Rizzoli & Isles Doubleheader: Going Out With a Bang
Jack Ori
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Rizzoli & Isles is determined to go out with a bang.
Most of Rizzoli & Isles Season 7 Episode 1 focused on the manhunt for Alice Sands after the shooting at Vince's wedding. In contrast, Rizzoli & Isles Season 7 Episode 2 seemed more like a normal episode – except for Jane's determination to end Alice's terrorizing of her and her family for once and for all.
Either way, it was an intense two hours that gave viewers most, if not all, of everything that makes this series great.
It was unsurprising that Jane wanted to go after Alice herself considering everything that happened. Vince was right to be worried because there was a chance she could let anger get the better of her and do something she shouldn't.
Alice was apparently banking on that too. Her end game seemed to be to ruin Jane's reputation by forcing her to kill her.
Vince: Alice Sands, you're under arrest.
Alice: So it seems.
Alice was creepily calm throughout most of the two hours. Her only weak spot seemed to be her belief that Jane enjoyed being superior to her. She got angry whenever she started talking about her deluded belief that Jane purposely got the better of her to make her feel small and enjoyed playing the hero to make herself look better.
Jane: Know what I remember about you?
Alice: What?
Jane: Nothing.
The final scenes between the two women were tense and emotional. Jane's tears that she didn't know what else to do but be a cop were real and seemed to speak to something deeper than her need to get Alice. I wondered if Jane may end up quitting the force at the end of the series.
Jane: If you don't take it easy, I'm going to have you arrested.
Maura: On what charges?
Jane: Failure...to listen to me. Clinical stubbornness. I dunno. I'll think of something.
Jane's insistence on micro-managing Maura's recovery from her injury was ironic considering how poor a job she was doing of taking care of herself. Alice didn't win because anyone will actually believe Jane shot her for any reason other than self-defense.
But if Jane doesn't start taking better care of herself, Alice will win. Jane was consumed with stopping Alice's terrorism and she may have psychological aftereffects to the whole thing later.
Nina: This stool taken?
Frankie: Why? You wanna throw it at me?
Frankie's romance with Nina was a sweet interlude in two otherwise heavy stories, but it would have been better if it were a little less obvious. There was nothing subtle about the writers' intentions here. Frankie and Nina spent a lot of time together, his girlfriend was missing, he conveniently broke up with her off-screen, and they both asked for Thousand Island at the same time.
If that wasn't enough, Angela was pushy about Frankie asking out Nina, and he was trying to talk himself out of it.
There is definitely natural chemistry between these two, and if the show takes it slow enough, this might be an interesting relationship with which to close out the series. However, forcing it will ruin it, so hopefully that won't happen anymore now that they're together.
Jane: Do you always stare at her like that? That's just creepy.
Kent: I could stare at you instead if you like.
Maura's brain injury was the most interesting part of the story. I'd have liked to have seen more of her emotional reaction to it. While Maura is saying it's no big deal and only telling close friends and family, privately she must be upset to have lost part of her ability to function normally.
Hopefully as the season progresses, there will be much more to this subplot, especially Maura's emotions and Jane and Maura's attempts to support each other despite the serious problems they both face.
Were you impressed with the Rizzoli & Isles season opener? How do you think the final season will play out based on these two episodes?
Weigh in below, and don't forget that if you missed anything you can always watch Rizzoli & Isles online to catch up.
Jack Ori is a senior staff writer for TV Fanatic. His debut young adult novel, Reinventing Hannah, is available on Amazon. Follow him on X.
