Rizzoli and Isles 4x15 Food For Thought review

Here is some “Food for thought” (and it’s depressing!) This will be the last episode that features the original cast, as this was the last episode filmed before Lee Thompson Young’s death. I think that fact will actually hit me next week when I watch the first episode without him.

More ‘food for thought’ –

1. Jane vs Hope has to be the greatest Rizzoli confrontation so far. Forget any of the showdowns with the perps or suspects. Jane in protective LLBFF mode (when Maura isn’t even there!) is great to watch.

I can’t help but compare this to Jane’s quiet confrontation with Constance at the Installation. Why is Jane so different with Hope than she was with Constance? That’s easy. Constance’s abuse was benign neglect. When Jane pointed that out to Constance, Constance acknowledged her inadequacies, and then tried to rectify them by getting to know her daughter more and being more present in Maura’s life. (I wish we’d see her again soon!)

With Hope, even after her horrible reaction during the initial shock of learning who Maura was, she only offered a half-assed apology. Right after that half-assed apology, she still asked Maura (repeatedly) to donate her kidney for her “real” daughter. And we haven’t even mentioned the money laundering she did for Paddy yet. I also haven’t mentioned the continuous annoying phone calls when Maura was ‘babysitting’ Cailin when Hope went to Europe. I still think bio-mom should have needed to grovel a bit more before Maura gave in. Did she really think closing down her M.E.N.D. clinics, thus taking away help for needy women, was the way to get Maura to forgive her? I still say grovel some more, Hope. However, the storyline was getting tiresome, so it’s nice that we get to the ‘forgiveness’ stage and move on.

2. Captain Green, the Rizzles shipper.  I think the entire Rizzles fandom should love Captain Green. It’s twice now that he’s ordered Jane & Maura to strip & take showers. However, once again, we were denied seeing our girls together in the shower. (I don’t even want the image of Frost & Korsak showering, thank you.) Even CSI, which is a ‘stuffy/sedate’ show compared to R&I, had Sara & Greg taking decontamination showers in a portable ‘shower’ like the one in this episode. And even when Sasha was on NCIS, there was a shower scene with Kate, Tony, Tim, and Gibbs. How could they deny us this opportunity? Janet Tamaro, you’re a meanie! 

The disappointment here is only slightly tempered by Korsak’s comment that Jane & Maura were changing in the car. Of course they were. They always do. They even leave the house in their pajamas and change in the car on their way to the station. I still have to wonder – does Jane do all the driving while they change or do they take turns? I remember Maura saying that she hates when Jane “undresses & drives” so maybe they do – just for safety, of course. Back to Captain Green - “Coffee-pod-gate and your brother playing Twister with the medical examiner” That earns him a gold star! Not to mention he’s the one to help rescue Frost, Tommy & TJ from the collapsed building. Love him!

3. Coffee-pod-gate. Poor Maura. She should have just stuck to shoes. “I’m not a collector – unless shoes count”. I have to admit, my first thought when seeing those packages was that we were going to get hit with another crappy Ian sighting. There’s one piece of continuity I DON’T want to have return. And Maura has all of those coffees for work? Why does she ever come up to the D1 Café for coffee then? As for Maura’s nose itch – why didn’t she have the bomb tech guy itch it for her. This would have been much cuter with Maura/Jane. Just saying. Jane wouldn’t have facial stubble and they’d have to find another way to relieve Maura’s…pruritus.

4. Everyone’s in love with Maura. We know Jane’s her LLBFF. Tommy tried to kiss her. Angela declared that “Maura is family”, and now Frankie? Oy! Sorry, but Maura/Frankie actually gives me more “ewwww” than Maura/Tommy. Let’s face it – no one will be good enough for Maura.

5. maybe not everyone loves Maura? – there’s a bomb scare involving Maura, and there’s no B.T. Bomb Tech? Can I give a hallelujah? However, it would be nice to have a little continuity as to why he just ‘disappeared’ without a trace – not that I’m complaining. I just think it would have been a perfect opportunity since there was going to be a bomb tech. Then again, that would have been too much distraction from the main story, but it would have been a nice little twist in the Maura/Frankie infatuation story line - having two guys gawking at Maura while she's trying to hold onto the box, and Jane watching through the video feed.

*edit* and I just saw Jan Nash's tweet that the scene was to be with B.T., but the actor was unavailable. Well of course he was. That's how it always works out for the Jane/Maura love interests, right? (and even Riley Cooper too!)

6. Frankie needs to get some. All we’ve had so far is the return of Teresa and her not-a-Rizzoli daughter, Lily. Charlie seems to be a bit young, but hey, she’s a cop too. That means she’s family. It’s another reason I really wish for the return of Riley Cooper. Frankie needs someone more ‘grown up’, like Riley.

7. Tommy’s getting his life together. Preparing to propose to Lydia; going to school to be a plumber (really, three years to fix leaky pipes?) I liked when Tommy asked Frankie if he wanted to start up Rizzoli and Sons plumbing business again. Tommy, you already have a son for that – granted it’ll take some time before he can carry the tool box, but still…

8. After watching this episode, food doesn’t sound very appetizing. And shame on Maura for killing Korsak’s cookie appetite! I’ll admit, the only ‘food trucks’ we usually have around here in Nowhereville, USA are the ones at the county fair – or the UffDa Taco stand that comes to town a few times a year (and take up residence just half a block from my house! Temptation at its finest!) But I do watch a lot of Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives on Food Network, and have seen a number of segments with food trucks. When you’re talking about toxins and food – I tend to “ewwww”.

Notable moments:

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T: hey, I got the best news. I passed.

J: you passed the Plumbers Apprenticeship Exam? I didn’t know you were studying to be a plumber. Tommy, that’s great.

T: well, I only passed by one point.

M: but Massachusetts has very rigorous standards. That’s a difficult exam.

A: I’m so proud of you.

F: yeah, good job, bro.

T: all I gotta do now is 550 hours of plumbing theory, 1700 hours of work credits, take the exam to be a journeyman plumber, 52 weeks after that, I’ll be a master plumber!

M: you can’t legally fix my toilet for three years?

T: yeah. Technically.  Frankie, you wanna bring back Rizzoli & Sons Plumbing with me?

F: thanks, bro, but I like the detective work.

C’mon, Maura. He’s already fixed your flush valve in the guest house when he first arrived. And don’t worry, Jane’s a plumber’s daughter, you know. She’ll do it, in exchange for a beer.

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M: Holden Hathaway is a well-nourished 32 year old male. His blood work showed he was suffering from hypoxemnia with hypercapnia. And that confirms what I’m seeing in his otherwise healthy heart.

J: yes, I noticed something strange about his otherwise healthy heart too.

M: cause of death: cardiac arrest brought on by respiratory failure.

J: did he know he was nose to nose with such a dangerous toxin and it might have a disastrous outcome to all who knew him?

M: he was helping me with an uncomfortable sensation.

J: we’re on speaker, Maura.

CG: it’s all right. If you’re talking about coffeepot-gate and your brother playing Twister with the medical examiner, everybody knows.

M: I had pruritus

J: yes, yes. That’s Dr Isles way of saying she had an itch

CG: hmm

M: yes. Pruritus, given the situation I was in, could only be relieved by scratching

Yes, Maura. But Jane wanted to be the one there scratching the…pruritus.  Have I mentioned that I love Captain Green?

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J: it was really brave of you to stay with Maura and hold that package.

F: it was coffee pots

J: yeah, but you didn’t know that. …Frankie, is it possible that a high-stress situation has intensified a…crush?

F: no.  you might as well know, I’ve liked her for a long time.

J: you know she’s practically family.  And you work together.

F: so?

J: so you shouldn’t mess around with people you work with.

Was anyone else thinking of Jane’s “Do not sleep with my brother” line to Maura in a previous ep? And didn’t we confirm in the last episode that Maura IS family? Angela said it plain & clear.

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 J: no wonder you like this show. No one says “awesome”.

LOL that reminds me of Janet Tamaro’s disdain for that word. Remember Sister Bitcher’s “nuns are awesome” that she threw away?

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T: I’m sure glad I checked out that cop’s ass

J: excuse me?!

T: it made me realize I want to get married to Lydia.

M: oh, well that’s very sweet, Tommy.

T: check it out. I got her a ring

M: oh, it’s an amethyst. That’s a lovely color.

J: it’s really pretty, Tommy

T: Lydia likes purple. I’m gonna go show Ma.

J: She’ll be thrilled

Yes, that even looks nicer than Jane’s. At least they haven’t totally taken away the little kid part of Tommy.  We need TJ to return soon. Maybe an auntie Jane/Maura babysitting night?

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T: I liked this place better when they covered everything in salt & grease

F: I think I like Maura

T: (chokes on his water) you can’t like Maura.

F: why not?

T: because it’s Maura, that’s why

F: you did

T: yeah, I mean, she’s hot and smart, and has got a great ass, but…Frankie, she’s like our sister.

F: she didn’t feel like my sister when I had my hands on her

T: dude, just stop. You can’t

F: why not?

T: promise you won’t hit me?

F: depends on what you say next

T: you and Maura…don’t match.

And I hear all of the Rizzles shippers applauding Tommy! I like how they’re finally turning Tommy into a grown-up. I guess he has to be a grown-up if he’s going to marry Lydia. She’s enough scatterbrained child for all of them.

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Mothers & Daughters:

H: Detective Rizzoli, can I talk to you for a minute?

J: hey Hope, what are you doing here?

H: it’s about Maura

J: you need another body part?

H: she returned a gift. It’s my necklace and it was meant for her.

J: you didn’t give that to her. Your ‘real’ daughter, Cailin, did.

H: that’s not fair

J: you’re the last person to talk to me about ‘fair’. Hope, you only show up when you want something, so spit it out. What do you want this time?

H: her forgiveness

J: you just don’t get it, do you? You made it pretty clear that it was inconvenient for you to find out that Maura was still alive.

H: that’s not true

J: it’s not? You told her she wasn’t yours, and then accused her of scamming you

H: well, I was …it was shocking

J: so was showing up again and asking her for a kidney. Be happy that she has the decency to talk to you at all.

H: so many things I know I’ve done wrong.

J: yes, like standing by your man and treating his wounds after he murdered Lieutenant Cavanaugh’s wife and baby.

H: I told the grand jury everything. I will be the key witness in the trial, and I will be the reason that Paddy is put to death if he’s found guilty.

J: Hope, for all we know, you made a deal.

H: I did not make a deal.

J: then why hasn’t the IRS closed down your M.E.N.D. clinics and frozen all your assets?

H: I turned over all the books. The IRS knows where to find me.

J: yeah, well so does Maura.

H: I need her forgiveness

J: here’s the pain you can’t undo… Paddy is a gangster, and you’re a liar. It’s not really the happy ending she was hoping for. Excuse me, I have a suspect to interview.

You go, Jane! I love how she doesn’t hold back, and she was able to do that because Maura wasn’t there. Just like her talk with Constance, Jane can lay out the facts without censor and see what actually gets understood.  I love that they have Sharon Lawrence playing this part. She gives just enough vulnerability mixed with confusion and defiance.  I also love how Hope comes to Jane when looking for a way to get Maura to forgive her. It seems that Hope has realized the only way to Maura is through Jane.

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J: what’s wrong?

M: I don’t like how I’m feeling. It lacks integrity.

J: I’m lost.

M: Tommy’s just so excited to go share his news with your mom. I feel a little jealous. I always wanted that kind of relationship with my mother.

J: well, I mean, Constance isn’t warm & fuzzy, but she loves you, Maura.

M: I always knew I was adopted. When I was young and I felt lonely, I would tell myself ‘someday my real mother would appear.’

J: Hope came to see me today

M: what? Why didn’t you tell me? …hey, all right. Why? Why did she come and see you?

J: I think she wants to make amends

M: well, she doesn’t need to. I’m over it.

J: you’re not over it and you shouldn’t be

M: yes, I should. And so should she.

J: Maura, Hope knows how I feel about her, and she swallowed her pride and she came to see me anyway.

M: so what more does she want? I talk to her when she calls

J: yeah, you talk to her the same way that you talk to that neighbor that over waters your roses

M: which are on my property. I was very polite to him when I told him to fix his sprinklers. …all right, so, so why? Why would you be Hope’s advocate?
J: I’m your advocate.

M: now I’m lost.

J: well admit it, it bums you out, doesn’t it? Maura, nobody’s gonna judge you if you change your mind about her.

“I’m your advocate” awwww. But LLBFF sounds better. It’s nice to hear that Maura has problems with her neighbors too – and not just the ones living in the guest house!

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H: may I come in?

M: of course, you can. Is everything all right?
H: no, it isn’t

J: hey Ma, why don’t we go pick out the font for the invitations.

A: I haven’t picked out the card stock yet.

J: okay, we’ll fluff pillows. Come on.

H: please don’t do. I made a decision today. I am closing my clinics.

M: why would you close M.E.N.D.?

H: because I want you to know how sorry I am. And I want to make restitution somehow

M: by closing clinics that are saving desperate mothers and children? I-I don’t want that. That’s not going to make up for anything.

H: I need your forgiveness. And for you to accept me, flaws and all.

M: I can’t

H: please. You are my daughter.

M: I’m not your daughter.

A: Maura, whether you like it or not, you are both related.

H: I have changed. I wouldn’t make the same decisions today. So please, give me a chance.

Maura looks to Jane.

J: you know you never answered my question. Does this bum you out?

M: yes.

J: okay. I mean it, Maura. No judgment.

H: please, can we just…start over?

A: people change. Life changes us.

M: there is research proving the elasticity of the brain. You want to start over?

H: very much.

M: go outside

H: outside your house?

J: yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I like this plan.

A: okay, what’s going on?

J: (hisses) would you…

Hope walks outside & shuts the door. Maura walks over to the door and composes herself.

M: you can knock now.

Hope knocks. Maura opens the door with a smile and lets Hope in.

M: Hello, I’m Maura Isles. I’m your biological daughter.

H: hello. I’m Hope Martin. I’m your mother. And I have always wanted to know you.

They grab hands

A: oh, this is so touching

J: (whispers) Ma!

M: would you like some tea?

H: yes

M: from the Ya’an Sichaun province.

H: yes. No one I know likes that tea

J: ‘cause it’s panda poop tea.

H: yes. It is.

J: okay. I’m gonna go get some frozen yogurt. (to Angela) what do you want?

A: chocolate with a vanilla swirl

H: oh, ah, I’ll have what Angela is having

M: and I’ll have the same. But can they not swirl?

J: Mm-hmm. Can they at least touch?

M: I guess.

Jane gives Maura a kiss on the cheek.

J: that’s real progress, Maura.

Awww. Last week we got a Jane/Maura/Angela hug. This time, it’s an actual Jane/Maura kiss -okay, it just on the cheek, but as Jane said – ‘that’s real progress’.  I guess it would have been a bit over-the-top if Maura & Hope actually hugged instead of held hands. I liked how that turned out. Now, if we could only get Constance to return sometime soon. I miss her. I also love how Maura turned to Jane to, in a sense, ask what she should do. And Jane gave her the encouragement to listen to her feelings to determine her course of action.  It’s also cute to have the return of the “panda poop tea”.

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The wit & wisdom of Maura Isles:

M: my EKG is normal. I’m fine.

J: Maura, I really think you should go to the hospital.

M: it’s not necessary.

That’s what happens when you hang around Jane too long. You begin to sound like her, Maura. We know Jane doesn’t like hospitals either.

--- --- --- ---

M: did you know that his name, Holden, means “kind”?

Really? Is that like Alexandra Holden , aka “Lydia”? then it should mean “goofy”!!

--- --- --- ---

F: what happens if you were to guess?

M: well, I guess it’s a little like if you were to wear a dress

Seriously, it took me almost half a minute to figure that one out. Maura’s jokes lose their humor when Jane’s not around to look puzzled by them.

--- --- --- ---

M: chefs are the new Renaissance Men

Another Maura Isles ‘fun fact’

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M: sometimes we think that something is more than it is.

Just some times? I like how inconvenient the timing was for her to give that statement to Frankie.

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Final notes:

So last week we had the Rizzoli family drama. This time it’s the Doyle family drama. I’d really like the return of the Isles family soon – Constance and the elusive Mr Isles.

I like the return of some continuity – like Officer Charlie, the word “awesome”, panda poop tea, Tommy/Lydia relationship, and the return of Hope and the reconciliation. Hopefully, now when Sharon Lawrence returns, she won’t always have to look like she’s ready to burst into tears at any moment, and we can have happy mother/daughter scenes with all of them.

I liked the scene in the lab where Maura & Susie were in hazmat suits, while Jane, Captain Green and an assistant were in Maura’s office. It’s a bit of a different way for Jane & Maura to converse – especially with Maura often looking away from them.

And what’s with Jane being tired at the beginning? Just because she skipped breakfast? That seems like something thrown in there out of the blue. Hoyt nightmares? Casey nightmares? Dominic (pink shoes) nightmares? PTSD issues? I hope the issue gets revealed.

Also, I loved Tommy's water spit-take when Frankie told him he liked Maura.

And a final, final note: (more of a reminder to myself) yes, this is the last episode with Lee Thompson Young. I’m sure I’ll be crying during the next episode.