Comments on: TV Review: RIZZOLI & ISLES

By: oddballlucy

oddballlucy — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:46:51 +0000

I’m a big fan of the books, and have to say I’m not at all convinced by the cast. I’ve got a lot of time for Harmon – She’s a great actress and can really do the tough talking cop thing, but my main problem is that she looks totally wrong for me. Just too pretty, to be frank! But a good enough actress that I can get past that. Sasha Alexander though… totally wrong in every way for Maura Isles – not even her fault, since they seem to have ignored all the great things about the character when writing her. I would’ve thought that Isle’s actual appearance would totally work on screen as a real attention grabber, and am puzzled at the direction they appear to have taken. And I find the idea of Rizzoli and Isles competing over Gabriel Dean way to freaky. Frankly the whole thing feels a little bit dumbed down, and all in all I think I’ll stick with the books…

By: Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick

Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:33:17 +0000

Yes, your site is definitely going on my blog roll! And yes, Picky Girl’s posts are dang near brilliant, I love her perspectives!

My top 2 choices for someone to play Isles in my head would either be Carrie Anne Moss (1st) or Famke Jannsen. They have that tall and very stylish Gothic look with the dark hair — and can really carry the nickname that is whispered about her when people can’t think she can hear them. They would be perfect as the “Queen of the Dead.”

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:49:10 +0000

Oh, thanks for saying that about my site! Picky Girl's got a great blog. Her reviews are so erudite. Who did you picture as Rizzoli from the book descriptions?

By: Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick

Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:45:30 +0000

I also meant to say that I stopped by your site from Picky Girl’s blog — I love your site!

Yes, Isles actually has a blunt bob cut with sharp bangs — when Gerritsen first described her, I thought of Uma Thurman from Pulp Fiction. Definitely NOT the pretty and perky brainiac cheerleader they selected for the role — she’s really good for how they rewrote the character to be, but she’s not Gerritsen’s Isles as far as I can see, and was quite a shock when I saw the premiere for the show!

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:53:29 +0000

Hi Natalie, and welcome to my site! Thanks for giving us a comparison of the books vs. series. I read somewhere that Isles is Goth-looking in the novels but Sasha Alexander certainly isn’t. I like more grit in my cop dramas, too, and don’t think this show is there yet.

By: Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick

Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:01:24 +0000

I’m a big fan of Tess Gerritsen’s books and enjoyed hearing her speak at the local independent bookstore in Atlantic Beach, Florida. When she first mentioned that rumor was out there that they would make a show about the characters in her books, we in the audience were thrilled to hear it, particularly since it’s easy to enjoy these characters. Tess Gerritsen is also very witty and very smart. I enjoy her novels, and am very impressed with her background (she’s a doctor). I have been watching the TV show as well, and although I really dig the two chosen for the roles, it really lacks the grittiness that the books offered, and which I really enjoy from the books — to be honest, the show almost seems a little campy, as if the network executives wanted to get more girly about the show. The books can be very dark and some scenes can be tough to read, and you miss that on the show. I’m trying not to be annoyed by that part, but in watching the shows, I’m feeling that annoyance creep on me, and I’m not liking it one bit.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:27:56 +0000

Hi JD, and welcome.

I visit Murderati occasionally and have seen you there. Her books are good and creepy (I loved GRAVITY) but I know she doesn’t have any control over the show. What did you think of it?

By: JD Rhoades

JD Rhoades — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:20:00 +0000

Full disclosure: Tess is a friend of mine, and we share a blog (with a bunch of other people). But I loved her books before I met her, and I still do. Really creepy bad guys, great pacing. I particularly liked THE MEPHISTO CLUB and THE BONE GARDEN.

By: Jen Forbus

Jen Forbus — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:13:51 +0000

I obviously didn’t see the show last night, but I’d like to watch it. I’m hoping to find it online or on DVD eventually. I just finished reading my first Rizzoli & Isles book, which happens to be the most recent, ICE COLD, and it was fabulous. In the past I’ve not been truly overwhelmed by Angie Harmon, but I do really like Sasha Alexander and based on reading ICE COLD, I think they did an excellent job of casting this.

As far as Gerritsen’s wit goes, though, she’s not involved in the writing, so that probably won’t come through much. It’ll depend more on the wit of the show writers, I would think.

I’ll definitely give it a shot. I’m much more a crime drama fan than comedy these days. I haven’t found a comedy I like (that’s lasted) since probably the Cosby Show. Except, well, I really like Pscyh. It’s crime comedy, I guess. Now I’m babbling. I’m done.

By: Shell Sherree

Shell Sherree — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:11:30 +0000

My first thought was “Is this a Readers Digest Condensed Cast version of Women’s Murder Club?” If it makes it onto our screens here, I’ll tune in and give it a go. But based on your review and the comments so far, I’ll be hoping they allow for a bigger helping of wit to help it along.