Grid Effect

This was one of those episodes that kept us engaged for half of it and scratching our head for the other half. Actually, not even half of it was clicking, but the part of it that was more than compensated for the shortcomings. This episode was kind of all over the map, unlike the week before which had more of a central focus, and we’re pressed for time, so we’re going to resort to bullet points. Sorry.

• 

  The greats can always mask their dependence.

  Amazingly, the portion of the episode we were really enjoying was that involving Tommy and his drinking. He’s clearly deeper into the alcoholism than he would have led them to believe. Part of that is because no one wants to deal with him, but also because in all his years of heavy alcohol abuse, he’s manage to hone his craft and mask it from his surroundings, even when he’s ten deep into a bender. They capped this episode beautifully, with Tommy’s exit speech at AA, and subsequently with Tommy being unwittingly given a copy of Mickey Mantle’s famous speech regretting his history of alcohol abuse…and disregarding it. I imagine this is par for the course with alcoholics, everyone assumes they have it under control. But Tommy has always exhibited a little more self-awareness, it’s tantamount to how fargone he is.

• Get ready for another clumsy gender reversal storyline with Franco’s new love interest. Not only does she enjoy boxing, but she’s a mechanic! How butch! I’m sure Franco will feel emasculated by her at some point, and then will be forced into coming to terms with it. Can’t wait.

• Steve Pasquale continues to handle the weightier material for Sean quite well, which leads us to wonder why we had to wait through four seasons for it, but whatever. He’s also got some pipes on him. For singing, I mean. Perv. Anyhow, I’m not sure I understand the protectionism Needles is exhibiting. I mean, yeah, it’s a patriarchal thing with him being the new Chief, but it feels so remarkably forced just so there’s another recurring character on screen with Sean.

• Sheila is well on her way to turning back into the caricature she’s been ever since the start of season three, but for the time being at least she isn’t being disregarded as a complete and utter joke. No, they’re going to draw out the punchline for a few episodes. Janet has always been regarded as the serious character but her antics are just as tired as Sheila’s, and unlike with Sheila, we cringe just seeing her on screen, as opposed to waiting to hear what she says.

• Glad to have Lenny back, but don’t really care about him and we’re still wondering why they wrote him out of NYC in the first place, but I suppose it doesn’t matter. It was probably just a failed attempt at humor.

• We’re still not particularly enamored with Candy being back with Kenny, especially since I can’t imagine what she needs him so desperately for that she can’t find someone else. And that Kenny was obviously going to acquiesce (based on his numerous and miserable experiences with women in the Rescue Me world), so why draw it out for two episodes and devote so much time between the two of them sitting around and glaring at each other? We’re confident it will pick up tonight, but in what capacity I have no idea, nor am I particularly interested.

That’s pretty much the extent of the episode. Mike Lombardi and whoever plays Damien (if you consider him integral to the series, which I do) were the only characters with the week off. But like I said, there was a lot that wasn’t working and a little of it that was. But when the show is operating substantively and isn’t just recycling the same material with either the same or different characters, then the show packs a lot of punch. When it does recycle the same material over and over, as it has been known to do but has, for the most part, taken a break from in season five, we get Franco dating an unnuanced character like the boxing female mechanic.

Probably it for today. We’ll get to some links tomorrow.