The serial killer/bad cop formula

I guess I need to resign myself to the fact that almost all of my favorite cop shows these days are going to feature over-used serial killers. Not to mention serial killers who are after one of the main characters of the show. If it’s not serial killers, then it’s “bad” cops – ones who have turned to the ‘dark side’ for either greed or revenge. And somehow, they’re going to make their biggest strike during the season finales.

It’s become an epidemic.

The thing is that there are some shows who know how to do it right & make it interesting. There are some that still haven’t figured out the formula.

One show that has totally missed the boat:

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
-- Season 1 finale – The Strip Strangler. Technically, he wasn’t after any of the main characters until the end when Grissom got too snoopy and went without backup. At least the writers ended this the right way, with the team together in the diner eating breakfast.
-- Season 5 finale – Grave Danger. Nick buried underground. I blame Quentin Tarantino for the subsequent onslaught of CSI serial killer (or over-hyped) finales.
-- Season 6 finale – Way to Go. Brass’ life hanging in the balance after being shot in the previous episode.
-- Season 7 finale – Living Doll. Sara trapped under a car during a rainstorm in the middle of the desert after being abducted by the mini-crime scene killer.
-- Season 8 finale – Warrick shot in a dark alley by the evil Under Sheriff after having lunch with the rest of the team.
-- Season 9 finale – All In. Rookie CSI Ray searching a dark garage by himself in a shootout with a killer. (Did anyone really care?)
-- Season 10 finale – Meat Jekyll. Ray stabbed by serial killer Nate Haskell as Ray was standing right next to the bars in the jail cell. (I repeat. Did anyone really care? Again?)
-- Season 11 finale – In a dark, dark house. Haskell & Ray continue their cat & mouse game, ending with bloodshed. (Do I need to ask again?)

One show that, unfortunately, didn’t have a chance to prove itself as worthy:

Women’s Murder Club had a serial killer (The Kiss-me-Not Killer) as a main foil for much of the first (and only) season, ending with a shootout between Lindsay & the guy who had caused her nightmares for so long. The kid used Lindsay’s father as bait.

One show that’s finally figuring it out – and doing a damn fine job:

Rizzoli & Isles
I think this show, in the 1 ½ seasons so far, has had the most serials/bad cops.
-- Season 1 started out with a copycat of Jane’s main serial killer nemesis, Charles Hoyt, who had already made her a victim of his torture. He returns two more times, including the mid-season 2 finale last night. There’s also Maura’s (previously unknown) biological father who is an elusive big-time mob boss in town, and uses an ice pick as a signature. Don’t forget the season 1 finale of the “bad cop” Bobby, who takes Jane, Maura & a badly injured Frankie hostage in the morgue, only to grab Jane and use her as a human shield to make his getaway.

The thing I noticed when watching the climax of the mid-season finale last night is that this show has finally gotten the formula right. Yes, there seems to be overuse of serial killers/bad cops/mob guys in this show. However, the writers have actually made us care about the entire “good guy” family in this show, and I don’t mean just the Rizzolis. I’m talking about Jane, Maura, Frost, Korsak, Angela, Frankie, Tommy (‘the screw up’), even Bass (the tortoise) and Jo Friday (the dog). Heck, in the mid-season finale, I even liked Sean Cavanaugh (hey, it’s tough being the boss sometimes!).

With other shows, I have a certain favorite character or two. With Rizzoli & Isles, I’ve come to love them all. Yes, Jane, Angela & Korsak are probably my overall favorites, but considering the way everyone interacts like a family (everything from joking to serious), it’s hard not to love them all.