"Rizzoli & Isles" Review: Real Promise Ahead, But Now...

I have been a fan of Angie Harmon since I watched her kick some tail in “Agent Cody Banks.” She plays sexy, yet tough as nails, as well as anyone.

So I have no problems with her playing another cop in the new TNT drama, “Rizzoli & Isles.” In fact, I was looking forward to it.

But then I watched it…

Harmon is Detective Jane Rizzoli. She’s sexy, yet tough as nails, as the only female detective in Boston’s homicide division. Her best friend is medical examiner Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander). Together they solve crimes and help each other navigate their personal lives (or lack thereof, as is sometimes the case).

Rizzoli also has to deal with her overbearing mother, Angela (Lorraine Bracco), her very green partner, Frost (Lee Thompson Young), and her ex-partner, Korsak (Bruce McGill).

In the premiere, a serial killer surfaces that appears to be a copycat of a serial killer that nearly killed Rizzoli. In trying to solve the case, she must deal with her past demons and come face-to-face with the killer again.

The concept of the show is sound and the cast is good. The problem is that the premiere is just too dark. The case is so demented that it overshadows everything else. And at times it’s even a little hard to watch.

Plus, I find it hard to believe Bracco as Rizzoli’s mother. It is mathematically possible. I just find it hard to believe.

With such a dark story out of the way early, the show does have real promise—especially with guest stars like Mark-Paul Gosselaar on the way. So I’m going to reserve complete judgment until I see another episode.

Just be warned that the first one is not pretty…

“Rizzoli & Isles” premieres Monday, July 12th at 10 p.m. on TNT…

Photo Credit: Darren Michaels/TNT