The finest, most original piece of television in the last decade. I have watched every season and the standard is consistenly high throughout.

Plot lines cover many difficult issues (homophobia/bi-sexuality, bulimia, mental illness, alcoholism, death, adultery, even marital rape) and never shies away or skirts the issue, without setting out solely to shock.

It is, however, the dialogue that makes this program for me; in particular the banter between the characters in the firehouse has me in stitches on more than one occasion; it is very "real" and anyone who has worked in this kind of environment will recognise the authenticity of these scenes.

Equally, some scenes have had me wiping away a tear.

It stands up to repeat viewings, and with strong performances from all the cast, I cannot recommend this (and all the other seasons) enough.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Miami Vice was in the 80's, Rescue Me is for this decade. Rescue Me is the hottest TV show for this decade. There is nothing else that even compares to it in regards to drama, humor, and especially reaslism. Each character has tremedous depth, the cinematography is cutting edge, and the music will stay with you for a long time. I still have never seen it on TV, only on DVD. It will get ya hooked!