Rizzoli and Isles--Reaction Post

[amberfocus]

So I've been watching Rizzoli and Isles, a new show on TNT, and I just finished the third episode (out of twelve, I think).  It's based on a series of books by Tess Gerritsen that I started reading several years ago and then just recently started reading again.  In fact it was the first place I went in the library after getting used to my trifocals and being able to actually read something that wasn't magnified to 150% on a computer screen.  But I digress.  I have really loved the series of books (aside from too much hard swearing, what is it with cops and swearing?  I swear Jane Rizzoli is as bad as Deb on Dexter with the potty mouth).  Anyway, the mysteries are still thoroughly absorbing, and a bit scary and twisted, and center around "plain" Jane Rizzoli, a police detective and Dr. Maura Isles, a medical examiner.  The relationship between the two women is (at least at where I am at in the series) very formal with hints at trying for a friendship between two very damaged women.

The TV show on the other hand?  They are best buddies, hanging out together during non-work hours, having meals together, just having this incredibly warm relationship.  Which...is not the same as the books I adore.  I kind of miss the prickly but sort of fond of chemistry between two socially inept women that exists in the books.  It has taken me until this third episode to really warm up to the show.  I like the show, actually, it is just not what I expected, and also cases that should take several episodes to solve get solved way, way too fast.  I like the two actresses, but I kind of resent the fact that Rizzoli is a bombshell, instead of the woman that is constantly described as plain in the books.  I am sure they could have found an actress less attractive than Angie Harmon (even if she is really excellent in this show).  Or someone who could have been uglied down (which will never happen with Harmon's cheekbones).

I think each episode has gotten progressively better as the actors in it have found their wings.  I'll definitely watch the rest of it, but I am going to consider it like I do New Who and New New Who, two entirely different things with people who just happen to have the same names and have source material that is ignored 85% of the time.

Comments

[blemt.livejournal.com]

I had some similar issues with Bones when I got started. The book didn't match the series. Once I realized that I could have the best of both worlds, I kind of started to enjoy it. Now I'm a big fan of both the books and series. They are two different approaches. I consider it to be a bit like a fanfic AU. :)

[xebgoc.livejournal.com]

I've not read the books but I liked the show almost immediately. I guess largely because there are two really good strong female characters in the leads - that doesn't happen often, either it's a mixed pair like Bones or Castle or it's two or more men with one woman like Hawaii 5-0. And I also do like the fact that the women are friends because often if there *are* two women there has to be some sort of rivalry - read CAT FIGHT - between them. Dana Delaney's new show comes to mind... her relationship with her boss has personal shit - her boss sleeping with her ex - that is just totally unnecessary... there's enough conflict at the professional level with Delaney's character going against direct orders that they don't need to inject the cat fight element. So, to have these two strong, professional women who are actually friends, but have their moments of conflict, was refreshing.

And then the supporting characters are all good too. I love her brother, I *adore* her mom and dad. They are SO Boston. I went to college in Amherst (UMASS, not Amherst College) with kids whose parents *are* those people...

[trinity-lives.livejournal.com]

I have to do that differentiation with the Dexter and True Blood books when I watch the shows. If I want to like the shows, I have to like them independently from the books otherwise I'll drive myself crazy trying to compare them.

Also, just from what I know about cops and what I learned in college as a Criminology major, I'm guessing that a lot of the swearing is to put on a tough exterior to deal with what their job entails everyday. Especially female cops, because they're constantly having to measure up to the men and prove themselves worthy and not show any weakness or fragility (that last bit is true of all cops though).

[capemaynuts.livejournal.com]

I've never read the books and have learned the hard way that books and TV never match up in a good way ever. I've only seen 2 movies that were anything like the books, The HP series and the first Narnia movie. Anyway, hope you enjoy the rest of season 1 and get to start watching season 2 which aired last week. I have to admit I am enjoying the series and the friendship between the 2 main characters.