What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 2, Episode 2 “Living Proof” (B)

Perhaps I was a bit too enthusiastic about this show’s return last week, but I think that’s because the premiere was a much stronger episode than this show usually offers. The spa trip at the start of this episode was amusing, and it turned out to be quite convenient that Maura was there to be able to save the baby while the mother unfortunately didn’t make it. With the father at sea and the mother not actually the biological mother, things got plenty complicated as the adoptive parents showed up in addition to the biological parents. The addition of another nurse and a con man that plays doctor and adoption lawyer made things even messier, but I suppose there’s a greater value to these storylines for the way that they impact our main characters and help to draw out some of their less prominently-displayed traits and interests. Maura’s maternal nature is one instance of that, as is some form of relief for Angela, who had way too much time on her hands. Angela’s yard sale at Jane’s house proved quite entertaining, and I most enjoyed the fighting over the action figure from Maura, Barry, and Frankie. Frankie shadowing Vince is an interesting way of incorporating an otherwise tangential character more directly into the regular plot. I enjoyed seeing the differences in the way the detectives work, with Barry accusing Vince of old-school probably cause tactics while Jane just strolls right in without even bothering to make up any kind of reason.

What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles (Season Premiere)

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 2, Episode 1 “We Don’t Need Another Hero” (B+)

I know that I had become somewhat disillusioned by the quality of this show towards the end of last season to the point where I was considering not picking it back up this year since this summer has become inexplicably crowded all of a sudden. I’m glad that I changed my mind, however, because this premiere was both strong dramatically and plenty entertaining. Mainly, it’s the characters that make it work. Of course Jane is going to be the worst possible patient, unwilling to remain benched and vehemently insistent on being reinstated. And Maura is a perfectly stubborn match for her, eternally diagnosing her in the middle of a conversation and refusing to let her friend go about her business as usual without giving her a hard time. Maura dating Jane’s surgeon who uses the royal “we” all the time was amusing as well, and it’s no surprise that she would boot him at the drop of a hat when he got pompous after she questioned him about his diagnosis of Jane. On the more serious side, it was good to see Chris Vance playing an American military man who Jane dated in high school and whom she connects with quite quickly when she sees him again, even though her mom gets in the way. The explosions made for an intense premiere spectacular, and pulling a grenade in a confined space is always a major step. I think I’m inclined to hang around and enjoy some more of this show as everything gets back to normal.

What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 1, Episode 10 “When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang” (B-)

So much for ending on a strong note. This episode, like the installments immediately preceding it, harps on the sensational and overblown rather than striving for actual compelling plotlines. Any cinematic police chief should know that it’s never a smart idea to leave the police station unattended by anyone except the desk sergeant, and bringing the entire force on a bust is a recipe for disaster (having the whole crew in one place is also a bad idea, as evidenced by this week’s finale of “The Closer”). Beyond that, having Frankie get shot by these criminals so desperate to destroy evidence that they don’t mind killing a few cops is a bit of a forced lurch of the heartstrings. The unsurprising seventh inning-stretch twist of the partner being corrupt and then deciding he too should kill a few cops just for the heck of it came way too late in the game, and the slow-motion final sequence was more than a bit overdone. The introduction (well, not quite) of the third Rizzoli sibling is a wholly unnecessary plotline, and once again emphasizes the uneven tilt towards the first member of the show’s title. Not to harp solely on the negative, I’d like to mention the positive elements of this show that helped make it an effective guilty pleasure. It’s particularly wonderful to see Sasha Alexander back on television, in a role that’s probably more suited for her than her “NCIS” part, though I do think she did quite great on that show way back when as well. Angie Harmon, Bruce McGill, Lee Thompson Young, Lorraine Bracco, and Chazz Palmintieri all make up a fun supporting ensemble, and even if this show aims too high every single time, it may be worth revisiting in a scarcely populated summer next year.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Sasha Alexander

What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 1, Episode 9 “The Beast in Me” (B-)

Apparently, no small crime happens in Boston. No accidental deaths, no petty killings. Everything has to be connected either to a serial killer or the mob. Not just that; it also happens that Maura is able to almost instantly identify a dead guy as her half-brother, and it just so happens that his father (and hers!) waltzes right into the morgue to identify himself. The ridiculous amount of coincidences and unikelihoods is just staggering, and I think this is the point where I officially start grading the episodes of this show less favorably if they just don’t cut it in terms of logic and believability. Maura’s kidnapping by her own father seemed more than a bit dramatic, and these cops seem to have no sense of good security. When Frankie came over to ask for help fixing the pipes, it could easily have been one of those previously mentioned serial killers or mobsters coming to assassinate Maura, and Jane would hardly have been in a position to do anything about it. That’s now at least three episodes out of nine that one or both of the lead characters has been in serious danger of being abducted by someone desiring to harm them, which seems a bit drastic. I suppose that’s what’s necessary to ensure that this show isn’t perceived as just another procedural (note the helpful presence of the young newbie who vomits at the sight or thought of blood and the veteran who is old enough to have been around to know everything about the mob). While stretching the boundaries of plausibility doesn’t make me want to stop watching, it does dishearten me a bit about what I had thought was a great new show.

What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 1, Episode 8 “I’m Your Boogie Man” (B)

I’ve officially decided, after eight episodes of this series, that it really needs to be classified as a guilty pleasure rather than a genuinely good show. There are so many reasons for this; the first being that each case is even more sensational than the next, and now we have a serial killer manipulating a woman who got plastic surgery from inside prison. It’s definitely interesting, but hardly believable. This show also seems incapable of having supporting plotlines not related to Jane since Frankie’s shot at true love turns out to be a crazy follower of Hoyt’s intent on killing her new boyfriend just to pay tribute to the man who killed her husband in front of her. I expected Lola, played by Scottie Thompson of “NCIS” season four fame, to stick around for much longer given how much of an impact Jeanne Benoit had on Tony DiNozzo’s life. Hoyt’s ability to smell fear is more than a little ridiculous, though having the ultra-creepy Michael Massee, who has also been uber-villainous on “24” and “Flash Forward,” play the guy helps matters considerably. I would definitely question the validity of having the quirky, sunny Maura interrogate Hoyt, as well as the ease with which he was extracted from a maximum security prison to be questioned, unsupervised, by outsiders. But of course that’s what there is to love about this show – it doesn’t have to make sense all of the time, as long as it’s entertaining and engaging, which it most definitely is.

What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 1, Episode 7 “Born to Run” (B+)

This episode first gets props for clever use of its title, which is also the title of a famous season one installment of “Lost” featuring Kate. In this case, the subject of the Massachusetts Marathon (likely a more legal way of riffing on the Boston Marathon) makes for an entertaining and fast-paced forty-five minutes of tracking down a murderer without causing mass panic and accidentally engineering a stampede. I feel similarly about this episode as I have about most of the installments of this show so far – the way things proceed along and turn out is often somewhat cheesy, but these gals (and guys) make it work. Use of technology is commendable in this episode, as a Skype-like interface helps to get around the traffic nightmare that is the marathon perimeter. Fanny pack as a gun muffler is also an impressive device, and this episode was especially well-timed in terms of the revelation of who the killer was and just why she was after these runners. Rizzoli’s arrest of the third runner who didn’t get assassinated was a nice score for justice, and it’s good to see the whole team taking this matter so seriously and emphasizing right and wrong just as much as the letter of the law. A notable guest star was on hand this week, and that would be Balthazar Getty of season five “Alias” and “Brothers & Sisters” fame. He didn’t really have much to do here, but that’s because there were other fun spotlights, like on the eager, nervous Boy Scout and the very malcontent Rizzoli parentals, who proved to be quite entertaining.

What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 1, Episode 6 “I Kissed a Girl” (B+)

Throughout this entire episode, I kept thinking that these cops really need sensitivity training. While everything is played for laughs and it’s generally harmless, the things these people say really aren’t politically correct. Television-wise, that does make things more entertaining. I kept recalling the season two episode of “Rescue Me” where the firefighters completely destroy a sensitivity training official with their crude and inappropriate remarks. In this case, it also made for a lot of amusing scenarios. Most importantly, those were spearheaded by the relationship between Rizzoli and Isles, which puts to rest a concern I had initially had with what the focus of this show would likely be. Unbelievable as it may be, having Maura pose as a waitress while Rizzoli speed dates lesbian suspects actually worked, and ended up being quite fun. Trying to categorize Rizzoli as a certain type of lesbian is also predictably entertaining, and having her react to all of it so strongly makes it even more enjoyable. The episode-beginning yoga session set up the episode well, positioning Rizzoli as an uptight rule-breaker who refuses to let herself be taken care of by anyone else, male or female, and especially not a male nurse. I do find myself stating the caveat of “this isn’t how it likely really works” quite often, but I don’t think that’s overly problematic. Rizzoli and Isles bartering hunches and dates over a dead body is fun enough that how realistic it actually is shouldn’t ultimately be too much of a concern.

What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 1, Episode 5 “Money for Nothing” (B+)

I’m enjoying the sort of switching off between Rizzoli and Isles as the focal point for the cases. In addition to giving Maura something to do, it also provides some background information about the upbringing and past of her character. I like how it encourages a rivalry between the two leads, and I absolutely love how they interact. Casting Mark-Paul Gosselaar as one of the wealthy sons with whom Maura once had a close relationship was hardly a distraction, and it was probably good for loyal TNT views to see the actor back in the Monday 10pm time slot formerly occupied by the abysmal “Raising the Bar.” Maura discussing how she grew up was interesting, and even more delightful was the fact that she decided to turn to the other cops for advice on how to get back on Maura’s good side. Her oyster trip with both of them was a whole lot of fun, and that’s one of the things that for me makes this show very worthwhile as compared with other procedurals on the air these days. Rizzoli did seem rather annoyed and impolite when she was interacting with the family members after news of the brother’s death, though it does make sense considering her immense hatred of the upper class and the ease with which they live and take much for granted. I enjoyed the ending scene where Maura allowed herself to be swayed by Rizzoli’s bullying and give in to the notion of trying beer, even if it had to be the old-fashioned way.

What I’m Watching: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles: Season 1, Episode 4 “She Works Hard for the Money” (B+)

Another episode, another intense case, but this show is making it work. One minor element that has truly impressed me thus far is the incorporation of Lorraine Bracco as Rizzoli’s mother. She’s given the coveted “and” billing in the opening credits, and it’s easily possible that she could be a distracting supporting presence whose constant insertion into her daughter’s life could seem forced and inappropriate. Instead, her character is certainly a badgering force but not a negative one. The fact is that she lives nearby to her daughter and therefore interacts with her constantly, occasionally dropping by her work and calling her when her car breaks down. The scene at the dealership was particularly strong, demonstrating how the younger Rizzoli takes care of her own and puts her stubbornness to work. In the absence of Lieutenant Grant, it’s good that Rizzoli has someone to steadily distract her. I also enjoyed the incorporation of Maura (not sure whether to call them both by their first or last names; I think I’ll go with what others on the show seem to call them) into this episode, leading a group of uninterested students through a tour of the police station and then jumping at the chance to return to her alma mater. It’s good to see their teamwork in action, and I’m still holding for my breath for a truly Maura-centric episode which gives us a good look into her back story, like the first episode did for Rizzoli.

The good news is that there will be more chances for just such an installment – “Rizzoli & Isles” was renewed last week for a second season of thirteen episodes, slated to air sometime in 2011.

Take Three: Rizzoli and Isles

Rizzoli and Isles: Season 1, Episode 3 “Sympathy for the Devil” (B+)

I’m never a huge fan of cases that involve exorcisms, the devil, and all that jazz, especially when it’s not on a show like “The X-Files” or “Supernatural” that may have the potential to scare the hell out of me (which I don’t much enjoy either), but it’s good to see this show scale back a little on the grandiose nature of their cases and makes it about a single victim rather than a spree. Though it’s likely not realistic, I enjoy Isles accompanying Rizzoli on her investigative rounds since her quirkiness and vault of random knowledge complement Rizzoli’s stern and humorless attitude well. I’m very intrigued by the relationship that Rizzoli has with Lieutenant Grant, and it’s a shame that he’ll likely be departing due to his transfer to D.C. We didn’t see quite as much of Detective Korsak (I don’t feel I know these characters well enough yet to call them by their first names) this episode, and I do hope he’s featured more prominently in the future. What I do really like about this show, and this episode in particular, is how the style makes it feel like an HBO show, which in turn feels like a mini-movie rather than simply an installment of a weekly series. It may be the severity of the cases or the dramatic tone; I’m not sure. I like it though, and even if I’m the only one who prefers it to other new cable entry “Covert Affairs,” I’m eager to see where it’s headed.

Pilot Review: Rizzoli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles (TNT)
Premiered July 12 at 10pm

TNT is shaping up to be more than just a network that knows drama and threatening to truly rival USA’s character brand with some token personalities of its own. Turner Network Television has been applauded in the past for showcasing a strong female lead character on lead-in series “The Closer,” and this show, regardless of any creative issues, should garner similar praise. Angie Harmon’s return to television gives the network another tough, respectable law enforcement officer to anchor one of its series. The pilot follows in the footsteps of other shows like “The Mentalist” and “Profiler” by setting up its lead cop with a serial killer nemesis with all-too personal vendetta against her. The difference with this show is that it actually features a repeat encounter with said nemesis in the very first episode, and resolves that storyline by having Harmon’s Rizzoli rid herself of her enemy by episode’s end. It’s a ferocious start to a series that likely won’t be as deadly or severe each episode, but it helps kick it off properly. For those who think that this show, with its somewhat tongue-twisting title, is merely a halved version of Harmon’s previous TV series, the underrated “Women’s Murder Club,” that’s not the case at all. For one thing, cop Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles hardly get along famously, as even in the first episode Isles withholds information from her friend rather than put their close relationship above the law. The major disappointment of the first episode is that Isles seems so sidelined and barely features into the storyline, especially compared to her costar, who dominates the pilot. Part of the reason this is a concern is that it’s absolutely wonderful to have Sasha Alexander back on television, five years after her exit from “NCIS.” I do love Ziva, but it was still hard to replace Kate, and it’s fantastic to have her part on a show, even if Tony DiNozzo is nowhere to be found. Harmon’s return is a welcome one too, and while her character seems a whole lot more stressed out and humorless than her previous role, Lindsay Boxer, she’s just as effective as a lead. The supporting cast includes two terrific cops played by Bruce McGill and Lee Thompson Young, late of ABC’s cancelled “Flash Forward.” They’re both quite different and should provide Rizzoli with ample support via their varied areas of expertise. “The Sopranos” therapist Lorraine Bracco is also a member of the credited cast, received the coveted “and” billing, as the immutably Italian mother of Rizzoli. Her role should be much like that of Kate Mulgrew on last year’s “Mercy,” an occasionally welcome though hardly necessarily distraction from the main plot. The pilot shows some expert casting, taking the secondary villains from season one and two of “24” and positioning them as Rizzoli’s nemesis (Michael Massee) and a mysterious federal agent (Billy Burke). This show is definitely off to a positive start.

How will it work with a series? Based on the first episode, it should be a fairly generic cop show, but the twist is that we get the medical point of view as well as the police one. The pilot didn’t make Isles seem too prominent, though I suspect that will change in episode two, enabling this to be very similar to its lead-in – an above-average procedural aided by sharp casting and great characters.
How long will it last? Unsurprisingly, TNT’s new show now boasts the title of cable’s #1 commercial-supported series launch of all time. There isn’t much more to say – that should translate to a renewal within the next few weeks, if not right away. TNT wants more good shows, and this is one people are actually watching, so they’ll want to hang onto it for sure.

Pilot grade: B+