Rescue Me

Reviewed by:
Patrick Richardson

The third in FX's trifecta of gritty dramas (following The Shield and Nip/Tuck), Rescue Me returns for a second season of firefighting, fistfighting, and uncensored profanities. Co-created by Denis Leary, an active supporter of the FDNY and profanities for many years, Rescue Me is a labor of love, and it shows. Leary has created a tribute to the men and women of New York City's fire department by writing and producing an incendiary drama that depicts firefighters as real human beings, not just ideological heroes. It doesn't take long to catch on that all of these guys are pretty fucked up, juggling various forms of addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling, women) and personal drama (women). Tommy (Leary) spends the second season searching for his ex-wife and kids, fighting to return to his old firehouse, battling alcoholism, and aiding his pregnant girlfriend. Oh, and when he's not dealing with those problems, he's dragging men, women, and children out of burning buildings—all in a day's work.

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