The FX Network’s critically-acclaimed drama series, Rescue Me, premiered its fourth season last night, with Denis Leary 's character, Tommy Gavin, escaping the fiery trap he found himself in during last season’s finale.

Other developments in the current season have been revealed by the 49-year-old actor in a feature article he wrote for TVGuide.com. The article contains general information regarding the fate of the show’s main characters, including Leary’s.

The Rescue Me star said that fans can expect some major deaths this year, and told viewers to “keep their eyes open early and late” as the show is “about life and death.”

Leary also said that they are trying to make the fourth season better than the previous ones.

“We're trying to outdo ourselves this season. That's part of the deal. If we want people to keep watching, we don't want to have one of those seasons like The Sopranos, where people are like, 'What the hell's going on?' It's good for the audience, and it's definitely better for us — it keeps our imaginations locked in.”

Rescue Me first started airing in July of 2004. The show follows the lives of New York City firefighters after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The show has been well-received by viewers and critics alike, but became the center of controversy during its third season run. On the episode entitled “Spark,” Leary’s character, Tommy, was seen sexually forcing himself on Janet (Andrea Roth), his ex-wife. In a later episode, Shiele Keefe (Callie Thorne) drugged Tommy with date rape pills and Viagra and proceeded to force herself on the firefighter.

This season, Tommy’s latest love interest is played by actress Jennifer Esposito. According to Leary, Esposito’s character is “a volunteer firefighter on Long Island, a rough-and-ready girl who gives as good as she gets and doesn't take crap off anybody — including Tommy, so he doesn't know what to make of her.”

Rescue Me’s other characters will also experience many changes in their personal relationships. For one, Leary talked about the troubled marriage of Maggie (Tatum O’Neal) and Sean (Steven Pasquale), and how an intervention allows their family “to figure out what's in their heads, and they all start to blame each other for being the way they are.”

-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

Source: TVGuide.com

(Photo Courtesy of futoncritic.com)