Frog In North Georgia » Rescue Me

Weak Female Characters – spoiler

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:17:36 +0000

I have to wonder about the female stereotypes on tv. Every time I see Sheila on Rescue Me, I cringe. wtf?

The woman needs medication. And then, this recent episode, Season 5, Episode 16, Clean, she’s taking all sorts of pills. The most interesting thing about it though is that Tommy is the hero of the story and a likeable alcoholic. And she is this crazy, neurotic bitch that makes my skin crawl. Doesn’t seem fair now does it?

[Callie Thorne, Sheila Keefe on Rescue Me]

I had another example, of another crazy, manipulative bitch in a male dominated, male written tv show that I otherwise like. But as soon as I thought of the Sheila character, I creeped myself out and forgot.

It isn’t a good commentary on men either, these freaky women, because the Tommy character actually likes her. Another, wtf.

I also saw Public Enemies a week or so ago, which seemed to me a chick-flick with a lot of gunfire. I’m fairly certain that if I tried to watch it at home I would have fallen asleep. Being the freak that I am. I like movies for guys who like movies. So, if it’s a gangster film, I want to see an actual gangster film. I’m good with a chick-flick now and then, so long as that’s what I’m expecting. But a chick-flick with gunfire is just kind of sneaky. I guess it having Marion Cotilliard should have tipped me off. Either way, I did like it. I just wanted to see a really Godfather-esque type film. Like American Gangster. That was great.

I’m currently trying to watch JCVD on Netflix in ten minute increments. Ten minutes at a time because that is about how much of anything I can do without interruption. So far I really like it. But I’m partial to movies where the English and the French run together, makes me feel at home. Even if they are in Belgium.

DH does not want to go with me to see the new Terminator movie. Boo.

Rendition

Rescue Me Controversial Season 3, Episode 4

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Fri, 22 May 2009 03:20:19 +0000

Spoiler alert. Toward the end there is a rape scene. That’s how I read it described elsewhere, as a rape scene after which the victim is sitting calmly on the sofa with a magazine. I gotta say, that the scene didn’t look all that unrealistic to me, given the level of dysfunction of the relationship overall. Actually, I had forgotten that I read about there being a controversial rape scene in this show and when the scene progressed it seemed to me the natural order of things, that two characters in an acrimonious relationship have violent sex.

I’m sure this assessment is full of clues about my own toxic relationships. I’m not saying it is the correct way to behave. I just think if you’re in a relationship with a violent drunk with whom you have violent, sometimes physical disagreements, sex being involved probably isn’t a big stretch. Certainly, the female character was not surprised. And really, would you meet with your husband alone to discuss divorce proceedings when he knows you are shagging his brother, and get the brother and kids and everybody else out of the house to arrange said meeting?

Blah, blah, blah. Yeah, it’s tv. And I’m currently obsessed with this show. Last year I was obsessed with the Sopranos, another show full of dysfunctional characters. Though while watching the Sopranos, I never once said to myself, these are my people. These macho shitheads on the other hand, well, I feel like I know them all.

I’m going to try this again, embedding the episode. I’m not trying to show just a scene or anything fancy beyond my editing capabilities. So if it doesn’t work, then try hulu, Rescue Me, Season 3, Episode 4.

Macho Shitheads – Rescue Me

Macho Shitheads – Rescue Me

Christine Eclavea Mercer — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:00:33 +0000

Watch the first scene in the fire station. OMG. Too funny. I love these guys. It’s like I get to have my old job back, where I’m the only female for miles, surrounded by macho men, only better. It’s better because it’s all the laughter and none of the sexual harassment.

Denis Leary is just so wrong.

Rescue Me Controversial Season 3, Episode 4