Fusilli & Isles

Rizzoli & Isles

U.N.Owen's Rating: 2.5/5

"Who is Henry Deduboto?"
"Ted Bundy!"
"That's five letters too many for that anagram"
*sarcasm* "How do you do that" *sarcasm*

These lines basically sum up what was & will be a potentially good show. 'Rizzoli & Isles' is based on author Tess Gerritsen's books & her characters. Feisty Boston detective Jane Rizzoli(Rizzoli - sounds like Fusilli!) teams up with quirky yet super genius Medical Examiner,Maura Isles. The first season comprises of only 10 episodes (guess the show producer's were scared in case it flopped!) of fun-filled mysteries. Well the mystery part is scarce,in fact it's plain non-existent. With competition from other comedy/crime  shows like Castle & House ( i know it's mostly medical-crime; if there is such a genre) , Rizzoli & Isles  need to really step it up for the next season.

The basic premise of the show involves Rizzoli & Isles solving crimes in the most wacky & goofy (Maura!) ways. From the very first episode, the viewers are introduced to a very sinister nemesis from one of Gerritsen's famous (the first in fact!) books: The Surgeon a.k.a Charles Hoyt.Usually, I don't like shows where a recurring villain makes his/her appearance in the very FIRST SHOW, but I decided to give this one a pass. Turns out Books 1 & 2 ('The Surgeon' & 'The Apprentice') of Mrs.Gerritsen is the basis for episode 1: Bummer! However, as the season progresses (10 episodes is a season?!?!) the episodes & "mysteries" (CAUTION: loose terminology!) get better. With each episode, you get to know a bit more about the characters: Rizzoli's family & their plumbing business, Dr.Isles & her love for clothes, Rizzoli's partners, even Hoyt. Sasha Alexander potrays the "goofy" Dr.Isles, brilliantly while Angie Harmon acts well..bad! Her tone is quite off-putting, one minute she sounds feminine & the next like Yogi Bear. Also, if they were trying to potray Rizzoli as a feisty,brave,"kick-you-in-the-you-know-where" detective, Harmon doesn't pull it off. She sounds whiny & vulnerable at times. Even Lorraine Bracco has acted well as Mrs.Rizzoli. The redeeming factor - rather saving grace , would be its humor. Some of the one-liners & comic exchanges between Rizzoli & Isles are really very funny. Overall, a good first season which could have been a bit longer, episode-wise & mystery-solving-wise.

Verdict: Season two looks promising with the season one finale ending like that! But if I were at the helm, I would kick in the crime-solving aspect & yet retain it's comedy. Worth a watch, if you're bored.