TV REVIEW: Rush Gives New Meaning to “We Are Family”

The newest episode of USA Network’s Rush gave us what we’ve come to expect from this dark yet sometimes funny series with the hunky House-like lead. It delivers what it promises, a troubled main character making poor life choices, a gang of interesting supporting characters enabling him, and a slew of crazy house calls that show just how inventive those Rush writers are.

The predictability ends there. Rush is becoming a summer must-see because it stretches beyond the expected and goes darker with its lead than USA usually likes to dive, it tempers the humor with some actual Kleenex moments that break our hearts a little, and best of all, it reveals the demons of the characters little by little, giving us glimpses into who they really are in the way that the best shows do. We are getting to know and love them, flaws and all, with each passing week. Let’s see what went down as Rush kept it all in the family, so to speak.

Dr. Doolittle to the Rescue

“We Are Family” opens with Rush on a typically strange house call to treat an older man with a badly torn up arm. When Will arrives, he’s met by the man’s young partner, a brown bear and a dog in the living room. Seems like your run of the mill call.

Apparently, the injured man is suffering from something far more severe than a dog bite. Did someone turn into bear chow? Nope, the partner’s Komodo dragon looking lizard named General Westmoreland gnawed on the arm.  As Rush treats the hamburger meat arm, an ostrich pops in to say hi. The injured man says his guy is a wrangler for the studios bringing home his work. “It’s putting a huge strain on our relationship.” No kidding.

He asks Rush to assassinate the General for another fifteen grand. Of course Rush is up for the job… “cash first.” Oh, your slippery morals are a little sexy, doctor. The conniving pair distracts the reptile with a ribeye while Rush gives it the lethal injection. Young animal lover sees them putting the General down and yells, “I am calling the police … I’m calling Betty White.”

Rush admits he didn’t administer the lethal injection, just knocked the lizard with the chewing problem out a little. “I’m paying it forward,” he explains. And so begins the latest installment of Rush. Just another day at the office.

Two Rushes Are Better Than One

Rush gets a call from stepmom Corinne only he doesn’t know who the heck it is. When she gives him the hint that she’s 5’9” and a former USC cheerleader that only muddies the waters and doesn’t exactly narrow down the choices. She finally tells him it’s step-mommy dearest and she wants to have “lunch” with him. Is that what we’re calling it now?

Lunch is an awkward mix of awkward conversation, awkward flirting, and awkward confession. Corinne seems intent on impressing Rush with being surprising and not what he expected. She even orders a yucky beer. When she says that she prefers boxing to pilates, you know this girl (she seems even younger than stepson) is up to something. She wants father and son to make amends and “figure your issues out.” She says Papa Rush is “not all bad.” Rush answers, “No, I’m the bad one in the family.” Corinne thinks if they make up, her husband will be a better dad to their daughter. Rush takes off saying, “I don’t give a shit what my father thinks of me.”

Those Daddy issues aren’t going anywhere. Let’s hope that Harry Hamlin makes a return appearance to hash or fight it out with son soon.

Pictured: Larenz Tate as Alex — (Photo by: Alan Zenuk/USA Network)

This Relationship Isn’t Big Enough for the Two of Us 

Rush makes a date with bestie Alex for a night of fun and who knows what else. He’s listening to his bad music in his car with a little sit-dancing going on, complete with Peyton Manning pointy finger move.  He gets a call from Alex who shows up as Sundown on his phone, “Please tell me you’re pre-gaming by smoking that big fatty I gave you.”

It’s Laurel on the phone, Alex’s less than enthused wife. She says come by. Now. She sits both bad boys down and says, “You two are taking a break until my husband gets his priorities straight.”

Rush asks Alex, “Are you gonna say something about this? Well get to it then.” Alex argues that he takes good care of this family and tells his wife that she needs to appreciate what she has. It’s cute the way he thinks he has control of things.

Laurel can’t believe that Alex is choosing his friend over his family. We can’t either. Rush leaves saying tell me what happens next. Apparently, Rush doesn’t have the market on bad decisions.

Everybody Hurts

The next big call of night is to a hotel room where bounty hunter Roland has shot a wanted, armed robber and now needs Rush to save the bad guy so he can collect the bounty.

Rush ups the ante demanding more money. When he gets it, he does some makeshift surgery on the robber in the hotel room and patches him up. Rush leaves telling Roland to lose his number.

Later, Rush is called back to the hotel. There’s a role reversal with the robber holding a gun and Roland lying injured on the floor. The bad guy says he’s actually the bounty hunter. What? Rush isn’t biting and tells him “You may be a robber but you’re no killer.” The sort-of-bad guy agrees to let the bounty hunter be taken to the hospital. But he’s taking Rush hostage, pointing a gun at the doctor, and making him chauffeur him around town.

The bloody bandit admits Dad’s “gonna kill me” adding that  “I’ve been less than what he was hoping for.” Rush says he relates as the two bond over Daddy issues. They end up at the house of robber’s parents. Mom is concerned seeing her bloodied son, but Dad greets him with, “What the hell are you doing here?” He demands that screw up son leave. The injured man collapses; he’s lost too much blood. Rush has to do a direct transfusion with Dad as the donor.

“I’m sorry. I’m a screw up, I know. I’ll do better, Dad,” the not so bad guy confesses.

Dad’s almost crying now, telling his son, “It doesn’t matter. It’s all fine.” Wow, Rush writers making us misty with unexpectedly emotional dialogue and a couple of fine guest stars.

Will shows he’s one heck of a doctor, saving the ‘not bad just screwed up’ robber.

Pictured: (l-r) Tom Ellis as Dr. William Rush, Billy Lush as Carter — (Photo by: Alan Zenuk/USA Network)

Let’s Keep It All in the Family

Rush rushes off to see Daddy obviously inspired by the make-up session of bloody bandit and his Dad. Papa Rush is out, but Corinne is there getting liquored up in a sexy black negligee. Will says he wanted to thank Dad for helping Alex.

Corinne admits that hubs found her Adderall and accused her of being a bad mother. Rush defends him saying, “He’s not all bad.” Corinne says she’s the one who helped out Rush with the Alex save.

Drunk Corinne can resist those Rush hunky super powers no longer. She comes in so close and kisses him. He backs away, but then goes at it full force. Rush, you are officially the king of bad decisions. After they’ve consummated their newfound Mother/Stepson relationship (yes, so wrong) he puts on his shoes to leave with a family photo of dear old Dad with Step-Mom and daughter staring right at him.  “Shit,” he says. No shit, Rush.

Alex Wears the Pants (Not Really)

Rush finally makes it to his drunk date with Sundown (Alex) who’s five bourbons in. Alex complains that he and Laurel had a “Super Bowl blowout. I don’t think I’m going home tonight. I don’t think I’m going home tomorrow.” She calls asking him to get almond milk on the way home. Rush says, “This shit’ll pass” and tells him to go home (finally a good decision). Alex says okay, but he is NOT stopping to get that almond milk. No way. Rush tells him to “stay strong brother.” Hilarious.

What an unexpected summer treat Rush has turned into. “We Are Family” gave the viewers some surprising emotional feels and character development that leaves us wanting more of this semi-dark drama. Luckily, next week is giving us just that.

What do you think of USA’s newest doc drama? Will Rush resolve those Daddy issues or has the Step-Mom betrayal sent the relationship to the point of no return?

Rush airs Thursdays on USA Network at 10 pm

Random Notes

Eve is officially the cutest thing ever. Rush and Eve admit to seeing her ex last week with Rush getting his turn at playing concerned friend. He begs her to stay away from him. She says everything is okay. Later, Eve is more than okay when she goes on a cute group date with another assistant. He’s goofy, cute, and kind of perfect for her. They end up half naked in bed with Eve putting an end to the festivities saying, “I’m sorry, I’m not ready.” He’s so sweet and understanding asking her if he can see her again. This one’s a keeper, Eve.

Our favorite drug dealer Manny was MIA tonight. Rush could’ve used some advice in the form of one of Manny’s one liners. Maybe something like, “Banging Daddy’s wife will not get you back to even, Bud.”

When Corinne says Will isn’t what he seems, he says, “Well, I’m a hooker with a heart of gold.”

Alex is Sundown in Rush’s phone because “that’s the only black pilot in Top Gun.”