Rizzoli & Isles: the 2nd Season finale

"Burning Down the House" (S2Ep15) was the final episode of the second season of 'Rizzoli & Isles'. More often than not, 'R&I' is a light-hearted mystery romp. Sure, there have been occasional dark episodes, like this year's "Brown Eyed Girl", but those episodes have always been an oddity. Tonight's episode added one more to the collection.

The episode featured some regular guest starts; Jacqueline Bisset reprieved her role as Maura's mother, and Agent Dean (Billy Burke) returned as a love interest for Jane. 

"Burning Down the House" had an uneven tone. The episode tried to keep some of it's usual bantering humor, while dealing with extremely serious themes. This was problematic to say the least. The multiple storylines didn't help with the flow much either.

One side-story dealt with Jane and Agent Dean's romance and, I have to say, they really don't have great chemistry. Also, I'm sure there were plenty of moments that pleased Maura/Jane shippers (every time Jane and Dean had a second alone Jane cut it short to rush off and see Maura).

Another storyline briefly examined Maura's budding relationship with her mother. It seemed as though they were finally on their way to a true mother-daughter reconciliation (and just how true was brought to light at the end of the episode). Unfortunately, this was cut short because Maura's mother was seriously injured in a hit and run incident where Maura was the actual target.

And on to side-story number three: Maura was the target of said hit and run because of the arson fire/ mysterious firefighter death scenario that she was investigating. Because apparently Medical Examiners are really good at arson work, and know the inner workings of a space heater. Who knew?

Opps, I almost forgot side-story number four: Maura's biological father, Patty Doyle, who also happens to be a mobster, turned up in her mother's hospital room. He promised to protect Maura, and to tell her who her biological mother was, but instead they fought and he left.

Side-story number five: Except he didn't really leave, because when Maura gets back from seeing Jane she finds her biological father at her adoptive mother's bedside. Ostensibly because he is protecting her. But right after he leaves (for real this time) her mother wakes up and says that someone was telling her to hold on "for her daughter", and then asks Maura, "was it Patrick?". Which leads us to the first question that doesn't get answered (there have to be some, this is a finale!): is Maura's adoptive mother actually her biological mother? Did she have an affair with a mobster? And how will this impact the 'true' part of their mother-daughter reconciliation?

At the end of the episode, the detectives decide to set a trap to figure out which firefighter set the arson fire, and murdered his colleague. Maura makes a big fuss in front of the firefighters about collecting data at the burnt building. She's followed by the guilty firefighter, but luckily she is wire-tapped, and has numerous people backing her up...including Frost, Korsak, Jane, Agent Dean, and (unknown to everyone involved) her biological father. It's lucky that Patty Doyle is there, because the law enforcement would have been too late, the firefighter almost shots Maura, but Doyle takes him out just in time. Of course, this means that when the police do enter the room they're faced by a wanted mobster holding a gun. Someone fires at him, and he fires back. He refuses to put the gun down. He gets shot in the shoulder (definitely not a fatal wound), but then fires again and Jane steps up and shoots him in the chest. He falls backwards, potentially fatally wounded. Jane seems shocks at what she has done, but Maura responds instantly, rushing to her father's aid. Jane finally reacts and runs over, yelling Maura's name. She tries to bunch up a coat as a pillow for Patty's head, but Maura swats her away. The look that Maura and Jane exchange shows that Maura is deeply hurt by the fact that her best friend shot her father. And then the credits roll.

So, the questions for next season:
1. Does Patty Doyle survive? this one could go either way
2. Does Maura's mother survive? i think probably yes
3. Is Maura's adoptive mother really her biological mother? i'm guessing yes
4. Will Agent Dean stick around? please no, if there has to be a guy I'd prefer the far-away one who's in Afghanistan, anyone closer ruins the chemistry that Maura and Jane have (regardless of how you choose to interpret that chemistry)
4. How long will it take Maura to forgive Jane? not too long (they won't want to alienate viewers)

Dean: Maybe I'll be gone in Season 3. Or at least I'll get a hair cut.

What do you think?

'Rizzoli and Isles', Lesbian Subtext, and TNT Ratings

 'Rizzoli and Isles' (airing Monday nights 10/9C on TNT) is full of lesbian subtext. There's no way around it, you watch an episode and it's just there. I watched a single episode with my mother, with no conversations about what the show entailed ahead of time, and by the time we were halfway through she had already asked me if Jane and Maura were together.

And the answer is no, no they're not. And they probably never will be. The characters are both straight women--Janet Tamaro (the creater) has said this, Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon have said this, and Tess Gerritsen (who wrote the books upon which the characters are based) has said this. But, despite the fact that the characters are (apparently, definitively, 100%)  straight, the show is full of lesbian subtext. And some of it is so obvious it's maintext (if you don't believe me watch the most recent episode, "Seventeen Ain't So Sweet"-S2Ep14).

There is no way that all of that is accidental; everyone involved with the show knows about its large lesbian following. Janet Tamaro has commented on it in interviews, and Sasha Alexander acknowledged the Lesbian 'Rizzoli and Isles' Drinking Game on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' (see the clip below).  I imagine that in the writers room they have fun throwing in situations where Maura and Jane could be construed as being a couple, and I imagine Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon occasionally throw a few meaningful glances in amongst their acting for the same reason.

After all, lets be honest, if they show wasn't acquiring a lesbian following it wouldn't be doing half as well. It's just not that good. The writing isn't any more brilliant than half a dozen other crime shows on the air right now (and no where near as good as 'Castle' or 'Bones'), but it has something those shows don't have. Two incredibly attractive female leads. My guess is that at the very least the executives at TNT try to continue to appeal to their lesbian following--the infamous speed dating promo suggests that's the case.

And if TNT wasn't aware of the true importance of their lesbian viewers before this week's episode, maybe they will be now.  Neither #RizzoliandIsles nor #RandI trended during the most recent episode, but you know what did trend? #gayzzoli. Hopefully TNT, and 'Rizzoli and Isles', will take a hint and keep up the subtext.

Sasha Alexander talks about how gay her show is, plus the drinking game:
TNT's speed dating promo:

I found the great screen shot at RizzleGirls

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!)

'Rizzoli & Isles' Quotes & Quips--S2Ep10 "Remember Me"

Top 'Rizzoli & Isles' Quotes & Quips from "Remember Me"

 Top "Wait a minute, is this 'Bones'?"
"Oh my god! He swallowed something."-Isles
"What is it? Dope?"-Rizzoli
"No. Teeth."-Isles
"What the hell?!"-Rizzoli
"From different people..."-Isles
(Remember when Gormogon attacked Booth and Bones with a bomb made out of lots of teeth? Also, remember how Gormogon had an apprentice? Yeah. Me too.)

Top Islesism
"No, it's okay...I didn't want to be a detective anyway."-Little Brother Rizzoli
Isles expresses confusion
"That's sarcasm!"-Rizzoli
(completely seriously) "What? Using irony to convey contempt?"-Isles

Top Gay Moment
"He says he's prepared to give up the names of every person he's ever killed."-Rizzoli
"I'm going with you."-Isles

Plus, Jane risking her own life to save Maura's...

Top Straight Moment  
There really wasn't one. Unless you count Hoyt's disgusting obsession with Jane. Which I 100% do not.

Top "You're like my girlfriend!"
 (sarcastic) "Why don't we go on that midnight hot air balloon ride?!"-Rizzoli
"What? I thought it would be a fun experience for us."-Isles

Also...Jane's reaction to Maura giving her a birthday gift she loves.

Top Rizzoli Statement
"He called me hysterical."-Rizzoli
"I'm surprised his balls aren't in his throat right now."-Frost
"No kidding."-Rizzoli

'Rizzoli & Isles' Summer Finale: Live on Twitter

My roommate graciously gave up watching the Pats game so that I could watch 'Rizzoli & Isles' live. That means I'm officially ready for the summer finale! Some, however, aren't quite as ready. TNT had promised that Sasha Alexander, Angie Harmon, and Tess Gerritsen (who writes the books that the series is based on*) would all be tweeting live to accompany the show. Unfortunately, that won't be the case. Sasha Alexander just tweeted that they're still on the set, and since she hasn't even seen the episode yet it will be a little tricky for her to do commentary: "East coast/midwest tweeters! Here's the deal, I'm going to do my best to live tweet with you but we are still at work" (SashaAlexander1).

You can follow along with Tess Gerritsen's tweets here: https://twitter.com/#!/tessgerritsen
And see if Sasha Alexander gives any more updates here: http://twitter.com/#!/sashaalexander1



*'The Silent Girl' by Tess Gerritsen is the book that Hoyt was reading in his hospital room!

"Rizzoli & Isles"--Brown Eyed Girl

"She was asphyxiated by the application of a slow constant pressure to her trachea"-Isles

This week's episode of 'Rizzoli & Isles' was a lot less lighthearted than usual. It involved the kidnapped daughter of Jane's old partner. There were even open references to Jaycee Dugard and Elizabeth Smart. Compared to last week's episode full of punch lines this one was very, very dark. Plus, Isles talking to a dead girl as she lies on her slab? Just a little creepy.

In other words, there were lots of quotes, but not a lot of quips.

Serious problems I had with this episode:

1. Why would you not have the little brother who saw the kidnappers sit down with a sketch artist?

2. Also, Jane showing the kid a single photo of the suspected kidnapper and asking him if he recognized her was totally bogus police work. At the very least she should have shown him a collection of different photos and let him pick one.

3. Finally, Jane works in the Boston Homicide department. Yes, the discovery of Sophie's body should have come to them, and yes they should have been working that case. But only after her body was discovered. Not while it was a kidnapping.

Quotes & Quips 'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 2 Episode 2

'Rizzoli & Isles', Season 2 Episode 2, "Living Proof" Top Quotes and Quips

Top Islesism
"The stomach is like someone's grocery bag, so revealing, it's my favorite part" grins--Isles

Top Gay Moment
"I wanted a bunk bed, but you gave me a pink canopy bed instead...I wanted a bunk bed to build forts...Ma, I don't like pink!"-Rizzoli

Top "Wait a minute, is this 'Bones'?"
"No, no, she had quite robust reproductive organs."-Isles
"Do you find that sexy in a woman...robust reproductive organs?"-Rizzoli to Detective Barry

Top Straight Moment
"Look at his shoulder to hip ratio...lengthy metatarsals...you know what that means!!"-Isles

Top "You're like my girlfriend!"
"What's this?!" sounds slightly disgusted
Isles then picks up a small painting at the Rizzoli family yard sale. Rizzoli stands beside her mother frantically signaling to Isles. Isles gets the hint.
"...Because, it's beautiful. What are you asking?"-Isles
"I was going to ask for 5."-Mama Rizzoli
"Hundred? It's priceless."-Isles
Isles then opens her wallet to get $500!

Top "Huh, this show's basically 'Bones'...lets have a cute convo between our two lead actors"
"You're not very good at sales."-Isles
"What? That's a $300 stroller."-Rizzoli
"...$1,499"-Isles
"And how do you know that? Maura, been looking for baby stuff?"-Rizzoli
"No, I was online stopping and the baby store was just a click away..."-Isles
"Well stop it, you don't have a baby."-Rizzoli
"Yet."-Isles

"I've always seen you as the maternal type"-Isles
"Are you lying?" looks shocked-Rizzoli
Pause
"Yes" grinning-Isles
"I hope you get hives."-Rizzoli
...
"Be quiet, I'm trying to enjoy my dirt bath...shhhh"-Rizzoli
"Did you just shhh me?!"-Isles
Isles throws dirt at Rizzoli
"Maura stop it"-Rizzoli
She keeps throwing
"Stop it!

...Maura!"-Rizzoli

End of episode

'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 2 Episode 2 New Tonight!

'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 2 Episode 2-- "Living Proof"

see the promo video below

There's a new episode of 'Rizzoli & Isles' starting in about 30 minutes!

In this week's episode we get to see Rizzoli and Isles spending some quality time together at the spa. I wish quality time was code for something else, but it's not. They're just having some friend bonding time.

Which is only slightly ruined by the discovery of a dead body. Although perhaps ruined is the wrong word, since without dead bodies Rizzoli and Isles wouldn't have jobs...ponder that for a moment.

Regardless, a dead woman features in this episode. She's a pregnant surrogate mother. Something tells me this is going to be a complicated one.

Are you watching 'Rizzoli & Isles' tonight? What do you think of the episode?

'Bones' and 'Rizzoli & Isles'--striking similarities

Back in March I talked about how 'Bones' and 'Rizzoli & Isles' are in many ways the same show. Now that I've seen the first episode of 'Rizzoli & Isles'' 2nd season (reviewed here) that belief is only solidified.
Once again, here's why...
'Bones' and 'Rizzoli & Isles' are the same show
(read my original, longer blog post on the topic here):

*Booth (L) and Rizzoli (R) both investigate homicides. And they're both way more about the action than about the hard science. Plus they both have partners who are all about the science. And who aren't as good at reading social cues as they are. Oh, and they both know their way around a gun.

*Dr. Maura Isles (L) and Dr. Temperance Brennan (R) are both attractive women who use their medical/forensic backgrounds to investigate homicides. They are both socially awkward and tend to take things way too literally. And they are both shown working with a particular homicide investigator (see above).

*Oh, plus Brennan was a foster child and her biological father is an ex-con/murderer, while Isles was adopted as a child and her biological father's a mobster/hitman.

*And they all go by their last names most of the time.

*Their relationships with each other are the heart of the show. Audiences want Booth and Brennan to end up together. And many viewers see an attraction between Rizzoli and Isles as well. In fact in the episode "I Kissed a Girl" the producers played with this idea, pleasing many fans by having Rizzoli and Isles mimic a lesbian relationship.

* Both shows are watchable largely because of the strong relationships between their main characters. While producers insist that Rizzoli and Isles are both heterosexual it doesn't deny the fact that if they didn't have quipping banter the show wouldn't be as enjoyable. Same goes for 'Bones'.

*Oh, and let's not get distracted by the fact that the cases are a bit too similar. In the first season of 'Rizzoli & Isles' and 'Bones' our main characters were dealing with a masochistic serial killer who loved to torment the professionals (and who focused in particular on Isles and Brennan).

*The same woman, Janet Tamaro, is involved in both shows. She's an executive producer for 'Rizzoli & Isles', was a supervising producer on 'Bones', and has written episodes for both shows.

*Finally, they are both based on best-selling crime novels. And both of them borrow little from these books, choosing instead to infuse far more comedy than is on the written page.

If you love 'Bones' you'll probably like 'Rizzoli & Isles', while the show is clearly still in its infancy, and could definitely be made stronger (more interesting mysteries!) it echoes the first season of 'Bones'. And we all know how well that show turned out...

Rizzoli & Isles Season 2 Premiere

When is the Rizzoli & Isles Season 2 Premiere?

Tonight!

At 10 pm on TNT.

I'll be watching it, will you?

Check back tomorrow for my analysis.

"Bones" and "Rizzoli & Isles" are the Same Show

"Rizzoli & Isles" and "Bones"

(Again with the spoilers)

...I got a little confused earlier this week when I finished reading several of Tess Gerritsen's novels. Gerritsen is the author of the Rizzoli and Isles thrillers, and last summer TNT premiered a show of the same name that was loosely based on her books. I watched the show when it was on the air, and when I stumbled across Gerritsen's books in the library I decided to try them. There was only one problem...as I read I continually tried to compare the books to the television version of "Rizzoli and Isles", and I kept on getting images from "Bones" stuck in my head.

Obviously, I'd expect "Rizzoli and Isles" to be very different from the thrillers that it's based on. When I first started watching "Bones", based on the novels by Kathy Reichs, I had already read all of her books. There were very few similiarities, but I wasn't bothered. Books are books, and television is television.

But what bothers me about "Rizzoli and Isles" and "Bones" is that the two shows are shockingly similar.

Lets list the ways:

*Rizzoli is a hot-headed detective. She's knowledgeable about guns/bad guys. So is Booth.












*Isles is an attractive woman who is awkward in social situations. She works with dead bodies. Brennan does both of these things.







*They all go by their last names most of the time.

*Their relationships with each other are the heart of the show. Audiences want Booth and Brennan to end up together. And many viewers see an attraction between Rizzoli and Isles as well. In fact in the episode "I Kissed a Girl" the producers played with this idea, pleasing many fans by having Rizzoli and Isles mimic a lesbian relationship. In fact, if you search "Rizzoli and Isles" on Youtube all you'll find is videos that are edited to show a lesbian "relationship".

*Oh, and let's not get distracted by the fact that the cases are a bit too similar. Charles Hoyt is the serial killer in "Rizzoli and Isles", and he keeps going after single women. Howard Epps is the serial killer in "Bones" and he, you guessed it, also goes after single women (in his case teenage girls). Both of these men are sexually perverse. And both have bizarre relationships with the women trying to hunt them. Hoyt attacks Rizzoli and becomes obsessed with her, while Epps becomes immersed in the idea of beating Bones at a mind game.

Many of my friends who love "Bones" also thought that "Rizzoli and Isles" was a great show. I can understand why they watch both. It's like getting two doses of the same (pretty good) thing in the same week.

Want to know when 'Bones' Season 7 is premiering? Click HERE. 
And click HERE to find out when the second half of 'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 2 will air.