Looks like Jerry gained a little weight...

Rescue Me SPOILERS BELOW... yeah... not like much really went on this week. It's more of what you'd call a transitional episode, I think. Lots of new thoughts, brief touches on most of the old stuff. Nothing especially special.

The biggest point of discussion is the continuing deterioration of Tommy's psyche. As if his personal relationship with Janet isn't bad enough, he's having trouble trusting her with the baby... with good reason, apparently, since she ends up leaving the kid with the 12-year-old while she goes out to get a refill. And with the surface emasculation issues he's got, his biggest problem is his inability to step up and be the one in control of his life that's really his major issue. His prospective girlfriend (the firefighter) pointed it out directly to him, but he was too busy being humiliated by the blow-off to notice she was right.

Don't get me wrong, getting benched at the hockey game, participating in ANOTHER size discussion (this time with the aging new chief) and trampled on by a sweetie who you've just blown it with AGAIN can really put a damper on any man-time you may have going on in your own head. But, jeez, of course it's not going to work out if you're just pointing out, "oh, now I'm ready because my wife and I are broken up again." And then you're still wishy-washy. It's this inability to take, or hold onto, control -- which is because he's overworried about a ton of unimportant stuff -- that's going to screw things up even more. Jan's going to kill herself or something. Then Sheila can move in and get the baby like she wants (nice to see her back on the insanity pills she's been ignoring recently).

The show gave a little more insight into Tommy's problems this week, too, with the shadowy figure (who'll turn out to be himself) appearing in response to Tommy's statement, "I'm back." Tommy's in love with himself more than anything.

In brief:
-- I give this show credit for tackling stuff that tends to be more controversial or taboo for a lot of other shows (comedically a lot of the time, but also in a very real view) -- be it alcoholism, depression or petty free speech issues like the pictures/religious paraphernalia in the lockers.
-- Teddy's REALLY become a useless character. What could have been a hilarious two-episode arc of him in rehab turned out to be two scenes. The whole thing was a waste of time.
-- Quote me. Maggie's going to change her mind about Shawn (who put out a really good performance this week).
--This show is always fun to watch -- it's always show beautifully gritty and cut quite intelligently. I have to stop taking notes for this column and pay more attention...

Like I said, there wasn't much going on overall. Franco's engaged; Lou, still hilarious, calls for a timeout with his post-convent girlfriend... OH! Yeah, that urn in the firehouse isn't going to continue to be a problem or anything... nah. And it's not going to weigh on Tommy at all seeing him all the time as things seem to get tougher and more bleak.