Whenever I read that a new show set in Boston is about to premiere, I, as someone who lives in the greater Boston area, always wonder how bad the accents will be. Will they seem awkward and forced? Will the characters appear as though they’ve walked right out of some Hollywood casting agent’s imaginary concept of what a Bostonian is like?
However, I’m happy to report that that’s not what I found while watching the new drama Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon as homicide detective Jane Rizzoli, who loves sports and isn’t afraid of physically mixing it up with her brother while playing basketball in their parents’ driveway.
Jane’s friend — nicknamed “the queen of the dead” — is the medical examiner, Dr. Maura Isles (played by Sasha Alexander), who’s a super-smart fashionista and works in concert with Jane to solve crimes. Together, they make an odd, but exceedingly watchable couple of pals who, at least in the pilot episode, shared an interest in the same man, FBI agent Gabriel Dean, played by Billy Burke, the same guy who plays Bella’s dad Charlie in the Twilight movies.
The first case on which the premiere focused involved a psychopath Green Beret who met another psychopathic serial killer surgeon during a combat medic training program and teamed up to go on a killing spree and target Jane. The case did several things:
It showed us that Jane had been a crime victim years ago, attacked by the serial killer surgeon only to be saved by her former partner, Det. Vince Korsak (Bruce McGill), only we don’t know why they’re not partners anymore and why he’s steamed about it. We saw that Jane is not afraid of getting her hands dirty, and is extremely quick-thinking, as she was able to get away from the two serial killers. But we also learned that Jane’s no Jack Bauer because she didn’t shoot to kill the man who’d stalked and attacked her when she had the chance. She just wounded him after burning his face with a flare and Tasering the hell out of him while his partner was lying dead on the ground, shot by Jane during a struggle.
I’m very interested in seeing Jane’s mother Angela Rizzoli, played by The Sopranos’ Lorraine Bracco, get more face time. The dysfunctional relationship between the two of them — with Angela blaming Jane for rendering her sleepless because Jane chose a dangerous vocation, which prompted Jane’s younger brother Frankie to follow his big sister into law enforcement, as her mother angrily reminded Jane — seems ripe for further, deeper development.
The same goes for Maura, whose back story I’m looking forward to learning about. The contrast between Maura’s couture/decorating prowess, her use of her encyclopedic body of knowledge, along with her scientific/medical prowess and Jane’s down-to-earth sportiness, has promising chemistry.
So my final verdict on the first episode of Rizzoli & Isles? I’ll be tuning in again to see what the gals are up to next week, hoping to be entertained some more.
As for my colleague Debbie McDuffee, when she wrote her preview for the show a little while ago, she wasn’t sure if Rizzoli & Isles has enough oomph to last beyond the pilot. I think if the writers are smart and build on the family dysfunction and the obvious differences between Jane and Maura, they could have something there.
Clacked by Meredith O'Brien 
on Jul 13, 2010 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
The cop in the background with the wide stance looks… err… uncomfortable…
The worst part was the buddy angle. At times the two looked like old friends, at others it was like they had just met. And I can’t imagine that neither is a good enough actor to make it look good — I think the writers were being inconsistent in the dialogue … or at least I hope that was all it was.
I have to agree, I couldn’t tell how long they knew each other. This also seemed a strange pilot episode. Why not start when they, Rizzoli and Isles meet, or perhaps the first run in with the Surgeon? I think the writers forget we haven’t all read the books this show is based on.
Read all the books. TV show moved wayyy to quickly to establish the effect the Surgeon had and still has on Jane several books later. Too much was omitted and is important down the road. Jane & Maura were NOT best friends immediately and it takes time for the audience to see their grow bond. Slow it down or you will lose the viewers!
The show isnt even over on the DVR and frankly I am NOT impressed. I can only figure that they had to cram a whole novel into a 50 minute show (never a good idea). Had to laugh when Rizzoli locked her apt…with a chain – typical Hollywood.
I dont mind it starting with the established relationship, but half way through Rizzoli commented about things she hadnt seen in Isles house. Really? Because before it gave the impression that they knew each other real well…which is it? Bad script and direction.
Way to cliched and way too predictable. Angie Harmon I hate to say is trying too hard but not as bad as Loraine Bracco. Isles was a bit better, but reminded me of Bones.
Being this was the pilot/premiere I’ll give it a pass, but it had better get better quick. Plenty of other cop/crime shows to watch.
As a rule, I have not liked Angie Harmon. I expected this to play into my take on Rizzoli and Isles (and I did read many of the books, if not the last few). Surprisingly, it did not. I actually liked how Harmon played Rizzoli and I enjoyed the “buddy” dynamic. They don’t have to explain everything in the pilot episode. They can show back story along the way. I don’t even think I read to the point where they were good friends, and knowing their back story makes it even LESS likely to me. But it was ok. Yes, the did seem sort of uncomfortable together. I think it was indicative of a newer friendship, one that was forged through work. They are just starting out as friends beyond the office, and I don’t think that is a bad place to start with the show. Loved them trying to decide who should go for the kinda unattractive guy they seem to like – “should we draw straws?” “Can’t we just show him our tits and let him decide?”
In spite of the fact I tuned in on a whim, I’ll be giving it more episodes for sure.
Rizzoli & Isles appears to be a “bonafide hit”. I watched the first episode of both series this week. Neither really swept me off my feet, but the cop drama authenticity is genuine and Angie Harmon’s Rizzoli is pure dynamite. The show’s got legs, literally as well as figuratively.