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'Rizzoli & Isles' review: A killer thriller
"Rizzoli & Isles," like its lead-in "The Closer," brings TNT a solid drama featuring spirited female leads who have a knack for taking down the bad guys.The series, debuting on Monday, July 12 at 10 p.m. ET, stars Angie Harmon as Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as chief medical examiner Maura Isles and is based on stories and characters by novelist Tess Gerritsen.
Although "R&I" exhibits strong plotting -- no doubt from its literary roots -- it's the characterizations and skillful performances that makes the show compelling.
Both leads have experience with crime procedurals, and after the dismal and short-lived "Women's Murder Club," we're happy to see hear Harmon's signature rasp back and sounding outraged. In the premiere, titled "See One, Do One, Teach One," the Rizzoli character is tough, tomboyish and no-nonsense, but when a murderer demonstrates a disturbingly familiar modus operandi, she's afraid that a serial killer who once had her at his mercy now has a copycat.
In contrast to Rizzoli's earthiness, Isles is cool and put together, wearing designer duds even though she mainly deals with the dead. She often sees people as subjects to diagnose first and as personalities later, which can get in the way of relationships. Nevertheless, she and Rizzoli have built an easy and loving friendship over the years based on mutual trust and respect.
Harmon and Alexander both bring substance, humor and vulnerability to their attractive characters, and the possibility of a mutual love interest (Billy Burke) could add extra spice to their relationship. The series also includes worthy performances from Lee Thompson Young as a detective who has yet to become jaded; Bruce McGill as a veteran detective with a soft spot for rescuing furry animals; and Lorraine Bracco as Rizzoli's outspoken mother. "R&I" isn't any fluffy, girl power, shoot 'em up, but a gritty and occasionally gruesome drama that delves into the unpleasant side of humanity while keeping suspense and surprises alive. Expect some equally strong language to reflect the harshness of the crimes, but enough charisma from the protagonists to keep the show from derailing into glorified grisliness.
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Photo credit: TNT
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I can't wait until tomorrow night. This is definitely my kind of show and beased on the books from one of my favorite authors...
Can't wait. I watched "Womens Murder Club" also and loved it, was very upset to see it cancled. So glad Anngie is back. Can't wait. By the way would love to see the two main get together :)
Would add some intresting things. Also please check out "Lie to me" on Fox at 7pm same night.
I might end up eating my words, but this show has one bad thing going for it right off the bat: the name. Seriously, it does not roll off the tongue at all. "Rizzoli and Isles" sounds like a company that makes pasta or spaghetti sauce. It's like if the network brass decided to change the name of "Dragnet" to "Friday and Gannon". It sounds stupid.
Is this the "Cagney & Lacey" of the new generation?
I think this show is worth a viewing or two. If it isn't good, then it won't survive. TNT is very careful with what they put on the air (slight exception for the amount of time/eps/seasons they gave to Saving Grace!), and I think this could be a good vehicle for both actresses.
@ Jeff- Yes! I was thinking the name was too long. Actually, I was in the test audience for the pilot of this show and the first thing I said was the name was too long!!
@Summer- The pilot was graphic, like really. Like more than what you normally see on TV. I'm sure it's scaled down now that it's on TV, but don't write it off just yet. And Saving Grace was good... In a really odd kind of way. Kudos to Holly Hunter, I don't think anyone else could have pulled of that character as well!
If the show is half as good as the Tess Gerrietsen books, it should be great.
I was a bit disappointed, there wasn't near enough of Sasha Alexander in this show, the co-billing is really misleading. It's definitely Rizzoli (and supporting characters). And with due respect to Angie Harmon, her character is a total clone of Mary on In Plain Sight. "Tough, tomboyish, and no-nonsense" indeed.
Yea Angie Harmon brought nothing to the table and was more of a irritating distraction (yes we know you are very tough on the outside but vulnerable in the inside - WE GET IT). Thought the premiere show was too predictable and choppy. Didnt care about any of the characters. Bad writing and direction. Hope it gets better.
As a super fan of The Closer and a reader of Tess Gerittsen, I was really looking forward to this show, but after 30 minutes I had to delete it from the DVR. The opening nose bleed scene was just silly. Her nose was bleeding for 30 seconds and stops by itself, leaving no bruise or swelling. Ice in a plastic bag magically appears. The "tough" detective then goes to work with nary a complaint. The ME, ascertains that it is broken without touching it or seeing black eyes or swelling, pushes it back into place with her hand and our "tough" heroine is ready to go. Just plain ridiculous. Also amazing is that no one in South Boston has a Boston accent. I got sick of the one dimensional tough woman cop act really fast. By the time we got to the pseudo Hannibal Lecter character I was really bored.
I'll stick to the closer.