The original post: /r/television by /u/TaskForceD00mer on 2025-10-09 17:41:15+00:00.
Inspired by u/boilercoiker 's discussion of The Shield and many comments about the peak-of-tv shows coming out of FX at the time I feel like Rescue Me is seldom talked about compared to The Shield, Justified or SoA.
I just finished another watch through and damn this show does it every time.
The comedy just hits. At least 90% of the jokes and situations hit. The Probie dating the fat girl then becoming obsessed with her, Franco’s girlfriends special brother, “It’s just blowjobs”, it just has me rolling every time.
At the same time the continual drama, the deaths, the loss, the broken families, the drinking. Having to watch someone die and just fight through it to survive as a firefighter or rescue others.
Dennis Leary going back and forth between comedy and tragedy effortlessly is truly his best performance ever in Film or on TV.
The complex storylines that often arced multiple seasons, the continual battle with the Post-Traumatic after effects of 9/11 and the never truly answered questions about the role of The Divine in the show.
Thinking back to the context, being one of the first really main stream shows to focus on the aftermath of 9/11 but to do so in a respectful and somewhat realistic way also brings me back to a place.
I feel like this show is a 10/10 must watch if you lived through 9/11, Like Firefighting shows, New York, Dark Comedies or Dennis Leary.
Edit: For people who want MORE firefighter drama, check out Burn. Denis Leary exec. produced this 2012 documentary about the Detroit Fire Department at the height of the cities financial problems.