OK, let me preface this entry by saying two things: I like Angie Harmon a lot AND If you are a fan of the show, please don’t continue reading this entry…
OK >>> If they are making a movie about Helen of Troy… a woman who could cause a war, a woman so exquisitely beautiful that ANY man would have to do a double-take… (or, any woman, either!) >>> the producer need not use his casting agent, simply call Angie Harmon. Yes, that is how beautiful this woman is!
So, since I don’t read the Tess Gerritsen mystery books that are the basis for this TNT show, I am not familiar with the facts of the books’ plots. Here are some questions I have for readers of these mystery books:
Is Rizzoli (Harmon) supposed to be as beautiful as she is, or is she supposed to be more “normal” looking? I mean, she spends a lot of time talking to her best friend (Isles) about the problems with dating…
Which brings me to my next question: Is Rizzoli supposed to have problems dating when it seems like there are a whole lot of men interested in dating her? (i.e. her Catechism childhood acquaintance/ex-boss, the FBI agent, a man in the bar she flashes her badge at…)
Is Isles supposed to be a female Monk who actually is so smart that she can’t talk normally with people… and always has to interject latin/medical terms when talking to non-medical professionals (or latin teachers!)?
Is Isles supposed to be a funny character, or simply tiresome?
Why are Isles and Rizzoli such good friends? They seem to have absolutely NOTHING in common… other than they both have jobs that enable them to chat at scenes of the crimes?
When Rizzoli “dresses up” for functions, is she supposed to be ill-at-ease… sort of like a tomboy in stiletto heels, or is she supposed to be the most gorgeous woman in the room?
Is Rizzoli supposed to look bad in the “normal” clothing they have her wearing? Let’s face it, Angie Harmon would look great in a dirty pair of two-sizes too large high-water jeans.
Are Rizzoli and Isles crime victims a lot of the time?
Is Isles the forensic pathologist… and if so, why does she go undercover as a cocktail waitress?
¿¿¿”Frog Face”???!!!???
Is Rizzoli’s new partner a computer specialist/whiz AND a detective?
Does Isles really meet her biological (big-time criminal) father through doing an autopsy on her unbeknownst-to-her half brother?
And, my last question is not only directed to people who read the Rizzoli and Isles books… It is about hiring such wonderful, accomplished actors to play Rizzoli’s parents (Lorraine Bracco and Chazz Palminteri) >>> Why are their screen times so limited?
Hmmmm… Just wonderin’…
Sandra says
I can’t even begin to tell you how the tv show and the books are so unlike each other!!! I have been a loyal fan of Tess’ books for all these years and when I saw the first show only my boredom that night kept me watching after the first 5 mins. YOU NEED TO READ THE BOOKS! As I described the differences to my family, the show is pure entertainment to me as another show, the book characters and story lines are not consistent at all. It’s like the Bones show and books and the Women’s Murder Club, not the same.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sandra,
I am so glad you posted this comment! You have explained a lot!
I was hesitant about posting this entry>>> I was afraid that it might upset some people who really like the show…
Allie says
I am a fan and I am not so biased. I like having a laugh at people’s POV on things that are really out of the norm when it comes to tv shows and you really made me laugh with your post. I needed a laugh after a crappy day.
Quincy M.E. was a medical examiner like Maura Isles… He often went undercover to piece up the puzzle of a murder and tried to wooo chicks at the same time. Dirty old man lol! That’s TV shows for you, they like to add excitement for things out of the norm!
I love Lorraine Bracco and I wish she had more screen time, she is so funny playing Jane’s over-bearing mother!
Like what Sandra said above – The books are better. Books are usually better than the movie/tv etc.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sorry about your day, Allie, but I’m glad you responded. It looks like the consensus is: the books are better, but when aren’t they?
Quincy sounds a little like Inspector Morse… picking up chicks at every opportunity, even scenes of the crimes!
The producers hired the perfect actress to play Jane’s mom… unfortunately we aren’t seeing Lorraine Bracco very often, and when we do, it’s for too short a time.
Marla says
How did Rizzoli and Isles become friends? They were held hostage by one of Rizzoli’s former criminals who was a serial killer and escaped from her. He was the reason for the nightmares she was having 2 weeks ago. Isles (in the books) is more of a Goth-type, but really smart, so they did get that right. I’ve always thought of Rizzoli as Katherine Erbe on “Law and Order: Criminal Intent”, but with darker hair, very able to take care of herself and feisty.
Stacy says
With all due respect to those who like the Gerritsen books, I think the show is much better, though still lacking in some ways.
I had to quit reading the series because it was giving me nightmares. There are complete chapters in each book from the killer’s POV that are so disturbing that I can’t read them. The characters / villians in the books are so crazy, so sick that those chapters are very, very disturbing, and I don’t find them fun to read. Having said that, the show is fun, so I think it is slightly better.
I don’t think the female leads, though, are similar to the ones in the books. I don’t think Isles is anywhere near that anti-social / unusual in her smartness in the books. In the show, she is more like Brennan on Bones, which again is not who she (Brennan) is in those books (as noted above, I think).
And, while the show is fun, I wish strong, smart female leads were not portrayed as unable to carry on a “normal” conversation. We can be smart and normal. It’s not cool to make smart women look so unusual.
Just my two cents . . .
Vickie B says
I was happy to see that Tess Gerritsen’s series would be made into a TV series. I knew going in that the TV show would be ‘based on’ the book series, so sat back and enjoyed the ride. Still enjoying it. I did the same with Bones and with True Blood.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hmmm… (again!) It looks like the show doesn’t follow Tess Gerritsen’s books, which would explain some of the answers to my questions. I’m glad that the show isn’t as gruesome as… say Hannibal Lecter getting a whole chapter to describe his point of view.
I still wish that Lorraine Bracco and Chazz Palminteri received more air time. (Did anyone catch Palminteri on Modern Families this past season? He was DELIGHTFUL!!!)
Leah says
I’ve watched the show a couple of times and thought it was okay. I’m not really an Angie Harmon fan. I think she’s pretty, but I find her acting to be a bit wooden. And I wish she would stop trying to speak with a Boston accent. It’s not working. I think the other characters are okay, but there are loads of actresses our there with stronger acting chops than Angie Harmon that I think would do a much better job with the part. Just my 2 cents.