WHY THE ENDING OF RESCUE ME: DEVIL, IS SO GOOD

***SPOILERS***

As I've stated before, Rescue Me is my favorite show. The scene below is a perfect example of why the show is so good.



***SPOILERS***

For those who don't watch the show and see this, you will think it is just a firefighter determined to do what he has to in order to save a life. But here is why the show is so good:

The season before this, ends with Tommy's son being killed by a drunk driver and Tommy being blamed for his death by his wife, Janet. Tommy takes measures into his own hands and has his Uncle Teddy murder the drunk driver, giving him no more satisfaction than if the guy had gone to prison. It hits that no matter what Tommy does, he is not going to be bringing his son back to life.

Tommy now has that on his conscience which fuels his addiction to drinking and smoking.

Leading up to this point, the guys in the firehouse have all quit smoking and every time someone does smoke, it's 50 bucks in the smoking jar.

The guys are at a fire and get everyone out. Tommy is the one who saves this little girl, but once the fire is over, he realizes the EMTs are writing down her time of death. He isn't ok with this (not that he's ever ok with not saving someone) but this rings out closer to home for a few reasons; (1) he was just talking to her and she was fine. (2) Tommy still has the death of his son on his conscience.

So Tommy takes action and tries to revive her. He's violent and angry, doing whatever he can to bring her back. At one point he pulls his halligan on his crew and threatens to kill them if they try and stop him again. His fellow firefighters look on in sadness and horror as Tommy desperately tries to bring her back to life, as if it were his own son he was trying to revive.

Eventually she comes to, coughing up blood. Tommy has saved her.

And now this is the part that I love and respect the most; instead of taking a congratulations from his crew, the mother, or even himself, the camera goes to slow motion as he walks away, pausing to light his cigarette. The slow motion light and searing of the cigarette is one of the coolest scenes in the series.

And as he takes this drag, we realize that he is just a normal guy, who has all his own problems, but when it comes to the job and saving people, that's where his heart lies. That's what burns the most in him. That's what separates Tommy Gavin, from everyone else.

And while he is out there, saving this child's life, his wife, Janet, is having an affair with his brother Johnny.

Tommy gets the shit end of the stick for a lot of shit in the show, but this scene shows his character at its finest. A Hero.