Ya it does feel like that but you don't really know the exact direction they're going to take.
Almost exactly like Season 1.

I finally got a chance to watch last week's episode tonight. I have to say that I thought it was pretty good up until the end. If the whole Tommy/Half brother thing, was built up just to have that moment in the church, than that was a waste of creative talent. They could've explored other character aspects. If it builds up to a bigger thing in the season finale, like Tommy starting to date who he thought was his sister, than it won't be such a waste. But if it was created just for dramatic effect to just have the kid kill himself than that's a waste. This episode just felt too preachy.

Next week's show looks like a good one though.

This week's episode was a safe episode. I call it safe because all plotlines took a mere babystep forward this week, and nothing at all drastically changed. And, if you missed it, it's okay. It seriously was a small episode with nothing major happening.

Good, although it's hopefulyy repeating tonight, I missed it being on vacation.
I hope I can catch it. There's only like 2 or 3 episodes left!! 2!

Well, I did end up watching the repeat.

I think this show has started to enter a realm in which it will be very hard to have a weak episode. It seemed from the beginning of this episode that it was not going to be that great and also felt a bit contrived but it really picked up. I agree that it didn't really further the plot, but still great anyway.

Next week looks interesting... if his son really dies then I have no idea where they will go with that but I can't wait for the finale!!!

I saw the last 15-20 minutes of the episode and will watch the repeat in a half hour or record it...

I don't want to say anything about the episode as a whole till I see it as a whole.
But I will talk about the direction of the series. Anything Tommy Gavin related in Season was not building up to the finale. It seems like the finale and maybe the new direction fo the show is going to be determined by what happened in this episode. It might seem like a cheap shot... as if they did not know what to do and spurted this idea out there... but I always speak too soon and they could really justify this. All the other storylines seem to be building up to something though.

I REALLY REALLY wonder what the cliffhanger, if any, it will be. I have a little notion but it sounds way too easy.

Why si thsi unstickied so fast. The season premiere was tonight!!!

I missed it cuz I was at work, but I taped it.
However, I don't feel like watching the tape so I'm going to wait 20 more minutes for the repeat at 12:00am!!!!!!

Anybody catch it? How did you guys like it?

Why is it so hard to find people who watch this show?

Anyway... this is my 6th post out of 8 total posts on this page so far

I watched the finale and it was great.
A little let down but maybe I had too much expectations from the first season closer.
So far nothing will match the brilliance of the Season 1 closer tied in together with the season 2 opener. In the less than 30 episodes this show has had, those 2 hours were its goldebn years thus far.

I think my main problem with the ending of Season 2 had to do with it coming out of nowhere.
Season 1, the entire time, was building up to something. Even if you think it wasn't... look back everything that was happening in the household, the firehouse, in bed all led to a complete melt-down. And I love how Season 2 just picked it up from there and although it tied up some or most of the loose ends it opened up alot more to explore!

Season 2 was phenomenal. My very slight disappointment in the last act of the season in no way ruins what this season of 'Rescue Me' was and that is nothing short of phenomenal television!

All the other character threads and plotlines throughout season 2 played out like season, and even more. Season one was alot of build up for Tommy's breakdown. Season 2 dealt with multiple build-ups for alot of characters; I liked how it left so many more things up in the air. I know the main cliff-hanger is Tommy's story, but I'm also interested to see where the Franco story is headed, what Lou is going to do, and especially how the chief is going to deal with life without his wife.

the only minor downside to Season 2 was lack of a any major storylines for the Probie and... man I ALWAYS forget his name... the other dumb guy. By the way... I still missed about 5 or so minutes from the second to last episode.... Does Probie have testicular or prostate cancer or not? I'm not sure if they ever cleared it up or if they're leaving it as another cliffhanger.

I know I'm jumping back and forth, but there is alot to talk about and it's kind of weird not knowing if anyone is going to read this, lol. So... going back to the focus of the last 2 episodes... Conner and how he became the center of the finale. In actuality, when I look back... I think it's sort of visible that the writers knew they could take this road but they never ever made it clear. What I mean is... looking back, you can tell or feel there really was no build up or furtherment of a storyline with Tommy aftre half the season. when he and his wife got back together, everything sort of froze and it seemed like life was back to normal (of course, with drugs in the picyure now). We could take that freeze fram as a possible foreshadowment... nothing is ever that perfect and something is bound to happen to screw it all up.

I think I would have been completely blown away by their direction if they had more focus on his kids and especially Conner throughout the season. what the kids went through at the end of Season 1 and mid-way through Season 2 is pretty traumatizing for kids their age and they NEVER focused on that... EVER! They could have built up some good stuff for Conner. I loved how he heard his dad talking about being a firefighter and how it's in their blood and how he wants to be one too when he grows up... I needed more of that throughout the season so I could feel the full impact of what happened. By just pulling this fast one, I sort of felt cheated... just a bit. I'm not blowing it bigger because the season, as a whole, was so fucking amazing!

Now... me not completely on par with the direction they chose or lack of build up has no barring on how well they still wrote and carried out the finale two episodes. they treated the storyline very well. I was content and satisfied with hwo they dealt with it. I just hope it aint over... this kind of thing scarrs you for life and it should always be re-iterated into his character because it's who he is now... him, Janet, and their kids as well. I don't wont them to brush this off. They got themselves into this storyline and they're sort of stuck with it until the end... you can't expect us to believe that it's just another cliffhanger or another storyline. So, if they know what they're doing... I'm all on board and can't wait to be rescued again next summer (and they better not pull a Nip/Tuck on us... waiting 11 fucking months).

Now, other highlights from the finale....

I don't know how, but they actually found a way to make me laugh out loud during the finale. I had a tear come down my cheeck at one point of the episode because of the emotional and dramatic gravity of the storyline and acting. Yet, in what seemed to be such a dramatic and somber turn of events, they still found a way to make me laugh. That bit with the daughter and the two firemen who try to cheer her up (Probie and the monkey guy) was completely hillarious. BRILLIANT!!!! and hillarious. I couldn't believe I was hearing that, first of all... excellent dialogue and great delivery by that young actress. I truly hope they build on that next season and maybe show her dealing with faith and losing her brother.

But oh man... that scene in the church; when the guy comes and waters the plants over the St. Mary statue, lol. The look on the monkey guy's face was PRICELESSS!!!!

One of the StrongesT scenes in the finale, however, was when they were driving to a fire or from a fire (I don't remember) and it was Franco and the Chief in the front. When the chief started crying and then said "Don't look at me kid" I thought that was pure brilliance. And the fact that we were angled from behind the seats and we didn't see his face just ate me up but it was great film-making (or television-making... whatever you want to call it).

Now, I don't watch too much TV, but in my perspective this season of Rescue Me rivals Desperate Housewives and Lost for the best TV show this year.

Season Finale: Strong A-
Season 2 Grade: SOLID A

I've been a big fan of Rescue Me from the first episode, I've never even missed an episode. I agree with you on the season finale last year being probably the best episode they've done, but I also think the 2nd to last episode this year ( the one where his son dies) was one of the best. I can't wait until next year, but if it follows the pattern, it won't be till next summer. It will be interesting to see what happens after what happened at the train station, and what happens with Franco and the girl ( I think here name is Laura). I also agree with you on the scene with Franco and the Chief in the front of the truck, and the Chief starts crying, that was touching. Overall I hope they continue making this show as good as its been.

Very good finale, I wasn't disappointed. I'm more or less disappointed that Rescue Me was snubbed for any big awards at the Emmys. I believe a Writing and Directing nod is all it can hope for tomorrow night. I'd like to see Denis Leary, Jack McGee (the Chief), and the series itself get nominated.

Even though I'm disappointed at the lack of direction for Garrity and the Probie (two goofy guys), I do like their goofy scenes in every episode. They lighten things up, without forcing it.

I had a feeling Lou would likely get screwed by the girl (and not the way he was hopin' for). I wonder if he'll try to track her down at all next year, or if he'll give up.

Overall, I think it was a pretty strong episode. Season 1 is slightly better than the second season, but both are still excellent television.