A Scattered Season with Some Redeeming Episodes
This season of Rizzoli & Isles has felt somewhat scattered, with the closing of some story arcs and the revamping of others, but nothing truly new. It’s been like hearing the same joke told repeatedly, although there have been a few good episodes sprinkled throughout.
Angela’s tax dilemma finally comes to an end as she gathers cans and sells her baked goods to make ends meet. However, when she owes $27,000 to the IRS, it’s clear that her efforts won’t be enough. Angela is a sweet older woman with that Italian Boston mom vibe. Her husband left her for a younger woman, and she lost her house, forcing her to move in with Maura. It’s a tough situation, but it’s also very believable, as it’s not uncommon for such things to happen to good people in the real world.
Resurrecting a Forgotten Storyline
What isn’t so believable is the sudden resurrection of a storyline from last season’s finale, which saw Frost and Tommy with his newborn son trapped in a crumbling concrete parking garage. This plot point was not mentioned again for the entirety of the first part of this season, so using it as a magical fix for Angela’s tax issue feels forced. Tommy, trying to prove himself to his family, hires a lawyer with a shark in his logo, hoping for a six-figure settlement. However, we’re told that he made a horrible mistake by choosing this lawyer and has ruined his chances of getting a settlement. Frost, who injured his wrist in the incident, suddenly can’t stop rubbing it and complaining about the pain. We’ve gone ten episodes without a mention of his injuries, and he’s had a few scuffles with criminals, so this sudden focus on his wrist is irritating. It’s frustrating to see this random, small arc about Angela briefly mentioned and then resolved by the miracle of a settlement that we didn’t know was coming. Tommy does the right thing and pays off his mother’s IRS debt, but it’s highly unlikely that he would have received the money that quickly.
A Lackluster Case and a Theme of Death
The case in this episode is just “meh.” It’s not very interesting, but it seems that the theme of this season is that people who are angels, who right wrongs and do good deeds, get nothing in return but death. Lots of death.
A judge is killed because she was trying to fix a privatized prison that was abusing the system. She wanted to help rehabilitate petty criminals, but no one likes it when someone meddles in the affairs of millionaires.
Looking Ahead to the Hiatus
Next week is the last episode before the show goes on hiatus. I have a bet with my gecko that Casey proposes and Jane says no. We’ll have to wait and see if my prediction comes true.
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