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For Sale Mar 29, 2026 at 12:33 AM

Rescue Me

Posted by Primary_Werewolf_208

I have to admit, it took me two or three times to get into this show over a couple years but once I finally got past the first or second episode, I was hooked! I don’t think I have seen anything else Leary was in and didn’t know he was a co-creator of the show, but I thought he was fantastic in this series. Another hit by FX in my opinion. What did you all think of this show? One of the things that I thought was overdone was the hallucinations of cousin Jimmy. I think I would give this show a B- overall.
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djkhan23 Mar 29, 2026 +56
I remember it being great then unwatchable.
56
zersch Mar 29, 2026 +28
It was the first show I really got into as a teen when it was airing. It was so dramatic. And then I blinked and Uncle Teddy had a pet monkey that was drinking shooters in an apartment bathroom.
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ApolloKid Mar 29, 2026 +7
Rescue Me got hit hard by writers strike. I swear I heard that Dennis Leary and some of his crew started writing to keep the show going (I can’t source this, I might be making it up) and that’s the reason for the dramatic drop in quality in season 5 Edit: that being said I really l loved this show and rewatched it once a few years ago. That 22 episode season 5 is a real struggle and it doesnt stick the landing that well but those first 3/4 season are some really compelling TV. Also introduced me to the band The Afghan Whigs
7
zersch Mar 29, 2026 +6
I fell deep into Greg Dulli’s music because of the show. Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers, eventually Gutter Twins. The solo album that evaded me forever. A guy working at my local used CD shop back in the day gave me a loose copy of Gentlemen from his car because I asked him if any Afghan Whigs albums ever came into the shop and if he would hold them for me if they did. He asked me how I got into the band and I had to say the Denis Leary TV show about firefighters. I think it amused him so he ran out and grabbed it for me.
6
ApolloKid Mar 29, 2026 +2
Same here with the deep dive into all of Dullis’s music. Got lucky enough to take my dad to see him when he toured in 2016. The Lure Would Prove Too Much is one of my all time favorite songs
2
RelationshipWinter97 Mar 29, 2026 +4
Perfect description
4
robotshavehearts2 Mar 29, 2026 +16
It was a great show, but it takes a pretty big nosedive quality wise before it finishes. If I remember it’s around season 4 that it plunged pretty badly for me. Looking back on it, it was a bit contrived and the characters and writing from episode to episode was pretty simple. But there was a lot to enjoy there, especially season 1 and 2.
16
Embracing_the_Pain Mar 29, 2026 +6
Once Jack McGee left the show it pretty much became a soap opera with firefighters.
6
Ok-Character-3779 Mar 29, 2026 +17
It was fine; overstayed its welcome by a lot. I was impressed with Leary's performance until I realized he plays the same "character" in everything he's in.
17
qtx Mar 29, 2026 +4
So does Keanu Reeves and a million other actors. Most actors get cast because of how they are in real life.
4
BirdsAreFake00 Mar 29, 2026 +9
First few seasons were really good! Then it just became ok but still plenty watchable.
9
aomineNHK Mar 29, 2026 +7
One my faves shows all of time,while some part didn't age well ,still is a very strong dramedy with a satisfying ending and characters arcs,no firefighter show since comes even close to it.
7
ludicrous_copulator Mar 29, 2026 +6
Be prepared to see Denis Leary buttcheeks A LOT
6
cplcarlman Mar 29, 2026 +4
There was another Dennis Leary show that was good called "The Job" if IIRC.
4
Classic-Big4393 Mar 29, 2026 +3
Great show, watch it through every year or so. It’s interesting to see where the cast is in current television series. Very few shows pull off that range of comedy and drama/trauma.
3
Primary_Werewolf_208 Mar 29, 2026 +1
I finished it last year! Glad I gave it a couple tries to get past the first episode
1
InourbtwotamI Mar 29, 2026 +3
Timely. I tried to watch it today but didn’t even make it halfway through E1. I’ll try again based on OPs experience
3
Primary_Werewolf_208 Mar 29, 2026 +1
Finished it last year! You can tell it shows its age but I thought it was a good show overall
1
CharlesNapalm Mar 29, 2026 +2
Probably my favorite opening theme of all time. But yeah, as others have pointed out, it got really really bad after Jack McGee was written out of the show.
2
draxenato Mar 29, 2026 +2
the first couple of seasons were good but then leary shafted some of the cast and generally was a prick. i couldn't help but watch the show thru that lens and for me it became unwatchable
2
mrmmonty Mar 29, 2026 +3
Loved it at the time. I went back to watch it and felt that it aged really poorly.
3
Dri87ver Mar 29, 2026 +1
I only started watching it a few years ago. Started great but didn't end up finishing as it got too silly.
1
lawtalkingguy23 Mar 29, 2026 +1
I remember first seasons were solid, good balance between comedy and drama also cool soundtrack. However it turned into a soap opera for guys
1
bretshitmanshart Mar 29, 2026
I found the was r*** was treated was off putting. Also the last episode I watched was where they were taken hostage at gun point in a bar and it occurred to me that this would be resolved in the first ten minutes of the next season and never discussed again so there was no point in watching anymore
0
Snoo_censorspeech Mar 29, 2026
I heard that guy was a real big A******.
0
Arinoch Mar 29, 2026 +1
Folks talking about quality dropping over the years, which can be true, but I’ll note that two of the bigger, dark twists in the series have stuck with me since they aired. Also one particular comedic incident where sparks were flying everywhere (IIRC).
1
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