A Boston Strangler Returns on ‘Rizzoli & Isles’
Donnie Wahlberg Debuts
Softball and strangling serial killers take center stage on “Boston Strangler Redux,” the fresh July 19 episode of new TNT hit crime drama Rizzoli & Isles. In fact, I’m almost tempted to call the show TNT’s new “crime dramedy” since the series seems intent on being as funny as it is “criminally” interesting.
The second episode of the rookie season introduces new multi-episode guest star Donnie Wahlberg (Runaway, The Kill Point, Boomtown, Band of Brothers), who plays Lieutenant Grant, the latest boss of Detective Jane Rizzoli and a fellow resident of Jane’s childhood neighborhood. Also appearing as Jane’s father is Chazz Palminteri (Kojak 2.0), as well as film and television veteran Brian Dennehy as an old-time Boston police detective who worked a long-ago related case and got suspended for his outspoken attitude regarding the police department’s performance.
Dennehy’s character enters the picture when Jane and her present and past partners — Barry Frost (Lee Thompson Young) and Vince Korsak (Bruce McGill), respectively — attempt to solve two murders involving the vicious strangulation of local women. The investigation reveals information that raises an intriguing possibility similar to the “Is it a copycat or the real thing” premise in the series premiere: could the (accomplice of) the Boston Strangler be on the prowl again?
While Jane and her colleagues try to figure out exactly who’s responsible for the strangling deaths, viewers learn a lot more about her other partner in crime-solving, namely fashion-minded medical examiner Maura Isles. Despite her slightly rigid and very science-y demeanor, Sasha Alexander‘s character turns out to be a bigger hoot than Angie Harmon‘s Jane. If you have any doubt, just wait to see what happens when she shows up for a casual game of police-department softball or goes out on a date.
My earlier review of the series premiere mentioned the chatty nature of Rizzoli & Isles, which seemed like a sorta minus at the time. However, after watching more of the show, hanging out with character as they shoot the breeze is actually quite entertaining, especially since it provides so much of the show’s well-placed humor. All those millions of viewers who tuned in for the first episode should make a point of watching the second episode, too. I see good things — and many more seasons — in Rizzoli & Isles‘ promising future.
A montage preview for “Boston Strangler Redux” follows. Catch the full episode at 10pm ET.
Rizzoli & Isles currently airs Mondays on TNT at 10pm ET
Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander/Rizzoli & Isles photo courtesy of Darren Michaels/TNT
I was probably one of the few who was not mesmerized by the shows premiere episode!However the second episode is proving itself minute by minute! It doesn’t hurt to have veteran actor Chazz Palmiteri and the great Brian Dennehy guest star either! It’s no “The CloserL but it may be worth tuning in each week to see if the show matures with time!
I’m with you, Donna. The second episode had fabulous guest stars and did a lot to assure viewers that Rizzoli & Isles will probably only get better and not worse. I like the show enough already to know I’ll be tuning in each week.