Analyzing the Summer Finale of 'Rizzoli & Isles'

spoilers from episode airing on 9/12/11
Finales always get a ton of viewers, so it makes sense that TNT promoted this week's episode with the "finale" tagline. But, technically it wasn't a finale at all. Instead the show is going on hiatus, and will be back in November with five new episodes. Considering that this was only the 10th episode of the season, once the November episodes are added in it will actually just be the length of a normal season.

One of the biggest problems with this season has been that it has had an  uneven tone. Sometimes the episodes are goofy ('Living Proof', S2Ep2), and some are downright depressing ('Brown Eyed Girl', S2Ep4). This episode verged on the depressing side.

The episode began with a violent death being shown on screen, which is quite unusual for 'Rizzoli & Isles'. This violence, however, set up the viewer for the violence that was to come. It served as a warning that this was not a typical episode.

The murder took place in the same prison where Charles Hoyt (the infamous 'surgeon' serial killer from the first season)  was being held. Of course, we knew that Jane and Hoyt were going to have some kind of showdown because TNT has been promoting it constantly for the last week.

Meanwhile, there was a relatively unimportant side-story about Jane's birthday, and her family attempting to set up a surprise party. This, and Frankie's police exam which had been discussed all season, were relegated to the background so that the real focus could be placed on the Hoyt/Jane storyline. I do understand this decision, but it definitely made Frankie seem like an even less important character than he'd been in the past.

The show touched briefly on its usual tempo by including some slight bickering between Rizzoli and Isles. Maura was trying very hard (in her usual adorable way) to come up with the perfect birthday gift for Jane. Every gift she chose was rejected by either Jane's mother, or Jane herself. I actually felt bad for her. When Jane disparaged Maura's choice of a hot air balloon ride (which she had already purchased) I felt really badly for her. I don't think that's how I was supposed to feel...I think it was supposed to be their normal cute friend-flirting, but the writers took it too far. It also did not provide enough lightness to counteract the depressing aspect of the story.

Jane was brutally attacked by Hoyt, Maura was attacked with a stun gun, and both of them almost had their throats slit. Which brings me to my biggest problem with this episode. Despite the fact that I think Jane's reaction to Maura's near death experience showed how much she loves her, I was still bothered by the fact that no one focused on the aftermath. The show cut from Rizzoli sobbing in Korsak's arms, and Maura semi-conscious, to Rizzoli walking into a surprise party in her apartment. Cause a bunch of people jumping out of the dark and yelling surprise is just what you need after you've almost been killed by someone who has haunted your dreams for weeks. Also, what about the fact that Rizzoli was the one who actually killed Hoyt (stabbing him in the chest with a scalpel)? We can look at it as poetic irony, considering that Hoyt once stabbed her with a scalpel. However, I find it hard to believe that Rizzoli is someone who can murder a human (even one as despicable as Hoyt) and feel no remorse. Unfortunately, if the writers do choose to deal with these issues, they won't be raised until the show returns in November...and I'm not sure the majority of viewers have that kind of memory.

Also, speaking of returning in November, where was our cliffhanger? There wasn't one at all! If this had been a real finale there certainly would have been. Which brings me full circle. I love 'Rizzoli & Isles', and I love TNT, but I think their marketing of this episode as a "finale" was misleading.

What did you think of the episode? Do you agree with me? Disagree?

(Also, I hope everyone else noticed how closely this mirrors the 'Bones' Gormogon storyline!)