Bryan -- I think you treated a difficult topic very carefully and well. I don't think it's something I would have been brave enough to do.

Rescue Me is one of the best dramas of the decade (it's in the Top Five or so, I'm convinced: throw it in with The Sopranos, The Wire, Lost and, say, The Shield) because it so effectively blends drama and comedy twinged with the surreal.

I'm not sure what to think about that scene. It was a gut punch because I like to "root" for the main character. Like The Sopranos, we're continuously ensnared by the leading men (Gandolfini and Leary are both outstanding manipulators on screen: charming and funny and powerful and menacing, sometimes all at once) until suddenly we're exposed to the dark side, the ugly side that has the potential to be unleased in all of us.

There's power, too, in that darkness though, and I think that's explored effectively in the character of Tommy Gavin. His life is a fucking mess: divorce, death, alcoholism, broken relationships, a dysfunctional family (two, really, like The Sopranos) and yet he does exactly what he wants: he is fearless to a fault, a hero in the line of duty, beats up friends and enemies for perceived wrongs, etc.

And even forces himself upon his ex-wife.

I would be (and will be) incredibly dismissive of this controversy.

Rape = always bad. End of story.

It is 100% true that women don't enjoy being raped. End of Story.

Deeply flawed characters can still be the center of good fiction. The only question is how are we, as the viewer / reader, supposed to feel about the character's actions? If the author sets us up to endorse rape, or accept the idea that women secretly enjoy it, that's pretty fucking evil.

Thank you both for your comments.

Eric: I completely understand your desire to root for the main character. I particularly have a soft spot for Denis Leary (he's one of the favorite alumni of my college) and it's hard to see a character - and actor - you want so hard to like be put in such a disturbing and difficult situation. But the thing that makes Tommy Gavin so great is that he feels real - maybe a bit over-the-top in certain respects, as dramatic characters usually are - but he's flawed in the way that normal people are flawed. I believe that the character is a good person at heart, however, and I'm looking forward to some sort of eventual redemption. He manages it in bits and pieces here and there, and one hopes that eventually he'll head in the right direction.

T A Dodger: I agree that rape is always bad (and for both parties as well). What I don't agree with is that what one person might experience or perceive as rape is what every person would. Extremely rough sex between two consensual partners may look like violent rape to an outside observe but be experienced very differently within the relationship. This is why I think it's difficult to pin down a moral judgment on the scene; it's hard to watch, but it's also hard to judge the actions and reactions of a character without being inside his/her head (or at least the heads of the writers). As for your last point, I don't think the authors set the viewer up for either of those things and as I made it clear in my article I don't think the show can be criticized on those grounds.

I've not seen this episode, and am not a follower of this show, but tip of the hat in your direction - I very much enjoyed reading this article despite the topic being...'sensitive'.

And a big yea to popular entertainment (as I would classify this show?) that encourages discussion - indeed any type of passionate reaction - amongst its audience. Like you said, that's what true art is about.

Good, thoughtful writing, Brian.



er, ever considered shaving?

The funny part about "art" is that it is merely a reflection of life. A painting of a bowl of fruit is NOT a bowl of fruit; it's a representation of what it might be like. This woman really wasn't raped, and Leary didn't really rape her.

Unfortunately, what is seen on TV is taken as reality and treated that way. Though I have not watched this series, I can imagine that the rape is meant to move the plot along and to further the characterization. That is what good fiction tends to do.

Still and all rape is not a topic to be taken lightly. Remember that Jodie Foster movie The Accused? It showed very well the way rape victims are treated and there is a very fine line for writers/actors/directors in this area.

It seems to me that Janet simply went into denial after being raped. If she acts like she enjoyed it, it is because she is rewriting the incident in her head as consensual because it is easier for her to deal with it that way.

Hmm. Interesting - Spike and Buffy come immediately to mind. I have to wonder at people who view all consensual sex as roses and candlelight...

Anyhow, having not seen the show, I can't comment further - other than to say I quite enjoyed your writing, and I'll be catching myself up on Rescue Me to make my own determination of the scene.

Thanks for the intrigue, and the thoughtfulness!

The scene is anything but a rape scene! As first it was a gut punch to me to and I do not take this subject lightly as I have been raped myself and service on many boards for women and child. But if you watch the scene you will quickly find out that she is not being raped. Granted it is a hard scene to watch, I did not even watch it the first time until my husband told me that it ended total the opposite. Plus, you have to understand the relationship between these two people, each week Janet comes back for more from Tommy. They simply enjoy the sexual relationship they share and it's Janet that can't get enough of her soon to be ex-husband. Also, if you have the need to critical about the show, then people should look at the next episode and if anything Tommy was taken advantage of sexual in the next episode when he is drugged and unknowingly has sex.

Best scene on the show all year. Well written, superbly directed and the acting, especially by Ms. Roth, was staggering. If anyone wants to know if Tommy's ex-wife enjoyed what happened and if all of the action served to reawaken the deep feelings she harbors for Tommy, just remember the very next episode when early on she showed up at Tommy's apartment, opened wide her long black coat and exposed her body covered (or uncovered) in what is considered by any man's as the classic dream outfit that signals sex is going to happen......AND Andrea was ready, willing and able with a ton of desire thrown in. Lets face it folks like it or not Andrea LOVED everything that happened the night before and she wants a repeat and a heck of a lot more of it. She still loves and lusts after her brave and balsy fireman. The tussle the night before brought it all out.....good for her and Tommy. I'm hoping this is the start of a reconciliation. These two belong together. As a closing, I want to thank and congratulate the person who cast Ms.Roth. She is perfect for the role, very beautiful and sexy as well as being an excellent actress.

Amazingly this is is probably the most intelligent approach to this situation that I have ever seen. I salute you for you maturity and for your willingness to be open about this difficult subject.

The best part was at the end when he Tea-Bagged her.