Review: Rescue Me, S7, E7 - "Jeter" - Your Entertainment Corner

Air Date: Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 10:00 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★★

I am searching for the right words to express my feelings about “Jeter” because I want to do it justice. While it has its share of comedic moments, the drama is what stays in your mind long after the episode is over. “Jeter” is a heavy-hitting, punch-in-the-belly kind of episode that rips your heart open. It brought tears to my eyes, not once, not twice, but three times as I watched this masterpiece unfold before me.

Daniel Sunjata as Franco Rivera

Franco (Daniel Sunjata) is a bit overzealous with his new role as Interim Lieutenant. The firehouse is almost like a Gestapo camp with Franco issuing orders left and right. But when he commands Lou (John Scurti) and Tommy (Denis Leary) to change from street clothes into “firefighting gear,” it’s obvious he’s taking things too far—which is the perfect time for a little levity.

Tommy to Deputy Chief Feinberg (Jerry Adler): “Really? Do we really have to put up with this?”

Feinberg: “Don’t look at me now; this was Lou’s brilliant idea.”

Lou: “Now I know how Mary Shelley felt.”

Tommy, snickering: “Uh huh, Franco-stein.”

Tommy has decided to change his outlook on life. “I’m done with all that. I have a whole new set of priorities.” So he’s written a new letter to Lou which isn’t a joke this time. I knew from the minute Tommy walked out of the room, Lou would open it. I don’t understand why Tommy asked Lou to keep the letters secret; Lou isn’t exactly known for keeping secrets after all. What an emotional moment when Lou sits down at his desk to read the letter, which, by the way, is spoken aloud by Leary – a very effective way of delivering that punch to the belly I spoke about above. Not only does Lou begin to cry, I do also. What can I say? I’m a sucker for heartfelt, emotional scenes.

Having read the deep sentiments expressed in Tommy’s letter, Lou decides to deliver the letters addressed to Sheila (Callie Thorne) and Janet (Andrea Roth). He has prepared a little ceremony for each that involves a small fire. While Lou’s fire ritual gets the expected response from Sheila (she reads the letter, again spoken aloud by Leary, and forgives Tommy), it’s quite a different experience at Janet’s house. This time, his “shtick” turns into a comedy of errors. How ironic is it for a fireman to lose it at the first sign of a small, but quickly spreading fire, forcing Janet to get a fire extinguisher? Lou lying on the floor while Janet hoses down his burning arm somehow strikes me as hysterical. But that’s ok – I usually laugh when someone gets hurt. I know, I know…

Natalie Distler as Colleen Gavin

Colleen (Natalie Distler) lays it all on the line where her wedding is concerned. “This is my day, ok the most important day in my life. So please, no yelling, no drinking, ok, and no jokes about Shawn’s family…No finger pointing, no fist punching and I forgot – Uncle Teddy’s walking me down the aisle now.” That’s a lot to ask of Tommy. Still, I have to wonder what daughter doesn’t want her father to perform this most sacred and personal duty? I know Tommy isn’t known for always doing the right thing, but can’t Colleen trust him for one day? Janet also takes the opportunity to lay down some laws of her own, including Tommy’s resignation from the job. It will be interesting to see if he can follow through on them. Were it not the last season of Rescue Me, I’d say no way will Tommy resign. Even still, I wonder if the writers will allow him to stray so far from the person he is.

Denis Leary as Firefighter Tommy Gavin

Tommy pays a visit to his cousin Mickey (Robert John Burke), who’s holding an AA meeting, to find out if he’ll officiate Colleen’s wedding as Janet’s requested. The whole scene is rather comical, especially when Mickey loses it and has to be restrained. “Go to hell! Go to hell! And you can take that wedding and stick it where the sun don’t shine!” Tell us how you really feel, Mickey. Burke does a fantastic job with Mickey’s tirade. He plays the angry character to perfection, as he struggles against the men holding him back amidst a lot of yelling and screaming, as well as huffing and puffing his way through his monologue.

Memorable lines:

Mickey to his group of AA members: “I’m sorry everybody, this is my cousin Tommy. He’s also a raging…um sorry, he’s also in recovery.”

***

Mickey during his tirade: “Sheila don’t apologize to me, she and I will never step foot in the same room again as long as I live on this planet. And you can tell her another thing. I don’t care how hot her ass is, I am never, ever sleeping with her again!”

***

Franco, after losing his temporary position, to Tommy, who is staring at him: “What?”

Tommy, talking about Lou: “You’re A-Rod; he’s Jeter. You go for the glory. He goes for the win.

***

Lou, talking to Sheila about Tommy: “You know, he’s been calling me Derek Jeter lately, heh, because he says I lead by example without being a show-off. I know one thing, if I’m Derek Jeter, then he’s, he’s Mickey Mantle. He’s the great homerun hitter.”

***

Needles (Adam Ferrara) and Black Shawn (Larenz Tate) after Needles and Tommy meet Shawn’s three brothers at the rehearsal dinner:

Shawn: “He’s a little bit touchy about his name.”

Needles: “The name? What about the colors? One guy’s jet black, the other guy’s mocha, and Malique? Very beige.”

Shawn: “Black rainbow, brother. Black rainbow. Wait til you meet my daddy. He’s got a midnight shade goin’ on.”

Tune in to Rescue Me, Wednesdays at 10:00 pm ET/PT only on FX. Remember, there are only two episodes left!

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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!