A character-redeeming performance earned Callie Thorne an eponymous episode this week – and considering Sheila’s scenes have been among the weakest of the season thus far, watching her steal the show felt like an unexpected, and long-overdue, revelation. With newfound clarity, she hacks away at the problems that have clouded up her life for five years, including her son’s desire to become a firefighter and Tommy’s unwilling role as her surrogate husband. She even deals with – and articulates – her feelings for her late husband Jimmy in a powerful interview with Genevieve that closes out the episode.
Garrity, too, held up more than his share of the drama in his reaction to his cancer diagnosis, but it would appear as though the really heavy stuff is still to come for him. Very rarely is Garrity employed as anything other than court jester, a role that he fills perfectly, so to see him break down in tears after his meeting with the doctor made for one of the most moving scenes in the admirable Rescue Me tradition of tough-guys-dealing-with-sadness.
Tommy didn’t drive as much of the action as usual this week, which made for a refreshing change, but his scenes with Dwight proved worthy of a second viewing, especially when they got into it at the bar. Michael J. Fox is peerless in his portrayal of Dwight, equal parts life-scarred paraplegic sociopath and too-much-information spewing wag. It looks as though his guest role might be drawing to an end, but it’s been a memorable ride so far.
Black Shawn, meanwhile, is finding out what it means to grow up Gavin, as he has finally been exposed to the curiously advanced sexual peccadilloes of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Tommy's daughter Colleen. So much for “a handjob wouldn’t hurt” – Tommy’s plan of forced premarital sex might be serving its purpose.
Watch "Sheila" again—or for the first time—at the Showcase video centre, where it's streaming for a limited time.
Final thoughts:
-I loved Lou’s commitment to comedy in his scene at the top of the episode, wherein he carefully waits for Tommy to leave the apartment before cracking a joke, to an audience of none: "And people think the Kennedys are dysfunctional...”
-Michael J. Fox: “My junk, it lasts for an eternity…”
-“What, are you on drugs?” ... “Shitloads”
-Where does Sheila go from here? Share your thoughts, if you got ‘em…