerity whatsoever.


Yep, exactly ...Franco was getting even with her. "You take all the time you need babe, I'll be here waiting for ya."

Great stuff really, she'll be floored when she gets back.

[MasterOfPuppets]

I really hope there's another season, it'd suck if, despite the lack of a season ending cliffhanger, things were just left hanging.
I wasn't as upset as others by this season, it was still quality viewing, despite the erratic storylines.
The show's been solid enough for long enough that it deserves to go out on its own terms.

[JohnB1000]

I really enjoyed this episode, though like the majority feel it's been a rather weird and disjointed season.

The theme I see running through the season for the crew is "growing up." Tommy is becoming the head of his family, taking care of everyone (the best that he knows how, anyway), and with his father's death at the end it transferred the patriarchal role to him for good.

Franco grew up emotionally, as witnessed by his last phone call with is ex, and the willingness to take care of her brother, (Their brother-like relationship was one of the more touching and funny this season, IMO)

Mikey's mom died and he had to face living on his own.

Shawn got married and actually became the responsible one in the relationship.

Anyway, I wouldn't mind if it ended here. But I wouldn't mind a final season as well.

Your post helps me. All those plot points were excellent possibilities but not one fo them was developed well at all.

[markz]

<snip>

I know a lot of people are getting tired of the music montage, but Rescue me still does them better than anybody. I thought it was a great ending.

Whenever I see a musical montage, it reminds me of "Homicide: Life on the Streets". I don't know if they were the first to do it, but that is where I first started seeing them. And they did it the best in my opinion!

"Cold Case" also does a pretty good job of them!

And the episode of "The West Wing" with the song Hallelujah is one of the best I remember.

All in all, if they are done well, I like them.

[fmowry]

Was the captain signing Tommy's transfer sheet?

I thought Tommy was Keefing to remain the hero and ride the adrenalin but not piss off the captain.

Frank

[busyba]

Was the captain signing Tommy's transfer sheet?
More like a Section 8 retirement sheet.

[5thcrewman]

Isn't the Wolfhound the monster from the pre-season special they did before last year started?

[EvilMidniteBombr]

Isn't the Wolfhound the monster from the pre-season special they did before last year started?
I have always assumed that it was. Especially given the way Tommy reacted to it the first time he saw it.

[Mabes]

I really liked the way they handled Tommy's father's death. After he tried to wake him up a couple of times, he quickly turned around to the other guys as if for help, maybe wondering if 911 should be called, realized it was hopeless and that he was gone, and then just sat there with him.

[TAsunder]

The chief was signing section 8 papers because tommy was wearing jimmy's jacket and sneaking into fires and the like, right?

I liked a lot of elements in this episode. It was kind of an underwhelming finale but at the same time I felt it was a genuinely good rescue me episode, which is rare this season. I loved the revelation between lou and his cousin, the fact that franco allowed the marriage to take place in a sort of revenge, the earring, and a few other things.

[IndyJones1023]

The chief was signing section 8 papers because tommy was wearing jimmy's jacket and sneaking into fires and the like, right?
I don't think the chief knows of Tommy's Keefing. The section 8 papers were because he's angry about the daughter incident, among other things.

[DougF]

I don't think the chief knows of Tommy's Keefing. The section 8 papers were because he's angry about the daughter incident, among other things.

I think when the chief found Jimmy's coat, he figured out that Tommy was the source of the Keefe sightings and that's why he's filing section eight papers.

[johnperkins21]

I think when the chief found Jimmy's coat, he figured out that Tommy was the source of the Keefe sightings and that's why he's filing section eight papers.

Just to solidify your statement. He saw the coat in a storage room that looked like someone was living in there. He saw the bed and everything, thus confirming that Tommy is nuts.

[IndyJones1023]

Just to solidify your statement. He saw the coat in a storage room that looked like someone was living in there. He saw the bed and everything, thus confirming that Tommy is nuts.
How would he connect his findings to Tommy? For all the chief knows, Tommy still has an apartment.

[busyba]

How would he connect his findings to Tommy? For all the chief knows, Tommy still has an apartment.
The inscription inside the coat indicates that Jimmy had given the coat to Connor (Tommy's son, Jimmy's godson) as a gift.

[IndyJones1023]

The inscription inside the coat indicates that Jimmy had given the coat to Connor (Tommy's son, Jimmy's godson) as a gift.
And even though Tommy found it in the firehouse storage, the chief thinks he brought it in from home, I guess.

I just thought that if they chief had figured it out, he would have confronted Tommy to make him stop.

[DougF]

And even though Tommy found it in the firehouse storage, the chief thinks he brought it in from home, I guess.

I just thought that if they chief had figured it out, he would have confronted Tommy to make him stop.

I think confronting him gives Tommy a chance to defend himself. The new chief wants him gone, IMO.

[Havana Brown]

I really hope there's another season, it'd suck if, despite the lack of a season ending cliffhanger, things were just left hanging.


That was the worst part for me, no cliff hanger. That's what I expect from a season finale.

[EvilMidniteBombr]

The inscription inside the coat indicates that Jimmy had given the coat to Connor (Tommy's son, Jimmy's godson) as a gift.I don't think the Chief looked at the tag in the coat. Sheila definitely did, but not the Chief. Or did I miss something?

[busyba]

I don't think the Chief looked at the tag in the coat. Sheila definitely did, but not the Chief. Or did I miss something?
You might be correct, but I think the implication certainly was that the Chief put 2+2 together somehow.

[sbourgeo]

Wow, thank you Gina Gershon. :D

[Amnesia]

Is Denis Leary good looking? I think he's ugly, but they always have women fawn all over him.So did Drew Carey in The Drew Carey Show...OK, maybe not fawn, but he did sleep with a large number of attractive women...