Rizzoli & Isles: Season 1

Description

Product Description Tough & smart. Edgy & humorous. Rizzoli & Isles. Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander star as combative, working-class Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and cool, cerebral medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles in an exciting police procedural with a compelling point of view, based on the bestselling novels by Tess Gerritsen. The two women have each other's backs as they investigate their city’s grittiest and most puzzling homicides, from the Back Bay to back alleys. The high-caliber supporting cast includes Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos) as Jane’s overprotective mom. Some best friends shop together, some meet for Mojitos, some join book clubs. Rizzoli and Isles bust crime. desertcart.com Talk about grrrl power! Rizzoli & Isles features the best two-woman crime-solving duo since Cagney & Lacey--supported by terrific writing and outside-the-box cases. Angie Harmon has never been better, as the tough Boston detective Jane Rizzoli. Her partner in crime (solving) is the equally impressive Sasha Alexander as Dr. Maura Isles, the by-the-books medical examiner who always has Rizzoli's back, but is often appalled at the cop's hard-charging tough-Boston-girl approach. Rizzoli & Isles is based on the series of popular mysteries by Tess Gerritsen, and adapted faithfully and engagingly for TV viewers. One thing that sets Rizzoli & Isles apart from the average police procedural is its crisp direction and subtle writing; even the most die-hard cop-show viewer will be engaged and surprised by the plots' twists and turns. And then there's the acting. Harmon has harnessed her dramatic chops and uses them perfectly as Rizzoli, and Alexander is both ideal sidekick and sometime foil as she tries to steer Rizzoli to follow the rules. The key in any double-starring series is chemistry, and Harmon and Alexander have it in spades--their sparring and intellectual one-upmanship are completely believable. The cases in season one are varied, though focus mostly on serial killers, with one particularly gripping case flashing back to the notorious Boston Strangler case. The first season of Rizzoli & Isles features two great behind-the-scenes features, one with series creator Janet Tamaro on how she adapted the Gerritsen books, and another with the cast and crew about the making of the series. There's also a hilarious gag reel that shows just how much fun everyone is really having on the set. A must for crime-show buffs and fans of great actresses heading their own series. --A.T. Hurley Review: Love the show , not so keen on the box it came in.... - 'Rizzoli and Isles' is my current absolutely favourite tv show. I live in England and bought the Region 1 DVD boxed set of the Complete Season 1 because the Region 2 version isn't yet available here and I just couldn't wait any longer - impatience isn't a worthy characteristic but sometimes, just sometimes, instant gratification is the only solution, simple as that; particularly when it comes to the interaction between the tough, swaggering homicide cop with a heart of pure gold, Detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) and her best friend, eccentric, socially maladroit, quirky genius - and Chief Medical Examiner to boot, Dr Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander). Theirs is a partnership made in heaven, not least because the chemistry between the two actresses is quite extraordinary to behold. Why do I love this show so much? Well, because it's funny, quirky and slightly off-kilter as well as being dramatic and sometimes scary (the character of Charles Hoyt the serial killer is very, very creepy and unnerving). It's exciting too. And I love to see a show with not one, but two strong, independent female characters, played by two immensely talented and insanely beautiful actresses - you go girls! For me, the show stands up to multiple viewings because there's a lot going on here, by which I mean that I have rarely seen so much non-verbal communication on-screen between two people as that between Jane and Maura. As an added bonus there is the national treasure that is Lorraine Bracco as Jane's somewhat overbearing but totally loveable mother. I'm awaiting the release of the R1 set of Season 2 in the US as I shall doubtless do exactly the same thing and snap it up. Season 2 started on satellite tv here just a fortnight ago and I simply cannot wait for 15 weeks to see the whole series! I believe that may be what would be termed in America 'cruel and unusual' punishment. I just call it sheer torture! Some while back I bought a multi-region DVD player for just this very reason and have not regretted it as it has come in very handy in the past. Also, the 'Extras' on American DVDs are oftentimes different from our British versions (and sometimes better too). So, no complaints at all about the content. My only grumble is about the rather weird fastener on the plastic container. Mine broke the first time I opened it and now cannot be snapped shut; fortunately the box also came with a cardboard slip cover so that holds it closed. The service from the seller was very good and the DVD arrived across the pond in excellent time - the wonky box-fastener is the only reason I have not awarded 5 stars. Except, on reflection, that's unfair; Rizzoli and Isles deserves 5 stars, wonky box notwithstanding. Miss this fabulous show at your peril - you'll be missing a treat, and this may be a rhetorical question, but can it be that Sasha Alexander is the most beautiful woman in the Solar System? I rather think she is...... Review: A Fun and Very Watchable Series - I am living outside the U.S. and a bit out of touch as to what is on television currently, so I had never heard of this show. desertcart recommended this to me based on other purchases and I think I also saw previews on another DVD and I am SO GLAD I gave it a try! I am a big fan of The Closer and Castle and this definitely fits in that range for me. It can be gritty, but it is also light and fun. The lead characters IMMEDIATELY had me after the first episode and the rest of the characters grew on me as the episodes went along (though not nearly so much as the casts of Castle and The Closer--maybe in the second season that will come). The mysteries are fairly obvious, but it's still fun to see the plots unfold, even if you have figured out what is going on fairly early. Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander have really great friendship chemistry and I think that might be what sells the show for me. I like watching them develop as characters and watching how they grow through their interactions with each other. The depth of the lead characters makes up for storylines that seem familiar if you have ever watched procedurals on t.v. before and supporting characters who can seem a little flat. A show celebrating two strong women with mutual respect professionally and personally and touching moments of support for each other is fairly unique and definitely satisfying!