# Rizzoli & Isles kinda sucks; Covert Affairs kinda doesn't **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628 "2010-07-14T03:18:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/21 "2010-07-20T06:37:03Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Dr. Isles, TV already **has** a Bones. True, but even the \*Bones \*character wasn’t exactly original: we’ve already had Quincy, and countless MEs on the various L&O and CSI franchises. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/22 "2010-07-20T07:35:35Z")
I thought they were going for quirky-but-brilliant with Isles, but they turned her into a social retard in the second episode. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/23 "2010-07-20T07:41:34Z")
Second show was it for me. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/24 "2010-07-20T13:31:22Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > True, but even the \*Bones \*character wasn’t exactly original: we’ve already had Quincy, and countless MEs on the various L&O and CSI franchises. No, I meant, TV already has a socially-oblivious supergenius who is always saying the most intelligent, least appropriate thing. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/25 "2010-07-20T14:21:38Z")
I watch both and enjoyed Covert Affairs a bit more. Although I had a tough time getting past how Jennifer Garner in Alias the main character was. She even has the same vocal inflections. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/26 "2010-07-20T14:38:14Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No, I meant, TV already has a socially-oblivious supergenius who is always saying the most intelligent, least appropriate thing. Ah. Got it. In that case, I agree…TRM (who hasn’t seen the second ep yet) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/27 "2010-07-20T14:40:29Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Second show was it for me. Really? I thought last night’s episode was better than the pilot. Or, if not better, at least more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/28 "2010-07-20T18:16:40Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Dr. Isles, TV already **has** a Bones. I thought the same when I saw the previews - and if I’m not mistaken, there is another similar show coming this fall (but my dim memory refuses to call up the name.) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/29 "2010-07-21T14:30:52Z")
Okay, I saw Ep #2. Isles \*is \*a tad Bones-like in this one, albeit with better clothes. The show seems to be loading up more on humor along with the serious plotline (about the same mix as NCIS, I’d say), which I enjoyed. Overall, this was a better episode than the pilot. They also seem to be getting some high-powered guest stars. I’ll stay tuned for a few more rounds, at least…TRM ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/30 "2010-07-23T06:08:18Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Okay, I saw Ep #2. Isles \*is \*a tad Bones-like in this one, albeit with better clothes. [Most definitely.](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3722674176/tt1686407) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/31 "2010-07-24T18:21:09Z")
Second one was OK, although I guess straight off what was going to happen. I’ll give it a few more watches. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/32 "2010-07-25T17:54:13Z")
The second show of Rizzoli & Isles was just horrible. The script was just chock full of every tired cliche - dashing home to see the “big game” with dad and bro yelling at the TV in their best faux NY Italian accent, with mom yelling about learning grandma’s gnocchi recipe and then the quick dash to fix the sink and…geez, all that was missing was the family dog barking and then eating the freshly prepared cannoli. The direction sucked - “OK - now you get up and run to the door and don’t look back, but make sure your nice clean hat is placed neatly on your head…” And make sure your make up is perfect, because every cop looks like someone from the cover of Vogue and you have to look like a fashion model to be realistic in this role. Add some clever banter about and over dead bodies and voila! You have a “quirky” show that fits the formula of quirky shows. Just dropped this mess from my DVR list of things to record. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/33 "2010-07-25T21:14:49Z")
We finally watched the first two _Covert Affairs_ episodes. Liked it a lot! Good to see Amber from \*House \*back among the living… ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/34 "2010-07-25T21:21:23Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > We finally watched the first two _Covert Affairs_ episodes. Liked it a lot! Good to see Amber from \*House \*back among the living… She appeared on Mad Men occasionally last season as one of the Drapers’ neighbors. It may be less this season, as I imagine Don & Betty may both have moved this year. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/35 "2010-07-26T13:06:02Z")
We watched the 2nd episode of _R&I_. Yeah, not much worth watching. Lorraine Bracco, Chazz Palminteri, and Brian Dennehy. Could have, should have been much better. Really wasted some top talent there. Maybe one more viewing and then that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![jaf48](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@jaf48](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaf48)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/36 "2010-09-08T01:21:39Z")
Angie Harmon is a douche and there is no semblance to any reality in the Boston of this bunch of clowns. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628/37 "2010-09-08T04:38:43Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > We finally watched the first two _Covert Affairs_ episodes. Liked it a lot! Good to see Amber from \*House \*back among the living… :smack: Also, “D’oh!” smiley. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rizzoli-isles-kinda-sucks-covert-affairs-kinda-doesnt/546628.md?page=1)