Rescue Me (Season Two) (DVD)

Ah ha... Here is a TV show I was anxious to continue. Now it isn't like this is "nip/tuck" or anything, but "Rescue Me" is still one hell of a show, even if the writing is cliché and obviously written by a group not particularly used to writing a drama. It has the intensity and all the normal pit falls of a traditional soap opera, but luckily it has the gritty, testosterone fireman storyline giving this show a leg up on its rivals.

In trying to convince others to give this show a chance I normally have to get them over the fact that it stars Denis Leary, for some reason people don't see this guy as a dramatic actor. Maybe it has something to do with those 1980s MTV commercials, but I am here to tell you to give him a chance. If you are a fan of any of the other FX television series such as "The Shield" or "nip/tuck" then there is no reason for you not to give "Rescue Me" a chance. The fact that FX allows for much more freedom is what makes these shows so good, and is what also allows inexperienced writers to go places without the restriction of an NBC, ABC or CBS.

This second season of the show finds Leary's character, Tommy Gavin, away from his former crew and off in the Staten Island firehouse where the action he is used to is far, far away and it is starting to eat at him. Obviously from this starting point we all realize Tommy needs to get back to his old firehouse while at the same time dealing with the fact that he has an alcohol problem and a wife that has literally kidnapped his children and run-off (see what I mean by inexperienced writers). Nevertheless, the ridiculous nature of the storylines remain intriguing and interesting as it flows from the top all the way to the last character on the show.

Whether it is a female in the firehouse, Chief Reilly's struggle with his wife's Alzheimer’s, Chief Reilly's struggle with his homosexual son, drug addiction, sex addiction, Lt. Shea and his odd relationship with an escort, Sean's massive libido and so on and so on... This show has it all.

If I did have a complaint it would be with some of the green screen work. There are some horribly fake scenes in this season and it really hurts the show considering the production value seems so high at all other moments. It really struck me as odd.

As for the DVD it is relatively similar to the first season with several making-of featurettes, a blooper reel, 35 deleted and extended scenes and a look at the third season.

As to whether or not you should buy this DVD that really depends on how serious you take your television and how high your tolerance for swearing and "guy talk" is. If you like "The Shield" you should like "Rescue Me". It is a little more ridiculous, but rather close in overall feel. Out of all of FX's television series "nip/tuck" probably sits at the top followed by "The Shield" then "Rescue Me". So perhaps you can use that order as a guide.