(S04E01) "You've got the whole tool-box going! Booze! Penises! I mean, I can't believe that I'm finally the moral compass in this family!" -Tommy

And on the eighth day, He created drunken Irish firefighters with potentially illegitimate children and mouths like sailors. That's how the Bible reads, right? Wait... it isn't? Well it should, because right now Rescue Me is just about as close to a religious experience as you can get without stepping into a church. It's downright mesmerizing and if you ask me, it easily earns the title of "best summer show." Now that June is upon us, not much else on TV compares to Rescue Me and tonight's season four premiere was proof. I covered some of the general plot points in my early review last week, but now that we've all seen this spectacular episode, let's be honest -- there's a lot to talk about.

The obvious thing to talk about first? Sheila is alive! What a way to end the episode. The whole hour, her situation was left very ambiguous. It could have gone either way and that was clearly the intention. But she's breathing and just as self-centered as ever. Rather than own up to her mistake, she's set on letting Tommy take the fall for the "accidental" beach-house fire in the hopes that they can split the insurance payout. Of course, in her twisted mind she probably blames Tommy for the fire anyway since he decided to not move in with her and keep his job with the FDNY. We all know how nuts Sheila can get. She wasn't the one who got drugged though and it's blatantly clear that she remembers exactly what happened that night.

Related to that, I love the scenes with the insurance lawyers grilling Tommy and the way it went from his dreams to reality. Again, it was left very ambiguous. You had to ask was it really happening or was it just in Tommy's mind. But it was a very cool shot, just his head illuminated. It felt like he was in one of those old police interrogation rooms with that one light bulb dangling above his head. It doesn't help that everyone seems to think that Tommy is going to jail either. Again, blame Sheila for pushing the bogus version of what happened.

If there's one thing you can love about it, it's the situation it puts Tommy in because it's hilarious. He's being forced to almost lie about a lie that he doesn't have in his mind anyway. He keeps blabbering and has no real honest answers. It's a riot. But as I mentioned in that "early look" post, that's what the show does so well. It makes you cry and laugh all at the most inappropriate moments. From Janet commenting that Colleen's pot is way better than what she used to get to Richie's desire to get laid, humor seems to pop up at all the moments you least expect it to.

Beyond Tommy, the rest of the crew has made a logical transition in the nine months since the beach house fire. I'm glad Franco has stayed with Natalie. His character is better when he's in a relationship and I think season three lacked for Franco, especially since Diane Farr left after season two. I love the addition of Jennifer Esposito too. However, I do wish Marissa Tomei would come back. Her and Leary were great together.

Plenty to look forward to though. Granted I've seen the next two episodes already, but I think people are going to be drawn to Jerry's transition back to the FDNY, how Janet deals with her post-partum depression, and how Mike evolves beyond just being "the probie." Overall, a great premiere. Everything I wanted and plus some. I've said it before, but who knew Denis Leary had something this good up his sleeve?