Ep 3. Kansas

Tommy Gavin and the rest of the crew at 62 Truck Company of the New York City Fire Department are back in the third episode of the first season of Rescue Me. This time around, we see Tommy struggling to deal with the aftermath of his separation from his wife, Janet, while also being haunted by the memories of firefighters who died on 9/11. Meanwhile, Lou is busy preparing for a big date, Franco is trying to help a young boy who's being abused by his mother's boyfriend, and Jerry is suffering from a mysterious illness that's affecting his ability to do his job.

The episode opens with Tommy waking up in his apartment, alone and surrounded by empty beer cans. He stumbles into the bathroom and looks at himself in the mirror, his face drawn and haggard. He's clearly not taking the separation from his wife well, and he spends most of the episode wallowing in self-pity and drinking.

Meanwhile, Lou is excitedly preparing for a big date with a woman he met online. He's nervous and excited, and he enlists the help of his friends to make sure he looks his best. Tommy, who's still reeling from his own relationship woes, is less than thrilled to be dragged along to the department store to help Lou pick out an outfit.

In another part of the city, Franco responds to a call at a seedy apartment building where a woman's boyfriend is allegedly abusing her son. The scene is tense and disturbing, and Franco is visibly shaken by what he sees. He vows to stay in touch with the boy, who reminds him of his own troubled childhood.

Back at the firehouse, Jerry is struggling to keep up with his work. He's been experiencing strange symptoms, like tremors and lapses in memory, and he's concerned that he might be seriously ill. He tries to hide his symptoms from the rest of the crew, but they start to notice that something's not right.

Throughout the episode, Tommy is plagued by flashbacks to 9/11. He sees the faces of his fallen comrades everywhere he goes, and he can't escape the memories of that terrible day. He tries to drown his sorrows in alcohol, but it only seems to make things worse.

Eventually, Lou's big date doesn't go as planned, and Franco's attempts to help the abused boy don't have the desired outcome. Jerry's condition worsens, and Tommy continues to spiral out of control. The episode ends with the crew back at the firehouse, exhausted and emotionally drained from a long day on the job.

Overall, "Kansas" is a powerful episode that deals with some heavy themes, like loss, addiction, and abuse. It's a testament to the talent of the cast and crew that they're able to balance these heavy topics with moments of genuine humor and warmth. While the episode doesn't offer any easy answers or solutions to the challenges facing Tommy and the rest of the crew, it does offer a glimmer of hope in the form of the tight-knit bond that they share.